Following the release of 2020’s Jaguar, Victoria Monét unveiled A Jaguar Christmas: The Orchestral Arrangements. Well, last year, she shared Jaguar II, and thankfully, it turns out the holiday-themed follow-up is a tradition: Today (December 11), Monét released Jaguar II Christmas: The Orchestral Arrangements.
Created alongside composer Maurice “Pirahnahead” Herd, this album puts Monét’s vocals aside in favor of a purely instrumental experience. It’s certainly a compelling listen as the center of attention, but given its modernized holiday aesthetic and lack of vocals, it should also be one heck of a party background music soundtrack this holiday season. Also, you can’t go wrong when an album has song titles like “Stop (Askin Me 4Gifts).”
Check out the Jaguar II Christmas: The Orchestral Arrangements cover art and tracklist below.
Victoria Monét’s Jaguar II Christmas: The Orchestral Arrangements Album Cover Artwork
Lovett Music/RCA Records
Victoria Monét’s Jaguar II Christmas: The Orchestral Arrangements Tracklist
1. “It’s A Celebration Every Time It Snows”
2. “Cadillac Christmas”
3. “How Does It Make You Feel”
4. “On My Mama (Christmas Medley) ”
5. “I’m The One (Jingle Bells)”
6. “Stop (Askin Me 4Gifts)”
7. “Christmas In Hollywood ”
8. “Merry Christmas Dan (Deluxe Medley)
Jaguar II Christmas: The Orchestral Arrangements is out now via Lovett Music/RCA Records. Find more information here.
Victoria Monét is still on the prowl–at least musically. The “On My Mama” singer isn’t ready to abandon her Jaguar-era just yet.
Today (December 7), Victoria Monét revealed her holiday album plans, and it is inspired by Jaguar II. With a post on X (formerly Twitter), officially announced the forthcoming project.
“Santa’s bringing you a JAGUAR II Christmas 12/11 ,” she wrote.
News of A Jaguar II Christmas: The Orchestral Arrangements arrives on the heels of Victoria’s dedicated super fans, the Tribe, beginning for a follow-up to first installment over four years ago.
“Victoria Monét did an orchestral album for Christmas where she reimagined some of her classics. I need her to do the same thing for Jaguar II,” wrote one fan, to which she replied, “ say less.”
Although Victoria didn’t share the forthcoming project’s tracklist, supporters are hoping Jaguar II series standouts such as “SOS (Sex On Sight),” “How Does It Make You Feel,” “Everybody Needs Someone,” and of course her Grammy nominated breakout song “On My Mama” make the cut.
Given the upcoming body of work is slated to drop on next week (December 11), fans of Victoria Monét won’t have to wait much longer before they’re cozying up with the album.
Artwork
RCA
A Jaguar II Christmas: The Orchestral Arrangements is out 12/11 via RCA. Find more information here.
It’s been quite a whirlwind of a year for the Sacramento, California raised singer and songwriter Victoria Monet. Just prior to dropping JAGUAR II, her long-awaited follow-up to it’s 2020 counterpart, it felt like she was on the cusp of really breaking out. It’s safe to say that became a reality, as the project went on to take home three GRAMMY awards (Best New Artist, R&B Album, and Engineered Album, Non-Classical). Unfortunately, those major wins have been followed up by painful loss. She has recently been dealing with a painful breakup from boyfriend and father to her daughter, John Gaines.
She expressed her emotions beautifully in a recent statement, saying how it’s essentially been a struggle but not messy by any means. Still, she’s making sure they are both moving on from each other in a healthy manner. Making music for most artist’s is a great way to escape from the stresses, and Victoria Monet dropping the deluxe of JAGUAR II could help her too. It may not be one of the reasons, but it does drop at an opportune time for her. It’s also here because of the incredible success of the original 11-song set. Monet has 10 new songs to share, including some older cuts such as “SOS” with USHER and “We Might Even Be Falling In Love (Duet)” with Bryson Tiller. Both highlight how in tune she is with her sexual and sensual side, as she leans into full erotica and super cuddly moments as well.
Over on X (formerly Twitter), Victoria revealed the forthcoming album’s release date, writing: “ JAGUAR II DELUXE is otw!! 10/4! It’s available for pre-order right now. go do that please .”
Back in February during an appearance on iHeart Radio’s The New Hit List, Victoria confirmed she begun working on the project but was hesitant to share any further details. Now, supporters have a better understanding of what’s to come thanks to a sit down with Apple Music’s New Music Daily, we know Jaguar II will feature several new tracks within the parameters of the Jaguar musical universe.
So far, Victoria has released one new track, “SOS (Sex On Sight)” with Usher, which is slated to appear on the upcoming body of work. Over on the Apple Music pre-save page, eight unnamed tracks will join “SOS (Sex On Sight),” and Victoria’s Bryson Tiller duet “We Might Even Be Falling In Love” to make up the Jaguar II Deluxe‘s official tracklist.
But this project is bittersweet moment for Victoria’s superfans. Victoria has made it clear that Jaguar II Deluxe marks the end of this era sonically. However, there’s still more to come.
Artwork
RCA
Jaguar II Deluxe is out 10/4 via RCA. Find more information here.
Victoria Monet, veteran R&B singer and songwriter, really put a lot of people on notice after nabbing a massive GRAMMY win. At this year’s award show, the Atlanta, Georgia native took home the hardware for Best R&B Album. Her fifth overall project JAGUAR II, the sequel to the 2020 tape, dropped in late August 2023 and featured quite a few standout tracks. You have the horn backed “On My Mama”, “Smoke” with Lucky Daye, among others. The album won over some very respectable competition as well, including Summer Walker, Babyface, Coco Jones, and Emily King. However, the nominations do not stop there. She is also getting recognized by BET for the Best Female R&B/Pop Artist. With all of this well-deserved success, it seems to be trickling down to other areas of her career. For example, Victoria Monet is getting tons of praise for the music video for “Alright”.
One of the other hits from JAGUAR II, “Alright” has been a winner for Victoria Monet due to its bouncy and intoxicating vibe. Part of the credit goes to KAYTRANADA, who produced the banger. In the visuals, fans have been pointing out that she made some nods to artists like Janet Jackson, Michael Jackson, as well as Beyonce. “The ode to Janet’s “Feedback” and “Alright” & Michael’s “Smooth Criminal” was so dope! I love the modern elements!”, one user writes. The inspiration is definitely there, and it is all sold well due to the incredible choreography. The moody tone of the video also complements “Alright”, as well as the album, to a tee. All of these standout qualities are why Monet has the number six video on trending right now.
In two months, Victoria Monét will celebrate the one-year anniversary of her debut album Jaguar II. The era attached to that album is far from over as “Alright” was recently enlisted as the fourth single from the album, joining “Smoke,” “Party Girls,” and the Grammy-nominated “On My Mama.” As if that wasn’t enough, Monét has also answered fans’ numerous request for an “Alright” music video. The Kaytranada-produced track finally received the visual treatment in an absolute spectacle that Monét used to honor Janet Jackson with dance moves undeniably inspired by the legendary singer’s 1990s and 2000s era. Look no further than the black-and-white fedora and suit that Monét dons in the visual.
The video was directed by Dave Myers and choreographed by Sean Bankhead who is also responsible for the choreography in Monét’s “On My Mama” video. Aside from the Janet Jackson-inspired moves, Monét is nothing short of dazzling in the “Alright” video. She brings the fire and bears the elements and some skin in the three-minunte performance that should go down as one of the best visuals of the year.
Monét’s video for “Alright” is hopefully a sign of her return to good health after she was forced to cancel multiple festival performances last month. They included Philadelphia’s Roots Picnic and this past weekend’s Governors Ball in New York. “Candidly I have been dealing with some ongoing health issues that have to be addressed right now, but I will be back out there soon, that’s a promise!” Monét said in a statement at the time. “Please know it wasn’t an easy call but it’s definitely for the best. All other shows are still moving forward as planned. See you soon.”
After over a decade of conquering the underground R&B scene, Victoria Monét has broken through to the mainstream. Thanks to Victoria’s breakout hit, “On My Mama” (co-produced by Deputy), critically acclaimed debut studio album Jaguar II, and her snagging multiple Grammy Awards (including Best New Artist), the public is eager to see what’s next.
Although Victoria’s time on the road via her international TheJaguar Tour has ended, supporters can catch her at the 2024 Roots Picnic. But what else is up her animal print sleeve? According to her latest interview, the answer is new music. So, when should we expect it?
When Does Victoria Monét’s Jaguar II Deluxe Album Come Out?
After expressing that she would be ending the Jaguar series, fans could get one last offering by way of a Jaguar II deluxe album. On February 23, during the “Hollywood” singer’s appearance on iHeart Radio’s The New Hit List, Victoria Monét teased the idea.
As she confirmed to host Angelina that Jaguar III is no longer happening, Victoria did spill details about a Jaguar II deluxe project. “I do want to put out a deluxe to ‘Jaguar II,’” she said. “So, we’re working on that…it will be [released] this year.”
The wait is sure to be worth it. Perhaps it will include the never-released tracks with her bestie Ariana Grande.
Victoria also spoke about her future songwriting plans. “I feel like there’s more of an open timeline on writing songs for other people,” she said. “So, I’m more focused on my artistry right now. My schedule doesn’t really allow for much else. But I do want to eventually get back into collaborating… writing with and for other people. Right now, it’s Victoria Monét world. I’ve done a lot of writing previously, so now I’m flipping into a new chapter.”
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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.
After a series of delays, Jaguar II, Victoria Monet’s follow-up to 2020’s Jaguar EP is here. The 11-track project is labeled as her “debut album,” enjoying greater publicity and marketing than its predecessor. Released in 2020, Jaguar brought Monét’s shimmery party staples to the bedroom in the midst of a worldwide lockdown. On Jaguar II, however, the songwriter encourages listeners to venture out into the world. Compromised of sharper hooks and sexier lyrics, Monet offers a more shapely, rounded sound.
With each project, Monét continues to garner greater support from dedicated listeners and newcomers, expanding her tight-knit fandom. Jaguar II is simultaneously her most hedonistic and authoritative release to date. Acts like Earth, Wind & Fire, and Kaytranada help push the envelope of her sultry, dance sound — introducing a more confident Monét to the world. Themes of success, sexuality, love, and motherhood are littered all around Jaguar II. In addition to these, a variety of genres proudly call Jaguar II home.
Monét’s debut album is an ode to golden-age disco, as well as R&B. In a remarkable feat, the album transports listeners through a number of decades musically. The maturity in her vocals is also a highlight. Victoria Monet needn’t sing circles around her contemporaries. Her voice’s fullness emits a self-discovery and assurance that compliments every facet of her music.
The Lucky Daye-assisted “Smoke” was the first track sent out into the airwaves. It offered just a glimpse of the golden shimmer that would remain constant all through the project. Monét and Daye comfortably croon about their affinity for the bliss of marijuana. Both singers produce the same laid-back charm that floated on 2018’s “Little More Time.” With five years gone since their initial collaboration, there’s a distinct maturity in both their tones, owing to their respective evolution as artists.
While Jaguar II borrows elements from a plethora of genres, every track circles back to R&B. On “Party Girls” ft. Jamaica’s Buju Banton, Monét drifts over a dancehall and reggaeton beat. The singer’s rapport with club-ready bangers is brilliantly showcased on this track. However, “Party Girls” glows brighter than most because of its timelessness. The song’s nostalgic sound is reminiscent of the rise of the dancehall scene of the 1970s. Furthermore, its modern, sleek production allows for a futuristic twist that keeps it fresh, despite its vintage components.
The third single off Jaguar II is “On My Mama,” the braggadocious Southern banger, is sure to light up any cookout. Monét interpolates Chalie Boy’s classic, “I Look Good,” laced with her signature brassy inclusions. The music video for “On My Mama” is a love letter to the South. It also has all the markings of a 2000s Video of the Year contender. Sean Bankhead’s choreography is a remarkable highlight, with Monét and her dancers in their most swagged out so far. Cameos from Monét’s mom, “Mama Monét,” her daughter Hazel, and Chalie Boy greatly elevate the visuals. Furthermore, the video pays homage to the likes of Ciara and Black culture as a whole.
Victoria Monét is the most determined she’s ever been on Jaguar II. She takes a handle on the narrative of her sexuality on the female empowerment track, “Cadillac (A Pimp’s Anthem).” Songs like “How Does It Make You Feel” breeze through waltz-y ballroom instrumentals and coruscating melodies. The Kaytranada-backed “Alright” is sure to keep the club’s speakers thumping all night, with fierce epicureanism at its core. Even the young Hazel is heard cooing on “Hollywood.” Also featuring Earth, Wind & Fire, the soft, illustrious track is centered around fame. The album’s closer, “Good Bye” is a twinkling, jazzy number. Here, Monét is backed by lush, comforting instrumentals, for a heavenly bow-out. The soulful exit is another perfect example of her growth as a musician. Monét blends antique 80s soul music, with the swing blues and jazz of the 30s and 40s.
Monét amps up the sensuality on Jaguar II, but not at the expense of the songwriting. After all, her first foray into the industry was behind the scenes as a songwriter. Even though she may sometimes use either cutesy or raunchy one-liners to drive home her point, her pen game is never lazy. Jaguar II is a testament to the singer affirming her musical self-discovery. At 11 tracks long, the album is tight, precise, and bold. Romantic ballads sit side by side with dark, canal lyricism, stamping Monét’s security within R&B, pop, and disco music.
As many of our favourite male MCs have made note of lately, the women of hip-hop and R&B have been holding it down in 2023. Things have definitely heated up for the men in the latter half of the year, but the fairer sex has consistently been dropping hits and conquering the charts in both genres. This weekend, it’s Victoria Monet’s debut JAGUAR II album that’s taking the spotlight, with features from Lucky Daye and Buju Banton previously arriving as singles.
The former opens the 11-track project with “Smoke,” while the latter appears on “Party Girls.” Besides those two titles, “On My Mama” has also been all over social media this summer, especially now that Monet has graced us with an accompanying visual. Elsewhere on JAGUAR II, the songbird connected with Earth, Wild & Fire as well as her 2-year-old daughter, Hazel, on “Hollywood” before closing the LP out with “Good Bye.”
Victoria Monet’s Debut Album Will Take You to “Hollywood”
During an interview with Teen Vogue, the mother of one spoke candidly about her creative process as an artist. “I definitely, internally, always am in competition with no one but myself,” Monet explained. “I guess it’s healthy to want to be better and progress, but I try to keep it out of my mind when I’m actually in the studio because your brain gets busy, so I try to stay in that moment. But now that the project’s done, I can sit back and be like, ‘Yes, I think it’s better than Jaguar.’”
Get a taste of Victoria Monet’s JAGUAR II album with “Hollywood” in the video above. If you’re feeling that, you can tap into the R&B icon’s full debut project on Spotify/Apple Music. To dive deeper into her full discography, tap into our favourites at the link below.
,” she wrote.
say less.”
10/4! It’s available for pre-order right now. 
go do that please 
.”
