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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Dead nigga blvd. part 1
Me'Shell Ndegéocello Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Slave to the dead white leaders on paper
Welfare cases, rapists and hoes
All reinforced by your TV show
Exotic and beautiful videos
Yeah, a jail's a sanctuary for the walking dead
Fucks with your head when every black leader ends up dead
But white is not pure and hate is not pride
Just 'cause civil rights is law doesn't mean that we all abide
Tell me are you free? Campaign for every dead nigga boulevard
So y'all young motherfuckers can drive down it in your fancy cars
Free, try to hold on to some Africa of the past
One must remember it's other Africans that helped enslave your ass
Everybody's just trying to make that dollar
Remember what Jesse used to say? I am somebody
No longer do I blame others for the way that we be
'Cause niggas need to redefine what it means to be free
I can't even tell my brothers and sisters that they're fine
This absence of beauty in their heart and mind
Stopped breastfeeding the child, you put 'em on the cow
And now you wonder why they act wild
You see brown folks are the keepers of the earth
Unifiers of the soul and mind
Not these wannabe gaudy pimps and thugs
Wearing diamond watches from African slave mines
Perhaps to be free is to all love those who hate me
And die a beautiful death and make pretty brown babies
Campaign for every dead nigga boulevard
So y'all young motherfuckers can drive down it in your fancy cars
Try to hold on to some Africa of the past
One must remember it's other Africans that helped enslave your ass
Everybody's trying to make that dollar
Remember what Jesse used to say? I am somebody
No longer do I blame others for the way that we be
Niggas need to redefine what it means to be free
Campaign for every dead nigga boulevard
So y'all young motherfuckers can drive down it in your fancy cars
Try to hold on to some Africa of the past
One must remember it's other Africans that helped enslave your ass
Everybody's trying to make that dollar
Remember what Jesse used to say? I am somebody
No longer do I blame white folks for the way that we be
Niggas need to redefine what it means to be free
Understand young folks
When you put property rights ahead of human rights
Understand you're tampering with nature
That's right, you see, property rights is controlled by man
And human rights is controlled by nature
The song Dead Nigga Blvd. Part 1 by Me'Shell Ndegéocello is a strong critique of the treatment of African Americans in the United States. The first verse makes a metaphorical connection between selling one's soul and selling one's body, implying that African Americans have been forced to sacrifice their dignity and integrity for economic gain. The lyrics also refer to the way in which African Americans have been oppressed by white supremacy, with the dead white leaders on paper symbolizing the laws and institutions that uphold racial inequality. The song then goes on to criticize the stereotypes perpetuated by media depictions of African Americans, such as welfare cases, rapists, and hoes, and the way in which these images reinforce negative attitudes towards black people.
Throughout the song, Ndegéocello challenges the idea that African Americans have achieved equality simply because civil rights laws have been passed. Instead, she argues that racism is still prevalent and that true freedom is yet to be realized. By campaigning for every dead nigga boulevard, Ndegéocello is urging people to remember those who have died as a result of racism and to work towards a better future. The song also highlights the importance of embracing African heritage and culture, rather than denying or rejecting it, and finding a way to redefine what it means to be free.
Line by Line Meaning
You sell your soul like you sell a piece of ass
You give up your integrity for personal gain, just like objectifying yourself for money.
Slave to the dead white leaders on paper
You are obedient to the power of those who create the laws, even if those laws are unjust and perpetuate systemic racism.
Welfare cases, rapists and hoes
Society stereotypes and stigmatizes Black people as lazy, criminal, and sexually promiscuous.
All reinforced by your TV show
Media perpetuates these negative stereotypes with harmful and inaccurate portrayals of Black people.
Exotic and beautiful videos
The entertainment industry glamorizes Black culture without addressing the underlying social issues and inequities.
Yeah, a jail's a sanctuary for the walking dead
The prison system is not a solution to social problems; it just further marginalizes Black people and perpetuates a cycle of oppression.
Fucks with your head when every black leader ends up dead
The history of systemic racism and oppression has led to the assassination and marginalization of Black leaders who fought for change.
Somebody said, “Our greatest destiny is to become white”
Internalized racism has led some Black people to strive for white supremacy instead of fighting against it.
But white is not pure and hate is not pride
Being white does not guarantee purity or superiority, and pride built on hatred is destructive and misguided.
Just 'cause civil rights is law doesn't mean that we all abide
Although laws exist to protect the civil rights of Black people, systemic racism continues to be pervasive in society.
Tell me are you free? Campaign for every dead nigga boulevard
True freedom cannot be achieved until systemic racism is dismantled, and we must work to honor the memory of those who have died in the fight for justice.
So y'all young motherfuckers can drive down it in your fancy cars
We need to remember the struggle and sacrifice of those who have fought for our freedom, rather than perpetuating materialism and consumer culture.
Free, try to hold on to some Africa of the past
As we work towards justice in the present, we must also honor the rich cultural heritage and history of Africa.
One must remember it's other Africans that helped enslave your ass
Although colonialism and slavery were perpetuated by white people, there were also Black people involved in the slave trade and forced labor.
Everybody's just trying to make that dollar
Capitalism prioritizes money over people, perpetuating systemic poverty and oppression.
Remember what Jesse used to say? I am somebody
We need to remember our intrinsic worth and value as human beings, despite the systemic racism and oppression we face.
No longer do I blame others for the way that we be
Individual actions can contribute to systemic change, and we must take responsibility for our part in dismantling oppression.
'Cause niggas need to redefine what it means to be free
Freedom cannot be achieved within the confines of systemic oppression, and we must prioritize dismantling these systems to achieve true freedom.
I can't even tell my brothers and sisters that they're fine
Systemic mistreatment and oppression have caused self-doubt and mental health issues among Black people.
This absence of beauty in their heart and mind
The pervasive systemic racism and oppression can impact the self-worth and mental health of Black people.
Stopped breastfeeding the child, you put 'em on the cow
Society has moved away from natural, holistic practices in raising children, which can have negative impacts on their development.
And now you wonder why they act wild
Society blames Black people for their behavior without recognizing the systemic issues at play that contribute to their actions.
You see brown folks are the keepers of the earth
Black people have a unique and important connection to the environment and should be respected and valued as such.
Unifiers of the soul and mind
Black culture has historically been a source of community and healing, bringing people together and promoting mental health.
Not these wannabe gaudy pimps and thugs
The glamorization of materialism and status in some aspects of Black culture erodes the community and cultural values that are so essential.
Wearing diamond watches from African slave mines
Even the symbols of wealth and status in Black culture are tied to exploitation and oppression, perpetuating the cycle of systemic racism.
Perhaps to be free is to all love those who hate me
True freedom extends beyond just personal liberation but also the transformation of systemic hate and oppression in society.
And die a beautiful death and make pretty brown babies
True change requires sacrifice and shaping the future through the creation of new generations that embody freedom and justice.
Understand young folks
This is a call to the youth to understand the systemic issues at play and take action to dismantle them.
When you put property rights ahead of human rights
Prioritizing profit and the accumulation of wealth over the basic needs and rights of people perpetuates systemic exploitation and oppression.
Understand you're tampering with nature
This is a warning that prioritizing property rights over human rights is a fundamental violation of natural law.
That's right, you see, property rights is controlled by man
The power and control over property rights is within the human realm and is often used to exploit and oppress others.
And human rights is controlled by nature
Fundamental human rights are inherent and universal, and cannot be altered or controlled by human invention or law.
Contributed by Avery B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.