Album Review: Victoria Monet, Jaguar II

Victoria Monet

Jaguar II (released August 25, 2023)

R&B fans have been going through it over the past decade.

If you’re reading THIS post on THIS site (which, um is kinda how this works) it’s a safe bet that you already know the struggle. R&B fans have watched the genre’s biggest legends abandon their core audience to chase trends; we’ve heard literal computer programs corrup the lush harmonies that defined the genre, pumping out soulless drivel instead; and we’ve seen the art of songwriting – once poetic and heartfelt – crumble into the equivalent of your little niece’s troll tweets.

That’s why we spent the entirety of the 2010s hearing this question:

“Who will be the savior of R&B?”

And I’ve spent the entirely of the 2010s dismissing that term.

Searching for one great musical messiah to turn the clock back to 1994 is the wrong approach. Hoping that Usher Raymond masters time travel and transforms into 2004 Usher won’t do it. Comparing the current generation of artists – who are scraping by without the massive budgets and radio placements of their predecessors – to the legends of yesteryear won’t do it.

I don’t want one artist to put a struggling genre on their back. I want fresh concepts and sounds across the board; I want modern, nuanced songwriting; I want vocal performances that dazzle and a stage presence that captivates.

What I want sounds a lot like Jaguar II.

The greatest irony of Victoria Monet’s career is while fans bicker about R&B’s next great hope, she’s constantly been in the background honing her craft. Her pen has birthed hits and Grammy nominations for artists like Ariana Grande and Chloe X Halle, and her resume swings from Nas and Kendrick Lamar to Blackpink and Selena Gomez.

And while her 2020 EP Jaguar rightfully turned heads, it’s the sequel LP with producer D’Mile that takes everything to another level.

It’s the Terminator 2: Judgement Day of modern R&B albums.

Perhaps the greatest strength of Monet’s union with D’Mile is that every song on this project has its own identity. Trying to judge this album based on one song is a major mistake. Each track is its own experience.

First single “Smoke” showcases Monet and guest Lucky Daye leaving their cares in the wind, literally. The pair boast great chemistry as the beat slowly bounces like a caterpillar Harlem shaking.

The real Harlem shake, by the way, not that weird version y’all were doing in 2013.

“Party Girls” captures the vibes of a sweaty night in Jamacia, but just as the slow wine starts getting a little TOO slow for my tastes, Buju Banton pops up in the nick of time to raise the stakes and breathe life into the tempo.

And then we have “On My Mama,” the uncrowned Song of the Summer champion. With a hook tailor made for Tik Tok and enough energy for an infinite number of radio show countdowns (…if they even still have those), Victoria drops the cockiest anthem of 2023, featuring an infectious beat and an endless supply of one-liners. In case you didn’t know, she “might be too fine to hit it from behind.” Talk your talk.

Each single has its own feel, and that trend continues throughout the album. “Cadillac (A Pimp’s Anthem)” is a silky but commanding ode to the blaxploitation era, and Monet makes it clear that she’s nobody’s sidepiece, she’s the star of this Player’s Ball. Black Dynamite would be knocking this one through his 8-track. Ladies is pimps too, go’on and brush your shoulders off.

“Stop (Askin Me 4 Sh*t)” is proof they really did clone Tyrone, as Monet takes a cue from Badu and dresses down her deadbeat partner. While modern R&B has no shortage of songs that drag bad relationships, it’s the songwriting that makes this one memorable: “Just got paid/and the hair is laid/and my soul is saved/and I’m not your maid.”

But if you’re in the mood for more traditional sounds, Jaguar II has you covered. “How Does It Make You Feel” rises from the tides of toxic misery to give us the rarest Pokemon of them all in 2023 – a heartfelt love song. Her vocals soar elegantly as the track reaches its crescendo. “Hollywood” is equally stunning, featuring delicate, graceful production that mirrors the big dreams of fame Victoria shares. Plus, she landed an Earth, Wind & Fire feature! And the album closer “Good Bye” harkens back to 60s-era soul for a glorious sendoff to both her relationship and listeners.

Jaguar II may just be a little over a half hour long, but it maximizes every second. Though no two songs sound the same, there’s enough connective tissue to make the album extremely cohesive. In fact, it reminds me a lot of Amerie’s celebrated debut album in structure – a tight, streamlined release headlined by noteworthy singles but carried by soulful, superior album cuts. Every song carries its weight, and this is a much better project because of it.

It’s been a long time since I’ve heard a R&B album this well-performed, this well-constructed, and well, this fun.

On the track “I’m the One,” Victoria boasts, “You would have already won if you knew I was the one.”

She’s talking to you, R&B fans.

No, I won’t call Victoria the savior. But Jaguar II just might be the blueprint for a better decade of R&B.

Best tracks: “On My Mama,” “Cadillac (A Pimp’s Anthem),” “How Does It Make You Feel”

4.5 stars out of 5