Me'Shell NdegéOcello

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Meshell Ndegeocello (b. August 29, 1968) is a singer, bassist, and multi-instrumentalist. She was born Michelle Johnson to Army lieutenant (and saxophonist) father Jacques Johnson and her mother, Helen in Berlin, Germany.

Raised in Washington, D.C., Meshell Suhaila Bashir Shakur (as she became known) adopted the surname Ndegeocello, which means “free like a bird”, while still in her teens. She has been hailed in the music press as a redeemer of soul music. Her music incorporates funk, soul, hip-hop, reggae, rock and jazz. She has been nominated for 9 Grammys. She has frequently toured with Lilith Fair.

Ndegeocello honed her chops on the D.C. Go-go circuit in the late 1980s before venturing out as a solo artist. She emerged as a recording artist in 1993 on Maverick Records/Sire Records with her debut, Plantation Lullabies. This recording presented a distinctly androgynous persona. Her music has been featured in a number of film soundtracks including How Stella Got Her Groove Back and Batman and Robin. She has also appeared on recordings by Basement Jaxx and The Blind Boys Of Alabama, among others. Her biggest hit is a duet with John Cougar Mellencamp, a cover version of Van Morrison’s “Wild Night”, which reached #3 on the Billboard charts.

Her singles “If That’s Your Boyfriend (He Wasn’t Last Night)”, “Leviticus: Faggot”, and her cover of Bill Withers “Who Is He and What Is He To You?” have all charted in the Billboard top 20. She sang background vocals on the song “I’d Rather be Your Lover” by Madonna, on her album “Bedtime Stories.”. She also sang with Chaka Khan on the single “Never Miss the Water”, as well as providing her typical solid bass skills.
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  • discotequedude

    When will she ever get the recognition she deserves? [2]

    yesterday morning

  • hotterthanjuly

    When will she ever get the recognition she deserves?

    20 days ago

  • RRRRRicardo

    Ladies and gentleman, give her a big round of applause, here is Mchel ngadodceloo, no I mean Mchel nadociecallo, i mean, mchel oh fuck it.. :-P

    last month

  • MsGreenEyes

    yes, im diggin you, i dig you like an old soul record.

    March 2012

  • MsGreenEyes

    @wanderlustatul listen here in the very beginning : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30QtMpCnmS4

    March 2012

  • wanderlustatul

    How in hell do you pronounce this name?

    February 2012

  • rnbisluv

    ....Goddess

    January 2012

  • nickplowman

    listening to her for the first time, 'Weather'. really arresting

    January 2012
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