Entertainment | October 7th, 2024

Rae’Kwan Rises With Her New Album “Can’t Be Right”

By: Justin Lloyd

Over the years, a plethora of talented individuals have scaled the hills at Florida A&M University. After leaving, many have gone on to become household names. Singer-songwriter and FAMU alumni Rae’Kwan Bostic hopes to do the same.

“When I first realized I had an interest in singing, I was nine, and I haven’t shut up since.”

The Atlanta native grew up in a family of musicians. Her parents, both music educators and FAMU graduates, encouraged their children to play instruments. While Bostic eventually leaned into her parents’ influence and learned to play the alto saxophone, she found her voice at a young age and became infatuated with singing.

“My parents took us to a lot of band stuff, so we were very immersed in music,” Bostic said. “When I first realized I had an interest in singing, I was nine, and I haven’t shut up since.”

In 2019, Bostic followed in her parents’ footsteps by attending FAMU seeking a music industry degree. She arrived as a talented but shy individual with little experience singing on stage, but it did not take long before her voice became one that many Rattlers grew familiar with.

The required performances within her major helped her gain confidence, knowledge, and stage presence. By the time she left FAMU, Bostic had several notable performances under her belt, including the 2021 Coronation Ceremony and FAMU Essential Theatre’s production of The Wiz.

Bostic also began her journey as a recording artist while in school and got a glimpse of success. She had originally planned to release an album in 2020, but the pandemic and a busy schedule hindered her creative process.

“I was just really upset that it was stopping me from what I really wanted to do, which was put out music and be an artist,” Bostic said.

“As a creative, once you start something, it just eats at you to finish it,”

Despite the delays, her vision never faded. This year, she resumed the process and released her debut album, Can’t Be Right, in August. There is one word that can sum up her mindset as an artist this summer: urgency.

“As a creative, once you start something, it just eats at you to finish it,” Bostic said.

Bostic had help throughout the creative process from her long-time friend and fellow FAMU graduate Christina Stapleton, who served as the album’s creative director and photographer for the cover. Stapleton emphasized the importance of consistency and praised Bostic’s work ethic.

“I continued to stress to her the importance of making content weekly to keep her audience engaged,” Stapleton said. “She has worked so hard over the years on her craft, so when she finally dropped the album, I felt so proud.”

The eight-track project showcases Bostic’s vocal abilities while she explores themes of self-love, relationships, and the excitement of life. She combines her style with influences from her favorite artists and family, which can be heard on her lead single, “Can’t Be Right.” Her father originally used the instrumental on this song before Bostic reimagined it.

“I wanted to have a ballad or a pop tune, and I was leaning toward a pop tune,” Bostic said. “That was my father’s song turned into a love/pop song.”

Her track “Wanna Be,” originally released in 2020, is arguably the most popular song on the album. In 2021, it was featured on rapper Kash Doll’s “The Party Up Playlist.”

The Bostic family’s seemingly never-ending musical legacy extends to the album, as her younger brother, George Bostic, debuted as a producer and engineer. His instrumentals can be heard on “Vibes” and “Party,” and he mixed all but one song on the album. George reflected on the emotional experience of working with his sister.

“It touched my heart for her to choose some of the beats that she did,” George Bostic said. “Working with Rae was really special, and I can’t wait to do it again.”

What’s next for Rae’Kwan Bostic? She says she’s excited to continue improving as an artist and investing in herself.

“This was a really good start, but I know what I need to improve on,” Bostic said.

Ultimately, Bostic’s musical background and dedication are strong tools for any up-and-coming artist. Only time will tell if she’ll put it all together and become a major name in the industry.