Meshell Ndegeocello
Meshell Ndegeocello (/mɪˈʃɛl ənˈdeɪɡeɪoʊˌtʃɛloʊ/ mish-EL ən-DAY-gay-oh-CHEL-oh;[2] born Michelle Lynn Johnson on August 29, 1968) is an American singer-songwriter, rapper, 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.[3] 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,[4][5] being nominated for eleven Grammy Awards, and winning two.[6] She also has been credited for helping to "spark the neo-soul movement".[7]
Meshell Ndegeocello
Michelle Lynn Johnson
Meshell Suhaila Bashir-Shakur
Me'Shell Ndegéocello
August 29, 1968
Berlin, Germany
Washington, D.C., United States
Singer-songwriter, rapper, musician
Vocals, bass, keyboards, drums, guitar
1992–present
Biography[edit]
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.[8]
Activism[edit]
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 It Gets Better: Coming Out, Overcoming Bullying, and Creating a Life Worth Living, edited by Dan Savage and Terry Miller in the vein of the It Gets Better Project.
Personal life[edit]
Ndegeocello is bisexual and previously had a relationship with feminist author Rebecca Walker. Ndegeocello's first son, Solomon, was born in 1989.[19] Since 2005, she has been married to Alison Riley, with whom she has a second son.[20]
