You don't have to be a Billboard-topping recording artist to gain respect from peers, critics and the music industry. Me'shell Ndegeocello has made music for over 15 years that has not always been a critical success.
This uncompromising singer and skilled bassist has continued to receive critical-acclaim for her innovative, genre-busting music. The bisexual singer has inspired many young artists and paved the way for the neo-soul movement that includes artists like D'Angelo, Erykah Badu, Maxwell, and newcomers Jill Scott, Bilal and Indie.Arie.
On her latest record "Comfort Woman," Ndegeocello shows off her sensual side with lyrics about love, sex and religion. Her socially conscious songs imply that revolution starts in the bedroom.
Born in the late 1960s in Berlin, Ndegeocello grew up in Washington, D.C. She started playing the club scene in the late '80s with Little Bennie and the Masters, and Rare Essence.
As a young artist, she was mentored by Prince and signed to Madonna's Maverick label, which gave her plenty of creative freedom. In 1993, her debut "Plantation Lullaby," was applauded by critics and received four Grammy nominations. The album was followed by "Peace Beyond Passion," "Bitter" and "Cookie: The Anthropological Mixtape."
From her home in Brooklyn, Ndegeocello tells Arjan, "I am excited about this album." It is a radical departure from her previous hip-hop infused "Cookie," an uncompromising look at love, sex, race and politics. It shows a gentler Ndegeocello, with love songs and musical arrangements from '60s psychedelic jazz, to reggae and down-home soul.
The soft-spoken Ndegeocello said, "I can't really explain how I came up with the idea for this album. I guess I was inspired by love for life and love for a person when I wrote this album."
One of the most outspoken songs on the album is "Fellowship," a look at the dangers of religion, with the lyrics, "Would you walk a righteous path without the promise of heaven, paradise streets paved in gold?"
Ndegeocello feels that song is particularly relevant in light of the current political turmoil after the war in Iraq. "Our leaders and Osama Bin Laden all claim to do the right thing in the name of God. I question that. I wonder if that God is worth the life of another human-being."
Ndegeocello finds it important to create at any given point in her career, and draws comparisons with visual artists. "A person I admire is Picasso. He was able in all stages of his life to continue to create," she says. "If I would not be able to create music, I would create art or something else. Perhaps cooking."
Article comments
1 - Eric Olsen
Great job Arjan, thanks! This is certainly an interesting paragraph:
"I am just a polyamorous, water-based carbon life form. I find myself being able to enjoy sex with both sexes, I am able to fall in love with both sexes and I love animals."
2 - m
Wasn't this originally in the Washington Blade?
3 - Lenore
I like this article about Ms. Ndegeocello and I agree with her about being labeled by the industry. It is a long political debate related to that but this is not the place. But I have enjoyed her music as a child and a an bisexual adult. To be boxed in by a sexual label limits peole from experiencing her talents.
4 - Lil' E.
This was a good article, I love her music, her style, she is different, she is unique, and doesn’t follow the crowd. In a way I am like her I can love a man and I can love a woman. I just love her name, it says, I am different, ladies and gentlemen show you luv for Me’ shell NdegeOcello
peace