Raised in Washington, D.C., Meshell Suhaila Bashir Shakur (as she became known) adopted the surname Ndegéocello, 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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[Untitled]
Me'Shell Ndegéocello Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Her beauty cannot be measured with standards of a colonized mind
Darker than blue darker than her blackness
Unblemished her features broad and striking
She cradles his body with her large hands
Her fingers stretch endlessly into his world of pain
Her caresses warm and penetrating she loves the black boy
His existence predestined to be one of no remorse compassion
But the love he gives (a doxology for her)
He praises and cares for what he can never be
There's such purity in a love that is essential to the loving of one's self
The song [untitled] by Me'Shell Ndegéocello is a tribute to the blackness and beauty of a woman who loves a black boy unconditionally. With the opening lyrics, "Her blackness is fine, the blackness of her skin the blackness of her mind," the singer is showing admiration for the black woman and her color, stating that her beauty cannot be measured through the standards of a colonized mind. The use of the word 'fine' is meant to emphasize that her blackness is not only beautiful but also perfect. The songwriter uses vivid imagery to paint the picture of a woman who is not bound by societal conventions of beauty, describing her as having features that are 'unblemished' and 'broad and striking.'
The love between the black boy and black woman is portrayed as a pure and essential love in the song. The black boy faces a predestined world of pain, with no promise of equality or compassion. Still, the woman loves him without reservations, cradling him with her large hands and offering her warm and penetrating caresses. The love the boy gives her is a doxology, a hymn of praise and care for what he can never be. In this love that is essential to the loving of one's self, there is a purity that transcends the societal divides of black and white.
Line by Line Meaning
Her blackness is fine, the blackness of her skin the blackness of her mind
Her beauty cannot be measured with standards of a colonized mind
Darker than blue darker than her blackness
Unblemished her features broad and striking
She cradles his body with her large hands
Her fingers stretch endlessly into his world of pain
Her caresses warm and penetrating she loves the black boy
His existence predestined to be one of no remorse compassion or the delusion of equality
But the love he gives (a doxology for her)
He praises and cares for what he can never be
There's such purity in a love that is essential to the loving of one's self
Her love for him is a reflection of her own self-love and acceptance of her blackness
Contributed by Connor S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Silenius32
She opened my musical eyes with Plantation Lullabies back in the days with a complete fresh take on Funk, Hip Hop, Soul, Jazz and Urban music.
Its still beyond words after 30 years - her music still has these multi-layered roots from different genres, and they still melt together to create something truly unique! Amazing!! 😍
Gloria Webster
Indeed. ❤️🖤💚
tfomah
Meshell never stops to surprise with her vocals, arrangements and overall artistic mastery. When you put on her album to listen to, you actually listen to the whole lot without skipping a single track. ❤️ ❤ her to bits❤❤.
Keonti Toney
Meshell was always woke.... love her❤❤❤ theres some freeing about her artistry....uninhibited ... no trends, no following what tha music is suppose to feel like❤❤❤❤
Phil mole
Yes, you said that perfectly.
Netm8kr
Eternal Luv for Meshell. My soul smiles every time I experience her creations. ✊🏾😘❤️
M1K3DUB
One of the most brilliant and creative musicians I have ever heard. She is so under rated it’s not even funny. Thank you for all the years of outstanding music. Great job to the band also, can’t wait to hear more.🤘🏽
Melvin grier
Syncopated rhythm, vocals, and bass lines are pure genius!!!
Irrationally Exuberant TV
She just keeps getting better. Unreal. That band is so totally locked in, it’s magic.
tarotaskbackwords
Why dont we have this on the album? Makes me wonder how many more gems there are unreleased from this project