One of the most renowned and influential voices of our time, iconic American writer, poet, actor, dancer, director, composer and lecturer Dr. Maya Angelou posthumously released Caged Bird Songs this past November 4th, 2014 via Smooch Music.

Caged Bird Songs, produced by RoccStar and Shawn Rivera (the lead singer of the R&B vocal/pop group, Az Yet) in Los Angeles and at Angelou's North Carolina home, is a unique musical collaboration which thoughtfully blends the lyrics and recorded vocal performances of Dr. Angelou with modern day hip-hop; creating an exciting new work and presenting her words in a way that have never been heard before.

Angelou's autobiography of the same name - the first in a loosely assembled series – covers her childhood through the birth of her son while she is still a teenager, but focuses largely on a few, key pivotal moments in her life: experiencing racism at age seven, being raped by her mother’s boyfriend at age eight, experiencing homelessness, and becoming the first black female streetcar conductor in San Francisco around the age of fifteen.

To be honest, I've always loved her poetry, and her sassy attitude and these poems set to music and, at time an undefined rhythm combine both of those elements of Maya Angelou! They are incredibly effective when performed like this, but in an entirely different way. She, and her family's hope that these poems, set to music, will reach a wider, and younger audience. I believe that has now been achieved.

www.MayaAngelou.com