R&B Singer Jacquees Gave us a New Melody for the National Anthem and a New Album You Won’t Stop Looping
Jacquees is a 28-year-old R&B singer from the Eastside of Atlanta—Decatur, Georgia. A thirteen-year grind ushered Jacquees into the forefront of modern R&B with multiple platinum records, billions of streams, and sold-out shows everywhere. Behind all of those flashy vocal runs and silky bedroom jams, you’ll find the same humble music-obsessed vocalist who first picked up a microphone at 9-years-old in his hometown of Decatur, GA.
“Being from Atlanta has influenced my sound literally just by being from here. We grew up listening to all the goats. When you got family from Atlanta, you grow up listening to the classics. Music is a part of the culture, and the culture is nothing without music,” he stated with passion.
He’s come a long way too. After the success of his independent 19 EP in 2014, he inked a deal with Cash Money Records and cultivated a signature style steeped in throwback soul with the right amount of 21st century sizzle. He is the only R&B singer signed to Cash Money Records.
There are three songs by Jacquees that I can’t stop playing, “Your Peace,” & “At the Club” are forever iconic! His 2018 full-length debut 4275 scored a gold certification from the RIAA and boasted the double-platinum “B.E.D.” and platinum “At The Club” featuring Dej Loaf. A year later in 2019, he returned with King of R&B, which yielded the gold-selling “Your Peace” featuring Lil Baby.
The third song is his remix of the National Anthem. I mean at this point if the anthem is not sung and performed in this way, then what are we doing? Now, he’s turning the page on the next chapter of his career with his third album, Sincerely For You.
“It’s a new chapter, for sure,” he affirms. “I’m rebranding by getting back to how I started. I’m having fun again. Of course, it’s still a job, but I’m having a really good time. I took a break from everything for a minute and I’m stepping out now.”
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FEATURE INTERVIEW
For those of us that dont know you, can you tell us a little bit about yourself? How has being from Atlanta informed your sound?
For people that don’t know me, my name is Jacquees, of course. I’m a 28-year-old R&B singer from the Eastside of Atlanta—Decatur, Georgia. I came up singing; that’s all I ever wanted to do. I got in the game at like fourteen years old, dropping mixtapes, dropping mixtapes, dropping mixtapes from like 2009 all the way to my debut album 4275. I’ve just been grinding, grinding, grinding. Been doing this for a long time. I had like four Top 10 records. My first album went Gold, my second album is almost Gold, and my third album, Sincerely For You, just dropped. I’m the only R&B singer signed to Cash Money Records, and I’ve been holding it down for a long time since coming in with Rich Gang with Young Thug and Rich Homie Quan. I’m still doing my thing in 2023, signed to Cash Money back in 2014, and we’re going on ten years next year. My third album is out, so if you listen to R&B music, I’m definitely someone you can vibe out to. I got that familiar flavor with that new flow. Check me out.
Being from Atlanta has influenced my sound literally just by being from here. We grew up listening to all the goats. When you got family from Atlanta, you grow up listening to the classics. Music is a part of the culture, and the culture is nothing without music. I grew up listening to a lot of Earth Wind & Fire, The Isley Brothers, you know? There was a lot of Micheal Jackson/ The Jackson Five and The Temptations playing. Hearing all of this music from my parents influenced my sound. The culture of Atlanta shaped me in every way too with the swag, night-life, and even the school life. I wouldn’t be the artist I am today without Atlanta.
You have a gift of being a singer-songwriter, and rapper. As a musician you fuse together rhythms, such as R&B and hip Hop. Apart from synthesizing these different genres, how do you feel you set yourself apart from other artists?
How I feel I set myself apart from other artists has to do with me staying true to myself—keeping it raw. It’s the swag. It’s not like no made-up thing, not saying that anyone is made up, but with me—I been this. I come from where I come from, and no one else has that same experience. My neighborhood made me like this, my momma etc.. I’m just one of the artists that’s real. My real name is Jacquees. I’m just going with who I am. And the music I make it’s not for right now—it’s timeless. The records I make you can play for the first time with no expiration date on it.
Your latest single “WHEN YOU BAD LIKE THAT” Featuring FUTURE was released on January 12. Can you tell us a bit about the track? What was it like working with FUTURE on this track?
When You Bad Like That was produced by Nash B, that’s my brother and one of my best friends. He produced B.E.D. and a bunch of my mixtapes and the classics. It was pretty much just like we do with any other record. Nash and I got in the studio, started going through records, and got to this track. We both agreed that we needed a rapper on, and of course, with Future being an executive producer on this album, we were like, “man, it doesn’t make sense to put anyone else but Future to rap on this.” It felt like this was one of the records that Future could say something cool on it that all the girls would like and everybody could vibe to, so I hit him, and he jumped on it for me. He gave a classic verse. It was a good process overall working with Future on this track and the album; we did a few records in Miami and had a good time recording it.
There are three songs of yours that I can’t stop playing, “Your Peace,” & “At the Club” are forever iconic! The third song is your remix of the National Anthem. I mean at this point if the anthem is not sung and performed in this way, then what are we doing? What is another song you plan to remix?
[Laughs] I appreciate that. I’ll get back to the Quemixes for sure, but for right now, the focus is on the original music and this new album that’s out.
What is your song writing process? What are some of your favorite effects to add to your voice (i.e. reverb, distortion, delay)?
How I’m feeling and the vibe is this inspiration for my songwriting process and what I cook up in the studio. And I straight sing on tracks, no effects. Nothing against that though; all love.
What are three songs or projects you’re currently listening to that you can’t stop playing?
My new album is on repeat. I’m still in the studio working so that’s the focus. Got some more surprises y’all can look forward to.
What was your favorite part about working with the ANT/DOTE Team for this exclusive interview? What was your favorite outfit from our exclusive photos?
The experience was great, and I enjoyed working with the team. Everyone came with the right vibe, and I feel like we created some dope work together. I have a bunch of favorite looks from the shoot, but the Dries Van Noten suit, the blue suit, was definitely a stand-out.
If you could collaborate on a track with one of your favorite artists, who would it be?
At this point, I got the chance to collab with so many people. I feel like me and Wayne [Lil Wayne] could do some dope work together.
What’s one city you haven’t performed in that you look forward to performing at in the future?
Man, that’s tough because I’ve performed in so many cities. It’s not a city, but I want to perform in Africa soon.
You are an Aries, do you think astrology influences your personality and artistry?
I’m not really big into astrology, so I wouldn’t even know [laughs].
If you could have your own festival, what would the name of the festival be, and who would be on the line up?
The 4275 Festival and all the greats would be in the lineup. Everybody!
What do you hope to accomplish before you turn 30?
Definitely want to get more awards, it’s coming.
What do you have in store for 2023?
More music, more shows, more content. We not letting up this year.
CONNECT WITH JACQUEES
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TEAM CREDITS
Features Editor: Shirley Reynozo @moyamusic_
Galore Art Director: Perrin Johnson @editsbyperry
Creative Director & Stylist: Assad Tyler
Make Up Artist / Male Grooming: Akila Faces
Photographer: Derek Blanks
FASHION CREDITS
ANT/DOTE – @antidotestyle
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Look 1: Beige suit look
Jacket and pants: Jacquemus
Bag: Published By
Sunglasses: Kuboraum
Shoes: JW Anderson
Look 2: Blue suit
Jacket and pants: Dries Van Noten
Necklace: Paco Rabanne
Sunglasses: Kuboraum
Shoes: Jil Sander
Look 3: Cream jacket look
Jacket and pants: Melitta Baumiester
Sweater: JW Anderson
Bag: Margiela
Shoes: Rick Owens
Sunglasses: Rigards
Look 4: Black look with shorts
Jacket and Coat: Rick Owens
Shorts: Lu’u Dan
Shoes: Rick Owens
Sunglasses: Rick Owens
Bag: Guidi
Look 5: Silver
Hat, Jacket, and pants: Dries Van Noten
Shirt Jil Sander
Shoes: 1017 ALYX
Sunglasses: Anna Karina Karlson
