Written by Maria Arroyo
The incredibly outspoken Jamaican rapper, Racquel Jones, recently shared her fire 12-track album IgnoRANT via Magnetic Moon Records. Also known for being a model, painter, singer/songwriter, and poet, the former Miss Jamaica Universe contestant leaves no stones unturned in this incredibly crafted new project.
“The voice of the record is addressing truth,” Jones shares. “in its raw blatant pure form void of the disposition of wrong or right… That’s me, I’m that voice. I’m Racquel Jones. I create music that’s conceptual, but not too esoteric; intelligent but dope, relatable yet deep, revolutionary and soulful, thoughtful in its words, learned in its language, but totally accessible. That’s me and I’m baring my soul for the world to see and hear.”
The opening track, “Invocation,” introduces a lo-fi hip-hop vibe that tells a to-the-point narrative, while also alluding to the absolute masterpiece that this album is going to be.
Her next track, “Sacrilege,” is the first track that brought Racquel Jones to my attention. Before this track, I didn’t have the pleasure of hearing her story, and this song pulled me straight in.
Jones describes this song as a “blatant denouncement of religion, specifically Catholicism and what it represents for Black people whose history was intercepted by slavery.”
This track reinforces this powerful energy that she has about her, on top of being in a male-dominated industry. She touches upon things that no one wants to talk about, and honestly, she has more guts than most people out there.
Be sure to catch the incredibly executed music video for “Sacrilege” here!
On her next track, “Anger,” she is without a doubt, embracing her masculine energy, and we are all here for it! For anyone looking for songs with female-empowering energy, you should have her songs on your playlist!
“Daddy Issues” is rooted in this need to take back our sexual power as women, which is only reinforced by the message of the rest of the album. Jones shows some versatility by showcasing her vocal skills outside of rapping, as well.
Her next song, “Manic,” is hands down unbelievable. The line: “I reflect their inner fears, It’s the you, you see inside me,” sticks with me well after the song is over, and holds so much power behind its words. I truly think this was the most dynamic track on the record, and the energy surrounding the song is unstoppable.
The track, “Jungle,” spills out every truth imaginable whether you’re ready for it or not. This song “paints an explicit and unrestrained picture of colorism, misogyny, and the way women with dark skin have been fetishized in our society,” whereas her next tracks, “Ugly,” “Heartless,” and “Hurt,” all manage to “turn inward and examine more personal topics of body image, self-love, and how systematic oppression affects people on the individual level.”
The closing track is Jones‘ way of capping off the record with the powerful and emboldening message of “Queen.”
The video for “Queen” features herself with three other beautiful models: Seema Hari, Obianibeli Esu, and Bria Fleming, they tell the story of the oppressed and discriminated against.
“The thing that all these women have in common is their dark beautiful skin, that at some point in their lives they were made to feel like it was a badge of shame, that they confidently stood up against that discrimination and wore it proudly, unapologetically and confidently,” Jones shares. “I identify with being a darker-skinned woman, having grown up in a country [Jamaica] challenged with colorism and my brief encounter with the negative side of the beauty industry. I have been rejected at castings and turned down for jobs simply because of the tone of my skin,” Jones remarks on the music video for “Queen.”
“I have a passion for empowering women, as I feel like we’re one of the most powerful and beautiful creations, yet society was structured to make us feel inferior, weak, divided, and objectified. So this is a song/video to remind all women about how amazing and powerful we are, and that we have allies and support in each other, to strengthen and empower each other,” she proclaimed.
Watch the striking music video for “Queen” here!
IgnoRANT covers everything from the toxicity that comes from religion, specifically Christianity, and Catholicism in her case, to racism, and sexism, and it could not have come at a better time.
She continues to accomplish more than the last, with this new record at the top of it all.
“It’s my voice, along with the voice of anyone who has ever felt stereotyped. It’s the voice of undiplomatic gritty intelligence, relatable to all cultures, transcending pop cultural vernacular and waves. It’s the voice of powerful women made to feel powerless. It’s the voice of black kings made to feel less than human. It’s the voice of sexual freedom in the face of misogynistic false standards for women. It’s the voice of a young Jamaican woman who’s seen the world and its parallel stereotype universes in all cultures.”
Connect with Racquel Jones
Website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | Spotify | Apple Music
