Megan Thee Stallion Dropped Her Fire New Album & Here's What You Need To Know
If you haven't heard of Megan Thee Stallion, it's time to grab some stirrups and hop on the bandwagon before it's too late, because judging from the internet's reaction to her new album, Fever, it's gonna be a long ride and a hot summer for this sex-positive female rapper.
Megan Pete began writing raps at the age of 14 and ultimately went viral after participating in a cypher at her former HBCU, Prairie View A&M. Although at the time, Meagan was studying to earn a degree in Health Administration, God had other plans.
By 2016, the H-Tine hottie had expanded her fanbase and signed her first record deal, but it wasn't until 2019 when she re-released her slept-on hit 2018 single, "Big Ole Freak", that the world finally started to realize that the now 24-year-old lyricist would be a force to be reckoned with.
Since then, Megan has earned widespread acclaim from industry legends like Drake, Trina, and Juicy J., and her new album has now made it to the No. 3 spot on the iTunes hip/hop rap albums chart, and the top 10 in all genres. From the looks of it, this big ole freak isn't letting up on her hustle anytime soon and in honor of her first major debut album, here are a few fast facts you should know about Megan Thee Stallion.
Big Ole H-Tine Hottie
Houston, are y'all putting something in the water? Because with hotties like Beyoncé and Meagan coming out of the city and taking over the industry, I might just have to make a move.
Megan Thee Stallion was born and raised in Houston, Texas. Her alternate alias, Tina Snow, was derived from late Southern rap legend and fellow Houston native, Pimp C, who called himself Tony Snow, and she puts on for her city every chance she gets. Last night for her album release, she took Fever back to her hometown and set the city on fire. The rapper turned a local club into the "Hottie Ranch", complete with a white horse and a stallion on top.
She Get It From Her Mama
Megan's mom, Holly Thomas, died from a brain tumor only a month before her album release and was also a hardcore rapper who went by the name Holly-Wood. Instead of taking a young Megan to daycare, Holly would bring Megan to her recording sessions and the would-be rapper fell in love with the craft. She told ESSENCE:
"I knew I wanted to be a rapper when I was, like, 5. My mom was a rapper. I would go to the studio with her, and that definitely showed me I can do this, I wanna do this. I remember my first time ever listening to rappers like Pimp C and Biggie, and being like, 'All this would sound super cool if a girl was saying it,' so I gotta go do this."
Late and early mornings in the studio with her mom ultimately inspired Megan to start writing her own raps at 14. Although Holly initially felt that Megan's writing was a little too suggestive, she eventually saw that the young lyricist had genuine talent. When Megan launched own music career, her mom was by her side every step of the way, acting as both her manager and her BFF until she passed. The rapper told Billboard that she copes with her mom's death through prayer.
"I definitely have to pray and spend a lot of time by myself when I can. Sometimes, when you're doing too much, things get overwhelming. So I just have to calm myself down and think, 'What would my mama want me to do?'"
Schoolgirl Meg
Megan is adamant about the power of education in her raps and was actually discovered at an HBCU. After taking a break from school to pursue her music career, Megan returned to pursue her degree and is currently a junior at Texas Southern University where she's continuing her education in health administration. She toldRefinery29:
"I went through too much with school to just go ahead and forget it because I got this deal. No. It's been too long to just drop out now."
Inspired by her mother's untimely death as a result of brain cancer, Megan has plans to one day open up assisted-living facilities in her hometown. She explained:
"I really want to open up some assisted-living facilities in Houston. So when I get done with college and everything, I'll have… made so much money from my music, I will be able to pay for what I really wanna open up,"
A Stallion IRL
To every woman who has ever felt uncomfortable for being tall, thick, and eye-catching, Hot Girl Meg is here to remind the world that being a sexy Amazonian princess has always been a thing.
Standing 5'10'' with all curves and no breaks, Megan The Stallion is a big fine woman in real life who doesn't care if rocking a pair of heels intimidates you.
During a since-deleted video with DJ Smallz, Megan was asked if she's "always had this body" and the internet clapped back in a major way. Although many felt that his question was inappropriate and totally out of line, Megan doesn't sweat the small sh*t. She said:
"I'm a pretty open person, and very little can embarrass me. So him asking me about my body is not something that is a surprise. It's been happening all my life. I've been like this, like, forever."
"I didn't get offended. Like, if the whole interview was that, I would've been like, 'I'm getting out of here,' you know? But I wasn't offended. I don't let stuff like that get to me."
She's All About Sex (Positive) Talk
Thanks to social media, Megan has been able to use her platform to promote positivity. Whether it comes to your body, sexuality, or even how you react to others, the rapper has been intentional about changing the narrative when it comes to women's bodies and their sexualities. Hot Girl Meg is on a mission to grab the rap industry by the balls and remind men that, despite the misogynistic political overtones that exist in this country, women can be sex-positive and still have full agencies over their bodies.
Ultimately, Megan's goal is to encourage women to do whatever TF they want to do. Whether that comes to your body, sexuality, career, or lifestyle choices, Megan encourages every woman to fully realize the hottie inside of them and live their best lives.
"Like, [I'm] not gonna say, 'Get out here and do everything I'm talking about.' But you get the message of the songs: Be confident; don't let a man try to run your life. You run his life. Do you know what I'm saying? Just be free; that's just really what I like to support. Get your degree if you want to. I'm not saying you got to, but I'm just saying, like, it'd be a good idea to do that."
No Rap Beef
If you're ever waiting on some petty rap beef to emerge between Megan and another female rapper, keep waiting. It won't happen. In an interview, she explained that although women are competitive by nature, she wants to set an example for other women that there's room at the top for all of us.
"I feel like since, like, forever, it has only been, like, one female rapper at a time. And naturally, women are competitive. So I feel like, without beef, hip-hop probably wouldn't even be what it is, so it's good to have, like, a little friendly competition here and there. I feel like eventually, we'll all realize that we're not trying to cross into each other's lane. Just because we might be rapping about some of the same things, we're not doing it in the same way. There's enough room for all of us to eat. So as soon as we can get that together, then we'll be all right."
You can check out Megan's new album on Spotify and iTunes!
Featured image by Giphy
- Megan Thee Stallion - Wikipedia ›
- Megan Thee Stallion & the Art of Confidence - DJBooth ›
- Megan Thee Stallion Reveals Her Mother Died From A 'Brain Tumor ... ›
- The Thrill of Megan Thee Stallion's Real-Time Rise | Pitchfork ›
- Megan Thee Stallion's 'Fever': A Scintillating Debut - The Atlantic ›
- Megan Thee Stallion: Why The 'Tina Snow' Rapper Is Blowing Up ›
Taylor "Pretty" Honore is a spiritually centered and equally provocative rapper from Baton Rouge, Louisiana with a love for people and storytelling. You can probably find me planting herbs in your local community garden, blasting "Back That Thang Up" from my mini speaker. Let's get to know each other: @prettyhonore.
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LISTÂ HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
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When discussing the topic of raising children, discipline is often the first thing that comes to mind. Children need discipline. Full stop. But what is discipline? And how do we draw the line between discipline and revenge?
The origin of the word "discipline" can be traced back to the Latin word "disciplina," which means "instruction" or "teaching." Over time, however, discipline has come to be synonymous with punishment, with parents relying on shame, fear, and/or physical pain to curb undesirable behavior.
Teaching takes time, so nipping it in the bud in whatever fashion parents deem necessary (within reason) has become the norm. But is this what’s best for children? And when does it become less about curbing undesirable behavior and more about getting our licks back for offenses we feel our children should know better to do?
In my work as a parenting coach, I’ve often heard parents say, “I asked him nicely three times before spanking him. He didn’t stop doing it until I did, so clearly talking doesn’t work.”
And the parent isn’t wrong. Talking often doesn’t work the first, the third, or the even the 10th time. And the reason is directly tied to brain development.
Children cannot and do not process information the way an adult can. Auditory processing is not fully developed until a child is 14 or 15 years old. And even then, if a child has auditory processing delays or Auditory Processing Disorder (APD), they may always struggle with processing auditory commands. According to Susie S. Loraine, MA, CCC-SLP, the term auditory processing refers to how the brain perceives and interprets sound information. Several skills determine auditory processing ability—or listening success. They develop in a general four-step hierarchy, but all work together and are essential for daily listening.
Without this understanding, discipline can easily become revenge because parents will then view their child’s misdeeds as a personal slight. Instead of teaching them to do better, parents now want to show them the consequences of not doing better. This is why it's imperative for parents to discern between discipline and revenge to maintain healthy relationships with their children.
5 WAYS TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN PARENTAL GUIDANCE AND RETALIATION:Â Â
​Understanding The Intent
Discipline is rooted in love and concern for the child's well-being. It focuses on teaching lessons and helping children understand the consequences of their actions. Conversely, revenge-driven actions stem from a desire to inflict pain or punishment as payback for perceived slights or disobedience. Parents should reflect on their motives before taking disciplinary actions. Ask yourself whether your intention is to help your child learn or to make them suffer for upsetting you.
Example: If a child accidentally breaks a valuable item, a disciplinary response would involve discussing the importance of being careful and working with the child to come up with a way to replace or fix what they’ve broken. On the other hand, a vengeful reaction might involve yelling, harsh punishment, or bringing up past mistakes to intensify guilt.
​Maintaining Emotional Regulation
Effective discipline requires parents to remain calm and composed, even in challenging situations. It's natural to feel upset or frustrated when children misbehave, but responding with anger or resentment can escalate the situation and blur the line between discipline and revenge. Before addressing the issue, take a moment to breathe and collect your thoughts.
Example: If a child cannot follow instructions, a disciplined response would involve calmly explaining why their cooperation is necessary in working with the child to accomplish the goal. Conversely, a retaliatory response might involve shouting, name-calling, or resorting to physical punishment out of anger.
​Promoting Growth and Learning
Discipline should always aim to promote growth and learning. It involves guiding children toward making better choices and understanding the impact of their actions on themselves and others. Effective discipline strategies include positive reinforcement, setting clear expectations, and providing opportunities for reflection and growth.
Example: If a child repeatedly forgets to complete their chores, a disciplinary approach would involve discussing the importance of responsibility and finding solutions together, such as creating a chore chart or setting reminders with Siri or Alexa. In contrast, a revenge-driven response might involve imposing overly harsh punishments or belittling the child, which can undermine their self-esteem and hinder their ability to learn from their mistakes.
Momo Productions/Getty
Building Trust and Communication
Trust and open communication are essential components of a healthy parent-child relationship. Discipline should strengthen this bond by fostering trust and encouraging children to confide in their parents without fear of judgment or retaliation. When children feel safe and supported, they're more likely to accept discipline as a form of guidance rather than punishment.
Example: If a child admits to breaking a rule or making a mistake, a disciplined response would involve listening to their perspective, discussing the consequences of their actions, and working together to find a solution. Conversely, a retaliatory response might involve accusations, blame, or shutting down communication, which can erode trust and damage the parent-child relationship.
Seeking Professional Guidance
Parenting is a learning journey, and, disciplining children is a delicate balance between guiding them toward responsible behavior and nurturing their growth. By understanding the intent behind our actions, maintaining emotional regulation, promoting growth and learning, building trust and communication, and seeking professional guidance when needed, as parents we can help our children built on love, respect, and understanding.
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Featured image by Courtney Hale/Getty Images