V.C.R (Veronica Camille Ratliff) is a three-time Grammy-nominated recording artist, composer, violinist, singer-songwriter, and published author whose career spans iconic stages, visionary collaborations, and powerful cultural advocacy. A native of Memphis, Tennessee, she recently graduated from the University of Southern California’s Thornton School of Music with a Master’s in Music Composition in May 2025, adding academic distinction to her already expansive creative journey. Her work unites classical precision with radical artistic freedom, bridging worlds, genres, and generations.
Her ascent began in 2019 with the publication of The Creative Black Woman’s Playbook, a bold guide that sold out its international print run and led to the creation of the Creative Black Woman’s Network, a platform dedicated to uplifting and resourcing Black women artists. That same year, she toured with Kelsey Lu at Hollywood Forever Cemetery and Form Arcosanti, and performed at the Walt Disney Concert Hall in tribute to Yoko Ono with the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
In 2020, she released her singles “Divinity” and “Butter”, contributed to the Nicki Minaj HBO Documentary, and performed as a featured violinist at the Elijah McClain Candlelight Vigil hosted by Sinbad and The Laugh Factory, an emotional tribute that merged her activism with her artistry. In early 2021, her breakout single “Minnie Lives” was released, paving the way for performances at the Hollywood Bowl with Burna Boy, Afropunk Sound Sessions, and The Late Late Show with James Corden. She was also featured at the Super Bowl LVI NFL Honors Awards in 2022.
That same year, she released her debut LP The Chronicles of a Caterpillar: Vol. 1 The Egg, earning praise for its experimental sound and conceptual depth. She performed for Jazz is Dead alongside Butcher Brown and Alex Isley, joined Pink Siifu for his “4 the Folks Tour,” and played with the Alice Coltrane Family in a tribute performance. As vocal director for Lykke Li’s “Resonant Tones” installation at The Broad Museum and a selected violinist at the National League of Orchestras Summit, she expanded her classical and compositional reach.
In 2023, her visibility surged. She performed at the Live Nation Urban Grammy Jam, Afropunk Sunday Sessions, and LA3C Fest. Her production work was featured in Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé, and her contribution to André 3000’s album New Blue Sun as co-writer and performer on “Ninety Three ’Til Infinity and Beyoncé” earned her three Grammy nominations, including Album of the Year. She performed with André on the New Blue Sun Tour, further cementing her status as a generational talent.
In 2024, she continued to dominate stages and screens. She opened for Laurie Anderson at Dublab Salon, led a private masterclass with George Clinton, starred in PartyNextDoor’s “No Chill” video, and headlined at FWB Fest and Supersonic Jazz Festival. She also performed at The Lincoln Center’s Women in Tech Series, and closed the year with a headline set for Ray-Ban x Meta at Meta Headquarters.
In 2025, V.C.R was honored with the Presser Graduate Music Award, a distinction granted by the USC Thornton faculty in recognition of exceptional artistry and leadership. That same year, she was a featured performer at Coachella, shared her work at the Getty Museum’s “Poetry in the Park”, and released “Found a Light (Beale Street)” with BADBADNOTGOOD, a soul-jazz tribute to her Memphis roots. These recent milestones underscore her seamless movement between independent music, academia, fashion, film, and fine art, reflecting a multidimensional career still unfolding at a dynamic pace.
With collaborations spanning Beyoncé, Nicki Minaj, Top Dawg Entertainment, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and more, V.C.R has carved out a singular lane as a genre-defying, multidisciplinary artist. Whether performing on global stages or creating space for others, her work is a reflection of excellence, originality, and divine creative purpose. As she continues to shape her legacy, and her global impact is only just beginning.
Her ascent began in 2019 with the publication of The Creative Black Woman’s Playbook, a bold guide that sold out its international print run and led to the creation of the Creative Black Woman’s Network, a platform dedicated to uplifting and resourcing Black women artists. That same year, she toured with Kelsey Lu at Hollywood Forever Cemetery and Form Arcosanti, and performed at the Walt Disney Concert Hall in tribute to Yoko Ono with the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
In 2020, she released her singles “Divinity” and “Butter”, contributed to the Nicki Minaj HBO Documentary, and performed as a featured violinist at the Elijah McClain Candlelight Vigil hosted by Sinbad and The Laugh Factory, an emotional tribute that merged her activism with her artistry. In early 2021, her breakout single “Minnie Lives” was released, paving the way for performances at the Hollywood Bowl with Burna Boy, Afropunk Sound Sessions, and The Late Late Show with James Corden. She was also featured at the Super Bowl LVI NFL Honors Awards in 2022.
That same year, she released her debut LP The Chronicles of a Caterpillar: Vol. 1 The Egg, earning praise for its experimental sound and conceptual depth. She performed for Jazz is Dead alongside Butcher Brown and Alex Isley, joined Pink Siifu for his “4 the Folks Tour,” and played with the Alice Coltrane Family in a tribute performance. As vocal director for Lykke Li’s “Resonant Tones” installation at The Broad Museum and a selected violinist at the National League of Orchestras Summit, she expanded her classical and compositional reach.
In 2023, her visibility surged. She performed at the Live Nation Urban Grammy Jam, Afropunk Sunday Sessions, and LA3C Fest. Her production work was featured in Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé, and her contribution to André 3000’s album New Blue Sun as co-writer and performer on “Ninety Three ’Til Infinity and Beyoncé” earned her three Grammy nominations, including Album of the Year. She performed with André on the New Blue Sun Tour, further cementing her status as a generational talent.
In 2024, she continued to dominate stages and screens. She opened for Laurie Anderson at Dublab Salon, led a private masterclass with George Clinton, starred in PartyNextDoor’s “No Chill” video, and headlined at FWB Fest and Supersonic Jazz Festival. She also performed at The Lincoln Center’s Women in Tech Series, and closed the year with a headline set for Ray-Ban x Meta at Meta Headquarters.
In 2025, V.C.R was honored with the Presser Graduate Music Award, a distinction granted by the USC Thornton faculty in recognition of exceptional artistry and leadership. That same year, she was a featured performer at Coachella, shared her work at the Getty Museum’s “Poetry in the Park”, and released “Found a Light (Beale Street)” with BADBADNOTGOOD, a soul-jazz tribute to her Memphis roots. These recent milestones underscore her seamless movement between independent music, academia, fashion, film, and fine art, reflecting a multidimensional career still unfolding at a dynamic pace.
With collaborations spanning Beyoncé, Nicki Minaj, Top Dawg Entertainment, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and more, V.C.R has carved out a singular lane as a genre-defying, multidisciplinary artist. Whether performing on global stages or creating space for others, her work is a reflection of excellence, originality, and divine creative purpose. As she continues to shape her legacy, and her global impact is only just beginning.
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