Words By: Bre Offenberger

Rapper Racquel Jones has released her latest album, IgnoRANT, which is set to resonate with the masses. The 12-track record is dedicated to those who have ever been judged offhand — and is a reminder that you are more than what others say about you.

“Anger” is everything you’d expect going into it — a mountain of frustration radiating from Jones as she delineates her disheartening experiences with people who hold contrasting views. A siren yelps to kick off the track, letting listeners know it’s time to give the floor and your full attention to Jones. She gets right to it, describing how she doesn’t understand how the people inflicting pain upon can also think they can tell her how to approach her life. Her show-stopping flow doesn’t falter in the slightest, not when she tells her adversaries to back off and certainly not when she reveals she’ll do anything to keep her life in this world full of hate.

“Ugly” is anything but. It kicks off with a piano riff that mirrors that of Billie Eilish’s “everything i wanted” before speeding up amidst the appearance of manipulated voices. They go through all the reasons why their significant other may have broken up with them — ranging from not being right for each other to being not beautiful enough for them. Jones comes to life, expressing how beautiful she feels despite others’ distorted concepts of beauty. She still finds it hard to be completely comfortable in her own skin, but at the end of the day, she knows her perception of herself is all that matters. As her voice fades out, the keys run to the forefront and the atmosphere around it becomes more ethereal than ever previously thought possible.

The closer, “Queen,” also has an accompanying video. It opens with Jones sitting on a bed, wearing a golden dress and emanating the confidence of any royal figure. Trumpets swarm the air as the scene changes to other women — her fellow model friends — looking on with the same energy. Jones, surrounded by her entourage, lets everyone know she deserves to have a crown on her head. They all prepare for a photoshoot before dancing together after the second rendition of the chorus. Eternia comes in with her own slick verse, admitting she will follow any requests from her king — but he should know she’s the boss of the relationship. At the end, all the models walk up the runway, proving why they were born to dominate the spotlight.

Of the album, Jones shares: “The voice of the record is addressing truth; in its raw blatant pure form void of the disposition of wrong or right. It’s my voice…along with the voice of anyone who has ever felt stereotyped. It may seem at times cynical, sarcastic, provocative and uncomfortable, but the anguish is palpable by intention. It’s a voice unique, but one that anyone can understand.”

Jones exemplifies the word “artist.” Having once been a professional model and a contestant for Miss Jamaica Universe, Jones is also an exceptional painter and visual maestro. Now, she’s proven she can rock the entire music industry, too — and that includes not just her solo rapping career, but also her work with Thievery Corporation. No matter what you like, Jones most likely excels at it, so keep her on your radar before her career explodes into full-fledged stardom.

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