The year 2023 is looking like Victoria Monét’s moment. 

Earlier this month, clips from her “On My Mama” music video went viral as people across social media praised how it paid homage to 2000s Black culture, particularly in the South and West Coast.

The visuals came ahead of her highly anticipated debut album, “Jaguar II,” which was released on Aug. 25. What’s more, her headlining sold-out tour for the album begins on Sept. 26.

While Monét — who has written for the likes of Brandy, Ariana Grande, and Chloe x Halle — has been receiving an increase in attention as of late, the “Party Girls” singer-songwriter has been working overtime in the music business for over a decade.

After departing from the girl group, Purple Reign, formed by legendary producer and songwriter Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins, she went on to sign with her former label, Atlantic Records.

She recalled how she brainstormed a game plan of how to land her big break in music as a solo artist during an interview on “Way Up With Angela Yee.”

“I had looked at Bruno Mars [on B.o.B’s ‘Nothin’ on You’] and how he did that song so well and then Bruno was able to take that record and make his own career,” Monét shared with Angela Yee. “So I was like, I’m gonna just spend a bunch of time just doing hooks.”

She continued, “So I was just writing hooks only. I would just not waste any time with the verse. And Atlantic had a lot of rappers, so I was submitting a bunch of hooks and I would try to sing them well enough that rappers would keep me on the hook.”

Monét’s strategy ultimately worked in her favor as she was a part of songs with Mary J. Blige, Nas, T.I., Meek Mill, and more.

During her time of further collaborating with T.I., she said that he brought her along to sing during several of his concerts. In addition, the Atlanta, GA, rapper went as far as offering to sign her to his record label, Grand Hustle Records, Monét detailed, but she turned it down. 

“I always felt like it just wasn’t right for me to be signed to anybody,” she said. “I also thought…if I’m going to be signed right now, I’d like to do it myself and have my own little imprint or something. I just wanted to wait it out a little more.”



And hold it out she did.

While it wasn’t mentioned what exact year T.I.’s offer came about, Monét signed with RCA Records in March 2023, according to Rated R&B. Joining the label placed her on its roster alongside fellow R&B stars such as Chris Brown, Jazmine Sullivan, H.E.R., and Bryson Tiller.

Up until then, per Rolling Stone, Monét had released her EPs such as fan-favorite “Jaguar” as an independent artist. Now, “Jaguar II” marks her first release as a RCA Records signee.