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dear kin and folk, may this news lift and lighten your spirits. i am really excited to share with you all the cover for my SOPHOMORE ALBUM, the color of rain. ☔️ Rain nourishes, blesses, and renews. It loves everything it touches. This album is the space between droplets. At the crux of rising fascism, i offer a waking-dream intervention, amid the sinister reality of contemporary events. A prompt to look up at the sky within., the color of rain. This is an evolution from the intimate, live-café energy of my debut album, when the poems do what they do. While i nod at the Black Arts Movement’s legacy and lineage, this album is a conjure to experiment and explore the interior, to listen, and develop new sounds. ✨🎶🎤 it is a deep honor to have worked closely with @officialmeshell and my heart @drumbrownie on producing this collection of poems and song as an offering and a reflection. In true community organizing fashion, i was privileged to bring artists together, recruiting meaningful musical contributions from @boombishop , @joshuaajohn , @mindlessinertia , @jermainepaul_ , @ambroseire , @coryhenry and @nicosegal . With features by @georgia.muldrow , @ganavya , @novenacarmel @harpista , @mereba , @mickjenkins , and @vicmensa . For the devoted lovers of poetry, there are breadcrumbs of metaphor and meaning embedded within and throughout my musical choices. A call to testify, imagine, and transmute, the color of rain is the hue of daring introspection. A rinse. This album is my refusal of convention and apathy. I encourage the listener not just to hear, but to drift, to wander, to go inward—to feel. Be the poem we need right now. The first official single, “elsewhere” is available on all streaming platforms with an incredible visual film directed by @jesseboykins3rd I encourage you to bare withness… the color of rain is set to be released May 22, 2026 AVAILABLE FOR PREORDER today! Album art by @tokioaoyama & design by @michaelryanbrennan

“elsewhere” feat. @georgia.muldrow @officialmeshell new saaaangle & visual film coming out on 3/25/26! You can watch LINK in bio ✨✨✨ “elsewhere” is a poet-funk nod to the late great Sly Stone. We made this song in the studio together just three days after his crossing over. I told Meshell I wanted to do a song in honor of him. I wrote the poem the morning of the session and we started working on the song. Felt like he was in the room with us. Everything came together in divine being. I already reached out to @novenacarmel and Georgia Anne Muldrow but they both responded the same day and joined us in creating this fusion heart speak. It brings me so much joy knowing we all on this together. So many people I love💕🌌 This song has an all star ensemble of musicians: @drumbrownie -drums @joshuaajohn - wurlitzer @mindlessinertia - keyboard @jermainepaul_ - electric bass @coryhenry - piano @ambroseire - trumpet Engineered by @davewmix @concrete.sound Prod. Meshell Ndegeocello, myself, & Justin Brown. Add. Prod. @abester8 @nicosegal & Chris Connors VIDEO—- Director - @JesseBoykins3rd Creative Direction - Jesse Boykins III & aja monet Director Of Photography - @Quinn_Feldman Assistant Director - @Iamthedan Producers - @idr_farah , Jesse Boykins III 1st AC - @camerasamurai 2nd AC - @SofyMyers Gaffer - @funeraldrip Editor - @Diego.mov Cabin Producer - @cannocchia Colorist - @Gabe_jl_Sanchez Movement Director - @qw3nga Production Design - @synthesisproductiondesign MUA - @destinyhash Head piece - @isaguadalupe Art Department - @MikeDamn , Dan Cathcart Graphic Titling, Photography - @samrerickson Photography - @MayaIman Song title art: @michaelryanbrennan

“hollyweird” is out now 🔥 gooo listen! 👂🏾 (video & song link in bio) Thank you, @everything_political i wrote “hollyweird,” on scraps of found paper, frantically jotting down observations and sentiments of the Los Angeles fires in 2025 and its aftermath. The song is an Afropunkesque ode to frustrations around our current culture of social isolation and performative solidarity. I wanted to speak to the emptiness of “hollyweird” not as a place but as a way of being where insincerity is normalized. Where social interactions become void of authenticity and we lose sight of community and connection. Thank you to the collective who all contributed to this track and video. Each of you inspire me. In memory of Mtulazaji P.E.A.C.E Davis @mtulazajidavis of Freestyle Fellowship. Music by @officialmeshell @drumbrownie @nicosegal @boombishop @drumbrownie @mindlessinertia @joshuaajohn @georgiaannemuldrow engineered & mixed by @concrete.sound Video Directors: B+ (@bpleasel ) and aja monet DP: Coleman (@ecoleye ) AC: Jeff Cerritos (@simpleassjeff ) Additional Camera: B+ Art Direction: Tsz Man Lo (@lozan816 ) PA: Sam Wohl (@samwohl ) Catering: Vera (@veraheartbeatmusic ) Editors: Eric Coleman (@ecoleye ) & Ollie Tristram (@ollietristrampost ) Post-Wizardry, effects and color: Troy Browne (@troybrowne ) Archival Research and Consultant: Antonio Buyard Thank you @daphnekolader @thefirstcolleen & @zach.tet

See yall this weekend on the Telly!! 👀🌌✨ one take 😬it was but a blur. hope i didn’t brain fart…. EXACTLY ONE WEEK FROM TODAY “THE COLOR OF RAIN” WILL BE AVAILABLE TO YOU ALL! HAVE YOU PREORDERED YET? #Repost @jools.holland.official ・・・ I am delighted to announce that Later… is back this week. We have an array of wonderful guests and on our first episode a remarkable reunion. Tune in at 10pm on Sunday on @bbctwo or @bbciplayer , see you then.

We’re extremely excited to announce that our film: Aja Monet: Live at the Blue Note, NYC Will officially premiere this summer with Rooftop Films during their 30th anniversary season in NYC. For the last three decades, Rooftop has championed independent voices in film, so the fact that we get to share this film outdoors, in community, under the New York sky feels really fucking rad! Couldn’t think of a better way to begin the journey of this film. See you 7/31 👀
 Director: @allrightsaintreserved 
Starring: @ajamonet 
Executive Producer: @mososway for @doingthisshitindie — Special Thank You to @mononoawarefilm 🫶🏽

i give thanks for this album roll out and all those aligned with the vision of these poems and songs we getting ready to share next week. “the color of rain” blooms on May 22nd. for angels in high and low places working tirelessly to help us pour this loving art and to advocate on our behalf. i affirm all doors that are meant for me to open with ease, to be aligned with our vision. that whatsoever does not mean well to us or our work be lead astray and not find us. thank you. no effort big or small to support this art goes unappreciated or unnoticed. most importantly, you, the people…. hope to see our kin n folk at a show soon, @carnegiehall May 20th! And so many other cool spots…yall got your tickets right? 👀 Oh yea and I’ve been added to the @bbc6music playlist. Listen on @bbcsounds across the week to hear ‘elsewhere’. #Repost @bbc6music ・・・ A fresh playlist to kick off your week 🔁 Listen on @bbcsounds or ask your Smart Speaker to “play 6 Music” 🎧

Happy M(other’s) Day to all the freedom fighters✨ Words! How many of us have them? Words! Ones we can depend on…

may your thoughts never betray you.

what i love most about “melting clocks” is the interplay between all the musicians, the poem, and the voice. how about yall ? lucky me, some folk I know talk to about “melting clocks” and their relationship to time. thank you to my dear friend @maceopaisley go listen to “melting clocks” feat @vicmensa & @mickjenkins and let us know how it resonates excited for my sophomore album “the color of rain” to be in the world this month on MAY 22nd, preorder it if you feel it’s worthy of your support: Hope to see kindred folk on “the elsewhere” tour. 🪐✈️ 🎥 @davidburkart_

wondering what people been feeling about the records we’ve been sharing and the intention poured into them. “melting clocks” plays on our perception of time and togetherness. i talk to some folks about “melting clocks” and their relationship to time. thank you to my dear neighbor and friend @sabaahfolayan for sharing with us. go listen to “melting clocks” and let us know how it resonates excited for my sophomore album “the color of rain” to be in the world this month on MAY 22nd, preorder it if you feel it’s worthy of your support: Hope to see kindred folk on “the elsewhere” tour. 🪐✈️ 🎥 @davidburkart_

last week we released a new poem-song-art piece called “melting clocks” and want to thank all the folks who’ve been tuning in and listening intently. i talk to some folks about melting clocks and perception of time. thank you to @joshlanemusic who also added additional vocals to this song. go listen to “melting clocks” and let us know how it resonates or doesn’t. my sophomore album “the color of rain” will be in the world on MAY 22nd, preorder it if you’re intrigued: Hope to see kindred folk on “the elsewhere” tour. 🪐✈️ 🎥 @davidburkart_

the new record has arrived! ✨🌌🎶 yesterday after one of the longest days ever, i came home to boxes of my new vinyl record. i was so exhausted but super grateful. there’s nothing like the feeling of holding your record in your hands for the first time and then playing it on a record player…with the ones you love. 💕 i put so much thought and care into this record as with the first one and i was really intentional about not compromising the design but still tryin to keep it more affordable. have you preordered your copy of “the color of rain” yet? im so excited to finally have my first copies in my hands and i can’t wait to share this record with you all. thanks to everyone whose been getting their tickets to “the elsewhere” tour. i can’t wait to see yall very soon. God willin. first date of the tour is May 20th in my hometown New York City at Carnegie Hall, yall will be able to get records there in person before it’s officially out on May 22nd! See you then 🙏🏾 happy last day of poetry month & happy international jazz day! ✨📝🎶