For newcomers unfamiliar with Victoria Monét, the R&B songstress may appear to be an overnight success.
Despite her nearly two-decade experience in the music industry, the strongest buzz surrounding the recording artist arrived in 2023. She dropped her chart-topping hit “On My Mama” in June, and listeners immediately designated the catchy, affirming record the song of the summer. The song steadily climbed the R&B/Hip-Hop Billboard charts until it finally reached the No. 1 slot – a first-time achievement for the musician.
Last year belonged to Monét, and in 2024, there is no sign of the artist slowing down.
The R&B performer started 2024 on a high note. In February, she took home three Grammy wins for “Jaguar II.” During her speech, the singer shared how reaching the career milestone took her 15 years.
“I moved to L.A. in 2009, and I like to liken myself to a plant who was planted,” Monét said. “And you can look at the music industry as soil, and it can be looked at as dirty, or it can be looked at as a source of nutrients and water. My roots have been growing underneath ground unseen for so long. And I feel like today, I’m sprouting finally above ground.”
In today’s current climate, instant gratification has become a crutch that plays a crucial role in career decisions and making strategic moves in a person’s professional development. Instant gratification is wanting immediate positive results instead of long-term outcomes that may be more beneficial. Social media is a leading factor contributing to the urgent need for peer validation through follower counts, “likes” and comments.
Monét’s career is proof of the benefits of abandoning the need for short-term validation. Her achievements attest to the dedication and consistency she committed to while pursuing her music career when the artist moved to Los Angeles in 2009. Monét started in an unsuccessful girl group, “Purple Reign,” before becoming a songwriter for some of the biggest names in the music industry.
The musician penned lyrics for Fifth Harmony, Chloe x Halle, Coco Jones, T.I., Chrisette Michele and more. Her most successful collaborations have been with pop artist Ariana Grande. Two Grande songs she co-wrote, “Thank U, Next” and “7 Rings,” earned Grammy nominations in 2020.
Monét wrote for other artists for years before deciding to take a leap of faith and pursue her solo career. The industry knowledge she gained from her past ultimately led up to her current career-defining moments. The Grammys were first. The NAACP Image Awards and her six nominations are next.
Win or lose, Monét betting on herself is the real trophy.