Before audiences experience the full theatrical production, the music of Riley will take center stage. Brian Jordan Jr., the actor, singer-songwriter, and producer best known for his role as Maurice Webb on BET’s Sistas, is introducing his original stage musical Riley with the release of Riley: The Mixtape this October.
The album serves as the official soundtrack to the developing stage show, offering a sonic preview of the vibrant world of Riley, a bold and unapologetically Black celebration of HBCU culture. Blending gospel, R&B, hip-hop, and musical theater, the mixtape lays the foundation for a production that Jordan Jr. describes as “fun, emotional, theatrical, and deeply Black.”
A Musical Introduction
Created, written, recorded, and executive produced by Jordan Jr., Riley: The Mixtape will feature 15 original tracks and a diverse roster of guest artists, including Big Freedia, Amber Iman, Natalie Weiss, Blaq N Mild, Loren Lott, Olivia Lux, Jessica Betts, and more. Lead singles “Defense” and “Strut” will be released in September ahead of the full album drop.
“This mixtape is the heartbeat of the world of Riley,” Jordan Jr. said. “It’s the music that drives the story, and I wanted people to feel that first before stepping into the theater.”
About Riley: The Musical
Currently in development, Riley is envisioned as a theatrical love letter to the HBCU experience. Through the eyes of a young Black man navigating Greek life, band culture, campus politics, and first love, the production explores legacy, identity, and community with humor, heart, and cultural pride.
Jordan Jr. is seeking partners, sponsors, and investors to bring the show to the stage, emphasizing its potential as a culturally grounded, commercially viable production for the next generation of Broadway.
About Brian Jordan Jr.
A Baton Rouge native with training from Southeastern Louisiana University, LSU, NYU Tisch, and The Debbie Allen Dance Academy, Jordan Jr. began his career in theater before transitioning to film and television. His credits include Bolden, Get On Up, and A Question of Faith, and he recently directed and choreographed The Wiz at Atlanta’s True Colors Theatre Company.
With Riley, he merges his passion for music and theater into a single project rooted in Black excellence and Southern storytelling.
Riley: The Mixtape will be available on all streaming platforms this October.