OVEOUS MAXIMUS, born Ovil Raphael Lorenzo Hernandez Salcedo, is a native New Yorker whose roots go back to the Dominican Republic. He started writing and performing in the summer of 2003. The beginnings of his spoken word career came after his brother, Carlos “Ziiinc Blue” Salcedo, tragically ended his life. This hardship inspired Oveous to live the life he wanted his brother to live, sharing his brother's brilliance, by bringing his spirit to light.

Oveous has appeared on the UPN, ESPN2 and Current TV networks as well as being a featured performer on NBC’s “Showtime at the Apollo” and the 2007 HBO original series Russell Simmons Presents Def Poetry.

Oveous Maximus will star in the upcoming 2007-scheduled national release of “SP!T,” a documentary film which explores the entire world of spoken word, while focusing on four poets from Los Angeles and New York. This film has already received 9 official selections from national and international film festivals and won the Executive Director’s Choice Award at the Pan-African Film Festival.

In 2005, Oveous became a slam finalist and member of the Nuyorican Poets Cafe. He was chosen the 2006 NYC louderARTS Poetry slam champion, and was part of the 2006 and 2007 louderARTS Poetry slam team that took the national finals stage by storm. Oveous has performed in countless venues across the US and Canada. He's also toured in European cities such as London, Paris, and Grenoble.