The Christmas holiday has long since passed. But if you’re in the mood for biblical stories, The Book Of Clarence has you covered. In November, to build up hype for the film, director Jeymes Samuel began to tease the supporting soundtrack back by Jay-Z.
Starting strong, Samuel dropped the lead single, “Hallelujah Heaven,” featuring Lil Wayne, Buju Banton, and Shabba Ranks. Since then, details surrounding the soundtrack have been sparse. So, when does the soundtrack for The Book Of Clarence come out?
Although an official release date has not been announced, it would be safe to assume that the project will be released in alignment with the film’s theatrical debut on January 12. Hopefully, the soundtrack will be made publicly available across streaming services the day before to give ticketholders time to absorb the project. In a press statement, Samuel shared his excitement for the musical side of the film.
“While I was working on ‘The Harder They Fall,’ and all my other projects, the story and the music for ‘The Book of Clarence’ were always there percolating in my mind,” he said. “There was never a question as to whether I would compose the score and write and perform on the soundtrack, as well as write and direct the movie. It was all one amazing journey where one depended on the other. But I also worked with the most awesome artists on our track ‘Hallelujah Heaven.’ Collaborating with Lil Wayne, Buju Banton, and Shabba Ranks was so dope; I loved getting them all on the same track.”
During a sit-down with Elliott Wilson, Jay-Z confirmed that he does appear on the soundtrack by way of an over 9-minute-long collaboration with D’Angelo.
One of the highlights of the films of Jeymes Samuel (aka The Bullitts) is the soundtrack albums he curates for them. In 2021, I praised the soundtrack of The Harder They Fall, writing that the movie often works best as a themed music video a la Beyoncé’s Black Is King. It looks like that may continue to be the case with Samuel’s next upcoming film, The Book Of Clarence, as Samuel shares its first soundtrack song, “Hallelujah Heaven” featuring Lil Wayne and dancehall legends Buju Banton and Shabba Ranks.
Samuel’s love for dancehall and reggae artists was also a fixture of the Harder They Fall soundtrack, which featured Barrington Levy, Dennis Brown, and Koffee in addition to rappers like Jay-Z, Jadakiss, and Conway The Machine. The Book Of Clarence will likewise contain appearances from Jay-Z (who is again credited as a producer for Samuels’ latest work), Kid Cudi, Jorja Smith, and more.
The Book Of Clarence is set in 33 AD and follows the exploits of the titular character (portrayed by LaKeith Stanfield) as he tries to follow in the footsteps of Jesus Christ — not as a disciple but as an imitator, looking to get rich quick. The film is set to hit theaters in January 2024.
You can listen to “Hallelujah Heaven” above and check out the new Book Of Clarence trailer below.
The RX is Uproxx Music’s stamp of approval for the best albums, songs, and music stories throughout the year. Inclusion in this category is the highest distinction we can bestow, and signals the most important music being released throughout the year. The RX is the music you need, right now.
Humility is often painted as a superpower that has its strength in being a cornerstone for one’s success. For it to work best, it’s sad that other dominant qualities must be submissive in its presence. Confidence works hand-in-hand with it while pride takes a back seat. The alleged beauty behind humility has been professed in numerous ways by many for centuries upon centuries. Confucius called humility the “solid foundation of all virtues” while Rick Pitino said it’s the “true key to success.” Though these examples are not wrong per se, a more accurate one, arguably, can be credited to William Law who said humility is “nothing else but a right judgment of ourselves.”
The “right judgment” portion of that quote is as subjective as ever and on her new album Jaguar II, Victoria Monét declares her own judgment of self and the world around her. The irony here is that through the project’s 11 songs, Monét’s right judgment of self actually sheds the humility that has lived beside her in a career that’s lasted over a decade. For years, Monét was known for her songwriting as she penned records for Diddy, Ariana Grande, Chris Brown, Fifth Harmony, Chloe X Halle, Blackpink, and more – all while working on her own music. It wasn’t until recently that the scales of both seemed to even out, something she wished for back in 2020. “[My] songwriting took off before my [own music] so it wasn’t like I made a decision, I was trying to do both,” she explained in Wonderland Magazine interview. “Now I’m just trying to even the playing field.”
Successful songwriters are often left to live in the shadows of the background making for a disconnect between that and their own releases. That hasn’t been the case as of late for Monét. If her 2020 EP Jaguar was the connection and spark, her debut album Jaguar II is the electric field and bright lights that rightfully resulted. Monét shines with blinding radiance on songs that find her as confident as ever from start to finish on her latest release. Whether it be through the shimmering dance number that is the Kaytranada-produced “Alright,” or the sexy and uplifting “Party Girls,” Monét finds a way to be simultaneously jaguar-like in her fearless approach and as sleek and classy as the luxury vehicle that shares her album’s namesake
At the very center of this album, comes multiple swipes at humility. Monét specifically calls out the extinction of humility in her world moments into “On My Mama.” She pierces through each line with unfiltered cockiness while allowing not an inch of doubt to creep into her statements so as to not invalidate them. More indirectly, we see Monét pop the collar of her fur coat on “Cadillac (A Pimp’s Anthem) while mocking the idea that women can’t be pimps. The tone of disgust is prominent on “Stop (Asking Me 4Shyt)” as she’s in disbelief at the requests a man makes to her for money and other items. Lastly, in what is one of the best moments on the album, Victoria Monét paints herself as a flawless gem on “I’m The One,” perfect in all ways and specifically crafted for a lover who fails to see her as this fairytale love story. Humility often calls for a level of timidness and reservation in how one presents themselves, but for Monét this moment had been over a decade in the making. There isn’t room for dimming the light that she wired tirelessly to make shine.
The Victoria Monét that lives throughout Jaguar II isn’t new by any means. Her bold approach was at the center of Jaguar where records like “Ass Like That” and “Moment” marvelously presented her worth as a diamond in the rough. Much of the same is present on Jaguar II, just refined and crafted to a level that makes the multitalented singer’s artistry more pristine than ever. With heavy production from D’Mile, who has laced irresistible and pleasing records for the likes of Ty Dolla Sign, Snoh Aalegra, Lucky Daye, HER, Mary J. Blige, Silk Sonice, and more Victoria Monét had the necessary tools, both internal and external, to achieve that excellence that is Jaguae II. As she boldly proclaimed on her latest project, Victoria Monét is the one. So yes, humility to the wind and everything else like it. Her blinding radiance looks better and makes for the ideal ingredient in her recipe for success.
Jaguar II is out now via RCA Records/Lovett Music, Inc. Find out more information here.
Victoria Monét wowed with her 2020 EP Jaguar and now her long-awaited debut album, Jaguar II, is finally approaching. She revealed the cover art and release date (August 25) last month and announced last week that she’s going on tour. Now we know a bit more about he album: specifically, the tracklist.
Monét shared that today (July 17) and the 11-track album includes features from Lucky Daye; Buju Banton; Hazel Monét; and Earth, Wind & Fire; as well as a song produced by Kaytranada. Fans were excited about the collaborators, as Kaytranada and Earth, Wind & Fire were trending topics on Twitter after Monét’s reveal.
While unveiling the tracklist on social media, Monét wrote, “I present to you: The JAGUAR II TRACKLIST!!!! I’m so happy to finally share this with you!! Look at these FEATURES [crying emojis] screaming..what is life?! from the titles alone, which songs do you think will be your favorites? I’m so curious.”
I present to you: The JAGUAR II TRACKLIST!!!!
I’m so happy to finally share this with you!! Look at these FEATURES screaming..what is life?! from the titles alone, which songs do you think will be your favorites? I’m so curious pic.twitter.com/u21Va3YQae
1. “Smoke” Feat. Lucky Daye
2. “Smoke” (Reprise)
3. “Party Girls” Feat. Buju Banton
4. “Alright” (Prod. by Kaytranada)
5. “Cadillac (A Pimp’s Anthem)”
6. “How Does It Make You Feel”
7. “On My Mama”
8. “I’m The One”
9. “Stop (Askin’ Me 4Shyt)”
10. “Hollywood” Feat. Earth, Wind & Fire and Hazel Monét
11. “Good Bye”
Jaguar II is out 8/25 via Lovett Music/RCA Records. Find more information here.
Grammy-winning reggae artist Buju Banton is set to release his highly anticipated album, Born For Greatness, on Sept. 8, 2023. The album, featuring 17 new tracks, will be released through Gargamel Music/Roc Nation Records/Def Jam Recordings.
Born For Greatness takes listeners on a journey through various vibes, starting with the cinematic opener “Ageless Time” and culminating in the triumphant finale of “Let My People Go.” Buju also collaborates with notable artists on the album, including Victoria Monét on the sultry “Body Touching Body” and Stephen Marley on the emotionally charged “Feel A Way.” Fans have been eagerly awaiting this reggae blockbuster, and the album promises to showcase Buju Banton’s signature style and musical prowess. Born For Greatness is set to solidify Buju’s status as an international reggae icon.
Buju shared: “Another milestone, Another stage. I embrace it all. I’ve accepted the change. Here is something special. From my experience and musical journey. An ode to those who acknowledge the struggles and challenges that surmount. And others who will, your eyes are not deceiving you nor are your ears, you were born for greatness. I embrace you with love melodies and music.”
Arriving with the album announcement is the title track, “Born For Greatness” available below.
Victoria Monét recently announced the release date for her highly anticipated debut album, Jaguar II. The Sacramento singer-songwriter’s official full-length debut will be released on August 25 via Lovett Music and RCA. The album will serve as a sequel to her previous release, which was the Jaguar EP back in 2020. Though Jaguar II marks her official introduction, Victoria Monét has been established for over a decade.
Monét started her career as a songwriter and has written for many artists, including Diddy, Coco Jones, Fifth Harmony, Chloe x Halle, Brandy, Blackpink, and close collaborator Ariana Grande. Victoria became a successful songwriter before starting a career as a recording artist, where she released many EPs and featured songs from notable artists. Additionally, she has previously been featured on songs by Ariana Grande, Ty Dolla $ign, Nas, T.I., Wale, and Lupe Fiasco.
This is a list of her best songs, many of which come from Jaguar. While Monét’s oldest EPs have plenty of gems, her greatest songs so far have been released recently as she has focused on building a career as a singer and performer. Many of Monét’s best songs also include singles from the upcoming Jaguar II album, which have set the bar incredibly high for an already anticipated project. Take a look at the list of Victoria Monét’s top five best songs below, ranked from least to greatest.
5. “Smoke” feat. Lucky Daye (2023)
One of the singles from the upcoming Jaguar II album, “Smoke,” has already become one of Victoria Monét’s best songs. The song’s downbeat groove is reminiscent of “Dive” and “Go There With You” from Jaguar but with even better production. The melody on the hook is catchy on its own, but the hook is an enjoyable moment and equally as memorable. New Orleans singer Lucky Daye features on the song, contributing his own verses and ad-libbing Victoria Monét’s verses. Their singing voices complement each other nicely, especially when they harmonize. The song is about smoking, both in the lyrics but emphasizes the song’s vibe as “that sh*t you smoke to.”
4. “Party Girls” feat. Buju Banton (2023)
Another single from the forthcoming Jaguar II, “Party Girls,” is an early contender for Song of the Summer. It starts as an R&B jam before completely transforming into a dancehall track. The melody from Victoria Monét is undeniably catchy, no matter the tempo. The feature from legendary dancehall musician Buju Banton and the sample from Dave Kelly’s iconic “Showtime Riddim” bring a lively energy to the danceable second half of the song. “Party Girls” stands out among Victoria Monét’s slow-jam heavy catalog, highlighting her ability to fuse her signature pop/R&B sound with other genres and influences.
3. “Coastin’” (2021)
Many of Victoria Monét’s best songs are feel-good vibes to enjoy on a sunny day. Influenced by her home state of California, “Coastin’” captures a ‘70s sound with its relaxed yet joyful instrumental. The song is perfect for summertime driving, relaxing on the beach, or even a party.
2. “F.*.C.K.” (2021)
“F.*.C.K.” puts Victoria Monét’s skills as a songwriter on full display, which is one of many reasons her songs are so captivating. Monét had previously made similar intimate slow-jams like “Moment,” but “F.*.C.K.” is some of her best writing. An acronym for “Friend U Can Keep,” the song is about friends with benefits and is one of her most skillfully written R&B tracks.
1. “Ass Like That” (2019)
“Ass Like That” is a brilliantly written song about working out. The Jaguar single’s instrumental is laidback and is written masterfully. The gym is personified to help Victoria start her fitness journey and show she is proud of her accomplishments. The message of “Ass Like That” speaks to achieving personal goals and loving yourself in your body. It is Victoria Monét’s best song, lyrically and vocally.
Three years ago, Victoria Monét took a huge step upward in her career with the release of her Jaguar project. Through nine songs, guest appearances from Khalid & SG Lewis, and highlights like “Moment” and “Ass Like That,” Monét showed off the polished and provocative sides of her artistry without error. In the end, Monét proved that she was worth attention to going forward in her career. Fans have been patiently waiting for a follow-up to that project, and at long last, we know when it will arrive.
In posts to her social media pages, Monét confirmed that her next project Jaguar II will arrive on August 25. A pre-save link of the project revealed that Jaguar II will be released with 11 songs including the previously released singles “Smoke” with Lucky Daye, “Party Girls” with Buju Banton, and “On My Mama.”
In an interview with Zane Lowe on Apple Music (per a press release) from back in May, Monét opened up about Jaguar II and what fans should expect from it:
You know what? I feel really lucky that, even from Jaguar Part One, I had planned for it to be a three-part project. So this album … this album is called Jaguar Part Two … so it really kind of breathes new life into Part One. If you’re just now catching onto me as an artist, you’ll know, it’s because it’s Part Two, that there was a Part One, so you may revisit it. And when I do tour this album… Hey, hey, hey. When I do tour this album, I will be doing songs from Part One, as well. So I feel like… because I’m still in this era, I get to still show love. It really became a result of observation of people’s attention span. And I know that, if people are just getting introduced to an artist, if they see a long list, a long album, they may get kind of overwhelmed, so I kind of always intended to microdose my style and my music to people in segments. But as I went on, I just kind of kept adding songs to those little segments. I know that there won’t be a Part Three anymore, because obviously, didn’t expect to take three years in between Part One and Part Two, or have a child in between.
You can view the artwork for Jaguar II above.
Jaguar II is out 8/25 via Lovett Music/RCA Records. Find out more information here.
Songibrd Victoria Monét is undoubtedly a force to be reckoned with. Her musical talents are one thing, but she commands attention when she hits the stage. The Georgia-born, California-raised singer-songwriter has been working on her craft since childhood. Around 2010, the dancer began exploring other avenues, and after taking a shot at writing poetry, a new skill developed.
Since that time, Monét has catapulted into the industry. Her songwriting and production credits include the likes of Ariana Grande, Chrisette Michele, Fifth Harmony, Brandy, and Chloe x Halle—just to name a few. This week, Victoria shared her latest single, “Party Girls,” featuring music icon Buju Banton. With her forthcoming album Jaguar Pt. II on the horizon, Monét sits down with Zane Lowe for Apple Music 1 and details what’s coming in her next season. Read through a few takeaways below.
Victoria Monét Talks “Party Girls”
“So it actually started with just a bassline that was playing in the studio. It was one of those nights where we were doing a couple ideas, and for some reason, I heard it…He heard it really musically and soulful, and I heard it in a Caribbean influence. And we didn’t see eye to eye on it at first. But he was like, I understand afterward, when it all came together.”
“So then it became this multi-version song, where there’s transitions in different … The hook only plays the way you hear it the first time, once, and there are transitions. And then Buju’s part sounds so big and epic…we actually went to Jamaica to shoot the video, and when we were there…my mom is the one who actually introduced me to Buju, and I just remember his voice… I couldn’t forget it. I was like, ‘Who is that? Who is my mom listening to?’”
All About Jaguar Pt. II
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 26: Victoria Monét attends the 62nd Annual GRAMMY Awards at STAPLES Center on January 26, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Rich Fury/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)
“You know what? I feel really lucky that, even from Jaguar Part One, I had planned for it to be a three-part project. So this album … This album is called Jaguar Part Two … so it really kind of breathes new life into Part One. If you’re just now catching onto me as an artist, it’s because it’s Part Two, that there was a Part One, so you may revisit it.
“When I do tour this album, I will be doing songs from Part One, as well. So, I feel like… because I’m still in this era, I get to still show love. It really became a result of observation of people’s attention span. And I know that, if people are just getting an introduced to an artist, if they see a long list, a long album, they may get kind of overwhelmed. So, I kind of always intended to microdose my style and my music to people in segments. But as I went on, I just kind of kept adding songs to those little segments. I know that there won’t be a Part Three anymore, because obviously, didn’t expect to take three years in between Part One and Part Two, or have a child in between.”
How Victoria Monét Navigates The Industry
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 06: Victoria Monét performs onstage during ‘Take Pride’ Live! presented by Indeed at The Rainbow Room on June 06, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Rob Kim/Getty Images for Indeed)
“It feels like a movie to me. It feels like the plot is thick. And if I were to look backwards, I know why certain things happened, positive or negative, but I wouldn’t know that until I get to the end. So within … navigating the music industry, there was times where I was miserable and burnt out. And there was also times where I felt so elated and naturally high just because of whatever was going on, or the song that I made, or the success that it had, or the way it made people feel.”
“It’s just kind of like a rollercoaster and a movie, and so, when I look back on it at the end of my life, I just want it to be filled with mostly happiness… I bleed music. It’s just what I really love to do. So it’s almost just like my skin, I’m not really going to change it, it’s just what I am and what I love.”
Selling Out Her First Headlining Tour In One Minute
“I feel really, really excited. Just doing my first headlining tour, it sold out in one minute. Insane. My mom called me, she was like, ‘Victoria, I can’t get tickets.’ I was like, mom, come on, I got yours. I got yours, I promise you can come. But it was just very crazy. I’m so, so excited to put out this next project, I’m already wanting to work on the next one, because I know that… once tours happens, I’m going to want to start doing the next phase. So, I just want to get into the creative process already, now. And I kind of have the concept for the next era, as well, so I’m really excited to just keep rolling.”
World Building With Her Albums
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – SEPTEMBER 04: Victoria Monét performs onstage during 2022 Made In America at Benjamin Franklin Parkway on September 04, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Roc Nation)
“I have a team of women, mostly, and we are on a group chat just checking every box, making sure everything makes sense. And the biggest thing that I wanted to do with Jaguar is to make sure that if we were to take the concept and say, build a house, or even a theme park, you would be able to see things from the videos. You’d be able to… Things you can touch and see and feel and smell. And it’s just such a strong environment that you know it’s a Jaguar era. And then, when I switch, that we’ve got a whole new park. It’s like a whole new world.”
“I feel like it allows me to not feel so obligated to stay within one lane of myself. I really want to be able to give layers and turn pages, and really create a difference between each project so people can feel, and they understand, oh, when she was feeling like this, this is the color palette, this is the mood, this is what the environment looked like. And then, maybe this age … I mean, I feel like when Adele names her projects after her age, it’s very clear, to me, it’s like, oh, this is how you feel at this age, and the concepts within it.”
“As far as family is concerned, I could not do what I do without my family. I have realized, more than ever, that it really takes a tribe. And I only have one child, and I can imagine, for families of three and four, and … so my mom’s taking shifts, my boyfriend’s taking shifts while I’m in the studio, and just being able to focus. I have the luxury of being able to have a nanny, which has become family. My friends, it’s like a community is really raising this one child. And I can look up to so many people that helped raise me. So, it’s the most important thing, because we’re not in this world to be alone. We’re not I Am Legend, you know what I mean?”
DJ Khaled is on a roll. After unleashing his new GOD DID album, the We The Best leader has returned with five new videos.
Of the new releases is “Big Time,” featuring Future and Lil Baby. Quavo and Takeoff join DJ Khaled in the “Party All the Time” video, and another pair of rap elite in Nardo Wick and Kodak Black are in the “It’ Ain’t Safe” video.
The trio of Lil Durk, 21 Savage, and Roddy Ricch rejoin for “Keep Going.” The fifth video is “These Streets Know My Name,” featuring Skillibeng, Buju Banton, Capleton, Bounty Killer & Sizzla.
DJ Khaled recently dropped his 12th album, Khaled Khaled, on Friday. As he’s done with previous work, the rapper and producer called on some of the music industry’s biggest names to come together for the star-studded release, which he continues to promote with a new video for “Where You Come From,” featuring Buju Banton, Capleton, and Bounty Killer.
The video finds Khaled enjoying the earthy forests of Jamaica, a country that Banton, Capleton, and Bounty Killer call home. They also welcome other people who live in the area to hang out. In a message paired with the new video, Khaled pointed out a unique aspect about the song. “Let’s be CLEAR!” he said. “All these artists have NEVER collaborated on one record before. This is HISTORY. JAMAICA I LOVE YOU!”
Khaled also dropped another video from the album, for the track “Sorry Not Sorry.” It features Jay-Z and Nas, as well as James Fauntleroy and Harmonies By The Hive — who many correctly guessed is actually Beyonce prior to its arrival. Elsewhere on Khaled Khaled, listeners can catch appearances from Lil Wayne, Lil Baby, Lil Durk, Bryson Tiller, Cardi B, Roddy Ricch, Megan Thee Stallion, Post Malone, and many more.
You can watch the video for “Where You Come From” above.
Khaled Khaled is out now via Epic Records. Get it here.
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pic.twitter.com/jm6DGlOZx7
from the titles alone, which songs do you think will be your favorites? I’m so curious 
