Every Voice Deserves a Page
BARS ★ POETRY ★ ART
THROUGH THE BARS
YOUR
VOICE.
YOUR
TALENT.
YOUR
LEGACY.
BARS BEHIND BARS
BI-WEEKLY RAP COMPETITION
Think you have the hottest 16 bars
behind the walls?
Back Against The Bars (BATB) presents
Bars Behind Bars, a nationwide bi-weekly
rap competition featuring incarcerated
artists from across America.
Every edition of The Bars Street Journal (TBSJ)
will showcase submissions from inmates
representing all 50 states.
CASH PRIZES
🥇 1ST PLACE $300
🥈 2ND PLACE $250
🥉 3RD PLACE $200
4TH PLACE $150
5TH PLACE $100
✓ Submit your best 16 bars
✓ Original content only
✓ No plagiarism
✓ Submit your first and last name
✓ Include your inmate number
✓ Include the state you are representing
✓ Include where prize money should be sent if you win
IMPORTANT
Your $25 processing fee guarantees that we will
publish your 16 bars in TBSJ.
There is NO competition to get published.
Submissions are published in the order
that they are received.
★ YOUR 16 BARS. YOUR STATE. YOUR SHOT!
POETRY THROUGH THE BARS
WEEKLY POETRY COMPETITION
Have a story to tell? A message to share?
A voice that deserves to be heard?
BATB presents Poetry Through The Bars,
a weekly competition highlighting the
creative voices of incarcerated poets
nationwide.
CASH PRIZES
🥇 1ST PLACE $200
🥈 2ND PLACE $150
🥉 3RD PLACE $100
SUBMISSION RULES
✓ Submit one original poem
✓ Maximum of 7 sentences
✓ Original content only
✓ No copyrighted material
✓ Include your full name
✓ Include your inmate number
✓ Include the state you represent
✓ Include your prize payment instructions
PROCESSING FEE
$15 PER SUBMISSION
Every qualified submission will be
published in TBSJ in the order received.
Winners announced weekly.
ART THROUGH THE BARS
WEEKLY ART COMPETITION
Your artwork deserves to be seen.
BATB presents Art Through The Bars,
a nationwide showcase of incarcerated
artists.
CASH PRIZES
🥇 1ST PLACE $250
🥈 2ND PLACE $175
🥉 3RD PLACE $100
✓ Original artwork only
✓ Hand-drawn artwork preferred
✓ Any subject matter permitted EXCEPT:
✘ Guns
✘ Gang imagery
✘ Drugs
✘ Copyrighted characters
✘ Nudity
✓ Include your full name
✓ Include inmate number
✓ Include state represented
✓ Include prize payment instructions
IMPORTANT
$20 PER SUBMISSION
All qualifying artwork will be featured in TBSJ
in the order received. Winning artists
will be featured in future editions.
★ REPRESENT YOUR STATE. SHINE NATIONWIDE. MAKE HISTORY. ★
MAIL ALL SUBMISSIONS TO:
Back Against The Bars, LLC
The Bars Street Journal (TBSJ)
4501 Woodward Ave,
Suite 101-B, Box 189
Detroit, MI 48201
All submissions must be mailed.
We do not accept email submissions.
INCLUDE WITH EVERY SUBMISSION:
✓ Full Name
✓ Inmate Number
✓ Facility Name
✓ State Represented (if different)
✓ Prize Payment Instructions
(e.g., inmate account or friend/family)
✓ Processing Fee
(see fees above for each category)
GENERAL GUIDELINES:
- All content must be original.
- No threats, violence, or illegal activity.
- Respect others. Keep it positive and uplifting.
- BATB reserves the right to edit or refuse any content that violates guidelines.
- By submitting, you give BATB permission to publish your work in TBSJ and other BATB media.