Victoria Monét: The Songwriters

That Ariana Grande's deeply personal, name-naming monster hit “thank u, next” was co-written by Victoria Monét is a testament to her longtime collaborator's ability to immerse herself in a subject. Monét's partnership with Ari goes back to 2013 and includes “7 Rings,” “Needy,” and “Daydreamin,'” but the songwriter and vocalist has also brought her sublime hooks and piercing lyrics to Nas, Meek Mill, and T.I. As long as there's heartbreak, Monét promises to help everyone feel it. “We, as a generation, are more aware of our diversity, but even more aware of how similar we all actually are when we are singing and relating to the same songs,” she told Beats 1. “As a bisexual black artist who writes her own music and music for others, my back is heavily weighted with responsibility, and I plan to deliver for us.”