Victoria Monet Is "Coastin" On Our Playlists: Here's 7 Things You Need To Know
With the world seeming more and more overwhelming, how incredible is it to know that we have music? Music as a means of storytelling has been the way of life for centuries. Lyrics and melodies have a way of elevating the mood, maintaining calm, and keeping us going. And what keeps "Coastin" artist, Victoria Monet, going? Her art imitating life.
She may have been the music industry's best-kept secret but her light is shining so bright that we have no choice but to give her her flowers. Keep scrolling for fun facts about mommy-artist-songwriter-producer, Victoria Monet.
1.Victoria Monet is a Taurus.
Known to be sensual, steadfast, and loyal, Taurean women are true queens. No one has a strong sense of self like the Taurus. Victoria Monet displays her confidence in the words she writes. Her lyrics are candid conversations with the world. Over the years, the entertainer has developed a fearlessness to say what she actually means, regardless of the politics that are supposed to be considered.
2.She grew up in Sacramento.
While she was born in Georgia, Victoria was raised in Sacramento, CA.
Monet told Miss Bish:
"With Sac being so diverse, I got a taste of a lot of different genres. My mom also had a super wide variety of music taste. She would play everything from Sade to Uncle Luke while we cleaned the house, lol. I feel that today, I am a melting pot of a few different feels but my heart is always in the '90s mixed with an indie feel. Sac has a super cool indie, artsy vibe downtown where I used to practice dance with Boogie Monstarz, and I think that's where I met my match and felt right at home."
3.The hitmaker is a new mommy.
Victoria Monet surprised her fans in December 2020 with the most adorable pregnancy announcement. Baby Hazel Monet Gaines was born on February 2, 2021, to Victoria and her boyfriend John Gaines. From the start, she cherished being gifted the title above queen sharing on social media:
"Two hearts beat inside of me now...That's more love. Two brains and two souls...that's so much power. Really been feelin like the ultra super Victoria cause my body is doing such miraculous work. This is absolutely the best thing that has ever happened to me and I can't wait to meet my tiny soul mate earth side!!! I hold my head higher with the confidence you already gift. You are the best of me and I promise to protect you and be the best version of myself for you all ways, always."
4.Victoria Monet identifies as bisexual.
The singer came out on Twitter at the end of 2018 after being tired of hiding her queerness. It was more of a rebellious moment due to some complicated matters of the heart. Victoria Monet told Gay Times:
"I literally fell in love with a girl and I had a boyfriend at the time, and then we broke up. But this woman ended up getting pregnant because she had a boyfriend in a polyamorous relationship. There were a lot of things that I was personally going through that I didn't speak about. But at the time, my boyfriend was still claiming that he was still my boyfriend after we'd broken up, and I decided I was really upset about it, and going through a lot emotionally, so I decided to tweet it."
For Monet, she was simply venting. It wasn't until someone replied, "Did you just come out?" that she realized it was so much more. Her response: "I think so." That tweet made her come into her own and allowed her to authentically live in her truth.
5.You can also call her one of the most successful songwriters of our time.
Monet's first big songwriting credit was on Diddy and Dirty Money's "I Hate That You Love Me" back in 2010. Fun fact: she reached out to legendary hitmaker Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins on MySpace to shoot her shot. That leap of faith landed her in Darkchild's group, Purple Reign, who was signed to Motown Records. You may be thinking, "Purple Reign? I've never heard of that group!" Well, you're correct because their work was never released. Luckily, Monet's killer writing skills became well-known and her magic pen hasn't stopped ever since.
Essence highlighted Victoria Monet during Black Music Month and when asked about how being a Black woman uniquely qualified her for her position, she told them:
"It gives me the opportunity to overturn the narrative of Black women being the underdog. Being Black shouldn't be considered unique in music. We exist—and always have—as the foundation of it all as a matter of fact. Our faces just may not be as forward facing as our talent. I will do my part to make sure we are no longer overlooked and underappreciated."
It's safe to say this Sac queen has earned her stripes. Many of the bops we love most were written by Victoria Monet. Some notable songs where Monet has writing credits are Ariana Grande's "7 Rings", "34+35", "Do It" by Chloe x Halle and "On the Way" by Twenty88.
6.Victoria Monet and Ariana Grande are BFFs.
They do more than create music together; they do life together. Since Ariana's Nickelodeon days, she and Victoria have been holding each other down. The new kids say '4 Lifers' when referring to lifetime friendships and that's what we see when we look at A & V. "We've just been friends for so long. It's so easy and it just feels really fun, but also therapeutic, Victoria told NME:
"It's not like when you go to a writing session and you have to ask the writer or the artist: 'What's going on with your life?' We talk all the time, and we both already know what's going on in each other's lives. So whenever we're in the studio, we get straight to the music part."
"I imagine us [in the future] being really old ladies talking about how he used to do it. 'Remember when we did 'Thank U, Next'? Remember when we toured here?' You know, just having discussions over tea. This'll be a forever thing."
7.She has released five EPs.
EPs also known as extended plays are mini-albums with less than seven songs. Victoria Monet's discography:
- Nightmares & Lullabies: Act 1
- Nightmares & Lullabies: Act 2
- Life After Love, Pt. 1
- Life After Love, Pt. 2
- JAGUAR
To keep up with Victoria Monet, follow her on Instagram, Spotify and Apple Music.
To keep up with Victoria Monet, follow her on Instagram, Spotify and Apple Music.
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Featured image via Giphy
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Adrian Marcel On Purpose, Sacrifice, And The 'Signs Of Life'
In this week's episode of xoMAN, host Kiara Walker talked with R&B artist Adrian Marcel, who opened up, full of heart and authenticity, about his personal evolution. He discussed his days transitioning from a young Bay Area singer on the come-up to becoming a grounded husband and father of four.
With honesty and introspection, Marcel reflected on how life, love, and loss have shaped the man he is today.
On ‘Life’s Subtle Signals’
Much of the conversation centered around purpose, sacrifice, and listening to life’s subtle signals. “I think that you really have to pay attention to the signs of life,” Marcel said. “Because as much as we need to make money, we are not necessarily on this Earth for that sole purpose, you know what I mean?” While he acknowledged his ambitions, adding, “that is not me saying at all I’m not trying to ball out,” he emphasized that fulfillment goes deeper.
“We are here to be happy. We are here [to] fulfill a purpose that we are put on here for.”
On Passion vs. Survival
Adrian spoke candidly about the tension between passion and survival, describing how hardship can sometimes point us away from misaligned paths. “If you find it’s constantly hurting you… that’s telling you something. That’s telling you that you’re going outside of your purpose.”
Marcel’s path hasn’t been without detours. A promising athlete in his youth, he recalled, “Early on in my career, I was still doing sports… I was good… I had a scholarship.” An injury changed everything. “My femur broke. Hence why I always say, you know, I’m gonna keep you hip like a femur.” After the injury, he pivoted to explore other careers, including teaching and corporate jobs.
“It just did not get me—even with any success that happened in anything—those times, back then, I was so unhappy. And you know, to a different degree. Like not just like, ‘I really want to be a singer so that’s why I’m unhappy.’ Nah, it was like, it was not fulfilling me in any form or fashion.”
On Connection Between Pursuing Music & Fatherhood
He recalled performing old-school songs at age 12 to impress girls, then his father challenged him: “You can lie to these girls all you want, but you're really just lying to yourself. You ain't growing.” That push led him to the piano—and eventually, to his truth. “Music is my love,” Marcel affirmed. “I wouldn’t be a happy husband if I was here trying to do anything else just to appease her [his wife].”
Want more real talk from xoMAN? Catch the full audio episodes every Tuesday on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and don’t miss the full video drops every Wednesday on YouTube. Hit follow, subscribe, and stay tapped in.
Featured image by xoNecole/YouTube
Roscoe Dash joined xoMan host Kiara Walker to share the journey of his personal and spiritual evolution—from the party anthems that made him famous to a deeper life rooted in faith, family, and purpose. This episode offers an honest look at how the artist has grown beyond early fame, addressing fatherhood, masculinity, creativity, and healing.
Dash opened up about the internal transformation that has guided him away from chasing the spotlight and toward seeking peace. “Faith and fear can’t occupy the same space,” he said, underscoring his shift toward a more spiritually grounded life. Throughout the interview, he emphasized the importance of self-reflection:
“The most important conversations to me, honestly, outside of the ones you have with God, is the ones you have with yourself in the mirror.”
Dash is focused on the man he’s become. “I’m not the accolades I’ve achieved—I’m the person who achieved them,” he added, pointing to a broader understanding of identity and worth. A large part of that growth has come through fatherhood, especially raising daughters, which he said has deepened his understanding of love. “Love is unconditional and love loves to love no matter what,” he shared.
He also spoke candidly about the pressures of fame and its impact on creativity. “Chasing fame can kill your creativity as a musician,” he warns. Instead, his advice to other artists is simple but clear: “Keep your focus on your art form, whatever that may be, and stay passionate.”
The conversation also touches on gender dynamics and emotional safety in relationships. “Safe men make soft women. If she feels safe, she’ll melt like butter,” he said, challenging traditional notions of masculinity. Roscoe also offers wisdom on discernment and spiritual testing: “Sometimes the devil will give you what looks better than your blessing.”
Ultimately, Dash has learned to embrace peace over chaos. “All I can do is control what I can control. And that's how I respond to things and what I'm giving out,” he said. It’s a thoughtful, soulful side of Roscoe Dash that many may not expect—but one that leaves a lasting impression.
Want more real talk from xoMAN? Catch the full audio episodes every Tuesday on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and don’t miss the full video drops every Wednesday on YouTube. Hit follow, subscribe, and stay tapped in.
Featured image by xoNecole/YouTube