Each Measure Feature: Just The Empress

FEATURE

Even from her name alone, Just the Empress radiates pure confidence. An event host, musician, and proud LGBTQ+ artist, her presence is refreshingly honest and representative of both being authentic and also celebratory of one's individuality. Her new single, “Hypnotized,” is nothing short of straight-up confidence, charm, and groove wrapped (or rapped) in a funky plastic wonderland of true modern hip hop. The lyrics immediately dig into that ethos with an easy flow of head-bobbing rhymes: “I ain’t for anybody. I got a different vibe. I got a different mind. I live a different life. The way I do it keeps them hypnotized.” The track follows with an easygoing rhythm and echoey backing vocals, lyrics rolling along with an infectious casual humor of being oneself, flaws and all. With a constant rumbling bass punctured with muted keys and melodies, this track really does have a hypnotizing effect.

And if the sonic quality wasn’t enough to immediately win me over, I was excited to learn that it was written in the same mode as it speaks about: authentically spontaneous. Just The Empress continues to follow her instincts without a rush for the trends. Instead, she recorded this song in one take, writing verses live at Top Shelf Studios. If that is what happens in one session, I can only imagine what happens in a full year. With a little exploration, I found a history of music filled with the promise of more snappy melodies and beats.

Already with features in notable platforms such as Hulu, Netflix, and BET+, this is definitely an artist to keep an eye on. It seems “Hypnotized” is just another one of her many catchy tracks perfect for cruising on a summer day, bopping along in your headphones, or dancing in your room.

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