Hailed as "a dreadlocked dervish of words...the Bob Marley of American poets" (Esquire), Saul Williams brings his provocative and innovative style to a new epic poem. Slam artist Saul Williams is a gifted young poet who helped define a movement. Like his writing--a fearless mix of connecting rhythms and vibrant images--Williams is unstoppable. He received raves for his performance as an imprisoned street poet in the Trimark Pictures release of Slam, won the Camera d'Or at Cannes, and took home the Grand Jury prize at the Sundance Film Festival. The consummate spoken-word performance artist, Williams has also recorded an album with legendary producer Rick Rubin. Now Williams returns to the page with an extraordinary epic poem. In, said the shotgun to the head., he evokes everything from the high costs of progress and consumerism to the nature and the quality of life. He covers the effects of 9/11 and the victimization of love, trust, and the environment by war, power, and political greed. His fascinating and unique work proves once again why Williams has been added to the curriculum of universities across the country.

Zack de la Rocha, Said the Shotgun to the Head is an invitation to live and die in the moment, a confrontation of the politics of empire, a dare to transform oneself in the face of fear and a post 9-11 love song all in one.

The Washington PostAstonishing...poet. The internal rhyme, metrics, and imagery are so fleet...that they're humbling.

Saul Williams is the author of two previous books of poetry, S he (MTV/Pocket Books) and The Seventh Octave (Moore Black Press). His debut album, Amethyst Rock Star, earned him great critical acclaim, as did his starring role in Slam. Williams also co-wrote Slam, which garnered the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival and the Caméra d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival.