Jessie Reyez once again proves why she’s a force in today’s music landscape with her recent performance of “RIDIN” for Genius’ Open Mic series. Though the studio version of the track features rap icon Lil Wayne, Reyez confidently goes it alone, delivering a raw, emotional rendition that leaves the audience hanging on her every note.
Known for her gritty, heart-on-sleeve vocal style, Reyez doesn’t shy away from vulnerability. Instead, she embraces it, replacing Lil Wayne’s verse with an unreleased second verse of her own, giving fans an intimate glimpse into her creative mind. Her vocals cut through the minimalist arrangement, revealing the layers of heartbreak and defiance that make “RIDIN” such a standout track.
Produced by The Monsters & Strangerz and Jeff ‘Gitty’ Gitelman, “RIDIN” has become a fan favourite, amassing over 1.5 million views on YouTube and racking up 4.1 million Spotify streams since its August release. But it’s performances like this, where the spotlight is solely on her, that remind us of Reyez’s unshakable presence in the industry.
The Genius Open Mic series continues to shine as a platform for showcasing authentic, unfiltered performances, and Reyez’s solo rendition is a perfect example. With her passionate delivery and surprise freestyle at the end, she proves once again that she doesn’t need a feature to captivate an audience—she’s more than capable of riding solo.
Check out the full “RIDIN” (Live Performance) below, and don’t miss other recent Open Mic performances by Alessia Cara, Snow Tha Product, and MAVI.
