Joe Hernandez-Kolski

Two-time HBO Def Poet Joe Hernandez-Kolski blends spoken word poetry and comedy to create an experience that is hard-hitting, truthful, and incredibly funny. Having rarely left an audience without a standing ovation, he is fervently committed to both entertaining and challenging people with his intimate, cutting-edge performances. A graduate of Princeton University, Hernandez-Kolski is helping shape the dialogue and minds of today’s youth.

As a spoken word poet, Hernandez-Kolski opened for John Mellencamp in his hometown of Chicago and has performed at over fifty colleges and universities across the country, fostering a strong connection with college audiences. He opened the “Say Word” Hip-Hop Theater Festival at Lehigh University with his hip-hop solo show—“You Wanna Piece of Me?” — which includes DJ Jedi. He's performed this show across various locations, including Ars Nova NYC and the San Francisco Hip-Hop Theater Festival. He appeared in “The Bomb-itty of Errors,” a hip-hop version of Shakespeare’s “The Comedy of Errors,” and received thunderous applause for both of his performances on HBO's Russell Simmons Presents Def Poetry.

Based in Los Angeles, Hernandez-Kolski’s acting credits include the summer blockbuster "Hancock," alongside Will Smith, and a scene with Robert Downey Jr. and Jamie Foxx in "The Soloist," directed by Joe Wright. He co-founded and continues to host Downbeat 720, an open-mic event for high school youth, contributing to the development of young artists. The televised version, "Downbeat Showdown," was awarded the LA Emmy for “Outstanding Youth Programming.” His ability to blend comedy, music, dancing, and storytelling into performances that explore themes of ethnic identity, cultural influence, and personal identity has established him as a dynamic presence in the arts.