Ryck Jane Talks What’s Behind “You’re Gone Learn Today”
The first thing we see in Neesin Williams’s vibrant video for “You Gone Learn Today” is Ryck Jane’s earrings. They’re hard to miss — and they also might’ve been a challenge to wear. The two matching accessories that dangle from the rapper’s lobes appear to be made of solid gold. But the most notable thing about them is what they signify. They’re L.A. logos: twin declarations of allegiance to the city and scene that made her.
Even without the earrings, fans would know exactly where Ryck Jane was from. It’s not just her California drawl, the left coast pattern of her cadences, or the hard Los Angeleno funk that forms the bedrock of her irresistible recordings. It’s also in her dedication to glamour and her scrupulous attention to every detail of presentation. Jane knows exactly how to showcase her fierce individuality. The new artist she is, but she handles herself like a showbiz veteran. She believes that she was born to inhabit the spotlight — and single after single, she demonstrates that her confidence isn’t misplaced.
“You Gone Learn Today,” her newest single, is her boldest declaration of autonomy yet. On the track, Ryck Jane raps about the inevitability of her rise and underscores her theme with a performance that’s relentless, colorful, and loaded with personality. Call it a message to the nonbelievers — who are getting harder and harder to find. The production backs up her boasts: the track is muscular and hypnotic, decorated with a thick, serpentine bass synthesizer lead, skittering beats, a thumping kick drum, and chanted backing vocals. The deep musicality of the “You Gone Learn Today” arrangement is a reminder that long before Ryck Jane found fame as an independent rapper, she’d distinguished herself as a trumpeter.
That horn shows up on “No Problems,” the bonus Ryck Jane cut. The track is a centerpiece of Jane Got A Gun, the rapper’s scalding 2023 album. It’s slinkier and more subtle than the rambunctious “You Gone Learn Today,” but as the video makes clear, it’s another message to the world that Ryck James can’t be stopped. Just like the “You Gone Learn Today” video clip, “No Problems” is a showcase for the artist’s unique, and unerring sense of style. It’s all here, and it’s all wild, and worn with the self-possession of a queen.
Ryck Jane weighed in on the new music and video as well as touching on expanding her reach
Who are your biggest music influences?
My biggest music influences are Jay-z, Biggie, Lauryn Hill, Roy Hargrove, Miles Davis and Michael Jackson
How would you describe your music has to set it uniquely different from other artists in your genre?
My music is very different from the current female rap climate. It has a variety of Rap, R&B, Jazz and doesn’t really sound like everything else right now. The music is “vibey” but also has some “head-knockers” that adds a unique flare. Its difficult to say that my music is just Female Rap music or R&B music because it encompasses many things that you can’t box it into one genre of music.
Are there any genres you would be interested in exploring for future projects?
Absolutely. I don’t want to boxed in. I’ve already recorded some House, Afro-Beats, Rock and Pop music that is completely different from what people expect to hear from me.
What was the inspiration behind “You Gone Learn Today”?
“I’m not what you thought. Ain’t what you think. I am much broader than what people think.” This song refers to me letting people know who I am as an artist. Sometimes people automatically have assumptions on who I am and what I can do. But this song breaks it down and informs fans of what it really is, and they gone learn after they listen.
Which aspect of “You Gone Learn Today” are you the proudest of how it turned out?
Honestly, the video. This was my first high budget video. And from the hair, wardrobe, makeup and extras, it was all very new to me for this video. A lot of time, work, and effort went in to making this video high quality. And people recognize that immediately after watching it.
Could you tell us about “No Problems”?
The inspiration behind this song is that I can perceived as a lowkey and shy person, but if I’m pushed hard enough in a negative way, that lowkey person will no longer exist. This song just lets people know that it’s all good until you do me wrong. I initially had no plans of shooting a video for “No Problems”, but I got so much positive feedback from many of my fans who really liked the song, that I randomly decided we had to shoot a video for this. I had the pleasure of working with Ashley Eberbach of Burnone Productions on this video. And since we’ve done other videos in the past, we have a relationship and understanding that makes the video process with her very easy. I had a great time with the “crew member” extras and everyone involved in the other scenes. We only had the rental space for 4 hours and we were somehow able to get enough footage to create this video. It was a quick shoot and there were many moving parts, but it worked out. The rain that day didn’t stop anything, and we had a cool time shooting this one for the people.
When writing “No Problems”, how did you approach writing at as the centerpiece of Jane Got A Gun?
It’s funny because “No Problems” wasn’t even supposed to be on Jane Got A Gun. Literally two weeks before the release of Jane Got A Gun, I invited the amazing producer, THX, over to work on some new tracks for my next EP. And while THX was creating a beat, I began to mumble melodies and ideas in my voice notes. After about 6 mins of recorded mumbles, the very first phrase I said was “You Don’t Really Want No Problems.” And THX immediately said that’s the hook… I don’t need to listen to nothing else! So, I ended up recording the hook and wrote the verses right there. My engineer, Ishmael Ferguson and I decided to add some trumpet parts to it, and I recorded everything that night….which is something I normally don’t do. While Ish was doing a small mix for us to listen back to, he said, “We should put “No Problems” on the EP.” LOL. It’s crazy because I hadn’t uploaded any of the songs from the EP to my distributor yet so I was able to add this song easily with no issues and still make the release date. Ish mixed and mastered the song the next day and the rest is history! It really came together unexpectedly. And it also just flows perfectly with the rest of the songs on the EP. This was supposed to happen.
What are you working on next?
People can expect my next EP “Ryck The Ruler” to be released this year. And just more vibes, more content, more Ryckstrumentals, and more balance that we need in music today!!
Follow Ryck Jane
Website: ryckjane.com
Linktree: linktr.ee/ryckjane
