Genia - Introducing

What this video is

Released February 24, 2023, 'Introducing' represents a landmark moment in the TikTok-to-major-label pipeline that defined early-2020s R&B. Genia built her following through viral a cappella TikTok videos during the COVID-19 pandemic before signing to the iconic Def Jam Recordings. The video's black-and-white desert aesthetic directly reflects the Inland Empire city of Victorville — a Southern California high-desert…

Why it matters

Sits at the intersection of contemporary R&B and melodic rap — what Genia herself calls 'sing-rapping' — reflecting the post-Drake, post-SZA genre fluidity of early 2020s Black popular music. The stripped, soulful instrumental (described as featuring drums, snares, and blaring horns) and Genia's…

The director

Genia is a singer-songwriter and R&B/rap artist from Victorville, California, signed to Def Jam Recordings. She rose to prominence through viral TikTok content beginning in November 2020 before signing to Def Jam. 'Introducing' is her official debut single.…