She Makes Holy War by Brew / August 21
When I met Aja Monet at Nuyorican Poets Cafe, I was fresh off the plane from Portugal, high off of the experience of meeting, and speaking with, inspired spirits and and old traveling souls. I had no idea who she was, and more to the point I had no idea that, more than once, I’d find myself trying to regain my breath. She stepped away from the mic, off the stage, and projected her voice. Her truth bounced off the brick walls and weaved though the balcony; words echoed a life that stretched far beyond her nineteen years, and her voice had all the resonance and regality of Phylicia Rashad’s. She reminded me that I didn’t have to leave the continent to find truth. In fact, two years later, any time I speak of Miss Monet I simply state: “Aja Monet is the Truth.”
“Angels will tear the wings from their backs and beat the shit out of you with them. Feathers splattered wet like abstract art, for they will fall in your vanity, wishing to be human, just so they can show you how it’s done.”
-Aja Monet, “She Lives”
I’ve had the pleasure of experiencing her open mic poetry series, “Blah, Blah, Blah,” it featured some of the dopest spoken word poets on the scene including Def Poets Lemon, Mahogany Brown, Oveous Maximus, and Beau Sia. I got to take in her last NYC performance, before she heads to Chicago, there’s no need to mention that she tore the stage down. Tomorrow night, at the House of Yes, Amanda Diva, Oveous Maximus, Miz Metro, Nyle, and many others will hit the stage to celebrate Aja’s 22nd birthday and bid her farewell. Come through, and don’t forget to tell her and at least three other people that their beautiful. It’s all love. Hosted by the ever-poetic Black Cracker, and KSwift, with DJ Jasmine Solano and DJ Tara of the cuts.
For Truth, click this.
No comments / View Brew's Profile / Follow this Maroon on Twitter!
