Learning to Rap at Lorton Library

One of these days, Adonis Dorsey may look out at a cheering audience and remember that it all started at the . On Tuesday, he and a few other students got an introduction to the art of the spoken, beated word from Jesse Baskin, a 25-year-old artist from Springfield.

This was Adonis' first piece: 

"My name is Adonis Dorsey, 
My favorite character is Luigi,
Every time I go somewhere my brother just acts cheesy. 

My favorite food's p'zolo
Jay-Z is really ghetto, and,
When my dad gets home, he just eats a ho ho."

Baskin has one rule in the class: "No cursing. I believe that it shows a lack of intelligence and you should be able to find the right word, especially here at the library," he said. "I believe that writing is a muscle, and the only way for you to get better at it is for you to do it."

Baskin, the leader of Grimm and the Badman recommended reading work aloud from the following poets:

• Robert Service
• Edgar Allan Poe
• Shel Silverstein
• Dr. Seuss 

You can catch Jesse Baskin at the Lorton Library the remaining Tuesdays in August at 5 p.m.