Megan Thee Stallion On The Realities Of Being The Boss: 'You Do Everything On Your Own’
Rapper Megan Thee Stallion's recent appearance on Club Shay Shay is making headlines for her valuable insights on what it truly means to pay the cost to be the boss.
During the interview, the "Hiss" emcee discussed her decision to sign a distribution deal with Warner Music Group. This move came after settling with her former record label, 1501 Certified Entertainment, following years of legal battles over ownership of her master recordings and the right to release new music. Megan's new arrangement allows her to maintain her independence as an artist and release music through her label, Hot Girl Productions.
Another gem the "Cobra" lyricist shared on the platform was her advice from her mentors, Beyoncé and Jay-Z, regarding her legal woes and business ventures. Megan also got candid when discussing how much she spends on her productions as an independent artist.
Check out the highlights below.
Megan Thee Stallion On Why She Decided To Go Independent
“I’ve been in a situation where I felt I was so out of control for the longest. When I say out of control like I didn’t really have complete control over my music. I could barely go perform when I felt like it. They couldn’t use my music in commercials. I had to literally go to court every time I wanted to drop a song. So I just was like, you know what? I need to do what’s best for me like I can appreciate what a label can do for you, but if y'all can’t agree to these terms, then I don’t want to do it. So I wasn’t going to go nowhere where they wasn’t going to give me what I was worth, and they wasn’t going to give me what I was asking for. But that’s how I wound up with my distribution deal from Warner because they believe in me.”
“It’s really like a trust thing when you sign to a label. It’s all business at the end of the day, but you still want to be somewhere where y’all can trust each other. I know you ain’t going to mess over me, and I'm not going to mess over you. We both need to win. They seemed like they wanted to win with me. They didn’t want to win without me. It wasn’t a situation where I felt like we’re gonna do this with or without you. They wanted to win together, and that’s what I liked about Warner.”
Megan Thee Stallion On The Advice She Received From Beyoncé and Jay-Z
“When I was in the situation that I was in and I wanted to get out of it they told me you need to do this on your own. Like you already know what it is, you got all the tools. All the legal s–t that you are going through right now I know you are learning something, so you should figure out how to get out here and be your own boss.”
“Beyoncé is the person who actually inspired me to get my own tequila because I used to be the cognac queen. I’m still the cognac queen, but as much as I used to enjoy cognac and I promoted a lot of people liquor brands, she was like the next time I see you, you need to have your own alcoholic beverage. I was like, ‘You right, queen. I am going to have my own s–t.’ So now I have my own tequila.”
Megan Thee Stallion On Spending Her Own Money
“I’ve been spending my own money for a long time. These music videos ain’t cheap. That’s what I definitely learned when I jumped off the porch and wanted to be independent. I said how much this s–t cost? I go in for myself. I believe in myself and I believe that I am making a really good investment in something that I believe in. If I don’t back myself up, who else going to do it? If I don’t believe it, y’all mother f–kers ain’t going to believe it. So the last three music videos y’all seen me put out that’s straight out of Meg Thee Stallion bank account, and that s–t was not cheap. But that’s okay because I like good art. When I look at a music video I want to watch that s–t over and over again. So I want to put out something that I know that my hotties are gonna want to watch over and over again.“
‘You can’t make money without spending money. When you ever heard somebody say it costs to be the boss. Now, I really do understand that. Like I like to have nice things, I like my things to look a certain type of way. I want it to be extravagant. I want it to look like a production every time you see it. Now, how is that going to happen? Whose money is that? You can either go get somebody to invest in you, but now you are making them a boss over you, too. Now, do you want to have complete ownership? You invest everything in yourself. You do everything on your own. I’mma say the money part is the part that I’ve definitely learned about having complete ownership and being your own boss.”
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Devale Ellis On Being A Provider, Marriage Growth & Redefining Fatherhood
In this candid episode of the xoMAN podcast, host Kiara Walker talked with Devale Ellis, actor, social media personality, and star of Zatima, about modern masculinity, learning to be a better husband, emotional presence in marriage, fatherhood for Black men, and leading by example.
“I Wasn’t Present Emotionally”: Devale Ellis on Marriage Growth
Devale Ellis On Learning He Was a ‘Bad Husband’
Ellis grew up believing that a man should prioritize providing for his family. “I know this may come off as misogynistic, but I feel like it’s my responsibility as a man to pay for everything,” he said, emphasizing the wise guidance passed down by his father. However, five years into his marriage to long-time partner Khadeen Ellis, he realized provision wasn’t just financial.
“I was a bad husband because I wasn’t present emotionally… I wasn’t concerned about what she needed outside of the resources.”
Once he shifted his mindset, his marriage improved. “In me trying to be of service to her, I learned that me being of service created a woman who is now willing to be of service to me.”
On Redefining Masculinity and Fatherhood
For Ellis, “being a man is about being consistent.” As a father of four, he sees parenthood as a chance to reshape the future.
“Children give you another chance at life. I have four different opportunities right now to do my life all over again.”
He also works to uplift young Black men, reinforcing their worth in a world that often undermines them. His values extend to his career—Ellis refuses to play roles that involve domestic violence or sexual assault.
On Marriage, Family Planning, and Writing His Story
After his wife’s postpartum preeclampsia, Ellis chose a vasectomy over her taking hormonal birth control, further proving his commitment to their partnership. He and Khadeen share their journey in We Over Me, and his next book, Raising Kings: How Fatherhood Saved Me From Myself, is on the way.
Through honesty and growth, Devale Ellis challenges traditional ideas of masculinity, making his story one that resonates deeply with millennial women.
For the xoMAN podcast, host Kiara Walker peels back the layers of masculinity with candid conversations that challenge stereotypes and celebrate vulnerability. Real men. Real stories. Real talk.
Want more real talk from xoMAN? Catch the full audio episodes every Tuesday on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and don’t miss the full video drops every Wednesday on YouTube. Hit follow, subscribe, and stay tapped in.
Featured image by YouTube/xoNecole
Devale Ellis On Being A Provider, Marriage Growth & Redefining Fatherhood
In this candid episode of the xoMAN podcast, host Kiara Walker talked with Devale Ellis, actor, social media personality, and star of Zatima, about modern masculinity, learning to be a better husband, emotional presence in marriage, fatherhood for Black men, and leading by example.
“I Wasn’t Present Emotionally”: Devale Ellis on Marriage Growth
Devale Ellis On Learning He Was a ‘Bad Husband’
Ellis grew up believing that a man should prioritize providing for his family. “I know this may come off as misogynistic, but I feel like it’s my responsibility as a man to pay for everything,” he said, emphasizing the wise guidance passed down by his father. However, five years into his marriage to long-time partner Khadeen Ellis, he realized provision wasn’t just financial.
“I was a bad husband because I wasn’t present emotionally… I wasn’t concerned about what she needed outside of the resources.”
Once he shifted his mindset, his marriage improved. “In me trying to be of service to her, I learned that me being of service created a woman who is now willing to be of service to me.”
On Redefining Masculinity and Fatherhood
For Ellis, “being a man is about being consistent.” As a father of four, he sees parenthood as a chance to reshape the future.
“Children give you another chance at life. I have four different opportunities right now to do my life all over again.”
He also works to uplift young Black men, reinforcing their worth in a world that often undermines them. His values extend to his career—Ellis refuses to play roles that involve domestic violence or sexual assault.
On Marriage, Family Planning, and Writing His Story
After his wife’s postpartum preeclampsia, Ellis chose a vasectomy over her taking hormonal birth control, further proving his commitment to their partnership. He and Khadeen share their journey in We Over Me, and his next book, Raising Kings: How Fatherhood Saved Me From Myself, is on the way.
Through honesty and growth, Devale Ellis challenges traditional ideas of masculinity, making his story one that resonates deeply with millennial women.
For the xoMAN podcast, host Kiara Walker peels back the layers of masculinity with candid conversations that challenge stereotypes and celebrate vulnerability. Real men. Real stories. Real talk.
Want more real talk from xoMAN? Catch the full audio episodes every Tuesday on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and don’t miss the full video drops every Wednesday on YouTube. Hit follow, subscribe, and stay tapped in.
Featured image by YouTube/xoNecole