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Topaz Jones

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Topaz Jones
Jones in 2022
Jones in 2022
Background information
Birth nameGeorge David Brandon Jones
Born1993 (age 30–31)
Montclair, New Jersey, U.S.
Genres
Occupations
  • Rapper
  • singer
  • filmmaker
Instrument
  • Vocals
Years active2013–present
LabelsNew Funk Academy
Websitewww.topazjones.com//

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

Early life

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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

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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

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Studio albums

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List of albums, with release date and label shown
Title Album 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

[edit]
List of albums, with release date and label shown
Title Album details
The Honeymoon Suite

References

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  1. ^ a b "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. ^ a b 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. ^ a b "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.