Carl Hancock Rux is an American poet, playwright, novelist, actor, director, and singer/songwriter from Harlem, New York. He attended Columbia University, and currently lives and works in New York City. He is praised for his innovative incorporation of elements of hip hop, jazz, and R&B into live poetry readings. He has written several books, plays, and albums, and he frequently collaborates in the fields of dance, theater, film, and art. He served as Guest Curator, Literature at The Kitchen in 1999.