Black Shaman
Strikes Back

CategoryGRAMMY® Awards · Best Spoken Word Poetry Album

ArtistMarc Marcel

PreviouslyGRAMMY® nominee, Best Spoken Word Poetry Album — Black Shaman

ReleasedAugust 2026

ProducersLeandro Álvarez · Executive producer StaJe

FeaturingKitt Wakeley & the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra · Gem Auset · GeorgiaMe · Malina Moye

Key tracks“Adam” · “Air” · “Gypsy Eyes” · “In the Light”

Also a filmFeature-length · premiered privately in Hollywood, October 7, 2026

Request a screener Listen to the album

Black Shaman Strikes Back album cover: a hooded shaman with a glowing staff beneath a cosmic eye, pyramids and a UFO — Album cover · hi-res in the Media Room below

“[Press or critic quote on the film.]”

[Outlet · Writer]

“One of the most controversial and consciously aware spoken word artists ever.”

Palmetto Star · Radio host

“I tried to give people the most well-rounded presentation of what poetry can be.”

Marc Marcel · on Black Shaman Strikes Back

Press kit, photos & materials

Media Room

Download everything (.zip)

Marc Marcel Press Kit 2026–27PDF · Electronic press kit Press releaseOct 7, 2026 · album and film announcement GRAMMY® nomination interviewVideo · YouTube · Feb 2026 CBS News Los Angeles interviewVideo · CBS LA · Jan 2026 · Spoken word & the GRAMMYs Immersive College & University Campus ExperiencePDF · One-sheet Marc Marcel BioPDF Bio Hi-res photographyZIP · credited, incl. Lorena Gheorghe Official film trailerVideo · YouTube · Black Shaman Strikes Back Album assetsBoth Black Shaman covers, credits, links

Short bio · 50 words

GRAMMY®-nominated spoken word artist, author, film producer and podcast host Marc Marcel was born in Baltimore and diagnosed with dyslexia at ten. His new album, Black Shaman Strikes Back, follows his GRAMMY®-nominated Black Shaman and is also a feature-length film. He has performed in 150 U.S. cities and eight countries and hosts the Cosmidelic podcast.

Fast facts

50+ universities, including Harvard and Yale
Five national TV appearances, incl. BET J’s Lyrics Café
Smithsonian, 2009 Presidential Inaugural Peace Ball
Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar (2014)
Creator of the animated series Gurus
Co-founder of Cosmidelic Productions (with Brian Flaccus); founder of The Cosmidelic Foundation, a 501(c)(3)

Sponsorship

Partner on the tour

One campaign, three moments: the national film tour, the theatrical release and the album tour. Partners reach audiences who show up in person — campuses, theaters and cultural communities across the country.

Presenting partner