Dessa is an American rapper, singer and poet, who has been described as combining “the dry wit of Dorothy Parker with the beat of Mos Def.” She’s built a career bucking categories: her records span hip hop, pop, alternative, choral, and include a live album with the Minnesota Orchestra. Her TED talk has racked up more than 2 million views and her memoir-in-essays, titled My Own Devices, received high praise from the likes of Lin-Manuel Miranda and Tegan and Sarah.