Topaz Jones

Topaz Jones
Topaz Jones
	Jones in 2022
Background information
Birth name	George David Brandon Jones
Born	1993 (age 30–31); Montclair, New Jersey, U.S.
Genres	Hip hop; alternative hip hop; conscious rap; trap; funk;
Occupation(s)	Rapper; singer; filmmaker;
Instrument(s)	Vocals;
Years active	2013–present
Labels	New Funk Academy
Website	www.topazjones.com//

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

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
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

List of albums, with release date and label shown
Title	Album details
The Honeymoon Suite	Released: January 28, 2014 Formats: Digital download, streaming

References

^ ^a ^b "Topaz Jones and the Philosophy of the Groove". Pitchfork. September 2016. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
^ "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.
^ Conteh, Mankaprr (April 23, 2021). "How Topaz Jones Made the Next Great Visual Album". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
^ "Topaz Jones: "Toothache"". Pitchfork. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
^ Huggins, Kristin. "topaz jones, new york's new prince of funk". i-d.vice.com. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
^ "Get to know New Jersey based rapper Topaz Jones". Secret Sounds. June 27, 2017. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
^ ^a ^b Younger, Briana (November 9, 2016). "Songs We Love: Topaz Jones, 'Motion Sickness / Grass'". NPR. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
^ "Believe It or Not, Rappers Struggle Too". Complex. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
^ ^a ^b "Topaz Jones' New Album Arcade Coming Friday". Pitchfork. October 25, 2016. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
^ "Animal Collective Get Intimate at Pitchfork's 21st". Pitchfork. December 8, 2017. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
^ "Topaz Jones Is Literally Uplifted In The Surreal "Motion Sickness" Video". The FADER. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
^ Hailu, Selome (September 13, 2021). "Sundance Winner 'Don't Go Tellin' Your Momma' Gets NY Times' Premiere (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
^ "How Topaz Jones & Rubberband's Friendship Led to a Sundance Win". W Magazine. April 23, 2021. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
^ 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.
^ "Watch Topaz Jones' 'Don't Go Tellin' Your Momma' Short Film". Stereogum. September 14, 2021. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
^ "The 50 Best Albums Of 2021 So Far". Stereogum. June 8, 2021. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
^ "Topaz Jones: Don't Go Tellin' Your Momma". Pitchfork. Retrieved September 28, 2022.

[:0-1] "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.

[:1-7] 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.

[Nast-9] "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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