GOOD SEEDS - Ricki Monique

Minneapolis-based musician Ricki Monique dropped her debut EP Good Seeds. On her debut EP, Monique is honest and not vain when it comes to providing details about her upbringing and life experiences. Her words are vivid but poetic. With confidence, well-tuned cadences, and forthright writing ; Ricki Monique displays “what it feels like to have a fuckin dream.”

The production Monique explores her lyricism on are refined nostalgic melodies with goey-like bass textures sprinkled around. It’s easy to cling on and become submerged by the neo-soul heavy-based production that’ll remind you of the Soulquarians’ days. On “RUBY,” Monique tells a story about a woman’s acceptance of her inner growth and the childhood lessons she had to unlearn. The string arrangements under Monique’s voice experimentations bring out the purity in her writing. The cut short guitar riffs embrace the slight textures of Roy Ayers's “Sunshine.”

”Look up, momma said keep your chin up.” At times, throughout the 6-track body of art, Monique is giving herself a pep talk as she continues to embark on her dreams. “CEREAL” featuring MMYYKK is the heart and soul of the EP. The beat switch was smooth and displays her ability to change creative directions with ease. She doesn’t miss a beat on “FTG” and keeps up with the upbeat production.

Before dropping her latest EP, Monique released two singles, “IMMORTAL” being one of them. Ricki Monique is more than a “female rapper;” I truly think she’s going to a beautiful slow-burning career and music that’ll be deemed timeless.