THE VILLAGE VOICE (weekly), Greenwich Village, New York, March 14, 1963

• Boxer Cassius Clay - Muhammad Ali
• The Bitter End poetry contest - poems
• Bill Cosby nightclub advertisement

The front page has a heading: "No Lean and Hungry Look On Coffee-House Cassius" with 2 related photos. (see images) Article continues on a inside page.
Background: On March 6, 1963, 21-year-old Cassius Clay stepped onto the stage of Greenwich Village’s iconic coffeehouse, The Bitter End, for a publicity-stunt poetry contest alongside seven local beat poets, where he captivated the room of boxing reporters and Village writers with his legendary theatrical rhymes. Confident and sharp, he recited verses like his famous "Ode to a Champion"—proclaiming "This is the legend of Cassius Clay, the most beautiful fighter in the world today... If Cassius says a cow can lay an egg, don't ask how. Grease that skillet. He is the greatest"—and playfully threatened TV crews with a 15-second knockout if they failed to broadcast his performance. Playfully crowned the unanimous winner of the contest, Clay’s captivating performance that night provided the foundation for his Columbia Records spoken-word album I Am the Greatest! released later that year, cementing a rhythmic, brash lyrical style that music historians now regard as a vital early precursor to hip-hop and modern battle rap.
I suspect this to be an extremely rare item because there was really no reason to save it at the time.
It is worth noting that "The Village Voice" was an American news and culture paper, known for being the country's first alternative newsweekly. Founded in 1955, the Voice began as a platform for the creative community of New York City.
Complete in 32 pages, tabloid-size, very nice condition.

Provenance note: This issue comes from The Village Voice's own archives, part of their in-house collection used to create their digital archive. Rare as such.

Alert: Many issues of The Village Voice contain articles and/or photos which some consider offensive, and are certainly inappropriate for children. Please purchase with discretion.