Meet Raney Antoine Jr. | Musician, Educator, Songwriter and Producer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Raney Antoine Jr. and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Raney, let’s talk legacy – what do you want yours to be?
I want my legacy to be centered in joy, love, growth, and impact. Sometimes people discuss “legacy” while people are still alive. That’s odd to me because they’re not finished contributing yet! I’m a firm believer that you are old until you become set in your ways, stop learning, and stop growing. Progress and growth is always the goal. Whether I’m in a recording studio, classroom, business meeting, or live performance: where’s the growth opportunity? Where’s there progress to be made? Regardless of what I can see, I’ll choose to be the agent of growth. Stay curious and consistent.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Currently, I love the variety in my career. I’ll be teaching a Hip-Hop and R&B performance class Tuesday evening, then I’m in Atlanta the following day creating records that go on tour a year later with crowds screaming the words. It’s wild. That’s what I’m always most excited about, the next project, the next connection. I’m excited to begin more collaborative work outside of simply producing and writing songs with artists.

I’m currently working on a project with Exclave Spirits, leading the newly developed music arm of their culture branding. I’m also finalizing plans to score an actual dinner sitting which is wild. Creating the sonic palette based on the menu the chef has prepared and the energy they want during the sitting. I see it the same way that music impacts a film, a fashion show, etc.

Also, I’m always working on records with artists, I’m doing a joint project with West Side Chicago native rapper Søzi. It’s coming out incredible, the chemistry is great. The most difficult part in the art and entertainment industry is chemistry. Does it gel? Are both sides adding equal value and getting equal return? Are we serving the larger goal as well as ourselves? A major lesson I’ve learned is not to chase chemistry, it just happens. If it isn’t innate, don’t force it. Whether it’s creative, business, whatever. Is the chemistry there? Where there’s chemistry, there’s opportunity. Once I stopped chasing what I thought would work and started only pouring into relationships and opportunities that returned the energy, it’s been up ever since!

Getting to where I am has probably taken longer than it needed to to be honest. As a musician, I share a very similar background to most. Coming out of the baptist church in the south, playing drums and piano at a young age. I never viewed myself as “different” or having anything “setting me apart”. As I think back though, I was always doing more than one thing at a time.

Learning drums and piano at the same time but by age 13 I was a better drummer than some grown men. While I was in college classes during the day, that night I was rehearsing as music director for an act opening for Kendrick Lamar at Xavier University. While working a shift at Smoothie King 7am-11am then going to class, the remainder of the afternoon into the early morning hours, I was an assistant stage manager at Voodoo Festival. The reason I’ve gotten to where I am was saying yes to the things that served the overall goal: impact and growth.

I’m now a Research Associate for the HipHopRx research lab backed by organizations like the Mellon Foundation and Black Beyond Data. The common thread lesson is to stay curious and consistent.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I’m a big sports fan, so regardless of if you’re a sports fan, we have to pull up to a Pelicans and Saints game. I’ve done both in one day before, it was incredible! I’m heavy on the foodie vibes, so we’re gonna be eating our way through the city for sure. Anytime I have visitors in town, we always go to New Orleans Food and Spirits. We also gotta get a po-boy from Guy’s. Underrated, but elite. Snowball from both Plum St and Hansen’s. Two different snowball vibes and you’ve gotta experience both! Also, you have to hit Morning Call for Beignets. Frenchmen Street is the locals’ spot to hear local musicians. Different styles in each club. New Orleans is one of those places where there’s always something going on. Especially festivals. So I’d especially suggest pulling up for a festival. French Quarter or Jazz Fest would be cool. Essence Festival. Mardi Gras season as well.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I have a few: the first “yes” I ever received as a musician was from my late grandfather, Ennis Antoine Sr. I consistently credit him for where I am as a creative. He listed all the things I’m doing now to me back when I was about 12. I only wanted to be like drummer Tony Royster Jr in that 1997 video at that time. He saw it all before I did. Love you paw paw! Secondly, my late grandmother, Mauleen Smith. She was my first “fan” for real. All she ever wanted was for me to play sonatas for her on the phone before she went to bed. Love you maw maw! Lastly, my parents are my lifetime investors, the ones who financed this entire operation growing up. My current biggest fans no matter what it is. Thank you, mom and dad. Love ya’ll!

Website: https://www.raneyjr.com

Instagram: @raneyajr

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/raney-antoine-jr-56441966

Twitter: https://twitter.com/raneyajr

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rantoinejr

Image Credits
Alyssa Schiaffino, Freret Napoleon