Houston hottie Megan Thee Stallion recently released her new single “Hiss,” reminding fans and foes alike that she is in fact, a contender for one of the best rappers in the industry. Through her artistry and bubbly personality Megan has taken the world by storm these past few years, but many listeners don’t know of this hottie’s humble beginnings. 

Megan Thee Stallion was destined to be a musician. From the minute she left the womb, her mother, rapper “Holly-Wood” introduced her to the riveting culture of hip-hop music. She attributes her early inspirations to her mother to the “greats” such as the Notorious B.I.G., Lil’ Kim, Queen Latifah, Trina, Salt-N-Pepa, Foxy Brown and Q-Tip—who Megan cites as her mentor. 

Though Megan began rapping as a young teenager, her mother encouraged her to wait until she was 21 to begin her music career. Education was an important factor in this decision as well. Megan began her undergraduate degree in 2013 at Prairie View A&M University, Texas, and eventually transferred to Texas Southern University where she graduated in 2021. Catapulting her music career in 2016, with her single “Like a Stallion,” Stallion adopted her alias, inspired by being called a “Stallion” by men growing up because of her body. 

Megan proudly wears her name despite criticism laden with misogynoir. After adopting the title, Megan began to grow her fan base through self-released mixtapes. She released her first EP “Make It Hot” in 2017.

Megan began making history in 2018 as the first woman to sign with 1501 Certified Entertainment. Managed by her mother, she released her first album entitled “Tina Snow,” inspired by her alter-ego. The album featured her breakout song, “Big Ole Freak,” and the same year she switched her label to 300 Entertainment as she gained more popularity. During Megan’s rise to fame in 2019, her mother died of a cancerous brain tumor and her great-grandmother passed away shortly after, leaving Megan orphaned since her father passed away when she was 15. 

Despite these traumatic events, Megan took her mother’s advice: “don’t stop.” She released an album each year and released two albums in 2020 after signing to Jay Z’s label “Roc Nation.” She released “Suga” at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. Later, she released her second and third platinum singles: “WAP” with Cardi B and “Savage (Remix)” featuring Beyoncé. 

In July 2020, Megan was shot by fellow musician Tory Lanez, which gained nationwide traction as celebrities accused her of lying about the incident. In an interview with The New York Times, Megan defended herself, saying “Black women are so unprotected … this is my real life and I’m real life hurt and traumatized.” She released the album “Good News” in November of 2020, which addressed critics through songs such as, “Shots Fired”, “What’s New” and “Girls in the Hood.” 

Meanwhile, the rapper was in litigation with her previous label, 1501 Certified Entertainment, who refused to terminate her contract. Winning two lawsuits, she released her remix of “Butter” by K-pop sensation BTS in 2021. She also released a mixtape of freestyles entitled “Something for Thee Hotties” featuring “Kitty Kat,” “Megan Monday Freestyle” and “Tuned In Freestyle.”

Megan’s 2022 hit album “Traumazine” is her most raw work of art. She explores the themes of mental illness, trauma, and the real-life turmoils of being a Black female public figure. She established herself as a spokesperson for the humanization of black women, and for that, she should be revered. 

Recently, Megan has appeared in television shows and films such as “She-Hulk,” “Dicks: The Musical” and “The Best Man Wedding.” She has also appeared on the soundtracks of films and series in the past year including “Big Mouth,” “Mean Girls (2024)” and “The Color Purple (2023).” 

Her influence surpasses the film and music industries, as she has also launched a non-profit “Pete and Thomas Foundation” honoring the tragic memory of her parents. 

Most recently, she has released a single entitled “Hiss” following her other snake-themed single “Cobra” in which she exposes her ex-boyfriend, Pardison Fountaine, for cheating, and explores the topic of mental health. 

“HISS” served as a response to many of her industry rivals such as Drake, Nicki Minaj and Tory Lanez—musicians who have repeatedly spoken out against Megan throughout her early career. 

Megan Thee Stallion serves as an inspiration to many young women; more specifically, Black women. Her undying confidence and genuine candor has encouraged black women to speak out against misogynoir, as well as how to be confident in their bodies. 

Her legacy is one we are lucky enough to live through. Be it a fan or foe, no one can deny the talent, devotion and incredible elasticity Megan Thee Stallion has.