View source for Meshell Ndegeocello

{{Short description|American musician (born 1968)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2020}}
{{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject Musicians -->
| name             = Meshell Ndegeocello
| image            = File:MeShell NdegeòCello (222557) (cropped).jpg
| alt              = Ndegeocello playing a bass guitar onstage
| caption          = Ndegeocello performing in 2016
| background       = solo_singer
| birth_name       = Michelle Lynn Johnson
| alias            = Meshell Suhaila Bashir-Shakur<br />Me'Shell Ndegéocello
| birth_date       = {{Birth date and age|mf=yes|1968|8|29}}
| birth_place      = [[Berlin]], Germany
| origin           = [[Washington, D.C.]], United States
| instrument       = Vocals, bass, keyboards, drums, guitar
| genre            = {{flat list |
*[[Funk]] 
*[[soul music|soul]] 
*[[neo soul]]
*[[jazz]] 
*[[hip hop music|hip hop]] 
*[[reggae]] 
*[[rock music|rock]]
* [[progressive soul]]<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Green|first=Tony|date=March 2002|magazine=[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]|page=129|title=Joi: Star Kity's Revenge (Universal)|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=w8s9P_S6njMC&pg=PA129|access-date=January 23, 2021|via=[[Google Books]]}}</ref>}}
| occupation       = Singer-songwriter, spoken word artist, musician
| years_active     = 1992{{ndash}}present
| label            = [[Maverick Records|Maverick]]/[[Reprise Records|Reprise]]/[[Warner Bros. Records|Warner Bros]], [[Shanachie Records|Shanachie]], [[EmArcy Records|EmArcy]], [[Decca Records|Decca]]/[[Universal Music Group|Universal]], [[Downtown Records|Mercer Street/Downtown]], [[Naïve (Naïve Records)|Naïve]], [[Blue Note Records|Blue Note]]
| associated_acts  = [[John Mellencamp]], [[Madonna]], [[Benson Taylor]], [[Chaka Khan]], [[Robert Glasper]]
| website          = {{URL|http://www.meshell.com}}
}}

'''Meshell Ndegeocello''' ({{IPAc-en|m|ɪ|ˈ|ʃ|ɛ|l|_|ən|ˌ|d|eɪ|g|eɪ|oʊ|ˈ|tʃ|ɛ|l|oʊ}} {{respell|mish|EL|_|ən|DAY|gay|oh|CHEL|oh}};<ref>{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SrQ3fPlYOHc|title=Meshell Ndegeocello on "First Look" with Don Was of Blue Note Records|publisher=[[Blue Note Records]] |date=2023-06-16 |accessdate=2023-07-18 |via=[[YouTube]]|time=00:00}}</ref> born '''Michelle Lynn Johnson''' on August 29, 1968) is an American singer-songwriter, poet, and bassist. She has gone by the name '''Meshell Suhaila Bashir-Shakur''' which is used as a writing credit on some of her mid-career work.<ref>{{cite web|last=Layman |first=Will |url=http://www.popmatters.com/music/reviews/n/ndegeocellomeshell-dance.shtml |title=Me'Shell Ndegeocello: The Spirit Music Jamia: Dance of the Infidels < PopMatters |publisher=Popmatters.com |access-date=July 18, 2011}}</ref> Her music incorporates a wide variety of influences, including [[funk]], [[Soul music|soul]], [[jazz]], [[Hip hop music|hip hop]], [[reggae]] and [[Rock music|rock]]. She has received significant critical acclaim throughout her career,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-oct-24-wk-pop24-story.html |title=Head, heart and soul |access-date=February 28, 2009 |last=Lecaro |first=Lena |date=October 24, 2002 |work=Los Angeles Times |pages=E–12}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rosebudus.com/rosebud/news/07-12.html |title=Grammy Nominations For J J Cale, Bettye LaVette and Meshell Ndegeocello – Just Announced |access-date=February 28, 2009 |date=December 6, 2007 |work=News, December 2007 |publisher=The Rosebud Agency |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081226231334/http://www.rosebudus.com/rosebud/news/07-12.html |archive-date=December 26, 2008 }}</ref> being nominated for 13 [[Grammy Awards]], and winning three.<ref>{{Cite web | title=Me'shell NdegeOcello {{!}} Artist {{!}} GRAMMY.com | url=https://www.grammy.com/artists/meshell-ndegeocello/5220 | access-date=2025-05-17 | website=www.grammy.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nyrock.com/worldbeat/08_2002/081402b.asp |title=Meshell Ndegeocello to Perform at 'You Rock My Soul' GMHC Benefit Concert at Carnegie Hall on November 11th |access-date=February 28, 2009 |date=August 14, 2002 |work=NY Rock |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090408043331/http://www.nyrock.com/worldbeat/08_2002/081402b.asp |archive-date=April 8, 2009}}</ref> She also has been credited for helping to "spark the [[neo soul|neo-soul]] movement".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eurweb.com/story/eur7644.cfm |title=Me'Shell Ndegeocello: One Tough "Cookie" |access-date=February 28, 2009 |last=Yarbrough |first=Kenya |date=August 9, 2002 |work=EURweb |publisher=Rabercom Enterprises |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090407004109/http://www.eurweb.com/story/eur7644.cfm |archive-date=April 7, 2009}}</ref>

==Biography==
Ndegeocello was born Michelle Lynn Johnson in [[West Berlin]], Germany, to US Army [[Sergeant Major]] and saxophonist father Jacques Johnson and health care worker mother Helen. She was raised in Washington, D.C., where she attended [[Duke Ellington School of the Arts]] and [[Oxon Hill High School]].

Ndegeocello adopted her surname, which she says means "free like a bird" in [[Swahili language|Swahili]]. Early pressings of ''[[Plantation Lullabies]]'' were affixed with stickers to help pronounce her name. The spelling has changed in the hands of record labels a few times during her career; the correct spelling of her stage name as of 2001 is ''Meshell Ndegeocello''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.freemyheart.com |title=FreeMyHeart.com |publisher=FreeMyHeart.com |date=March 3, 2001 |access-date=July 18, 2011}}</ref>

==Career==
[[File:MeShell NdegeòCello (222747).jpg|thumb|In 2016 at Cosmopolite Scene in Oslo]]
Ndegeocello honed her skills on the D.C. [[go-go]] circuit in the late 1980s with the bands Prophecy, Little Benny and the Masters, and [[Rare Essence]].<ref name="washingtonpost">{{Cite news|last = Wiltz|first=Teresa|title=Meshell Ndegeocello Breaks Step With Pop | newspaper = [[The Washington Post]]|pages=N01|date=June 19, 2005|url= https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/17/AR2005061700715_pf.html}}</ref> Going solo, she was one of the first artists to sign with [[Maverick Records]], where she released her debut album, ''[[Plantation Lullabies]]''. This recording presented a distinctly [[androgynous]] persona.

Her biggest hit is a [[duet]] with [[John Mellencamp]], a [[cover version]] of [[Van Morrison]]'s "[[Wild Night]]", which reached No. 3 on the ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' charts. Her only other [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] hit besides "[[Wild Night]]" has been her self-penned "[[If That's Your Boyfriend (He Wasn't Last Night)]]", which peaked at No. 73 in 1994. Also in 1994, Ndegeocello collaborated with [[Herbie Hancock]] on "Nocturnal Sunshine," a track for the [[Red Hot Organization]]'s compilation album, ''[[Stolen Moments: Red Hot + Cool]]''. The album, meant to raise awareness and funds in support of the AIDS epidemic in relation to the African American community, was heralded as "Album of the Year" by ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' magazine.

She had a No. 1 dance hit in 1996 with a [[Bill Withers]] [[cover song]] called "[[Who Is He (And What Is He to You)?]]" (briefly featured in the film ''[[Jerry Maguire]]'') as well as Dance Top 20 hits with "Earth", "[[Leviticus: Faggot]]", "Stay" and the aforementioned "If That's Your Boyfriend.. Last Night)". Ndegeocello played bass on the song "I'd Rather be Your Lover" for [[Madonna]] on her album ''[[Bedtime Stories (Madonna album)|Bedtime Stories]]''. Ndegeocello was also tapped, at the last minute, to perform spoken word on the same song. This came after Madonna and producers decided to remove [[Tupac Shakur]]'s rap (which he did while he and Madonna were dating in 1994), after he had criminal charges filed against him. Ndegeocello also performed spoken word on [[Chaka Khan]]'s single "[[Never Miss the Water]]", from the album ''[[Epiphany: The Best of Chaka Khan, Vol. 1]]'', released in 1996. The song reached No. 1 on Billboard's Dance Club Play Chart and No. 36 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles Chart.

Her music has been featured in a number of film soundtracks including ''[[How Stella Got Her Groove Back]]'', ''[[Lost & Delirious]]'', ''[[Batman & Robin (film)|Batman & Robin]]'', ''[[Love Jones (film)|Love Jones]]'', ''[[Love & Basketball (film)|Love & Basketball]]'', ''[[Talk to Me (1996 film)|Talk to Me]]'', ''[[Tyler Perry's Daddy's Little Girls]]'', ''[[The Best Man (1999 film)|The Best Man]]'', ''[[Higher Learning]]'', ''[[Down in the Delta]]'', ''[[The Hurricane (1999 film)|The Hurricane]]'', ''[[Noah's Arc: Jumping the Broom]]'', ''[[Soul Men]]'', and ''[[Biker Boyz]]''.

She has appeared on recordings by [[Basement Jaxx]], [[Indigo Girls]], [[Scritti Politti]], and [[The Blind Boys of Alabama]]. On [[The Rolling Stones]]' 1997 album ''[[Bridges to Babylon]]'' she plays bass on the song "[[Saint of Me]]". On [[Alanis Morissette]]'s 2002 album ''[[Under Rug Swept]]'', she plays bass on the songs "[[So Unsexy]]" and "You Owe Me Nothing in Return". Also that year, she appeared on [[Gov’t Mule]]’s record ''[[The Deep End, Volume 2]]'', playing on a cover of The [[Staple Singers]]’ song "Hammer and Nails".  And in 2009, she appeared on [[Zap Mama]]'s album ''ReCreation'', playing bass on the song "African Diamond".

She can also be seen in the documentary ''[[Standing in the Shadows of Motown (film)|Standing in the Shadows of Motown]]'', singing [[The Miracles]]' "[[You've Really Got a Hold on Me]]" and [[The Temptations]]' "[[Cloud Nine (The Temptations song)|Cloud Nine]]". In the late 1990s, she toured with [[Lilith Fair]]. She also did a remake of the song "[[Two Doors Down (Dolly Parton song)|Two Doors Down]]" on the 2003 release ''[[Just Because I'm a Woman: Songs of Dolly Parton]]''.

Ndegeocello was also a judge for The 2nd, 12th, 13 and the 2015 14th Annual Independent Music Awards to support independent artists' careers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.independentmusicawards.com/ima_new/pastjudges.asp |title=Past Judges |publisher=Independent Music Awards |access-date=July 18, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713024722/http://www.independentmusicawards.com/ima_new/pastjudges.asp |archive-date=July 13, 2011 }}</ref>

Her song "Tie One On" was chosen as the [[Starbucks]] [[iTunes]] Pick of the Week on February 23, 2010.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Heringer |title=Starbucks iTunes Pick of the Week – Meshell Ndegeocello – Tie One On |url=https://www.mark-heringer.com/2010/02/starbucks-itunes-pick-of-week-meshell.html |website=Mark-heringer.com|access-date=2022-08-04 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Heringer |title=Starbucks iTunes Pick of the Week list |url=https://www.mark-heringer.com/2008/04/starbucks-itunes-pick-of-week-list.html|website=Mark-heringer.com |access-date=2022-04-12 |language=en}}</ref>

In 2016, she provided the theme song, "Nova", for the [[Oprah Winfrey]]-produced show ''[[Queen Sugar]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.what-song.com/Tvshow/187/Queen-Sugar |title=Queen Sugar Soundtrack |website=What-song.com |access-date=November 23, 2016}}</ref> She also collaborated with French-Cuban duo [[Ibeyi]] in the song "Transmission/Michaelion" for the album ''[[Ash (album)|Ash]]'' reciting a poem by [[Frida Kahlo]].

In December 2016, the world premiere of Ndegeocello's ''[[Can I Get a Witness? The Gospel of James Baldwin]]'', a new theatrical music and art work, was held in Harlem, New York.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://thestagereview.net/2016/11/29/harlem-stage-present-world-premiere-meshell-ndegeocellos-can-get-witness-gospel-james-baldwin-december-7-11/|publisher=The Stage Review|date=November 29, 2016|title=Harlem Stage to present the world premiere of Meshell Ndegeocello's 'Can I Get a Witness? The Gospel of James Baldwin,' December 7–11}}</ref>

In June 2021, [[The Beatles Channel]] on [[Sirius XM Radio]] began broadcasting ''A Shot of Rhythm and Blues: Exploring The Beatles and Black Music'', a four-part series hosted by Ndegeocello.<ref name="AP 2021">{{cite web|url=https://apnews.com/article/data-privacy-race-and-ethnicity-technology-business-music-3d9352ad2c927cd8cd03ff0bd6b9c601|title=Celebrate Black Music Month on SiriusXM, Pandora, and Stitcher with Exclusive Music Channels, Streaming Stations, and an Original Podcast|author=[[PR Newswire]]|date=June 1, 2021|website=[[Associated Press]]|access-date=June 8, 2021}}</ref><ref name="TheBeatles.com 2021">{{cite web|url=https://www.thebeatles.com/news/%E2%80%9C-shot-rhythm-and-blues-exploring-beatles-and-black-music%E2%80%9D-beatles-channel|title="A Shot of Rhythm and Blues: Exploring The Beatles and Black Music" on The Beatles Channel|website=TheBeatles.com|access-date=June 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210609030013/https://www.thebeatles.com/news/%E2%80%9C-shot-rhythm-and-blues-exploring-beatles-and-black-music%E2%80%9D-beatles-channel|archive-date=June 9, 2021|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="SiriusXM 2021">{{cite web|url=https://blog.siriusxm.com/explore-connection-between-the-beatles-black-music-during-a-new-series/|title=Explore the connection between The Beatles & Black music during a new SiriusXM series|date=June 7, 2021|website=[[Sirius XM]]|access-date=June 8, 2021}}</ref> The series explores the relationship between the English rock band [[the Beatles]] and the black musicians that inspired them.<ref name="AP 2021" /><ref name="TheBeatles.com 2021" /><ref name="SiriusXM 2021" />

Ndegeocello joined the [[Blue Note Records|Blue Note]] label with the debut release of her 13th studio album ''[[The Omnichord Real Book]]'' (2023). The title refers to a set of lead sheets from songs from funk, soul, gospel and more influenced by her father as if a compilation of standards like a [[Real Book|real book]] in jazz repertoire.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-06-12 |title=Album: Meshell Ndegeocello – The Omnichord Real Book |url=https://theartsdesk.com/new-music/album-meshell-ndegeocello-omnichord-real-book |access-date=2023-06-12 |website=Theartsdesk.com |language=en}}</ref>

==Activism==
In 2002, Ndegeocello collaborated with [[Yerba Buena (band)|Yerba Buena]] on a track featuring Ron Black for the [[Red Hot Organization]]'s tribute album to [[Fela Kuti]], ''[[Red Hot and Riot]]''. Proceeds from the album went to various [[HIV/AIDS|AIDS]] charities, per the Red Hot Organization's mission.

In June 2010, she contributed a cover of [[U2]]'s "[[40 (song)|40]]" to the [[Enough Project]] and [[Downtown Records]]' ''Raise Hope for Congo'' compilation. Proceeds from the compilation fund efforts to make the protection and empowerment of Congo's women a priority, as well as inspire individuals around the world to raise their voice for peace in Congo.

In 2010, Ndegeocello contributed to the essay anthology ''[[It Gets Better: Coming Out, Overcoming Bullying, and Creating a Life Worth Living]]'', edited by [[Dan Savage]] and Terry Miller in the vein of the [[It Gets Better Project]].

==Personal life==
Ndegeocello is [[bisexual]] and previously had a relationship with feminist author [[Rebecca Walker]]. Ndegeocello's first son was born in 1989.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.houseofnubian.com/Meshell-Ndegeocello.aspx|title=Celebrities-Meshell Ndegeocello |publisher=Houses of Nubian |date=June 10, 2025 |access-date=June 10, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Zwerin |first=Mike |url=http://www.iht.com/articles/1994/02/23/meshell.php |title=Me'Shell - Debut on Madonna Label - NYTimes.com |publisher=International Herald Tribune |date=February 23, 1994 |access-date=July 18, 2011}}</ref> He provides backing vocals along with his classmates (credited as The Aeroplane Kids) on the hit song "[[Aeroplane (song)|Aeroplane]]" by [[Red Hot Chili Peppers]] from their 1995 album ''[[One Hot Minute]]''. He was classmates with bassist [[Flea (musician)|Flea]]'s daughter.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rhcplivearchive.com/album/one-hot-minute-6|title=One Hot Minute |publisher=Houses of Nubian |date=June 10, 2025 |access-date=June 10, 2025}}</ref>

Since 2005, Ndegeocello has been married to Alison Riley, with whom she has a second son.<ref>{{cite web|last=DiGuglielmo |first=Joey |url=http://www.washingtonblade.com/2011/11/10/meshell%E2%80%99s-magic/ |title=Meshell's magic |publisher=Washington Blade |date=November 10, 2011 |access-date=July 10, 2014}}</ref>

==Awards and nominations==
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|-
! scope="col" | Award
! scope="col" | Year
! scope="col" | Nominee(s)
! scope="col" | Category
! scope="col" | Result
! scope="col" class="unsortable"| {{Abbr|Ref.|References}}
|-
!scope="row"|[[Billboard Music Awards|Billboard Music Video Awards]]
| 1994
| "[[If That's Your Boyfriend (He Wasn't Last Night)]]"
| Best R&B/Urban Clip New Artist
| {{won}}
| <ref>{{cite web | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZggEAAAAMBAJ | title=Billboard|website=Books.google.com | date=November 19, 1994 }}</ref>
|-
!scope="row" rowspan=3|[[Cashbox (magazine)|Cash Box Year-End Awards]]
| rowspan=3|1994
| rowspan=2|Herself
| Urban Singles: Top Rap Female Artist
| {{nom}}
| rowspan=3|<ref>{{Cite web| title=Year End '94 | url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/90s/1994/CB-1994-12-31.pdf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200812061102/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/90s/1994/CB-1994-12-31.pdf | archive-date=2020-08-12}}</ref>
|-
| Urban Singles: Top New Rap Female Artist
| {{nom}}
|-
| "[[Wild Night]]"
| Top Pop Single
| {{nom}}
|-
! scope="row" rowspan=4|[[GLAAD Media Awards]]
| 1997
| "[[Leviticus: Faggot]]"
| [[GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Music Artist|Outstanding Music Song]]
| {{won}}
| <ref>{{Cite web | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030729105533/http://www.qrd.org/qrd/orgs/GLAAD/general.information/media.awards-1997 | url=http://www.qrd.org/qrd/orgs/GLAAD/general.information/media.awards-1997 | archive-date=2003-07-29 | title=GLAAD announces nominees of 1997 media awards}}</ref>
|-
| 2000
| ''[[Bitter (Meshell Ndegeocello album)|Bitter]]''
| rowspan=3|[[GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Music Artist|Outstanding Music Artist]]
| {{nom}}
| <ref>{{cite web | url=https://variety.com/2000/film/news/glaad-noms-announced-1117760955/ | title=GLAAD noms announced|website=Variety.com | date=January 18, 2000 }}</ref>
|-
| [[14th GLAAD Media Awards|2003]]
| ''[[Cookie: The Anthropological Mixtape]]''
| {{nom}}
| <ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.playbill.com/news/article/78866.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030504230703/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/78866.html | archive-date=May 4, 2003 | title=Playbill News: 14th Annual GLAAD Media Award Winners Include the Goat and Zanna, Don't!}}</ref>
|-
| [[15th GLAAD Media Awards|2004]]
| ''[[Comfort Woman (album)|Comfort Woman]]''
| {{nom}}
| <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.playbill.com/news/article/83183-15th-Annual-GLAAD-Media-Award-Nominees-Include-Avenue-Q-Taboo-and-Angels-in-America-Cherry-Jones-a-Special-Honoree|title=15th Annual GLAAD Media Award Nominees Include Avenue Q, Taboo and Angels in America; Cherry Jones a Special Honoree|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018185907/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/83183-15th-Annual-GLAAD-Media-Award-Nominees-Include-Avenue-Q-Taboo-and-Angels-in-America-Cherry-Jones-a-Special-Honoree |access-date=April 12, 2024|archive-date=October 18, 2012 }}</ref>
|-
!scope="row" rowspan=13|[[Grammy Awards]]
| rowspan=4|[[1995 Grammy Awards|1995]]
| ''[[Plantation Lullabies]]''
| [[Best R&B Album]]
| {{nom}}
| rowspan=11|<ref name="meshell-grammies">{{Cite web|url=https://grammy.com/artists/meshell-ndegeocello/5220|title=Me'shell Ndegeocello &#124; Artist |website=Grammy.com}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan=2|"[[If That's Your Boyfriend (He Wasn't Last Night)]]"
| [[Best R&B Song]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Best Female R&B Vocal Performance]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| "[[Wild Night]]" <small>(with [[John Mellencamp]])</small>
| [[Grammy Award for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals|Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan=2|[[1997 Grammy Awards|1997]]
| ''[[Peace Beyond Passion]]''
| [[Best R&B Album]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| "Never Miss the Water" <small>(with [[Chaka Khan]])</small>
| [[Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals|Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[2003 Grammy Awards|2003]]
| ''[[Cookie: The Anthropological Mixtape]]''
| [[Best Contemporary R&B Album]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[2006 Grammy Awards|2006]]
| ''[[The Spirit Music Jamia: Dance of the Infidel]]''
| [[Best Contemporary Jazz Album]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[2008 Grammy Awards|2008]]
| "[[Fantasy (Earth, Wind & Fire song)|Fantasy]]"
| [[Best Urban/Alternative Performance]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[2019 Grammy Awards|2019]]
| ''[[Ventriloquism (album)|Ventriloquism]]''
| [[Best Urban Contemporary Album]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[2021 Grammy Awards|2021]]
| "Better Than I Imagined"<ref>From [[Robert Glasper]]'s ''[[Black Radio III]]'' featuring [[H.E.R.]] alongside Ndegeocello.</ref>
| [[Best R&B Song]]
| {{won}}
|-
| [[2024 Grammy Awards|2024]]
| ''[[The Omnichord Real Book]]''
| [[Best Alternative Jazz Album]]
| {{won}}
| <ref name="meshell-grammies"/>
|-
| [[2025 Grammy Awards|2025]]
| ''[[No More Water: The Gospel of James Baldwin]]''
| [[Best Alternative Jazz Album]]
| {{won}}
| <ref name="meshell-grammies" />
|-
!scope="row" rowspan=2|[[MTV Video Music Awards]]
| rowspan=2|[[1994 MTV Video Music Awards|1994]]
| rowspan=2|"[[If That's Your Boyfriend (He Wasn't Last Night)]]"
| [[MTV Video Music Award for Best Female Video|Best Female Video]]
| {{nom}}
| rowspan=2|<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.imdb.com/event/ev0003172/1994/1/ | title=MTV Video Music Awards (VMA) (1994) | website=[[IMDb]] }}</ref>
|-
| [[MTV Video Music Award for Best New Artist|Best New Artist]]
| {{nom}}
|-
!scope="row" rowspan=2|[[Soul Train Music Awards]]
| [[1995 Soul Train Music Awards|1995]]
| ''[[Plantation Lullabies]]''
| rowspan=2|[[Soul Train Music Award for Best R&B/Soul Album – Female|Best R&B/Soul Album – Female]]
| {{nom}}
| <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.imdb.com/event/ev0005174/1995/1/?ref_=ev_eh | title=Soul Train Awards (1995) | website=[[IMDb]] }}</ref>
|-
| [[1997 Soul Train Music Awards|1997]]
| ''[[Peace Beyond Passion]]''
| {{nom}}
| <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.imdb.com/event/ev0005174/1997/1/?ref_=ev_eh | title=Soul Train Awards (1997) | website=[[IMDb]] }}</ref>
{{end}}

==Discography==
===Albums===
{|class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1"
|-
!scope="col" rowspan="2"|Year
!scope="col" rowspan="2"|Album
!scope="colgroup" colspan="8"|Chart positions
|- style="font-size:smaller;"
!scope="col"| [[Billboard 200|US]]<br /><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/meshell-ndegeocello-2/chart-history/tlp/|title=Meshell Ndegeocello: US|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|access-date=September 6, 2021}}</ref>
!scope="col"| [[Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums|US<br />R&B]]<br /><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/meshell-ndegeocello-2/chart-history/blp/|title=Meshell Ndegeocello: US R&B|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|access-date=September 6, 2021}}</ref>
!scope="col"| [[Billboard charts|US<br />Jazz]]<br /><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/meshell-ndegeocello-2/chart-history/jls/|title=Meshell Ndegeocello: US Jazz|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|access-date=September 6, 2021}}</ref>
!scope="col"| [[ARIA Charts|AUS]]<br /><ref name="australian">Peaks in Australia:
* ''Peace Beyond Passion'' and "Wild Night": {{cite web|url=https://australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Me%27Shell+Ndeg%E9Ocello&titel=Peace+Beyond+Passion&cat=a|website=Australiancharts.com|title=Me'shell Ndegéocello – Peace Beyond Passion (Album)|access-date=October 10, 2021}}
* ''Plantation Lullabies'' and "If That's Your Boyfriend (He Wasn't Last Night)": {{cite Ryan|page=199}}</ref>
!scope="col"| [[Ultratop|BEL]]<br /><ref name="BEL">{{cite web|url=https://www.ultratop.be/nl/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Meshell+Ndeg%E9ocello#charts|title=Meshell Ndegeocello: Belgium|website=[[Ultratop]]|access-date=September 6, 2021}}</ref>
!scope="col"| [[Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique|FRA]]<br /><ref name="FRA">{{cite web | url=https://lescharts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Meshell+Ndeg%E9ocello|title=Discographie Meshell Ndegeocello|website=Lescharts.com|publisher=Hung Medien|access-date=April 20, 2022|language=fr}}</ref>
!scope="col"| [[Swiss Hitparade|SWI]]<br /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://hitparade.ch/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Meshell+Ndeg%E9ocello#charts|title=Discographie Meshell Ndegeocello|website=[[Swiss Hitparade]]|access-date=March 11, 2022}}</ref>
!scope="col"| [[UK Singles Chart|UK]]<br /><ref name="UK">{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/29621/meshell-ndegeocello/|title=Meshell Ndegeocello: UK|website=[[Official Charts Company]]|date=February 12, 1994 |access-date=September 6, 2021}}</ref>
|-
| 1993
!scope="row" align="left"| ''[[Plantation Lullabies]]''
| 166
| 35
| —
| 100
| —
| —
| —
| —
|-
| 1996
!scope="row" align="left"| ''[[Peace Beyond Passion]]''
| 63
| 15
| —
| 30
| —
| —
| 46
| 100
|-
| 1999
!scope="row" align="left"| ''[[Bitter (Meshell Ndegeocello album)|Bitter]]''
| 105
| 40
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
|-
| 2002
!scope="row" align="left"| ''[[Cookie: The Anthropological Mixtape]]''
| 67
| 21
| —
|—
| —
| —
| —
| —
|-
| 2003
!scope="row" align="left"| ''[[Comfort Woman (album)|Comfort Woman]]''
| 150
| 43
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
|-
| 2005
!scope="row" align="left"| ''[[The Spirit Music Jamia: Dance of the Infidel]]''
| —
| —
| 9
| —
| —
| 127
| —
| —
|-
| 2007
!scope="row" align="left"| ''[[The World Has Made Me the Man of My Dreams]]''
| 186
| 60
| —
| —
| —
| 92
| —
| —
|-
| 2009
!scope="row" align="left"| ''[[Devil's Halo]]''
| 185
| 64
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
|-
| 2011
!scope="row" align="left"| ''[[Weather (Meshell Ndegeocello album)|Weather]]''
| —
| 37
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
|-
| 2012
!scope="row" align="left"| ''[[Pour une Âme Souveraine: A Dedication to Nina Simone]]''
| —
| 46
| —
| —
| 190
| 117
| —
| —
|-
| 2014
!scope="row" align="left"| ''[[Comet, Come to Me]]''
| 161
| 22
| —
| —
| 194
| —
| —
| —
|-
| 2018
!scope="row" align="left"| ''[[Ventriloquism (album)|Ventriloquism]]''
| —
| —
| —
| —
| 86
| —
| 62
| —
|-
| 2023
!scope="row" align="left"| ''[[The Omnichord Real Book]]''
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
|-
| 2024
!scope="row" align="left"| ''[[No More Water: The Gospel of James Baldwin]]''
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| 67
| —
|}

===Singles===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Year
! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Title
! scope="col" colspan="5"| Chart positions
! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Album
|- style="font-size:smaller;"
! scope="col" width="35"| [[Bubbling Under Hot 100|US]]<br /><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/meshell-ndegeocello-2/chart-history/hsi/|title=Meshell Ndegeocello: US|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|accessdate=September 6, 2021}}</ref>
! scope="col" width="35"| [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|US<br />R&B]]<br /><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/meshell-ndegeocello-2/chart-history/bsi/|title=Meshell Ndegeocello: US R&B|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|accessdate=September 6, 2021}}</ref>
! scope="col" width="35"| [[Dance Club Songs|US<br />Dance]]<br /><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/meshell-ndegeocello-2/chart-history/dsi/|title=Meshell Ndegeocello: US Dance|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|accessdate=September 6, 2021}}</ref>
! scope="col" width="35"| [[ARIA Charts|AUS]]<br /><ref name="ARIA Chart">{{cite web|url=https://imgur.com/a/4qZUdll |title=Me’Shell Ndegeocello ARIA Chart history (singles) to May 2025 |publisher=ARIA|via=Imgur.com|access-date= June 17, 2025}} N.B. The High Point number in the NAT column represents the release's peak on the national chart.</ref>
! scope="col" width="35"| [[UK Singles Chart|UK]]<br /><ref name="UK"/>
|-
| rowspan="3"|1993
| align="left"| "Dred Loc"
| —
| 86
| —
| 134
| —
| rowspan="4" |''Plantation Lullabies''
|-
| align="left"| "[[If That's Your Boyfriend (He Wasn't Last Night)]]"
| 73
| 20
| 23
| 79
| 74
|-
| align="left"| "Outside Your Door"
| 113
| 41
| —
| 149
| —
|-
| rowspan="2"|1994
| align="left"| "Call Me"
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
|-
| align="left"| "[[Wild Night]]"<br /> <small>(with [[John Mellencamp]])</small>
| 3
| —
| —
| 18
| 34
|''[[Dance Naked]]'' ([[John Mellencamp discography|John Mellencamp]])
|-
| rowspan="3"|1996
| align="left"| "[[Who Is He (And What Is He to You)?|Who Is He and What Is He to You]]"
| —
| 34
| 1
| 115
| 80
| rowspan="2" |''Peace Beyond Passion''
|-
| align="left"| "[[Leviticus: Faggot]]"
| —
| —
| 15
| —
| —
|-
| align="left"| "Never Miss the Water" <small>(with [[Chaka Khan]])</small>
| 102
| 36
| 1
| —
| 59
| {{Non-album single}}
|-
| 1997
| align="left"| "Stay"
| —
| 67
| 15
| —
| —
|''Peace Beyond Passion''
|-
| 1999
| align="left"| "Grace"
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
|''Bitter''
|-
| rowspan="2"|2002
| align="left"| "Pocketbook"<br /><small>(featuring [[Missy Elliott]], [[Tweet (singer)|Tweet]] and [[Redman (rapper)|Redman]])</small>
| —
| 116
| —
| —
| —
| rowspan="2" |''Cookie: The Anthropological Mixtape''
|-
| align="left"| "Earth"
| —
| —
| 29
| —
| —
|-
| rowspan=2|2006
| align="left"| ''The Article 3'' (EP)
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| rowspan=2 {{Non-album singles}}
|-
| align="left"| ''Exit Music – Songs with Radio Heads EP 2''
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
|-
| 2007
| align="left"| "Lovely Lovely"
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
|''The World Has Made Me the Man of My Dreams''
|-
| 2014
| align="left"| "Conviction"
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| ''Comet, Come to Me''
|-
| rowspan=3| 2018
| align="left"| "[[Tender Love]]"
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| rowspan=3| ''Ventriloquism''
|-
| align="left"| "[[Sometimes It Snows in April]]"
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
|-
| align="left"| "[[Waterfalls (TLC song)|Waterfalls]]"
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
|-
| 2019
| align="left"| "True Vine"<br />{{small|(featuring Justin Hicks and Kenita Miller)}}
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| {{Non-album single}}
|-
| rowspan=4| 2023
| align="left"| "Virgo"
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| rowspan=4| ''The Omnichord Real Book''
|-
| align="left"| "Vuma"<br />{{small|(featuring Thandiswa and [[Joel Ross (vibraphonist)|Joel Ross]])}}
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
|-
| align="left"| "The 5th Dimension"<br />{{small|(featuring the HawtPlates)}}
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
|-
| align="left"| "Clear Water"<br />{{small|(featuring [[Deantoni Parks]], [[Jeff Parker (musician)|Jeff Parker]], and [[Sanford Biggers]])}}
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
|-
| colspan="12" style="font-size: 85%"|"—" denotes a release that did not chart.
|}

===Other appearances===
*1994 – [[Madonna]], ''[[Bedtime Stories (Madonna album)|Bedtime Stories]]'': "I'd Rather Be Your Lover" ([[Maverick Records|Maverick]]/[[Sire Records|Sire]]/[[Warner Bros. Records|Warner Bros.]])
*1994 – ''[[Stolen Moments: Red Hot + Cool]]'': "Nocturnal Sunshine" with [[Herbie Hancock]]
*1995 – ''[[Higher Learning (soundtrack)]]'': "Soul Searchin' (I Wanna Know If It's Mine)" ([[Epic Records|Epic]])
*1995 – ''[[Jazzmatazz, Vol. 2: The New Reality]]'': "For You" with [[Guru (rapper)|Guru]] (Chrysalis)
*1995 – ''[[White Man's Burden (soundtrack)|White Man's Burden]]'': "Time Has Come Today" (Chrysalis)
*1995 – ''[[Panther (soundtrack)]]'': "[[Freedom (Theme from Panther)|Freedom (Theme)]]" (Mercury)
*1997 – ''[[Love Jones (soundtrack)]]'': "Rush Over" with [[Marcus Miller]] (Columbia)
*1997 – ''[[Money Talks (soundtrack)]]'': "The Teaching" (Arista)
*1997 – ''[[Batman & Robin (soundtrack)]]'': "Poison Ivy" (Warner Bros.)
*1997 – [[Queen Pen]], ''[[My Melody (Queen Pen album)|My Melody]]'': "Girlfriend"  (Interscope)
*1998 – ''[[How Stella Got Her Groove Back (soundtrack)]]'': "Let Me Have You" (Flyte Tyme/MCA)
*1998 – ''[[Down in the Delta#Soundtrack|Down in the Delta (soundtrack)]]'': "My Soul Don't Dream" (Virgin)
*1999 – [[Scritti Politti]], ''[[Anomie & Bonhomie]]'': "Die Alone" (Virgin)
*1999 – ''[[The Best Man (1999 film)#Soundtrack|The Best Man (soundtrack)]]'': "Untitled" (Sony)
*1999 – [[Eric Benét]], ''A Day in the Life'': "Ghetto Girl" (Warner Bros.)
*2000 – ''[[Love & Basketball (soundtrack)]]'': "Fool of Me" (New Line)
*2002 – [[Gov’t Mule]], ''[[The Deep End, Volume 2]]'': "Hammer & Nails" (Ato)
*2003 – [[The Blind Boys of Alabama]], ''[[Go Tell It on the Mountain (album)|Go Tell It on the Mountain]]'':  "Oh Come All Ye Faithful", vocals and piano (Real World)
*2005 – [[Joshua Redman]], ''[[Momentum (Joshua Redman album)|Momentum]]'': "Greasy G", bass (Nonesuch)
*2007 – ''[[Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur]]'': "[[Imagine (John Lennon song)|Imagine]]" by [[John Lennon]] (Warner Bros.)
*2007 – ''[[Talk to Me (2007 film)|Talk to Me]]'' (soundtrack): "Compared to What" with [[Terence Blanchard]] ([[Atlantic Records|Atlantic]])
*2012 – [[Robert Glasper Experiment]], ''[[Black Radio]]'': "The Consequences of Jealousy"
*2014 – [[Jason Moran (musician)|Jason Moran]], ''[[All Rise: A Joyful Elegy for Fats Waller]]'': producer with [[Don Was]], and vocals (Blue Note)
*2020 – [[Pat Metheny]], ''[[From This Place]]'': "From This Place" (Nonesuch)
*2022 – [[Antonio Sánchez (drummer)|Antonio Sanchez]], ''SHIFT (Bad Hombre Vol. II)'':  "Comet, Come to Me" (Warner Bros.)
*2022 – [[Robert Glasper]], ''[[Black Radio III]]'': "Better Than I Imagined" with [[H.E.R.]] (Lomo Vista)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== Further reading ==
*{{Cite news |last=Morris |first=Wesley |date=2024-08-01 |title=Meshell Ndegeocello Could Have Had Stardom but Chose Music Instead |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/01/arts/music/meshell-ndegeocello-james-baldwin.html |access-date=2024-08-12 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |url-access=subscription}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*{{official website}}
*{{AllMusic}}
*{{discogs artist}}
*{{MusicBrainz artist}}
*[http://www.maximumfun.org/blog/2009/01/meshell-ndegeocello-revolutionary-soul.html Extensive audio interview] on ''[[The Sound of Young America]]''

{{Meshell Ndegeocello|state=expanded}}
{{Grammy Award for Best R&B Song}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ndegeocello, Meshell}}
[[Category:1968 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:African-American women rappers]]
[[Category:African-American rappers]]
[[Category:African-American women singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:American women singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:African-American guitarists]]
[[Category:American contraltos]]
[[Category:20th-century American women guitarists]]
[[Category:American funk bass guitarists]]
[[Category:American funk singers]]
[[Category:American hip-hop musicians]]
[[Category:American jazz bass guitarists]]
[[Category:American jazz singers]]
[[Category:American multi-instrumentalists]]
[[Category:American reggae musicians]]
[[Category:American rhythm and blues bass guitarists]]
[[Category:American rhythm and blues singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:American rock bass guitarists]]
[[Category:American women rock singers]]
[[Category:Bisexual feminists]]
[[Category:Bisexual singers]]
[[Category:Bisexual songwriters]]
[[Category:Bisexual women musicians]]
[[Category:EmArcy Records artists]]
[[Category:GLAAD Media Awards winners]]
[[Category:Grammy Award winners]]
[[Category:Progressive soul musicians]]
[[Category:American women bass guitarists]]
[[Category:American LGBTQ singers]]
[[Category:American LGBTQ songwriters]]
[[Category:African-American LGBTQ people]]
[[Category:American neo soul singers]]
[[Category:Musicians from Berlin]]
[[Category:Maverick Records artists]]
[[Category:American LGBTQ rights activists]]
[[Category:American LGBTQ rappers]]
[[Category:Guitarists from Washington, D.C.]]
[[Category:20th-century American bass guitarists]]
[[Category:21st-century American rappers]]
[[Category:Naïve Records artists]]
[[Category:Shanachie Records artists]]
[[Category:20th-century American LGBTQ people]]
[[Category:21st-century American LGBTQ people]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American women singers]]
[[Category:20th-century American women singers]]
[[Category:20th-century American singers]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American women singers]]
[[Category:21st-century American women singers]]
[[Category:Singer-songwriters from Washington, D.C.]]
[[Category:21st-century American women rappers]]
[[Category:American bisexual writers]]
[[Category:Blue Note Records artists]]
[[Category:LGBTQ women singers]]
[[Category:21st-century American women guitarists]]