Meshell Ndegeocello ( ; 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. Her music incorporates a wide variety of influences, including

funk Funk is a music genre that originated in African-American communities in the mid-1960s when musicians created a rhythmic, danceable new form of music through a mixture of various music genres that were popular among African-Americans in the ...

soul The soul is the purported Mind–body dualism, immaterial aspect or essence of a Outline of life forms, living being. It is typically believed to be Immortality, immortal and to exist apart from the material world. The three main theories that ...

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its roots are in blues, ragtime, European harmony, African rhythmic rituals, spirituals, h ...

hip hop Hip-hop or hip hop (originally disco rap) is a popular music genre that emerged in the early 1970s from the African-American community of New York City. The style is characterized by its synthesis of a wide range of musical techniques. Hip- ...

reggae Reggae () is a music genre that originated in Jamaica during the late 1960s. The term also denotes the modern popular music of Jamaica and its Jamaican diaspora, diaspora. A 1968 single by Toots and the Maytals, "Do the Reggay", was the first ...

and

rock Rock most often refers to: * Rock (geology), a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals or mineraloids * Rock music, a genre of popular music Rock or Rocks may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * Rock, Caerphilly, a location in Wale ...

. She has received significant critical acclaim throughout her career, being nominated for 13

Grammy Awards The Grammy Awards, stylized as GRAMMY, and often referred to as The Grammys, are awards presented by The Recording Academy of the United States to recognize outstanding achievements in music. They are regarded by many as the most prestigious a ...

, and winning three. She also has been credited for helping to "spark the

neo-soul Neo soul (sometimes called progressive soul) is a genre of popular music. As a term, it was coined by music industry entrepreneur Kedar Massenburg during the late 1990s to market and describe a style of music that emerged from soul and contem ...

movement".

Biography

Ndegeocello was born Michelle Lynn Johnson in

West Berlin West Berlin ( or , ) was a political enclave which comprised the western part of Berlin from 1948 until 1990, during the Cold War. Although West Berlin lacked any sovereignty and was under military occupation until German reunification in 1 ...

, Germany, to US Army

Sergeant Major Sergeant major is a senior Non-commissioned officer, non-commissioned Military rank, rank or appointment in many militaries around the world. History In 16th century Spain, the ("sergeant major") was a general officer. He commanded an army's ...

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''.

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. Going solo, she was one of the first artists to sign with

Maverick Records Maverick was an American entertainment company founded in 1992 by Warner Music Group and run by recording artist Madonna, as well as Frederick DeMann and Veronica "Ronnie" Dashev. It included a record label ( Maverick Records), a film producti ...

, where she released her debut album, '' Plantation Lullabies''. This recording presented a distinctly

androgynous Androgyny is the possession of both masculine and feminine characteristics. Androgyny may be expressed with regard to biological sex or gender expression. When ''androgyny'' refers to mixed biological sex characteristics in humans, it often r ...

persona. Her biggest hit is a

duet A duet (italian language, Italian: ''duo'') is a musical composition for two Performing arts, performers in which the performers have equal importance to the piece, often a composition involving two singers or two pianists. It differs from a har ...

with

John Mellencamp John J. Mellencamp (born October 7, 1951), previously known as Johnny Cougar, John Cougar, and John Cougar Mellencamp, is an American singer-songwriter. He is known for his brand of heartland rock, which emphasizes traditional instrumentation ...

, a

cover version In popular music, a cover version, cover song, remake, revival, or simply cover is a new performance or recording by a musician other than the original performer or composer of the song. Originally, it referred to a version of a song release ...

Van Morrison Sir George Ivan "Van" Morrison (born 31 August 1945) is a Northern Irish singer-songwriter and musician whose recording career started in the 1960s. Morrison's albums have performed well in the UK and Ireland, with more than 40 reaching the UK ...

's " Wild Night", which reached No. 3 on the ''

Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertis ...

'' 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 Herbert Jeffrey Hancock (born April 12, 1940) is an American jazz musician, bandleader, and composer. He started his career with trumpeter Donald Byrd's group. Hancock soon joined the Miles Davis Quintet, where he helped to redefine the role of ...

on "Nocturnal Sunshine," a track for the

Red Hot Organization ''Red Hot Organization'' (RHO) is a non-profit, 501(c) 3, international organization with goals to promote diversity through equal access to healthcare through pop culture. Since its inception in 1989, over 400 artists, producers and directors ...

's compilation album, '' Stolen Moments: Red Hot + Cool''. 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 Time is the continuous progression of existence that occurs in an apparently irreversible process, irreversible succession from the past, through the present, and into the future. It is a component quantity of various measurements used to sequ ...

'' magazine. She had a No. 1 dance hit in 1996 with a

Bill Withers William Harrison Withers Jr. (July 4, 1938 – March 30, 2020) was an American singer and songwriter. He is known for having several hits over a career spanning 18 years, including "Ain't No Sunshine" (1971), "Grandma's Hands" (1971), "Use Me ( ...

cover song In popular music, a cover version, cover song, remake, revival, or simply cover is a new performance or recording by a musician other than the original performer or composer of the song. Originally, it referred to a version of a song released ...

called " Who Is He (And What Is He to You)?" (briefly featured in the film ''

Jerry Maguire ''Jerry Maguire'' is a 1996 American sports comedy-drama film directed and written by Cameron Crowe. It was produced by Crowe and James L. Brooks for Gracie Films and distributed by TriStar Pictures. It stars Tom Cruise as the titular spor ...

'') as well as Dance Top 20 hits with "Earth", " Leviticus: Faggot", "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 Madonna Louise Ciccone ( ; born August 16, 1958) is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress. Referred to as the "Queen of Pop", she has been recognized for her continual reinvention and versatility in music production, ...

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 Tupac Amaru Shakur (; born Lesane Parish Crooks; June 16, 1971 – September 13, 1996), also known by his stage names 2Pac and Makaveli, was an American rapper and actor, regarded as one of the greatest and most influential rappers of all tim ...

'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 Yvette Marie Stevens (born March 23, 1953), better known by her stage name Chaka Khan ( ), is an American singer. Known as the " Queen of Funk", her career has spanned more than five decades beginning in the early 1970s as the lead vocalist of ...

's single " Never Miss the Water", from the album '' Epiphany: The Best of Chaka Khan, Vol. 1'', 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 Tertiary education (higher education, or post-secondary education) is the educational level following the completion of secondary education. The World Bank defines tertiary education as including universities, colleges, and vocational schools ...

'', '' Down in the Delta'', '' The Hurricane'', '' Noah's Arc: Jumping the Broom'', '' Soul Men'', and '' Biker Boyz''. She has appeared on recordings by

Basement Jaxx Basement Jaxx are an English electronic music duo consisting of Felix Buxton (born 30 April 1970) and Simon Ratcliffe (born 28 November 1969). The pair got their name from the regular club night they held in Brixton, London, UK. They first ros ...

Indigo Girls Indigo Girls are an American folk rock music duet (music), duo from Atlanta, Georgia, United States, consisting of Amy Ray and Emily Saliers. The two met in Primary school, elementary school and began performing together as Secondary school, hig ...

Scritti Politti Scritti Politti are a British band formed in 1977 in Leeds by singer-songwriter Green Gartside, who is the sole remaining member of the original band. Initially formed as a punk culture, punk-aligned underground act influenced by leftist poli ...

, and The Blind Boys of Alabama. On

The Rolling Stones The Rolling Stones are an English Rock music, rock band formed in London in 1962. Active for over six decades, they are one of the most popular, influential, and enduring bands of the Album era, rock era. In the early 1960s, the band pione ...

' 1997 album '' Bridges to Babylon'' she plays bass on the song " Saint of Me". On

Alanis Morissette Alanis Nadine Morissette ( ; born June 1, 1974) is a Canadian and American singer, songwriter, musician, and actress. Known for her emotive mezzo-soprano voice and confessional songwriting, she became a cultural phenomenon during the mid 199 ...

's 2002 album ''

Under Rug Swept ''Under Rug Swept'' is the fifth studio album and third internationally released album by Canadian singer-songwriter Alanis Morissette. It was released in the United Kingdom on February 25, 2002, and in the United States the following day by Mav ...

'', 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 ''The Deep End, Volume 2'' is the fifth studio album by the American rock band Gov't Mule. The album was released on October 8, 2002, by ATO Records. After founding member and bass guitarist Allen Woody died, the band began recording tracks usin ...

'', playing on a cover of The

Staple Singers The Staple Singers were an American gospel, soul, and R&B singing group. Roebuck "Pops" Staples (December 28, 1914 – December 19, 2000), the patriarch of the family, formed the group with his children Cleotha (April 11, 1934 – February 2 ...

’ song "Hammer and Nails". And in 2009, she appeared on

Zap Mama Zap Mama is a Belgian singer-songwriter, performer, composer, lyricist, activist, video artist and ethno-vocal therapist born in the Democratic Republic of Congo, raised in Belgium. Zap Mama sings polyphonic and afro-pop music, a harmonic music ...

's album ''ReCreation'', playing bass on the song "African Diamond". She can also be seen in the documentary ''

Standing in the Shadows of Motown ''Standing in the Shadows of Motown'' is a 2002 American documentary film directed by Paul Justman that recounts the story of the Funk Brothers, the uncredited and largely unheralded studio musicians who were the house band that Berry Gordy hand ...

'', singing

The Miracles The Miracles (later known as Smokey Robinson and the Miracles from 1965 to 1972) were an American vocal group formed in Detroit, Michigan in 1955. They were the first successful recording act for Motown Records and are considered one of the most ...

' " You've Really Got a Hold on Me" and

The Temptations The Temptations is an American vocal group formed in Detroit, Michigan, in 1961 as The Elgins, known for their string of successful singles and albums with Motown from the 1960s to the mid-1970s. The group's work with producer Norman Whitfield ...

' " Cloud Nine". In the late 1990s, she toured with

Lilith Fair Lilith Fair was a concert tour and travelling music festival, founded by Canadian musician Sarah McLachlan, Nettwerk Music Group's Dan Fraser and Terry McBride (CEO), Terry McBride, and New York talent agent Marty Diamond. It took place during ...

. She also did a remake of the song " Two Doors Down" on the 2003 release '' Just Because I'm a Woman: Songs of Dolly Parton''. Ndegeocello was also a judge for The 2nd, 12th, 13 and the 2015 14th Annual Independent Music Awards to support independent artists' careers. Her song "Tie One On" was chosen as the

Starbucks Starbucks Corporation is an American multinational List of coffeehouse chains, chain of coffeehouses and Starbucks Reserve, roastery reserves headquartered in Seattle, Washington. It was founded in 1971 by Jerry Baldwin, Zev Siegl, and Gor ...

iTunes iTunes is a media player, media library, and mobile device management (MDM) utility developed by Apple. It is used to purchase, play, download and organize digital multimedia on personal computers running the macOS and Windows operating s ...

Pick of the Week on February 23, 2010. In 2016, she provided the theme song, "Nova", for the

Oprah Winfrey Oprah Gail Winfrey (; born Orpah Gail Winfrey; January 29, 1954) is an American television presenter, talk show host, television producer, actress, author, and media proprietor. She is best known for her talk show, ''The Oprah Winfrey Show' ...

-produced show ''

Queen Sugar ''Queen Sugar'' is an American drama television series created and executive produced by Ava DuVernay, with Oprah Winfrey serving as an executive producer. DuVernay also directed the first two episodes. The series is based on the 2014 novel o ...

''. She also collaborated with French-Cuban duo Ibeyi in the song "Transmission/Michaelion" for the album '' Ash'' reciting a poem by

Frida Kahlo Magdalena Carmen Frida Kahlo y Calderón (; 6 July 1907 – 13 July 1954) was a Mexican painter known for her many portraits, self-portraits, and works inspired by the nature and artifacts of Mexico. Inspired by Culture of Mexico, the country' ...

. 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. In June 2021, The Beatles Channel on

Sirius XM Radio Sirius XM Holdings Inc. is an American broadcasting corporation headquartered in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, that provides satellite radio and online radio services operating in the United States. The company was formed by the 2008 merger ...

began broadcasting ''A Shot of Rhythm and Blues: Exploring The Beatles and Black Music'', a four-part series hosted by Ndegeocello. The series explores the relationship between the English rock band

the Beatles The Beatles were an English Rock music, rock band formed in Liverpool in 1960. The core lineup of the band comprised John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. They are widely regarded as the Cultural impact of the Beatle ...

and the black musicians that inspired them. Ndegeocello joined the

Blue Note Blue Note Records is an American jazz record label now owned by Universal Music Group and operated under Capitol Music Group. Established in 1939 by German-Jewish emigrants Alfred Lion and Max Margulis, it derived its name from the blue no ...

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.

Activism

In 2002, Ndegeocello collaborated with Yerba Buena on a track featuring Ron Black for the

's tribute album to

Fela Kuti Fela Aníkúlápó Kútì (born Olufela Olusegun Oludotun Ransome-Kuti; 15 October 1938 – 2 August 1997) was a Nigerians, Nigerian musician and political activist. He is regarded as the principal innovator of Afrobeat, a Nigerian music genre t ...

, '' Red Hot and Riot''. Proceeds from the album went to various

AIDS The HIV, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a retrovirus that attacks the immune system. Without treatment, it can lead to a spectrum of conditions including acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). It is a Preventive healthcare, pr ...

charities, per the Red Hot Organization's mission. In June 2010, she contributed a cover of U2's " 40" to the

Enough Project The Enough Project is a Washington, D.C.–based non-profit organization that was founded in 2007. Its stated mission is to end genocide and crimes against humanity. The Enough Project conducts research in several conflict areas in Africa includ ...

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 '' It Gets Better: Coming Out, Overcoming Bullying, and Creating a Life Worth Living'', edited by

Dan Savage Daniel Keenan Savage (born October 7, 1964) is an American author, media pundit, journalist, and LGBTQ community activist. He writes Savage Love, an internationally syndicated relationship and sex advice column. In 2010, Savage and his husband, ...

and Terry Miller in the vein of the

It Gets Better Project It Gets Better is an Internet-based 501(c)3 nonprofit with a mission to uplift, empower, and connect lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) youth around the globe. It was founded in the United States by gay activist, author, m ...

Personal life

Ndegeocello is

bisexual Bisexuality is romantic attraction, sexual attraction, or sexual behavior toward both males and females. It may also be defined as the attraction to more than one gender, to people of both the same and different gender, or the attraction t ...

and previously had a relationship with feminist author

Rebecca Walker Rebecca Walker (born Rebecca Leventhal; November 17, 1969) is an American writer, feminist, and activist. Walker has been regarded as one of the prominent voices of Third Wave Feminism, and the coiner of the term "third wave", since publishing ...

. Ndegeocello's first son, Askia, was born in 1989. Askia provides backing vocals along with his classmates (credited as The Aeroplane Kids) on the hit song "

Aeroplane An airplane (American English), or aeroplane (Commonwealth English), informally plane, is a fixed-wing aircraft that is propelled forward by thrust from a jet engine, Propeller (aircraft), propeller, or rocket engine. Airplanes come in a vari ...

" by

Red Hot Chili Peppers The Red Hot Chili Peppers are an American rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1982, consisting of Anthony Kiedis (vocals), Flea (musician), Flea (bass), John Frusciante (guitar), and Chad Smith (drums). Their music incorporates elements of a ...

from their 1995 album ''

One Hot Minute ''One Hot Minute'' is the sixth studio album by American Rock music, rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers, released on September 12, 1995, by Warner Bros. Records. The worldwide success of the band's previous album ''Blood Sugar Sex Magik'' (1991) c ...

''. Askia was classmates with bassist

Flea Flea, the common name for the order (biology), order Siphonaptera, includes 2,500 species of small flightless insects that live as external parasites of mammals and birds. Fleas live by hematophagy, ingesting the blood of their hosts. Adult f ...

's daughter Clara Balzary at the time.Since 2005, she has been married to Alison Riley, with whom she has a second son.

Awards and nominations

{, class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" , - ! scope="col" , Award ! scope="col" , Year ! scope="col" , Nominee(s) ! scope="col" , Category ! scope="col" , Result ! scope="col" class="unsortable", , - !scope="row", Billboard Music Video Awards , 1994 , " If That's Your Boyfriend (He Wasn't Last Night)" , Best R&B/Urban Clip New Artist , , , - !scope="row" rowspan=3, Cash Box Year-End Awards , rowspan=3, 1994 , rowspan=2, Herself , Urban Singles: Top Rap Female Artist , , rowspan=3, , - , Urban Singles: Top New Rap Female Artist , , - , " Wild Night" , Top Pop Single , , - ! scope="row" rowspan=4,

GLAAD Media Awards The GLAAD Media Award is a US accolade bestowed by GLAAD to recognize and honor various branches of the media for their outstanding portrayals of LGBTQ people and the issues that affect their lives. In addition to film and television, the Awards ...

, 1997 , " Leviticus: Faggot" , Outstanding Music Song , , , - , 2000 , '' Bitter'' , rowspan=3, Outstanding Music Artist , , , - ,

2003 2003 was designated by the United Nations as the International Year of Fresh water, Freshwater. In 2003, a Multi-National Force – Iraq, United States-led coalition 2003 invasion of Iraq, invaded Iraq, starting the Iraq War. Demographic ...

, '' Cookie: The Anthropological Mixtape'' , , , - ,

2004 2004 was designated as an International Year of Rice by the United Nations, and the International Year to Commemorate the Struggle Against Slavery and Its Abolition (by UNESCO). Events January * January 3 – Flash Airlines Flight 60 ...

, '' Comfort Woman'' , , , - !scope="row" rowspan=13,

, rowspan=4,

1995 1995 was designated as: * United Nations Year for Tolerance * World Year of Peoples' Commemoration of the Victims of the Second World War This was the first year that the Internet was entirely privatized, with the United States government ...

, '' Plantation Lullabies'' , Best R&B Album , , rowspan=11, , - , rowspan=2, " If That's Your Boyfriend (He Wasn't Last Night)" , Best R&B Song , , - , Best Female R&B Vocal Performance , , - , " Wild Night" (with

) , Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals , , - , rowspan=2,

1997 Events January * January 1 – The Emergency Alert System is introduced in the United States. * January 11 – Turkey threatens Cyprus on account of a deal to buy Russian S-300 missiles, prompting the Cypriot Missile Crisis. * January 1 ...

, '' Peace Beyond Passion'' , Best R&B Album , , - , "Never Miss the Water" (with

) ,

Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals The Grammy Award The Grammy Awards, stylized as GRAMMY, and often referred to as The Grammys, are awards presented by The Recording Academy of the United States to recognize outstanding achievements in music. They are regarded by many as th ...

, , - ,

, '' Cookie: The Anthropological Mixtape'' , Best Contemporary R&B Album , , - ,

2006 2006 was designated as the International Year of Deserts and Desertification. Events January * January 1– 4 – Russia temporarily cuts shipment of natural gas to Ukraine during a price dispute. * January 12 – A stampede during t ...

, '' The Spirit Music Jamia: Dance of the Infidel'' , Best Contemporary Jazz Album , , - ,

2008 2008 was designated as: *International Year of Languages *International Year of Planet Earth *International Year of the Potato *International Year of Sanitation The Great Recession, a worldwide recession which began in 2007, continued throu ...

, "

Fantasy Fantasy is a genre of speculative fiction that involves supernatural or Magic (supernatural), magical elements, often including Fictional universe, imaginary places and Legendary creature, creatures. The genre's roots lie in oral traditions, ...

" , Best Urban/Alternative Performance , , - ,

2019 This was the year in which the first known human case of COVID-19 was documented, preceding COVID-19 pandemic, the pandemic which was declared by the World Health Organization the following year. Up to that point, 2019 had been described as ...

, ''

Ventriloquism Ventriloquism or ventriloquy is an act of stagecraft in which a person (a ventriloquist) speaks in such a way that it seems like their voice is coming from a different location, usually through a puppet known as a "dummy". The act of ventrilo ...

'' , Best Urban Contemporary Album , , - ,

2021 Like the year 2020, 2021 was also heavily defined by the COVID-19 pandemic, due to the emergence of multiple Variants of SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19 variants. The major global rollout of COVID-19 vaccines, which began at the end of 2020, continued ...

, "Better Than I Imagined" , Best R&B Song , , - ,

2024 The year saw the list of ongoing armed conflicts, continuation of major armed conflicts, including the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Myanmar civil war (2021–present), Myanmar civil war, the Sudanese civil war (2023–present), Sudane ...

, '' The Omnichord Real Book'' , Best Alternative Jazz Album , , , - ,

2025 So far, the year has seen the continuation of major armed conflicts, including the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Sudanese civil war (2023–present), Sudanese civil war, and the Gaza war. Internal crises in Bangladesh post-resignation v ...

, '' No More Water: The Gospel of James Baldwin'' , Best Alternative Jazz Album , , , - !scope="row" rowspan=2,

MTV Video Music Awards The MTV Video Music Awards (commonly abbreviated as the VMAs) is an award show presented by the cable channel MTV to honor the best in the music video medium. Originally conceived as an alternative to the Grammy Awards (in the video category ...

, rowspan=2,

1994 The year 1994 was designated as the " International Year of the Family" and the "International Year of Sport and the Olympic Ideal" by the United Nations. In the Line Islands and Phoenix Islands of Kiribati, 1994 had only 364 days, omitti ...

, rowspan=2, " If That's Your Boyfriend (He Wasn't Last Night)" , Best Female Video , , rowspan=2, , - ,

Best New Artist The Grammy Award for Best New Artist has been awarded since the 2nd Annual Grammy Awards in 1960 (except in 1967) "for a new artist who releases, during the Eligibility Year, the first recording which establishes the public identity of that ar ...

, , - !scope="row" rowspan=2,

Soul Train Music Awards The Soul Train Music Awards is an annual music awards ceremony which honors the best in African-American culture, music and entertainment. It is produced by the production company of '' Soul Train'', the program from which it takes its name, and ...

, '' Plantation Lullabies'' , rowspan=2, Best R&B/Soul Album – Female , , , - ,

, '' Peace Beyond Passion'' , ,

Discography

Albums

{, class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1" , - !scope="col" rowspan="2", Year !scope="col" rowspan="2", Album !scope="colgroup" colspan="8", Chart positions , - style="font-size:smaller;" !scope="col", US
!scope="col", US
R&B
!scope="col", US
Jazz
!scope="col", AUS
Peaks in Australia: * ''Peace Beyond Passion'' and "Wild Night": * ''Plantation Lullabies'' and "If That's Your Boyfriend (He Wasn't Last Night)": !scope="col", BEL
!scope="col", FRA
!scope="col", SWI
!scope="col", UK
, - , 1993 !scope="row" align="left", '' Plantation Lullabies'' , 166 , 35 , — , 100 , — , — , — , — , - , 1996 !scope="row" align="left", '' Peace Beyond Passion'' , 63 , 15 , — , 30 , — , — , 46 , 100 , - , 1999 !scope="row" align="left", '' Bitter'' , 105 , 40 , — , — , — , — , — , — , - , 2002 !scope="row" align="left", '' Cookie: The Anthropological Mixtape'' , 67 , 21 , — , — , — , — , — , — , - , 2003 !scope="row" align="left", '' Comfort Woman'' , 150 , 43 , — , — , — , — , — , — , - , 2005 !scope="row" align="left", '' The Spirit Music Jamia: Dance of the Infidel'' , — , — , 9 , — , — , 127 , — , — , - , 2007 !scope="row" align="left", '' The World Has Made Me the Man of My Dreams'' , 186 , 60 , — , — , — , 92 , — , — , - , 2009 !scope="row" align="left", '' Devil's Halo'' , 185 , 64 , — , — , — , — , — , — , - , 2011 !scope="row" align="left", ''

Weather Weather is the state of the atmosphere, describing for example the degree to which it is hot or cold, wet or dry, calm or stormy, clear or cloud cover, cloudy. On Earth, most weather phenomena occur in the lowest layer of the planet's atmo ...

'' , — , 37 , — , — , — , — , — , — , - , 2012 !scope="row" align="left", '' Pour une Âme Souveraine: A Dedication to Nina Simone'' , — , 46 , — , — , 190 , 117 , — , — , - , 2014 !scope="row" align="left", '' Comet, Come to Me'' , 161 , 22 , — , — , 194 , — , — , — , - , 2018 !scope="row" align="left", ''

'' , — , — , — , — , 86 , — , 62 , — , - , 2023 !scope="row" align="left", '' The Omnichord Real Book'' , — , — , — , — , — , — , — , — , - , 2024 !scope="row" align="left", '' No More Water: The Gospel of James Baldwin'' , — , — , — , — , — , — , 67 , —

Singles

{, class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" , - ! scope="col" rowspan="2", Year ! scope="col" rowspan="2", Title ! scope="col" colspan="5", Chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2", Album , - style="font-size:smaller;" ! scope="col" width="35", US
! scope="col" width="35", US
R&B
! scope="col" width="35", US
Dance
! scope="col" width="35", AUS
N.B. The High Point number in the NAT column represents the release's peak on the national chart. ! scope="col" width="35", UK
, - , rowspan="3", 1993 , align="left", "Dred Loc" , — , 86 , — , 134 , — , rowspan="4" , ''Plantation Lullabies'' , - , align="left", " If That's Your Boyfriend (He Wasn't Last Night)" , 73 , 20 , 23 , 79 , 74 , - , align="left", "Outside Your Door" , 113 , 41 , — , 149 , — , - , rowspan="2", 1994 , align="left", "Call Me" , — , — , — , — , — , - , align="left", " Wild Night"
(with

) , 3 , — , — , 18 , 34 , '' Dance Naked'' (

) , - , rowspan="3", 1996 , align="left", " Who Is He and What Is He to You" , — , 34 , 1 , 115 , 80 , rowspan="2" , ''Peace Beyond Passion'' , - , align="left", " Leviticus: Faggot" , — , — , 15 , — , — , - , align="left", "Never Miss the Water" (with

) , 102 , 36 , 1 , — , 59 , , - , 1997 , align="left", "Stay" , — , 67 , 15 , — , — , ''Peace Beyond Passion'' , - , 1999 , align="left", "Grace" , — , — , — , — , — , ''Bitter'' , - , rowspan="2", 2002 , align="left", "Pocketbook"
(featuring

Missy Elliott Melissa Arnette "Missy" Elliott (born July 1, 1971), also known as Misdemeanor, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer. She began her musical career as a member of the Contemporary R&B, R&B girl group 4 All the Sistas Arou ...

, Tweet and Redman) , — , 116 , — , — , — , rowspan="2" , ''Cookie: The Anthropological Mixtape'' , - , align="left", "Earth" , — , — , 29 , — , — , - , rowspan=2, 2006 , align="left", ''The Article 3'' (EP) , — , — , — , — , — , rowspan=2 , - , align="left", ''Exit Music – Songs with Radio Heads EP 2'' , — , — , — , — , — , - , 2007 , align="left", "Lovely Lovely" , — , — , — , — , — , ''The World Has Made Me the Man of My Dreams'' , - , 2014 , align="left", "Conviction" , — , — , — , — , — , ''Comet, Come to Me'' , - , rowspan=3, 2018 , align="left", " Tender Love" , — , — , — , — , — , rowspan=3, ''Ventriloquism'' , - , align="left", " Sometimes It Snows in April" , — , — , — , — , — , - , align="left", "

Waterfalls A waterfall is any point in a river or stream where water flows over a vertical drop or a series of steep drops. Waterfalls also occur where meltwater drops over the edge of a tabular iceberg or ice shelf. Waterfalls can be formed in several ...

" , — , — , — , — , — , - , 2019 , align="left", "True Vine"
, — , — , — , — , — , , - , rowspan=4, 2023 , align="left", "Virgo" , — , — , — , — , — , rowspan=4, ''The Omnichord Real Book'' , - , align="left", "Vuma"
, — , — , — , — , — , - , align="left", "The 5th Dimension"
, — , — , — , — , — , - , align="left", "Clear Water"
, — , — , — , — , — , - , colspan="12" style="font-size: 85%", "—" denotes a release that did not chart.

Other appearances

*1994 –

, '' Bedtime Stories'': "I'd Rather Be Your Lover" ( Maverick/

Sire Sire is an archaic respectful form of address to reigning kings in Europe. In French and other languages it is less archaic and relatively more current. In Belgium, the king is addressed as "Sire..." in both Dutch and French. The words "sire" an ...

Warner Bros. Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (WBEI), commonly known as Warner Bros. (WB), is an American filmed entertainment studio headquartered at the Warner Bros. Studios complex in Burbank, California and the main namesake subsidiary of Warner Bro ...

) *1994 – '' Stolen Moments: Red Hot + Cool'': "Nocturnal Sunshine" with

*1995 – ''

Higher Learning (soundtrack) ''Music From The Motion Picture "Higher Learning"'' is the soundtrack to John Singleton's 1995 film ''Higher Learning''. It was released on January 3, 1995 on Singleton's label New Deal Music through 550 Music/Epic Soundtrax and contained a mixtu ...

'': "Soul Searchin' (I Wanna Know If It's Mine)" (

Epic Epic commonly refers to: * Epic poetry, a long narrative poem celebrating heroic deeds and events significant to a culture or nation * Epic film, a genre of film defined by the spectacular presentation of human drama on a grandiose scale Epic(s) ...

) *1995 – '' Jazzmatazz, Vol. 2: The New Reality'': "For You" with

Guru Guru ( ; International Alphabet of Sanskrit Transliteration, IAST: ''guru'') is a Sanskrit term for a "mentor, guide, expert, or master" of certain knowledge or field. In pan-Indian religions, Indian traditions, a guru is more than a teacher: tr ...

(Chrysalis) *1995 – ''

White Man's Burden "The White Man's Burden" (1899), by Rudyard Kipling, is a poem about the Philippine–American War (1899–1902) that exhorts the United States to assume colonial control of the Filipino people and their country.'' In "The White Man's Burden ...

'': "Time Has Come Today" (Chrysalis) *1995 – '' Panther (soundtrack)'': " Freedom (Theme)" (Mercury) *1997 – '' Love Jones (soundtrack)'': "Rush Over" with

Marcus Miller William Henry Marcus Miller Jr. (born June 14, 1959) is an American musician, songwriter, and record producer. He has worked with trumpeter Miles Davis, pianist Herbie Hancock, singer Luther Vandross, and saxophonists Wayne Shorter and David Sa ...

(Columbia) *1997 – '' Money Talks (soundtrack)'': "The Teaching" (Arista) *1997 – '' Batman & Robin (soundtrack)'': "Poison Ivy" (Warner Bros.) *1997 – Queen Pen, '' My Melody'': "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'': "Die Alone" (Virgin) *1999 – '' The Best Man (soundtrack)'': "Untitled" (Sony) *1999 –

Eric Benét Eric Benét Jordan (born October 15, 1966) is an American R&B singer-songwriter and musician. He has been nominated for four Grammy Awards. Early life and education Benét was born on October 15, 1966, in Mobile, Alabama. He was raised in Mi ...

, ''A Day in the Life'': "Ghetto Girl" (Warner Bros.) *2000 – '' Love & Basketball (soundtrack)'': "Fool of Me" (New Line) *2002 – Gov’t Mule, ''

'': "Hammer & Nails" (Ato) *2003 – The Blind Boys of Alabama, '' Go Tell It on the Mountain'': "Oh Come All Ye Faithful", vocals and piano (Real World) *2005 –

Joshua Redman Joshua Redman (born February 1, 1969) is an American jazz saxophonist and composer. He is the son of jazz saxophonist Dewey Redman (1931–2006). Life and career Joshua Redman was born in Berkeley, California, to jazz saxophonist Dewey Redman a ...

, ''

Momentum In Newtonian mechanics, momentum (: momenta or momentums; more specifically linear momentum or translational momentum) is the product of the mass and velocity of an object. It is a vector quantity, possessing a magnitude and a direction. ...

'': "Greasy G", bass (Nonesuch) *2007 – '' Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur'': " Imagine" by

John Lennon John Winston Ono Lennon (born John Winston Lennon; 9 October 19408 December 1980) was an English singer-songwriter, musician and activist. He gained global fame as the founder, co-lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist of the Beatles. Lennon's ...

(Warner Bros.) *2007 – '' Talk to Me'' (soundtrack): "Compared to What" with

Terence Blanchard Terence Oliver Blanchard (born March 13, 1962) is an American jazz trumpeter and composer. He has also written two operas and more than 80 film and television scores. Blanchard has been nominated for two Academy Awards for Original Score for ''B ...

(

Atlantic The Atlantic Ocean is the second largest of the world's five oceanic divisions, with an area of about . It covers approximately 17% of Earth's surface and about 24% of its water surface area. During the Age of Discovery, it was known for se ...

) *2012 – Robert Glasper Experiment, ''

Black Radio ''Black Radio'' is an album by Robert Glasper, recorded with his electric quartet, the Robert Glasper Experiment. Released on February 28, 2012, on the Blue Note label, the album won Best R&B Album at the 55th Grammy Awards and also received a n ...

'': "The Consequences of Jealousy" *2014 – Jason Moran, '' All Rise: A Joyful Elegy for Fats Waller'': producer with

Don Was Don Edward Fagenson (born September 13, 1952), known professionally as Don Was (), is an American musician, record producer, music director, film composer, documentary filmmaker and radio host. Since 2011, he has also served as president of the ...

, and vocals (Blue Note) *2020 –

Pat Metheny Patrick Bruce Metheny ( ; born August 12, 1954) is an American jazz guitarist and composer. He was the leader of the Pat Metheny Group (1977–2010) and continues to work in various small-combo, duet, and solo settings, as well as other side pr ...

, ''

From This Place ''From This Place'' is a studio album by American jazz guitarist Pat Metheny, released in February 2020 on the Nonesuch label. Track listing All tracks are written by Pat Metheny. Personnel The individuals involved in the making of the a ...

'': "From This Place" (Nonesuch) *2022 –

Antonio Sanchez Anthony Sanchez, Antonio Sanchez or Tony Sanchez may refer to: Sports * Antón (footballer) (1914–2005), Spanish footballer born ''Antonio Sánchez Valdés'' * Antonio Sánchez (boxer) (1905–?), Spanish boxer * Antonio Sánchez (footballer, ...

, ''SHIFT (Bad Hombre Vol. II)'': "Comet, Come to Me" (Warner Bros.) *2022 –

Robert Glasper Robert Andre Glasper (born April 5, 1978) is an American pianist, record producer, songwriter, and Arrangement, musical arranger. His music embodies numerous musical genres, primarily centered around jazz. Glasper has won five Grammy Awards from ...

, '' Black Radio III'': "Better Than I Imagined" with H.E.R. (Lomo Vista)

References

External links

* * * *
Extensive audio interview
on '' The Sound of Young America'' {{DEFAULTSORT:Ndegeocello, Meshell 1968 births Living people African-American women rappers African-American women singer-songwriters American women singer-songwriters African-American guitarists American contraltos American women guitarists American funk bass guitarists American funk singers American hip-hop musicians American jazz bass guitarists American jazz singers American multi-instrumentalists American reggae musicians American rhythm and blues bass guitarists American rhythm and blues singer-songwriters American rock bass guitarists American women rock singers Bisexual feminists Bisexual singers Bisexual songwriters Bisexual women musicians EmArcy Records artists GLAAD Media Awards winners Grammy Award winners Progressive soul musicians American women bass guitarists American LGBTQ singers American LGBTQ songwriters African-American LGBTQ people American neo soul singers Musicians from Berlin Maverick Records artists American LGBTQ rights activists American LGBTQ rappers Guitarists from Washington, D.C. 20th-century American bass guitarists 21st-century American rappers Naïve Records artists Shanachie Records artists 20th-century American LGBTQ people 21st-century American LGBTQ people 20th-century African-American women singers 20th-century American women singers 20th-century American singers 21st-century African-American women singers 21st-century American women singers Singer-songwriters from Washington, D.C. 21st-century American women rappers American bisexual writers Blue Note Records artists LGBTQ women singers

Biography

Career

Activism

Personal life

Awards and nominations

Discography

Albums

Singles

Other appearances

References

Further reading

External links