Aja Monet

aja monet is a Grammy-nominated surrealist blues poet. Her poems are works of gravity—forces around which all things are drawn, reflected upon, and set into motion. Her writing moves fluidly between origin and outcome, allowing each to exist in conversation with the other. Her debut album, when the poems do what they do, was nominated for a Grammy in the category of Best Spoken Word Poetry Album. On it, we witness her unrelenting commitment to the power of voice. Thematic threads throughout the album often center on Black resistance, love, and the boundless pursuit of joy. The songs range from jazz club ferocity and improvisational energy to pieces that move like a healing balm—echoing the rhythms of intercessory prayer.

As a community organizer, poet, and educator, Aja Monet weaves activism, music, and poetry into one integrated practice. Her work channels the oratorical traditions of those who came before her, acting as a conduit for the revolutionary spirits of Audre Lorde, the Last Poets, June Jordan, Amiri Baraka, Jayne Cortez, and even the fleeting ache of a blue note. Her first full-length poetry collection, my mother was a freedom fighter, is a tribute to all mothers, women, and girls who fight to live, love, and move freely in the world. The collection was nominated for an NAACP Image Award for Poetry. In 2019, Monet received the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Award for Poetry. Her newest collection, Florida Water, was released on June 3rd 2025 with Haymarket Books. aja is currently working on her second studio album set for release in 2026.