the color of rain

The 2026 followup to aja monet’s previous album when the poems do what they do finds her gift at matching her spoken word poetry and reflection undiminished while also finding a new striking context thanks to her main musical collaborator: Meshell Ndegeocello, bringing her own deep skill to bear leading a group of musicians, in further combination with overall coproducer Justin Brown, to create another rich jazz-rooted listen in the color of rain. Ndegeocello is a featured guest on “elsewhere,” one of several throughout, including harpist Brandee Younger on “to sister” and Chicago MCs Mick Jenkins and Vic Mensa on “melting clocks.” Yet it is monet front and center, boldly introducing the album with “say it with your chest” and its exhortation for direct feeling and action over a moody vamp. Her coolly strong, confident delivery is pure charisma in itself, while her language interweaves modern contexts and deep, Black-centered experiences with an easy immediacy. From the closing bells on “withness” to “working class musicians”’s clapping-led groove and the nervous pulse of “hollyweird,” it’s a remarkable ride.