Topaz Jones

Last updated

Topaz Jones
Birth nameGeorge David Brandon Jones
Born1993 (age 30–31)
Montclair, New Jersey, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Rapper
  • singer
  • filmmaker
Instrument(s)
  • Vocals
Years active2013–present
LabelsNew Funk Academy
Website www.topazjones.com//

George David Brandon Jones [1] (born 1993), known professionally as Topaz Jones, is an American rapper and singer.

Contents

Early life

Jones was born in 1993 in Montclair, New Jersey, where he was raised. [2] [3] His father Curt Jones was a funk guitarist who played in the bands Slave and Aurra, [4] [5] and his mother was a Harvard scholar. He graduated from the New York University Tisch School of the Arts. [1]

Musical career

In 2013, Jones released his debut single "Coping Mechanism". [6]

Jones's debut album, The Honeymoon Suite, was released in 2014. [7] His second album, Arcade, was released in 2016. [8] [9] This album featured the single Tropicana, which Pitchfork described as a "viral hit", and Motion Sickness. [7] [10] [11]

In 2021, Jones released the visual album Don't Go Tellin' Your Momma, an album accompanied by a short film of the same name directed by Jones and directing duo Rubberband. [12] [13] The film won the Sundance Film Festival Short Film Jury Award, as well as South by Southwest's Special Jury Recognition for Visionary Storytelling. [14] After the award victories, the film was made available online as part of The New York Times' Op-Docs video series. [15] The album was described by Stereogum as "one of the best albums of 2021". [16]

Discography

Studio albums

List of albums, with release date and label shown
TitleAlbum details
Arcade
  • Released: October 28, 2016 [9]
  • Label: New Funk Academy
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming
Don't Go Tellin' Your Momma
  • Released: April 23, 2021 [17]
  • Label: New Funk Academy, Black Canopy
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming

Mixtapes

List of albums, with release date and label shown
TitleAlbum details
The Honeymoon Suite

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References

  1. 1 2 "Topaz Jones and the Philosophy of the Groove". Pitchfork. September 2016. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
  2. ↑ "Past Event: Soul of the City: Live @ MCNY with Topaz Jones | Museum of the City of New York". www.mcny.org. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
  3. ↑ Conteh, Mankaprr (April 23, 2021). "How Topaz Jones Made the Next Great Visual Album". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
  4. ↑ "Topaz Jones: "Toothache"". Pitchfork. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
  5. ↑ Huggins, Kristin. "topaz jones, new york's new prince of funk". i-d.vice.com. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
  6. ↑ "Get to know New Jersey based rapper Topaz Jones". Secret Sounds. June 27, 2017. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
  7. 1 2 Younger, Briana (November 9, 2016). "Songs We Love: Topaz Jones, 'Motion Sickness / Grass'". NPR. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
  8. ↑ "Believe It or Not, Rappers Struggle Too". Complex. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
  9. 1 2 "Topaz Jones' New Album Arcade Coming Friday". Pitchfork. October 25, 2016. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
  10. ↑ "Animal Collective Get Intimate at Pitchfork's 21st". Pitchfork. December 8, 2017. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
  11. ↑ "Topaz Jones Is Literally Uplifted In The Surreal "Motion Sickness" Video". The FADER. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
  12. ↑ Hailu, Selome (September 13, 2021). "Sundance Winner 'Don't Go Tellin' Your Momma' Gets NY Times' Premiere (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
  13. ↑ "How Topaz Jones & Rubberband's Friendship Led to a Sundance Win". W Magazine. April 23, 2021. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
  14. ↑ Jones, Topaz; Rubberband (September 14, 2021). "Video: Opinion | Don't Go Tellin' Your Momma". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved September 28, 2022.
  15. ↑ "Watch Topaz Jones' 'Don't Go Tellin' Your Momma' Short Film". Stereogum. September 14, 2021. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
  16. ↑ "The 50 Best Albums Of 2021 So Far". Stereogum. June 8, 2021. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
  17. ↑ "Topaz Jones: Don't Go Tellin' Your Momma". Pitchfork. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
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