Rock On The Net: Me'Shell Ndeg�Ocello (original) (raw)

Me'Shell Ndeg�Ocello (Swahili for "free like a bird") was born on August 29, 1969, in Germany and was raised in Washington, D.C. Since her debut LP hit the record stores in 1993, Me'Shell has been regarded as one of the best musicians of the 90s. Me'Shell has become known for her ability to fuse funk, r&b, rock, and jazz, and combine it her rich and personal lyrics. Me'Shell was involved with jazz programs at Duke Ellington School of the Arts and Howard University, where she became an accomplished bassist. She studied and played in Washington, D.C. until the early 90s when she moved to New York. Me'Shell has also recorded with Steve Coleman, Caron Wheeler, Lenny White, and was the musical director forArrested Development's Saturday Night Live performance. As Me'Shell's abilities began to get noticed, she was courted by Paisley Park, Warner Brothers, but signed with Madonna's Maverick Records because of her assurance of artistic and creative freedom.

Me'Shell released her debut LP Plantation Lullabies - the title is a metaphor for "the plantations for the world, past and present, whether they be reservations, ghettos, both corporate and urban, or the prison of a colonized mind." The single "If That's Your Boyfriend (He Wasn't Last Night)" introduced Me'Shell to a more mainstream audience, and the LP was applauded by critics.

Although her debut LP didn't propel Me'Shell to superstardom, she had made her mark and introduced her sound. Time magazine compared Me'Shell's LP to a Terry McMillan novel, and Rolling Stone critics hailed her as the "Brightest Hope" for the next year.

# 57Singles Artist of the Year

Me'Shell hit the Top 40 with "If That's Your Boyfriend (He Wasn't Last Night)."

Me'Shell hit the Top 40 helping out John Mellencamp with "Wild Night" from his LP Dance Naked.

Me'Shell hit the Top 10 with "Wild Night."

Me'Shell hit #1 on the pop charts with "Wild Night"

The video for "If That's Your Boyfriend (He Wasn't Last Night)" was nominated for 2 MTV Video Music Awardsfor Best Female Video and Best New Artist.
Me'Shell topped the Billboard Adult Contemporary Singles chart for 8 weeks with "Wild Night."

Me'Shell could be heard on the soundtrack for Higher Learning with "Soul Searchin'."

Me'Shell was nominated for Grammy Awards for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals ("Wild Night" with John Mellencamp), Best R&B Vocal Performance - Female, Best R&B Song (songwriter) ("If That's Your Boyfriend (He Wasn't Last Night)"), and Best R&B Album (Plantation Lullabies).

Me'Shell's second LP,Peace Beyond Passion, was released. The LP increased the admiration for Me'Shell by critics and fans with its brilliance and provocative lyrics. Me'Shell wrote 11 of the 12 tracks which included "Leviticus: Faggot" and the Bill Withers cover, "Who Is He And What Is He To You." The LP was an exploration of bigotry, romance, and spirituality, presented with force and passion.

Me'Shell topped the Billboard Dance Club Play chart for a week with "Who Is He And What Is He To You."

Me'Shell topped the Billboard Dance Music Club Play chart for a week with Chaka Khanwith "Never Miss The Water."
Me'Shell was nominated for 2 Grammy Awards for Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group ("Never Miss The Water"with Chaka Khan) and Best R&B Album (Peace Beyond Passion).

Peace Beyond Passionwas nominated for numerous Lady of Soul Awards.

Me'Shell contributed a track to the Batman & Robin soundtrack - "Poison Ivy."

At the 2nd annual GLAMA (Gay/Lesbian American Music Awards), Me'Shell won for Best Female Artist and Best Video for "Leviticus Faggot."

Me'Shell could be heard on the soundtrack for Down In The Delta with the track "My Soul Don't Dream" (with Keb Mo').

Me'Shell's next LP, Bitter, was released with a cover of Jimi Hendrix track, "May This Be Love."
Me'Shell performed at some of the Lilith Fair dates.

Me'Shell could be heard on the Indigo Girls' LP Come On Now Social on the tracks "We Are Together" and "Compromise."

Me'Shell could be heard on the The Best Mansoundtrack with "Untitled."

Me'Shell broke from her solo tour to open for Sting at several of his performances.

Me'Shell was nominated for 3 California Music Awards (Outstanding Female Vocalist, Outstanding Bassist, and Outstanding R&B album (Bitter)).

Me'Shell won a California Music Award for Outstanding R&B Album.
Me'Shell also won 2 Gay/Lesbian American Music Awards (GLAMA): Female Artist of the Year and Album of the Year.

Me'Shell released Cookie: The Anthropoligical Mixtape. Me'Shell said of the LP: "Cookie is all my experiences... I wanted to show all the transitions, from Southern stride to gospel to blues to funk. Musically, it comes from the African Diaspora. It's my improvisational rhythm and blues, my exploration of self, my anthropological mix tape."

Me'Shell could be heard on the soundtrack for Biker Boyz with "Liliquoi Moon."

Me'Shell was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary R&B Album (Cookie: The Anthropoligical Mixtape).

Me'Shell released her next LP, Comfort Woman.
Me'Shell could be heard on the compilation tribute to Dolly PartonLP, Just Because I'm A Woman, with "Two Doors Down."

Me'Shell released Dance Of The Infidel.

Me'Shell released the EP Article 3 overseas.

Me'Shell could be heard on the compilation Interpretations: Celebrating The Music Of Earth, Wind & Fire with the cover "Fantasy."

Me'Shell released The World Has Made Me The Man Of My Dreams.

Me'Shell was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Urban / Alternative Performance ("Fantasy").

Me'Shell released Devil's Halo.

Me'Shell released Weather.

Me'Shell digitally released Pour une ame souveraine.

• March 16: Me'Shell releasedMe'Shell Ndegeocello: Ventriloquism.

• February 10: Me'Shell was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Urban Contemporary Album (Me'Shell Ndegeocello: Ventriloquism).

• March 14: Me'Shell won a Grammy Awardfor Best R&B Song ("Better Than I Imagine").

• June 16: Me'Shell releasedThe Omnichord Real Book.

• February 4: Me'Shell won a Grammy Awardfor Best Alternative Jazz Album (The Omnichord Real Book).
• August 2: Me'Shell releasedNo More Water: The Gospel Of James Baldwin.

• February 2: Me'Shell won a Grammy Awardfor Best Alternative Jazz Album (No More Water: The Gospel Of James Baldwin).

	Plantation LullabiesReleased: October, 1993 Billboard peak: # 166 Rolling Stone review: Tracks: "Plantation Lullaby" - "I'm Diggin' You (Like An Old Soul Record)" - "If That's Your Boyfriend (He Wasn't Last Night)" - "Shoot'n Up And Gett'n High" - "Dred Loc" - "Untitled" - "Step Into The Projects" - "Soul On Ice" - "Call Me" - "Outside Your Door" - "Picture Show" - "Sweet Love" - "Two Lonely Hearts (On The Subway)"
	Peace Beyond PassionReleased: June, 1996 Billboard peak: # 63 Rolling Stone review: Tracks: "Womb" - "Way" - "Deuteronomy" - "Ecclesiastes: Free My Heart" - "Leviticus: Faggot" - "Mary Magdalene" - "God Shiva" - "Who Is He (And What Is He To You)" - "Stay" - "Bittersweet" - "Tear And A Smile" - "Make Me Wanna Holler"
	BitterReleased: August, 1999 Billboard peak: # 105 Rolling Stone review: Tracks: "Adam" - "Fool Of Me" - "Faithful" - "Satisfy" - "Bitter" - "May This Be Love" - "Sincerity" - "Loyalty" - "Beautiful" - "Eve" - "Wasted Time" - "Grace"
	Cookie: The Anthropoligical MixtapeReleased: June, 2002 Rolling Stone review: Tracks: "Dead N___ Blvd. (Part 1)" - "Hot Night" - "Priorities 1-6" - "Pocketbook" - "Berryfarms" - "Trust" - "Akel Dama (Field Of Blood)" - "Earth" - "Better By The Pound" - "Criterion" - "God.Fear.Money" - "Jabril" - "Dead N____ Blvd. (Part 2)" - "Pocketbook" (Missy Elliott & Rockwilder Remix featuring Redman & Tweet)
	Comfort Woman Released: October, 2003 Rolling Stone review: Billboard peak: # 150 Tracks: "Love Song #1" - "Come Smoke My Herb" - "Andromeda & The Milky Way" - "Love Song #2" - "Body" - "Liliquoi Moon" - "Love Song #3" - "Fellowship" - "Good Intentions" - "Thankful"
	Dance Of The InfidelReleased: June, 2005 Tracks: "Mu-Min" - "Al-Falaq 133" - "Aquarium" - "Papillon" - "Dance Of The Infidel" - "The Chosen" - "Luqman" - "When Did You Leave Heaven"
	The World Has Made Me The Man Of My DreamsReleased: September, 2007 Billboard peak: # 186 Rolling Stone: - Entertainment Weekly: A Tracks: "Haditha" - "The Sloganeer: Paradise" - "Evolution" - "Virgo" - "Lovely Lovely" - "Elliptical" - "Shirk" - "Article 3" - "Michelle Johnson" - "Headline" - "Solomon" - "Relief: A Stripper Classic"
	Devil's HaloReleased: October, 2009 Tracks: "Slaughter" - "Tie One On" - "Lola" - "Hair Of The Dog" - "Mass Transit" - "White Girl" - "Love You Down" - "Devil's Halo" - "Bright Shiny Morning" - "Blood On The Curb" - "Die Young" - "Crying In Your Beer"
	WeatherReleased: November, 2011 Tracks: "Weather" - "Objects In Mirror Are Closer Than They Appear" - "Feeling For The Wall" - "Chance" - "Oysters" - "Rapid Fire" - "Chelsea Hotel" - "Dirty World" - "A Bitter Mule" - "Crazy And Wild" - "Petite Mort" - "Dead End" - "Don't Take My Kindess For Weakness"
iTunes Amazon.mp3	Pour une ame souveraineReleased: October 9, 2012 Tracks: "Please Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" - "Suzanne" - "Real Real" - "House Of The Rising Sun" - "Turn Me On" - "Feelin' Good" - "Don't Take All Night" (featuring Sinead O'Connor) - "Nobody's Fault But Mine" - "Be My Husband" - "Black Is The Color Of My True Love's Hair" - "See Line Woman" - "Either Way I Lose" - "To Be Young, Gifted And Black" - "Four Women"
iTunes Amazon.mp3 vinyl	Me'Shell Ndegeocello: VentriloquismReleased: March 16, 2018Grammy Nominee: Best Urban Contemporary Album Tracks: "I Wonder If I Take You Home" - "Nite And Day" - "Sometimes It Snows In April" - "Waterfalls" - "Atomic Dog 2017" - "Sensitivity" - "Funny How Time Flies (When You're Having Fun)" - "Tender Love" - "Don't Disturb This Groove" - "Private Dancer" - "Smooth Operator"
	The Omnichord Real BookReleased: June 16, 2023 Tracks: "Georgia Ave" - "An Invitation" - "Call The Tune" - "Good Good" - "Omnipuss" - "Clear Water" - "ASR" - 'Gatsby" - "Towers" - "Perceptions" - "Tha King" - "Burn Progression" - "onelevensixteen" - "Vuma" - "The 5th Dimension" - "Hole In The Bucket" - "Virgo 3"
	No More Water: The Gospel Of James BaldwinReleased: August 2, 2024 Tracks: "Travel" - "On The Mountain" - "Baldwin Manifesto 1" - "Raise The Roof" - "The Price Of The Ticket" - "What Did I Do?" - "Pride 1" - "Pride II" - "Eyes" - "Trouble" - "Thus Sayeth The Lord" - "Love" - "Hatred" - "Tsunami Rising" - "Another Country" - "Baldwin Manifesto 2" - "Down At The Cross"