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 told Refinery29:
"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 ›
Exclusive: Viral It Girl Kayla Nicole Is Reclaiming The Mic—And The Narrative
It’s nice to have a podcast when you’re constantly trending online. One week after setting timelines ablaze on Halloween, Kayla Nicole released an episode of her Dear Media pop culture podcast, The Pre-Game, where she took listeners behind the scenes of her viral costume.
The 34-year-old had been torn between dressing up as Beyoncé or Toni Braxton, she says in the episode. She couldn’t decide which version of Bey she’d be, though. Two days before the holiday, she locked in her choice, filming a short recreation of Braxton’s “He Wasn’t Man Enough for Me” music video that has since garnered nearly 6.5M views on TikTok.
Kayla Nicole says she wore a dress that was once worn by Braxton herself for the Halloween costume. “It’s not a secret Toni is more on the petite side. I’m obsessed with all 5’2” of her,” she tells xoNecole via email. “But I’m 5’10'' and not missing any meals, honey, so to my surprise, when I got the dress and it actually fit, I knew it was destiny.”
The episode was the perfect way for the multihyphenate to take control of her own narrative. By addressing the viral moment on her own platform, she was able to stir the conversation and keep the focus on her adoration for Braxton, an artist she says she grew up listening to and who still makes her most-played playlist every year. Elsewhere, she likely would’ve received questions about whether or not the costume was a subliminal aimed at her ex-boyfriend and his pop star fiancée. “I think that people will try to project their own narratives, right?” she said, hinting at this in the episode. “But, for me personally – I think it’s very important to say this in this moment – I’m not in the business of tearing other women down. I’m in the business of celebrating them.”
Kayla Nicole is among xoNecole’s It Girl 100 Class of 2025, powered by SheaMoisture, recognized in the Viral Voices category for her work in media and the trends she sets on our timelines, all while prioritizing her own mental and physical health. As she puts it: “Yes, I’m curating conversations on my podcast The Pre-Game, and cultivating community with my wellness brand Tribe Therepē.”
Despite being the frequent topic of conversation online, Kayla Nicole says she’s learning to take advantage of her growing social media platform without becoming consumed by it. “I refuse to let the internet consume me. It’s supposed to be a resource and tool for connection, so if it becomes anything beyond that I will log out,” she says.
On The Pre-Game, which launched earlier this year, she has positioned herself as listeners “homegirl.” “There’s definitely a delicate dance between being genuine and oversharing, and I’ve had to learn that the hard way. Now I share from a place of reflection, not reaction,” she says. “If it can help someone feel seen or less alone, I’ll talk about it within reason. But I’ve certainly learned to protect parts of my life that I cherish most. I share what serves connection but doesn’t cost me peace.
"I refuse to let the internet consume me. It’s supposed to be a resource and tool for connection, so if it becomes anything beyond that I will log out."

Credit: Malcolm Roberson
Throughout each episode, she sips a cocktail and addresses trending topics (even when they involve herself). It’s a platform the Pepperdine University alumnus has been preparing to have since she graduated with a degree in broadcast journalism, with a concentration in political science.
“I just knew I was going to end up on a local news network at the head anchor table, breaking high speed chases, and tossing it to the weather girl,” she says. Instead, she ended up working as an assistant at TMZ before covering sports as a freelance reporter. (She’s said she didn’t work for ESPN, despite previous reports saying otherwise.) The Pre-Game combines her love for pop culture and sports in a way that once felt inaccessible to her in traditional media.
She’s not just a podcaster, though. When she’s not behind the mic, taking acting classes or making her New York Fashion Week debut, Kayla Nicole is also busy elevating her wellness brand Tribe Therepē, where she shares her workouts and the workout equipment that helps her look chic while staying fit. She says the brand will add apparel to its line up in early 2026.
“Tribe Therepē has evolved into exactly what I have always envisioned. A community of women who care about being fit not just for the aesthetic, but for their mental and emotional well-being too. It’s grounded. It’s feminine. It’s strong,” she says. “And honestly, it's a reflection of where I am in my life right now. I feel so damn good - mentally, emotionally, and physically. And I am grateful to be in a space where I can pour that love and light back into the community that continues to pour into me.”
Tap into the full It Girl 100 Class of 2025 and meet all the women changing game this year and beyond. See the full list here.
Featured image by Malcolm Roberson
There is a very specific reason why I decided to write this article before the holiday season officially gets underway. It’s because I once read a study that said it’s quite common for most Americans to double the amount of alcohol that they consume between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day.
It makes sense when you stop to think about all of the holiday parties, time off, and moments spent with loved ones that transpire around this time of year. And while there is certainly nothing wrong with enjoying some mulled wine, real-deal eggnog, or peppermint martinis, because your health is something that never “takes a vacation,” I thought it was important to share with you some of the benefits (pros) and challenges (cons) that can arise from alcohol consumption.
My main motive? Mostly, I hope that it will serve as a solid reminder to embrace all of the things that you adore about this time of year, so long as you do it in moderation and you weigh the costs.
Especially as far as drinking alcohol is concerned.
PRO: Manages Blood Sugar Levels
GiphyHere’s something that you may have never seen coming. Were you aware of the fact that alcohol can actually help to stabilize your blood sugar? Yep, according to the American Diabetes Association, so long as you leave it to no more than 1-2 cocktails a day, alcohol may be able to lower your A1C levels. Pretty cool, right?
CON: It’s a Carcinogen
GiphyAlcohol is a carcinogen. The reason why this should somewhat alarm you is because carcinogens are things (like tobacco, UV rays, processed meats, etc.) that can increase your chances of being diagnosed with cancer (especially mouth, throat, esophagus, stomach and breast cancer). There are various ways this happens including the fact that alcohol, specifically, can hinder your body from breaking down certain nutrients, it can cause your estrogen levels to spike and alcohol can also cause certain toxins to damage your DNA and certain bodily proteins over time.
PRO: Cultivates Euphoric Feelings
GiphyIf you find yourself feeling more euphoric while you’re enjoying a drink, it’s not all up in your head. Although, for the more part, alcohol is considered to be a depressant, when consumed in small amounts, it can provide a stimulant effect. This happens due to the fact that when you first start to consume alcohol, it causes the production of the feel-good hormone known as dopamine to increase — and since dopamine makes us all feel more relaxed and confident while heightening our senses of pleasure too…well, there you have it.
CON: May Increase Anxiety/Depression
GiphyAs they say, “what goes up, most come down” at some point — and that is what you have to be careful of when it comes to alcohol consumption. For instance, when you drink alcohol, although it tends to initially cause your dopamine levels to uptick, because it is a temporary bodily response, sometimes the dips are lower than the rises…and that is when anxiety starts to kick in. A similar point is made with depression because oftentimes, people with depression-related symptoms, will use alcohol as a way to deflect from what’s really going on with them — and that can make them feel even worse than ever once the buzz of alcohol starts to wear off.
PRO: Has Some Heart-Related Benefits
GiphyWhen it comes to your heart, there are interesting findings surrounding its relationship to alcohol. For instance, some research states that, so long as the consumption is moderate, alcohol can actually help to increase the good cholesterol in your system while also breaking down proteins that can potentially lead to blood clots; both of these factors alone can reduce your chances of dying from heart disease.
CON: Packs on Pounds
GiphyIt’s no secret that alcohol tends to contain quite a few calories. That’s why, it’s not uncommon for people who’ve lost weight to mention “I’ve stopped drinking” as one of the causes for the shed pounds. That’s not to say that there aren’t some alcoholic beverages that have less calories than others including vodka (133 calories per serving), white wine (148 calories per serving) and tequila (99 calories per shot). Just keep in mind that the more you drink, the more calories get into your system and the more weight you stand to gain.
PRO: Lowers Inhibitions
GiphyAlthough you really should only be uninhibited around people who you absolutely trust, if that person is your partner and you’re looking to have a pretty — eh hem — active evening, alcohol can certainly help to make that happen. The science of it all is the prefrontal cortex of your brain is what regulates your inhibitions and levels of self-control. Meanwhile, alcohol suppresses your inhibitions which can cause you to be more spontaneous and open to trying things that you might not immediately do if you were sober. And with the right individual, that can be sexually beneficial (emphasis on “right person”).
CON: Makes It Harder to Orgasm
GiphyOn the other hand, as odd as it may seem (in light of what I just said), if you have too much alcohol in your system, it could make climaxing difficult. That’s because orgasms happen, in part, due to your nervous system being stimulated — and since alcohol is technically a depressant…well, it could reduce nerve sensitivity (especially as far as your clitoris goes) for you while making it challenging for your partner to remain erect or have consistent stamina. And yeah, that sucks.
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‘Tis the season. And with that, if some wassails or hot buttered rums are in your immediate future — hey, don’t let me stop you — not even a lil’ bit.
All I’m saying is now that you know what alcoholic drinks have to offer (both ways), you can know exactly how to incorporate them into your holiday plans. Enjoy!
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