R&B/Soul Artist Victor Jackson Releases Sensual New Visual for 'Venom'

Victor Jackson has used his gift of music, dance, and drama to breathe creative life into artists such as Kandi Burruss, Lil’ Wayne, Iggy Azalea, August Alsina and Jennifer Hudson. He uses that same creative formula in his latest visual project.

R&B/Soul artist Victor Jackson brings the pages of his favorite childhood editorials to life with the release of the sensual new visual for Venom. Venom is the latest video in Jackson’s rapidly growing repertoire from his upcoming EP Man.Muse.Magic.

Drawing inspiration from the nostalgic fashion spreads of Suede, Honey and VIBE Vixen, the visual features him draped in snakeskin, a Marine Serre hood, and warm fall hues while performing in self-choreographed vignettes with his supporting dancers – “The Muses” for his soon to be released EP Man Muse Magic. Contrary to the song’s staccato and bass filled vibe, Jackson wrote Venom in an instance of reflecting on his childhood: growing up a Black gay boy from the South. 

“I grew up hearing that I had a smart mouth. Everyone would tell me that from my mom to my teachers...everyone! I realized that it was a way for me to protect myself,” says Jackson. “As a Black gay boy from the South, I was always bullied. I was always backed into a corner but having a smart mouth and a quick wit allowed me to defend myself. It was something I held onto so I wrote a song about the concept of using words as self-defense.” 

In developing the visual, the goal wasn’t to highlight that childhood trauma, but to lean into what he considered a safe space as a kid. For him, that safe space was fashion magazines. 

“As a kid I would buy them all the time,” Jackson recalls. “I would buy them at grocery stores...I would buy them at Barnes & Noble. I would always escape into magazines. There was a moment in the early 2000s when VIBE Vixen was out and Honey magazine was out, and I would buy those magazines religiously. It was an escape for me. I just remember seeing these women – Black women that looked like my friends, that looked like my homegirls, and looked like my family in everything from Gucci and Saint Laurent to FUBU Ladies and Baby Phat. It was amazing to me and in developing the treatment for Venom, I leaned into those references. I wanted it to feel like a fall fashion spread!” 

The visual for Venom oozes with Jackson’s newfound self-assuredness as he’s matured into his artistry. Cinematic in nature, he delivers choreography along with “The Muses” - Candis Osborne, Sheena Knight, and TereLyn Jones that accents the track’s slick lyrics and echoes its intoxicating bassline.