Minneapolis-based lyricist and songwriter Ricki Monique is, first and foremost, a vibe curator. Not to take away from her exceptional stream of consciousness flow and thought-provoking lyrics. Her ability to hop on an instrumental and immediately make it her own is second to none when it comes to up-and-coming lyricists. She already has all the skills that many emcees hone for years, naturally appearing in her adept rhyme schemes and otherworldly energy. Calling to mind superstars like Doechii and Jean Deaux, Monique is a rising superstar in her own right, as she puts her own signature twist on an addictive new offering called “CEREAL”.
“CEREAL” is somewhere between a moment of vulnerability and a steady affirmation of her preternatural gifts. The MMYYKK-produced beat starts with a slow soulful Rhodes buildup that evolves to a bouncy, bass-heavy cut that also includes a complementary feature from MMYYKK to tie the track together. Monique shared of the inspiration behind the song, “This song was created as a sonic affirmation to remind me that I was built to be great. I put affirmations from my mother and sisters in the hook and brought up feelings of depression and hardships in the first verse to portray a sense of everything-ness. I am both powerful and weak at times. I wrote this song to remind myself to lean into my strong parts.”
Aptly, this song is all that anyone needs to be reminded that Ricki Monique is built for great things. Combining her natural knack for storytelling with her left-of-center melodicism, “CEREAL” is a track to give your undivided attention, because every subsequent spin you’ll inevitably find a new lyrical gem that will merit yet another listen.
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