Run Loses Poet Laureate Bid

LATEST: RUN DMC star REVEREND RUN is devastated after learning he's been denied the status of poet laureate in Queens, New York.

The winner is noted Korean-American poet ISHLE YI PARK who appears on DEF POETRY, which was created by Run's brother Russell Simmons.

Yi Park, 26, says she's honoured to be compared with Run, because she grew up listening to hip-hop - including his music.

Her new position, which she won after edging out 75 hopefuls, lasts three years and is unpaid.

Simmons says he feels Queens isn't ready for a rapper as a poet and has now set a goal of becoming America's national poet laureate.