Released: August 25, 2023
Genre: R&B
Label: Lovett Music ∙ RCA
Producer: D’Mile ∙ Deputy ∙ Dready ∙ Jeff Gitelman ∙ Kaytranada ∙ Tim Suby ∙ xSDTRK ∙ Yogi
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Victoria Monét is finally getting the recognition she deserves as one of the leading R&B girls of today. For over a decade, Victoria has been a songwriter for numerous artists, including herself. The release of her fifth EP Jaguar gave the singer-songwriter widespread acclaim and the breakthrough as an artist that she deserved from the get go.
Victoria Monét’s debut studio album Jaguar II was released on August 25, 2023 via Lovett Music & RCA Records. Released as the second and final installment in the Jaguar series, Jaguar II was originally supposed to be apart of a trilogy of EP projects that lead to her debut album. Due to the projects being delayed, it became reduced to only two, with this album being promoted as the debut.
Similar to the first installment of Jaguar, Jaguar II continues the themes of the singer being multi-dimensional, the good life and downright authentic 70s soul vibes that you can just play all the way through. Primarily collaborating with longtime producer Dernst “D’Mile” Emile II, Victoria’s Jaguar II pays homage to the old and new school R&B/soul without being too caught up in copying the styles of funk, R&B and soul from back in the day.
Jaguar II has peaked at number 22 on the Billboard R&B albums chart, and 60 on the Billboard 200 respectively. The album was nominated for Best R&B album & Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical for the 2024 Grammy Awards.
Ladies & Gentlemen, I present to you Victoria Monét’s Jaguar II.
Smoke (featuring Lucky Daye)
Written by Victoria Monét ∙ David Brown ∙Dernst Emile II ∙ Timothy Murdock Suby ∙ Yogesh Tulsani ∙ Maurice White
Released as the lead single from Jaguar II, Smoke opens up the album and introduces what the vibe of what the album is going to be giving: a smoky and wild adventure. Featuring Lucky Daye, the song lyrically is about the joy that can come with smoking weed. The lyrics does an amazing job painting the visual of two people just coming together to hotbox and smoke the worries and problems away.
***Smoke contains a portion of
- Brazilian Rhyme: Interlude by Earth Wind & Fire
Smoke (Reprise)
Written by Victoria Monét ∙ Dernst Emile II
Smoke (Reprise) serves as a beautiful interlude that makes the transition from Smoke to the subsequent song a breezeeeeeeee honey!
Party Girls (featuring Buju Banton)
Written by Victoria Monét ∙ Yonatan Ayal ∙ Karl Daniel ∙ Dernst Emile II ∙ Tommy Lumpkins ∙ Mark Myrie ∙ Elena Pinderhughes ∙ Theron Thomas
Released as the second single from the album, Party Girls is a NASTYYYYYY bop okay! Nasty meaning top tier, 10s across the board. just addictive honestly and truly. From a lyrical perspective, the song speaks to having the time of your life when you’re on the party scene. The song features Jamaican musician Buju Banton, who’s known for being one of the biggest artists in reggae music.
Alright
Written by Victoria Monét ∙ Louis Kevin Celestin
Alright has the singer collaborating with the amazinggggg producer Kaytranada, and is one of my highlights from the album! Alright is an empowerment anthem to me, and I think you should see it that way as well. The lyrical content celebrates themes of self-assurance, independence and embracing sexuality. TOP TIER AF!
Cadillac (A Pimp’s Anthem)
Written by Victoria Monét ∙ Elena Pinderhughes ∙ Dernst Emile II ∙ Timothy Murdock Suby
And you might get five with the black hand side, no lie!! We keep it smooth like a Cadillac, with the diamond spinners in the back..
Victoria Monét, Cadillac (A Pimp’s Anthem,) 2023
The themes of Alright transitions over to Cadillac (A Pimp’s Anthem,) another gem on the album I was fascinated with on the exact first listening of the album. Cadillac (A Pimp’s Anthem) sounds so similar to Anthony Hamilton’s Comin’ From Where I’m From, which is a fire fucking song itself. Like whew. The song challenges the societal perceptions of women not having the ability to be “pimps,” and Victoria said yes we can bitch! One thing I love about Victoria is that she is a firm believer in challenging gender roles in her art. Like women can really do ANYTHING!
How Does It Make You Feel
Written by Victoria Monét ∙ Dernst Emile II
How Does It Make You Feel speaks to the emotional connection two lovers share when it comes to the beauty of their love. If not one of her best songs this far, it’ll be there in the long run. A true R&B record!
On My Mama
Written by Victoria Monét ∙ Dernst Emile II ∙ Jeff Gitelman ∙ Kyla Moscovich ∙ Jamil Pierre ∙ Charles Williams
On My Mama is going to be one of our “what you know about this” records 20-30 years from now. Because the production and lyrics, are remarkable. From a lyrical perspective, the song serves as a Black girl track, and marks Victoria’s first entry on the Billboard Hot 100 as a solo artist, peaking at number 48. The song is also 13 on the R&B charts. On My Mama has also received two nominations at the upcoming 66th Annual Grammy Awards for Record of the Year and Best R&B Song.
***On My Mama contains a sample of:
- I Look Good by Chalie Boy
I’m the One
Written by Victoria Monét ∙ Dernst Emile II ∙ Timothy Murdock Suby
I’m the One explores themes of unrequited love, and speaks to the desire of being the one for the person they are truly longing for love from. A gem.
Stop (Askin’ Me 4Shyt)
Written by Victoria Monét ∙ James Fauntleroy ∙Dernst Emile II ∙ Yonatan Ayal ∙ Timothy Murdock Suby
A nigga just got paid…
And the hair is laid!
And my soul is saved, but I’m not your bank!
Victoria Monét, Stop (Askin’ Me 4Shyt,) 2023
Stop (Askin’ Me 4Shyt) should be the national anthem, and rightfully so. The song addresses how the singer is fed up with people asking for favors and not being reciprocal. The feelings of frustration are there and we can all relate to how exhausting it can be to deal with people like that.
Hollywood (featuring Earth, Wind & Fire and Hazel Monét)
Written by Victoria Monét ∙ Hazel Monét Gaines ∙ Dernst Emile II ∙ Timothy Murdock Suby
Hollywood is a wonderful collaboration between Victoria and Earth, Wind & Fire babyyyyyy. Yes. THE Earth, Wind & Fire are featured on this song with the singer and her young daughter Hazel. Lyrically, Hollywood is a song that speaks about the experience and excitement that comes with the magical place and to not lose any sense of how simplistic it is to enjoy the simple things and not get too caught up in the entertainment industry.
Good Bye
Written by Victoria Monét ∙Dernst Emile II
Good Bye closes out the album, and it is a perfect song to do so. From a lyrical perspective, the singer speaks about how the relationship isn’t working out but she would love one more night with them. A songggggg.
Jaguar II was easily one of the best highlights of music in 2023. I truly loved and enjoyed how Victoria Monét puts her ALL into her bodies of work. It’s a true mastepiece and I am beyond excited to see what’s to come from her career. She is truly one of the leading ladies of R&B that gets it and gets it well. -MW.
markizdj.com 