Victoria Monét’s Jaguar II : Deluxe: Where elegance meets empowerment

On Oct. 4, the R&B singer-songwriter Victoria Monét released her studio album JAGUAR II : Deluxe which is a mix of jazz-infused R&B and soul music. A Grammy award-winning artist (Best New Artist), Monét has gained significant recognition for her music and songwriting, making her mark in the music industry. With her 10 tracks in the album JAGUAR II : Deluxe, she continues on her original album Jaguar II, further exploring themes such as self-discovery and love.

The album begins with the track “On My Mama”, which features her versatile vocals and rich sound production; it peaked at 20 in the Billboard Hot R&B Songs charts. The song’s buoyant rhythm reflects the mood of Jaguar II. The hit single, produced by, D’Mile, Deputy, and Jeff “Gitty” Gitelman, sampled Charlie Boy’s 2009 bop in the track. These influences make it more interesting for listeners to discover new eras of R&B, like early 2000s hip-pop. A successful collaboration in the album was the song “SOS” with Usher which peaked at 1 on R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay for two consecutive weeks and was her song on the Billboard Hot 100, reaching No. 33.

Another notable song on her album is “Smoke,” which explores topics like vulnerability and relationships, with melodic harmonies. It features smooth vocals from featuring collaborative artist Lucky Daye. Produced again by D’Mile, the track combines soul music and R&B, creating a rich sound in the music production. Her collaboration with Lucky Daye creates soothing vocals that capture the listeners.

The album also has the song “Alright”, which focuses on resilience, freedom, and liberation. It is an upbeat and lively song; it references two legendary artists, Michael Jackson's "Thriller" and Nicole Kidman's AMC commercial. Monét’s lyrics speak of empowerment and the importance of remaining optimistic during hard times. This theme of empowerment is also shown across numerous tracks, like “Party Girls,” featuring Buju Banton, which promotes self-expression. The track “Hollywood,” featuring the well-known band Earth, Wind & Fire and Hazel Monét, is a song that combines R&B, funk, and soul music. This collaboration showcases Monét's capabilities in fusing genres together to create something exciting.

As you progress throughout the album, listeners are exposed to a variety of musical arrangements and styles, such as “Stop (Askin’ Me 4Shyt)” and “Cadillac (A Pimp's Anthem)” which demonstrate Monét's passion for music and confidence. The album also has more lighthearted tracks like “2SEXY (Interlude),” whereas “Smoke (Reprise)” goes back to the main themes in the album. To sum up the album, JAGUAR II : Deluxe is an engaging addition to her discography, as it binds various genres such as soul and R&B, while also referencing other artists.

Top Tracks: Smoke, Alright and Hollywood