Slam Poetry Meets Jazz in Aja Monet's 'When the Poems Do What They Do'

Written by Jenna Love, Photo by Fanny Chu

Aja Monet is a powerful poet and gifted lyricist from Brooklyn. She is beyond successful with her written work, but the weight of her words needs to push beyond paper. Her debut album, When the Poems Do What They Do, is a spiritual experience.

The poems are recited with grace and intention while the jazz combo behind her embraces her words. Aja Monet is accompanied by Grammy-winning trumpeter Chief Xian aTunde Adjuah, and other renowned musicians like drummer Marcus Gilmore, pianist Elena Pinderhighes, bassist Luques Curtis, as well as Weedle Braihmah on percussion. Aja Monet’s poetry creates a warm, intimate space for the listener. The album walks you through her story and experiences through metrical lyricism and simultaneous activism.

The opening track “I Am” is an affirmation of slam poetry accompanied by otherworldly percussion. It is an honest ode to herself, where she embraces the complexities of being a black woman. She embraces her flaws. The complexity of the rhythms in the percussion guide the words as they spill out of Aja Monet's mouth, “I’m the love, I’m the love, I’m the love I never had.” 

The second song of the album, “Why My Love?,” is a unique affirmation that begins a journey of love and hurt. How flaws and complexities contribute to a larger picture of being. Then something interesting happens; the song turns into an investigation on why society’s expectation of love took away from affection’s natural beauty. The song is an ongoing contrast of what you think is love and what actually is love. The last line of the song reads, “Why the world ain’t got my back, And I always seem to have, Yours.”

The highlight of the record is “Black Joy,” an ode to Aja Monet’s identity. The intensity of the upright acoustic bass and the pitter-patter of the jazz drums accompanies the powerful six minute poem she recites. “Joy is righteous and ratchet, Joy twerks and taps, jooks and jives, harlem shakes, electric slides”. Her specific experience is never explained, or elaborated; we simply move along her journey and look at life through her lens. The personal and honest ode to Aja Monet’s childhood and life as a black woman is offered in her palms.  

The depth and power of this album is unlike any other work of music. It is utterly unique to Aja Monet and her experiences. Although this album is considered in the genre of jazz, it is far from anything the world has heard before. The rich layers of jazz, slam poetry, percussive lyricism, and affirmations has made the album, When the Poems Do What They Do, a spiritual experience.