Aja Monet on the Role of Poetry in Modern Society, Her Complex Relationship with Hip-Hop, and the Power of Languuage

This week Talib Kweli and Jasmin Leigh are joined by poet, writer, and activist Aja Monet.

The trio talk about some of Monet’s seminal works, exploring her patterns of language and the deeper meaning of some of her most well-known poems. They also discuss the poet’s role in modern society.

Monet breaks down her complicated and complex relationship to hip-hop, and speaks to the power and vitalness of language and of the written word. Plus, she talks about what’s next in her career. This episode is for lovers of language, whether you’re a fan of the written, rapped, or spoken word.