Jada Kingdom Leaves Republic Records: “I Felt So Out Of Place”

Just two years after signing with Republic Records, Dancehall songstress Jada Kingdom is stepping out on her own as an independent artist.

“Now I’m a fully independent artist, no longer with a label,” the WiN singer told TEEN VOGUE.

Signed in 2021, the record deal, in partnership with Money Well Spent, was described at the time as “the biggest deal for a Caribbean female artist ever.” Spearheaded by Kingdom’s former boyfriend, Verse Simmonds, it positioned her on the same New York-based label as A-listers such as Taylor Swift, Nicki Minaj, and Ariana Grande.

However, it appears the partnership ended in 2022, with Kingdom now expressing a desire for greater independence and control over her music.

“I felt so out of place, things weren’t feeling right. I want to take some of my career and keep some of me for me. It’s going to be hectic because there’s no longer a machine behind me, but I always want to be me,” she admitted.

The singer said there are several new recording deals on the table for consideration, but, for now, she’s holding off on signing again with another label.

In June 2021, Kingdom had also revealed that she had a new manager, Marc Jordan, and a management team at Wide Eye Entertainment. But it’s unclear whether that remains so.

Before Republic, Jada had a tumultuous split from former manager Pop Style Music, with whom she had a dispute that resulted in a defamation lawsuit. In early 2021, she told fans not to expect any new music from her that year, as she did not have a supportive team behind her.

Although her decision to part ways with Republic Records, a division of Universal Music Group, is surprising, the star seems unfazed. According to Kingdom, it’s all part of her journey to maintain her authentic voice and to grow as an artist.

“It’s unfortunate that in my music journey, I’ve had people who crossed me and made my business harder than what it should be. It feels like I’m yet to show my true potential. I’m a wonderful person,” shared Kingdom, whose real name is Jada Ashanti Murphy.

During her time under Republic Records, Jada’s debut was Jungle, released in October 2021. Then came her New Motion EP in 2022, featuring Dickmatized, Last Night, Fling It Back, and Next Time.

She released GPP in the summer of 2022, her final song under Republic, which has amassed nearly 9 million views on YouTube.

She also collaborated with Scrptiid for On My Way (OMW), which entered the Billboard World Digital Singles Chart, and with John Legend on Speak In Tongues, which appeared on his self-titled album, Legend.

Her latest song, a collab with 9nine titled Turn Me On, was produced by Rvssian and released under his Rich Immigrants imprint.

Amidst all this, Kingdom says there are still plans to publish her debut album—TWINKLE.

While she remains tight-lipped about the details, she teased TEEN VOGUE, describing it as a “beautiful compilation of work” that truly embodies her essence.

She also hailed Nina Simone, Amy Winehouse, The Manhattans, The Temptations, Diana King, Spice, and Vybz Kartel as musical inspirations. But despite the plethora of foreign influences, the singer is determined to retain her authenticity.

“I always try to find a way to bring all of my inspirations into one thing. Yes, I might explore a jazzy-type beat, but the message I’m sending is conscious while the dialect I’m speaking is still Jamaican and representing the Caribbean.”

When asked about aspirations for collaborations, Jada Kingdom named, Rihanna, Tiwa Savage, and Nicki Minaj. On the male front, she mentioned Drake and Dexta Daps, noting that her musical bond with the latter has already materialized into four unreleased songs.