Meshell Ndegeocello Explained

Meshell Ndegeocello
Background:	solo_singer
Birth Name:	Michelle Lynn Johnson
Alias:	Meshell Suhaila Bashir-Shakur Me'Shell Ndegéocello
Birth Date:	1968 8, mf=yes
Birth Place:	Berlin, Germany
Origin:	Washington, D.C., United States
Instrument:	Vocals, bass, keyboards, drums, guitar
Occupation:	Singer-songwriter, spoken word artist, musician
Years Active:	1992present
Label:	Maverick/Reprise/Warner Bros, Shanachie, EmArcy, Decca/Universal, Mercer Street/Downtown, Naïve, Blue Note
Associated Acts:	John Mellencamp, Madonna, Benson Taylor, Chaka Khan, Robert Glasper

Meshell Ndegeocello (;^[1] born Michelle Lynn Johnson on August 29, 1968) is an American singer-songwriter, poet, and bassist. She has gone by the name Meshell Suhaila Bashir-Shakur which is used as a writing credit on some of her mid-career work.^[2] Her music incorporates a wide variety of influences, including funk, soul, jazz, hip hop, reggae and rock. She has received significant critical acclaim throughout her career,^{[3] [4]} being nominated for eleven Grammy Awards, and winning two.^[5] She also has been credited for helping to "spark the neo-soul movement".^[6]

Biography

Ndegeocello was born Michelle Lynn Johnson in West Berlin, Germany, to US Army Sergeant Major and saxophonist father Jacques Johnson and health care worker mother Helen. She was raised in Washington, D.C., where she attended Duke Ellington School of the Arts and Oxon Hill High School.

Ndegeocello adopted her surname, which she says means "free like a bird" in Swahili. Early pressings of Plantation Lullabies were affixed with stickers to help pronounce her name. The spelling has changed in the hands of record labels a few times during her career; the correct spelling of her stage name as of 2001 is Meshell Ndegeocello.^[7]

Career

Ndegeocello honed her skills on the D.C. go-go circuit in the late 1980s with the bands Prophecy, Little Benny and the Masters, and Rare Essence.^[8] Going solo, she was one of the first artists to sign with Maverick Records, where she released her debut album, Plantation Lullabies. This recording presented a distinctly androgynous persona.

Her biggest hit is a duet with John Mellencamp, a cover version of Van Morrison's "Wild Night", which reached No. 3 on the Billboard charts. Her only other Billboard Hot 100 hit besides "Wild Night" has been her self-penned "If That's Your Boyfriend (He Wasn't Last Night)", which peaked at No. 73 in 1994. Also in 1994, Ndegeocello collaborated with Herbie Hancock on "Nocturnal Sunshine," a track for the Red Hot Organization's compilation album, . The album, meant to raise awareness and funds in support of the AIDS epidemic in relation to the African American community, was heralded as "Album of the Year" by Time magazine.

She had a No. 1 dance hit in 1996 with a Bill Withers cover song called "Who Is He (And What Is He to You)?" (briefly featured in the film Jerry Maguire) as well as Dance Top 20 hits with "Earth", "", "Stay" and the aforementioned "If That's Your Boyfriend.. Last Night)". Ndegeocello played bass on the song "I'd Rather be Your Lover" for Madonna on her album Bedtime Stories. Ndegeocello was also tapped, at the last minute, to perform spoken word on the same song. This came after Madonna and producers decided to remove Tupac Shakur's rap (which he did while he and Madonna were dating in 1994), after he had criminal charges filed against him. Ndegeocello also performed spoken word on Chaka Khan's single "Never Miss the Water", from the album , released in 1996. The song reached #1 on Billboard's Dance Club Play Chart and #36 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles Chart.

Her music has been featured in a number of film soundtracks including How Stella Got Her Groove Back, Lost & Delirious, Batman & Robin, Love Jones, Love & Basketball, Talk to Me, Tyler Perry's Daddy's Little Girls, The Best Man, Higher Learning, Down in the Delta, The Hurricane, , and Soul Men.

She has appeared on recordings by Basement Jaxx, Indigo Girls, Scritti Politti, and The Blind Boys of Alabama. On The Rolling Stones' 1997 album Bridges to Babylon she plays bass on the song "Saint of Me". On Alanis Morissette's 2002 album Under Rug Swept, she plays bass on the songs "So Unsexy" and "You Owe Me Nothing in Return". Also that year, she appeared on Gov’t Mule’s record The Deep End, Volume 2, playing on a cover of The Staple Singers’ song "Hammer And Nails". And in 2009, she appeared on Zap Mama's album ReCreation, playing bass on the song "African Diamond".

She can also be seen in the documentary Standing in the Shadows of Motown, singing The Miracles' "You've Really Got a Hold on Me" and The Temptations' "Cloud Nine". In the late 1990s, she toured with Lilith Fair. She also did a remake of the song "Two Doors Down" on the 2003 release .

Ndegeocello was also a judge for The 2nd, 12th, 13 and the 2015 14th Annual Independent Music Awards to support independent artists' careers.^[9]

Her song "Tie One On" was chosen as the Starbucks iTunes Pick of the Week on February 23, 2010.^{[10] [11]}

In 2016, she provided the theme song, "Nova", for the Oprah Winfrey-produced show Queen Sugar.^[12] She also collaborated with French-Cuban duo Ibeyi in the song "Transmission/Michaelion" for the album Ash reciting a poem by Frida Kahlo.

In December 2016, the world premiere of Ndegeocello's Can I Get a Witness? The Gospel of James Baldwin, a new theatrical music and art work, was held in Harlem, New York.^[13]

In June 2021, The Beatles Channel on Sirius XM Radio began broadcasting A Shot of Rhythm and Blues: Exploring The Beatles and Black Music, a four-part series hosted by Ndegeocello.^{[14] [15] [16]} The series explores the relationship between the English rock band the Beatles and the black musicians that inspired them.

Ndegeocello joined the Blue Note label with the debut release of her 13th studio album The Omnichord Real Book (2023). The title refers to a set of lead sheets from songs from funk, soul, gospel and more influenced by her father as if a compilation of standards like a real book in jazz repertoire.^[17]

Activism

In 2002, Ndegeocello collaborated with Yerba Buena on a track featuring Ron Black for the Red Hot Organization's tribute album to Fela Kuti, Red Hot and Riot. Proceeds from the album went to various AIDS charities, per the Red Hot Organization's mission.

In June 2010, she contributed a cover of U2's "40" to the Enough Project and Downtown Records' Raise Hope for Congo compilation. Proceeds from the compilation fund efforts to make the protection and empowerment of Congo's women a priority, as well as inspire individuals around the world to raise their voice for peace in Congo.

In 2010, Ndegeocello contributed to the essay anthology , edited by Dan Savage and Terry Miller in the vein of the It Gets Better Project.

Personal life

Ndegeocello is bisexual and previously had a relationship with feminist author Rebecca Walker. Ndegeocello's first son, Solomon, was born in 1989.^[18] Since 2005, she has been married to Alison Riley, with whom she has a second son.^[19]

Awards and Nominations

Award	Year	Nominee(s)	Category	Result
Billboard Music Video Awards	1994	"If That's Your Boyfriend (He Wasn't Last Night)"	Best R&B/Urban Clip New Artist		^[20]
Cash Box Year-End Awards	1994	Herself	Urban Singles: Top Rap Female Artist		^[21]
Urban Singles: Top New Rap Female Artist
"Wild Night"		Top Pop Single
GLAAD Media Awards	1997	""	Outstanding Music Song		^[22]
2000	Bitter	Outstanding Music Artist		^[23]
2003				^[24]
2004	Comfort Woman			^[25]
Grammy Awards	1995	Plantation Lullabies	Best R&B Album		^[26]
"If That's Your Boyfriend (He Wasn't Last Night)"		Best R&B Song
		Best Female R&B Vocal Performance
"Wild Night" (with John Mellencamp)		Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals
1997	Peace Beyond Passion	Best R&B Album
	"Never Miss the Water" (with Chaka Khan)	Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals
2003		Best Contemporary R&B Album
2006		Best Contemporary Jazz Album
2008	"Fantasy"	Best Urban/Alternative Performance
2019	Ventriloquism	Best Urban Contemporary Album
2021	"Better Than I Imagined"	Best R&B Song
2024	The Omnichord Real Book	Best Alternative Jazz Album		^[27]
MTV Video Music Awards	1994	"If That's Your Boyfriend (He Wasn't Last Night)"	Best Female Video		^[28]
Best New Artist
Soul Train Music Awards	1995	Plantation Lullabies	Best R&B/Soul Album – Female		^[29]
1997	Peace Beyond Passion			^[30] Discography Albums Year Album Chart positions US ^[31] US R&B ^[32] US Jazz ^[33] AUS ^[34] BEL ^[35] FRA ^[36] SWI ^[37] UK ^[38] 1993 Plantation Lullabies 166 35 — 100 — — — — 1996 Peace Beyond Passion 63 15 — 30 — — 46 100 1999 Bitter 105 40 — — — — — — 2002 67 21 — — — — — — 2003 Comfort Woman 150 43 — — — — — — 2005 — — 9 — — 127 — — 2007 The World Has Made Me the Man of My Dreams 186 60 — — — 92 — — 2009 Devil's Halo 185 64 — — — — — — 2011 Weather — 37 — — — — — — 2012 — 46 — — 190 117 — — 2014 Comet, Come to Me 161 22 — — 194 — — — 2018 Ventriloquism — — — — 86 — 62 — 2023 The Omnichord Real Book — — — — — — — — 2024 — — — — — — 67 — Singles Year Title Chart positions Album US ^[39] US R&B ^[40] US Dance ^[41] AUS UK 1993 "Dred Loc" — 86 — — — Plantation Lullabies "If That's Your Boyfriend (He Wasn't Last Night)" 73 20 23 79 74 "Outside Your Door" 113 41 — — — 1994 "Call Me" — — — — — "Wild Night" (with John Mellencamp) 3 — — 18 34 Dance Naked (John Mellencamp) 1996 "Who Is He and What Is He to You" — 34 1 — 80 Peace Beyond Passion "" — — 15 — — "Never Miss the Water" (with Chaka Khan) 102 36 1 — 59 non-album single 1997 "Stay" — 67 15 — — Peace Beyond Passion 1999 "Grace" — — — — — Bitter 2002 "Pocketbook" (featuring Missy Elliott, Tweet and Redman) — 116 — — — Cookie: The Anthropological Mixtape "Earth" — — 29 — — 2006 "The Article 3" (EP) — — — — — rowspan=2 "Exit Music – Songs with Raido Heads EP 2" — — — — — 2007 "Lovely Lovely" — — — — — The World Has Made Me the Man of My Dreams 2014 "Conviction" — — — — — Comet, Come to Me 2018 "Tender Love" — — — — — Ventriloquism "Sometimes It Snows In April" — — — — — "Waterfalls — — — — — 2019 "True Vine" — — — — — 2023 "Virgo" — — — — — The Omnichord Real Book "Vuma" — — — — — "The 5th Dimension" — — — — — "Clear Water" — — — — — style=text-align:center" colspan="12" style="font-size: 8pt" "—" denotes a release that did not chart. Other appearances 1994: Bedtime Stories: "I´d Rather Be Your Lover" (Maverick/Sire/Warner Bros.) 1994: Stolen Moments: Red Hot + Cool: "Nocturnal Sunshine" (with Herbie Hancock) 1995: Higher Learning (soundtrack): "Soul Searchin' (I Wanna Know If It's Mine)" (Epic) 1995: : Guru feat. Meshell Ndegeocello "For You" (Chrysalis) 1995: White Man's Burden: "Time Has Come Today" (Chrysalis) 1995: Panther (soundtrack): "Freedom (Theme from Panther)" (Mercury) 1997: Love Jones (soundtrack): Marcus Miller feat. Meshell Ndegeocello – "Rush Over" (Columbia) 1997: Money Talks (soundtrack): "The Teaching" (Arista) 1997: Batman & Robin (soundtrack): "Poison Ivy" (Warner Bros.) 1997: My Melody: Queen Pen feat. Meshell Ndegeocello "Girlfriend" (Interscope) 1998: How Stella Got Her Groove Back (soundtrack): "Let Me Have You" (Flyte Tyme/MCA) 1998: Down In The Delta (soundtrack): "My Soul Don't Dream" (Virgin) 1999: Anomie & Bonhomie: Scritti Politti "Die Alone" (Virgin) 1999: The Best Man (soundtrack): "Untitled" (Sony) 1999: A Day In The Life: Eric Benet feat. Meshell Ndegeocello "Ghetto Girl" (Warner Bros.) 2000: Love & Basketball (soundtrack): "Fool of Me" (New Line) 2002: The Deep End, Volume 2 : Gov’t Mule "Hammer & Nails" (ATO Records) 2003: Go Tell It on the Mountain: The Blind Boys Of Alabama Special Guest Vocals and Piano – "Oh Come All Ye Faithful" (Real World) 2005: Momentum (Joshua Redman album) bass guitar (track 7) 2007: : "Imagine" (John Lennon cover) (Warner Bros.) 2007: Talk to Me (soundtrack): "Compared to What" (featuring Terence Blanchard) (Atlantic) 2012: Black Radio: Robert Glasper Experiment feat. Meshell Ndegeocello: "The Consequences of Jealousy" 2014: : Jason Moran (Blue Note): producer and vocals 2020: From This Place: Pat Metheny Special Guest Vocals – "From This Place" (Nonesuch) 2022: SHIFT (Bad Hombre Vol. II) : Antonio Sanchez Special Guest – Comet, Come To Me (Warner Bros.) Further reading News: Morris . Wesley . 2024-08-01 . Meshell Ndegeocello Could Have Had Stardom but Chose Music Instead . 2024-08-12 . The New York Times . en-US . subscription. External links Extensive audio interview on The Sound of Young America

Notes and References

1. Meshell Ndegeocello on "First Look" with Don Was of Blue Note Records. . 2023-06-16 . 2023-07-18 . YouTube. 00:00.
2. Web site: Layman . Will . Me'Shell Ndegeocello: The Spirit Music Jamia: Dance of the Infidels < PopMatters . Popmatters.com . July 18, 2011.
3. Web site: Head, heart and soul . February 28, 2009 . Lecaro . Lena . October 24, 2002 . Los Angeles Times . E–12.
4. Web site: Grammy Nominations For J J Cale, Bettye LaVette and Meshell Ndegeocello – Just Announced . February 28, 2009 . December 6, 2007 . News, December 2007 . The Rosebud Agency . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20081226231334/http://www.rosebudus.com/rosebud/news/07-12.html . December 26, 2008 .
5. Web site: Meshell Ndegeocello to Perform at 'You Rock My Soul' GMHC Benefit Concert at Carnegie Hall on November 11th . February 28, 2009 . August 14, 2002 . NY Rock . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090408043331/http://www.nyrock.com/worldbeat/08_2002/081402b.asp . April 8, 2009.
6. Web site: Me'Shell Ndegeocello: One Tough "Cookie" . February 28, 2009 . Yarbrough . Kenya . August 9, 2002 . EURweb . Rabercom Enterprises . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090407004109/http://www.eurweb.com/story/eur7644.cfm . April 7, 2009.
7. Web site: FreeMyHeart.com . FreeMyHeart.com . March 3, 2001 . July 18, 2011.
8. News: Wiltz. Teresa. Meshell Ndegeocello Breaks Step With Pop . The Washington Post. N01. June 19, 2005.
9. Web site: Past Judges . Independent Music Awards . July 18, 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110713024722/http://www.independentmusicawards.com/ima_new/pastjudges.asp . July 13, 2011 .
10. Web site: Heringer . Starbucks iTunes Pick of the Week – Meshell Ndegeocello – Tie One On . Mark-heringer.com. 2022-08-04 . en.
11. Web site: Heringer . Starbucks iTunes Pick of the Week list . Mark-heringer.com . 2022-04-12 . en.
12. Web site: Queen Sugar Soundtrack . What-song.com . November 23, 2016.
13. Web site: Harlem Stage to present the world premiere of Meshell Ndegeocello's 'Can I Get a Witness? The Gospel of James Baldwin,' December 7–11. The Stage Review. November 29, 2016.
14. Web site: Celebrate Black Music Month on SiriusXM, Pandora, and Stitcher with Exclusive Music Channels, Streaming Stations, and an Original Podcast. PR Newswire. June 1, 2021. Associated Press. June 8, 2021.
15. Web site: "A Shot of Rhythm and Blues: Exploring The Beatles and Black Music" on The Beatles Channel. TheBeatles.com. June 8, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210609030013/https://www.thebeatles.com/news/%E2%80%9C-shot-rhythm-and-blues-exploring-beatles-and-black-music%E2%80%9D-beatles-channel. June 9, 2021. live.
16. Web site: Explore the connection between The Beatles & Black music during a new SiriusXM series. June 7, 2021. Sirius XM. June 8, 2021.
17. Web site: 2023-06-12 . Album: Meshell Ndegeocello – The Omnichord Real Book . 2023-06-12 . Theartsdesk.com . en.
18. Web site: Zwerin . Mike . Me'Shell - Debut on Madonna Label - NYTimes.com . International Herald Tribune . February 23, 1994 . July 18, 2011.
19. Web site: DiGuglielmo . Joey . Meshell's magic . Washington Blade . November 10, 2011 . July 10, 2014.
20. Web site: Billboard. Books.google.com . November 19, 1994 .
21. https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/90s/1994/CB-1994-12-31.pdf
22. https://web.archive.org/web/20030729105533/http://www.qrd.org/qrd/orgs/GLAAD/general.information/media.awards-1997
23. Web site: GLAAD noms announced. Variety.com . January 18, 2000 .
24. Web site: Playbill News: 14th Annual GLAAD Media Award Winners Include the Goat and Zanna, Don't!. https://web.archive.org/web/20030504230703/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/78866.html . May 4, 2003 .
25. Web site: 15th Annual GLAAD Media Award Nominees Include Avenue Q, Taboo and Angels in America; Cherry Jones a Special Honoree. https://web.archive.org/web/20121018185907/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/83183-15th-Annual-GLAAD-Media-Award-Nominees-Include-Avenue-Q-Taboo-and-Angels-in-America-Cherry-Jones-a-Special-Honoree . April 12, 2024. October 18, 2012 .
26. Web site: Me'shell Ndegeocello | Artist . Grammy.com.
27. Web site: Meshell Ndegeocello Wins The First-Ever GRAMMY For Best Alternative Jazz Album At The 2024 GRAMMYs . Grammy.com.
28. Web site: MTV Video Music Awards (VMA) (1994) . .
29. Web site: Soul Train Awards (1995) . .
30. Web site: Soul Train Awards (1997) . .
31. Meshell Ndegeocello: US. Billboard. September 6, 2021.
32. Meshell Ndegeocello: US R&B. Billboard. September 6, 2021.
33. Meshell Ndegeocello: US Jazz. Billboard. September 6, 2021.
34. Peaks in Australia:
    • Peace Beyond Passion and "Wild Night": Web site: Me'shell Ndegéocello – Peace Beyond Passion (Album). Australiancharts.com. October 10, 2021.
    • Plantation Lullabies and "If That's Your Boyfriend (He Wasn't Last Night)": 199.
35. Web site: Meshell Ndegeocello: Belgium. Ultratop. September 6, 2021.
36. Web site: Discographie Meshell Ndegeocello. Lescharts.com. Hung Medien. April 20, 2022. fr.
37. Web site: Discographie Meshell Ndegeocello. Swiss Hitparade. March 11, 2022.
38. Web site: Meshell Ndegeocello: UK. Official Charts Company. February 12, 1994 . September 6, 2021.
39. Meshell Ndegeocello: US. Billboard. September 6, 2021.
40. Meshell Ndegeocello: US R&B. Billboard. September 6, 2021.
41. Meshell Ndegeocello: US Dance. Billboard. September 6, 2021.