Meet Racquel ‘Radcity’ Lee | Producer, Singer-Songwriter, Rapper, Writer, & Actor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Racquel ‘Radcity’ Lee and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Racquel ‘Radcity’, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking.
It wasn’t always easy to maintain that “risk-taker” mentality, but much of my faith stemmed from my connection to God and the dreams of my younger self. I always strive to honor her, as well as future generations with similar dreams and aspirations. When I was younger, I came across many closed doors and false promises of opportunity. This inspired me to forge my path, step into the unknown, and trust answers to come along the way. Throughout my life, I have taken numerous risks to believe in myself. Also, as an Aquarius, I tend to test the waters, even if it’s scary at first. I’m not afraid to carve out my own space to share my gifts, hoping to leave a positive impact on others. I am a black woman, a queer, masculine-presenting creative, and a visionary. I compose beats, rap, sing, act, write, and model. I’ve unlocked all these different character enhancements, like a video game, and I never would’ve learned about my love for these creative elements had I not stepped forward, delving into them.

Recently, I challenged myself to explore another side of my personality I hadn’t tapped into before –– modeling and fashion content. I’ve always loved snapping photos of my outfits and sneakers for fun, but I was hesitant to pursue it further. I applied for the Fashion Nova influencer program, and to my delight, I was accepted! Now, I am being approached by various brands for creative projects, collaborations, and partnerships. Taking that risk has opened up exciting new opportunities for me. Take that risk and let your imagination spark.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I take great pride in being more than just a musician, writer, actor, or producer. I would consider myself an audile storyteller. Throughout my life, I have always seen my beats and songs as visual worlds or realms. Each beat I create tells a story as if it were already built into a music video or film, and then I send the beat to an artist in a beat-pack. I’ve incorporated this approach into my work by creating conceptual projects to accompany my collaborations. For instance, I released my debut production single, “Little Things,” earlier this year, featuring Chicago rapper Edwin Jackson and R&B singer Jalen Parker from Georgia, now based in LA. I transformed the release into a lover’s paradise through content, curated playlists, and imagery. This journey hasn’t always been easy, not even by a long shot. It took a lot of networking, collaboration, and stepping out of my comfort zone to let others hear and see my work. I’ve been in this industry professionally for 6 years. I’m 24 now, but back then, 18-year-old Racquel told those around her that she wanted a gap year to pursue music—no major plan set in stone, but faith the size of a mustard seed. She left and headed off to New York the following year to find herself and build her name in the process.

After that, I started traveling to Los Angeles and Atlanta, building a presence on social media, and gradually gaining recognition. Being in a male-dominated industry, it was challenging to earn respect from other producers and artists, especially as a woman in the same lane. I am part of a field where only 6.5% of female producers are represented. This didn’t happen overnight; it took time, and I believe the past three years have been crucial to my career. I’ve had several of my songs featured for sync placements and editorial playlists, including United Masters and Overtime Sports.

However, one of my proudest achievements was being recognized as one of the “Top 10 Female Producers Internationally” by BeatStars and then featured in an article for Medium Magazine after collaborating with my close friend, LA-based actor and R&B singer Reed Shannon. My motto is: “Create Beautiful Minds as a Believable Genius.” This means standing in your power, using your creativity and mind to change and influence the world, and making it a beautiful place to live in. If you have confidence in yourself, ignore distractions, and concentrate on the path ahead, you will accomplish great things.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I would recommend starting your day at “Flying Biscuit” for breakfast. It’s one of my favorite spots, and their grits and sausage gravy are amazing. I’m a Southern girl at heart, and I appreciate a good breakfast with great energy and hospitality. Another great spot is Velvet Taco, which my friend Naoma introduced me to on my first visit to the ATL. I highly recommend it for lunch or dinner. Being a foodie, I’m always on the lookout for new cuisines to try.

If you’re into the music scene in Atlanta, I recommend visiting the Trap Museum, learning the history of some of the ATL greats, enjoying some good drinks, and capturing some cool pictures. For a mix of nature and live music, Piedmont Park is a great option. I recently found an amazing adult arcade in Midtown called Slingshot Social Game Club. I had an amazing time there for my 24th birthday with some of my fellow creative friends, and I wouldn’t hesitate to take another friend there to bring out their inner child. I’m such a big kid at heart, so this place is a must-visit.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to express my gratitude to God for guiding me towards my purpose and vision. I also want to thank all the people who have supported me on my journey. My mom has been my main supporter, making sacrifices for me to pursue my goals. She encouraged me to follow my passion by enrolling me in various creative and performing arts organizations. My cousin, Omar, has also been a significant supporter, playing a key role in the creation of my collective and indie label, CBMBG Entertainment, and providing me with guidance. I want to recognize the talented and innovative individuals who have supported me over the past few years: Faedaway, Khalil, Emerald Vibes With Juice, Rico Barre, Jalen Parker, and many others on the West Coast. I also want to mention and show love for my ATL family, including NAOMA, REV’n, Tre Prada, Olijade, SEVENTWLVE, and 2AM Ricky. I heavily encourage you to check out their work too!

Website: https://unitedmasters.com/radcity

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/radcityofficial/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/racqlee

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/radcityofficial

Other: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/60WfjtkkwxqrYxvIVrGiXB?si=uhce6iNoQLq60V-cN90AGw
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/radcity/1462728704

Image Credits
Siedah Dunn, Christian Haskell.