Megan Jovon Ruth Pete (born February 15, 1995), known professionally asMegan Thee Stallion,[a] is an American rapper and songwriter.
Megan initially gained recognition when videos of her freestyling began to circulate widely onsocial media. In 2018, she signed with1501 Certified Entertainment. Megan achieved mainstream success the following year with the release of her commercial mixtapeFever (2019), followed by theextended playSuga (2020), both of which peaked within the top ten of theBillboard 200 chart. She had her breakthrough with the singles "Hot Girl Summer", "Cash Shit", and "Savage"; the latter's 2020 remix withBeyoncé won Megan twoGrammy Awards, peaked at number one on theBillboard Hot 100, and led to the release of Megan's debut albumGood News (2020). Its single "Body" made her the first female act to release three number-one songs on theStreaming Songs chart within a year.
Megan'scompilation albumSomething for Thee Hotties (2021) peaked at number five on theBillboard 200 and included the US top-20 single "Thot Shit", which received a Grammy Award nomination. Following the shooting trial after she was shot in the foot byTory Lanez, as well as contractual issues with her record label, she left both 1501 and300 Entertainment. Megan's second studio album,Traumazine (2022), was her final release under those labels and included the single "Sweetest Pie", which peaked at number 15 in the US. She founded her own record label, Hot Girl Productions, in 2023, through which she released her third studio album,Megan (2024). It spawned the single "Hiss", which became Megan's first solo song to top the Hot 100 and made her the first solo female rapper to debut atop theBillboard Global 200.
Megan Jovon Ruth Pete was born on February 15, 1995, inSan Antonio, Texas, moved toHouston shortly after her birth with her mother, Holly Thomas.[3][4][5][6] Holly, a rapper known as "Holly-Wood", often took young Megan Thee Stallion to recording sessions instead ofdaycare.[5] Growing up in Houston'sSouth Park neighborhood and laterPearland, Megan began writing raps at age 14, and lived there until she was 18.[5][7][8] When she eventually showed her mother her rapping skills at age 18, Holly required that Megan wait until she was 21 to pursue rapping as a career.[9] Her mother commented that her lyrics were too sexually suggestive for her young age.[10] Megan attendedPearland High School graduating in 2013.[3][11] Her father died during her freshman year of high school.[3]
Megan adopted thestage name "Megan Thee Stallion" after she was called a "stallion" during her adolescence due to her height (5 ft 10 in (178 cm)) and "thick" body frame; voluptuous, statuesque women in thesouthern United States are sometimes colloquially called "stallions".[3][9][12]
Career
2016–2017: Early beginnings
In 2016, Megan Thee Stallion released her debut single "Like a Stallion," followed bySoundCloud-exclusive mixtapesRich Ratchet andMegan Mix in 2017.[16][17][18][19][20] That year she made her professional solo debut with the EPMake It Hot, which included the hit "Last Week in HTx" earning several million views onYouTube.[21][22] Additionally, she released the song "Stalli (Freestyle)", as arework of late musicianXXXTentacion's "Look at Me!".[8][21][23] Around this time, Megan auditioned for the since-postponedLove & Hip Hop: Houston.[24][25]
2018–2019:Tina Snow andFever
Megan Thee Stallion in 2019
In early 2018, Megan Thee Stallion signed with1501 Certified Entertainment, an independent Houston label run by T. Farris and owned by former baseball playerCarl Crawford.[3][7] She was the first female rapper to join the label, and subsequently performed atSXSW Festival in March 2018.[26][27] In June 2018, she released the EPTina Snow named after her alter ego, "Tina Snow", who she describes as "a more raw version" of herself.[9][26] The EP, mainly produced by 1501's in-house producerLilJuMadeDaBeat, was positively received by critics with Eric Torres ofPitchfork highlighting its "quotable lyrics" and Nandi Howard ofThe Fader praising her rapid and precise rapping style.[7][28][29] In November 2018, Megan signed with300 Entertainment, becoming the first woman on the label.[30] It was during this time that she was scheduled to support Australian rapperIggy Azalea on her plannedBad Girls Tour; however, the tour was later cancelled due to low ticket sales.[31][32]
On January 22, 2019, Megan released "Big Ole Freak" as a single fromTina Snow, which became her firstBillboard Hot 100 chart entry, peaking at number 65.[33][26][34][35] HermixtapeFever, released on May 17, 2019, received critical acclaim.[36][37][38] On May 21, 2019, she released the music video for the track "Realer", which was inspired by theblaxploitation film style.[39] On June 20, 2019, Megan was selected as one of eleven artists for the 12th edition ofXXL's "Freshman Class".[40] Her freestyle in the cypher was praised by music critics.[41]
In January 2020, Megan Thee Stallion released the single "Diamonds" featuring singerNormani forthe soundtrack of the superhero filmBirds of Prey (2020).[54] That same month, she announced her debut albumSuga and released thelead single "B.I.T.C.H.".[55][56] In February 2020, she featured on the single "Fkn Around" byPhony Ppl,[57] and appeared onThe Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, performing "B.I.T.C.H.".[58] The next month, she announced that her debut album's release was being delayed as a result of her attempts to renegotiate her contract with1501 Certified.[59] That same month, the song "Savage", from the EP, wentviral onTikTok, when popular user Keara Wilson used it for a dance challenge video, amassing 15.7 million views and 2.4 million likes, as of March 20, 2020.[60] Aremix featuring Beyoncé was released on April 29, 2020.[61] The song became Megan's first top 10 entry in the United States shortly after the remix's release,[62] eventually becoming her first chart topper in the country.[63] "Savage" also helped boostSuga's sales, propelling it up to number 7 on theBillboard 200.[64] She released the song "Girls in the Hood" on June 26, 2020,[65] before featuring onCardi B's single "WAP" and appearing in its music video in August 2020.[66] "WAP" became her second number-one single in the U.S., breaking the record for the moststreams for a song in its first week of release in the U.S. (93 million).[67]
On November 13, 2020, Megan announced the upcoming release of her debut studio album,Good News, released on November 20, 2020.[86] The release of the album also coincided with its fourth single, "Body", with its accompanying music video.[87] "Body" was a commercial success and made her the first woman in history to achieve three number-oneStreaming Songs in a single calendar year.[88]Good News debuted at number 2 on theBillboard 200, and at number 1 on theTop R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, with over 100,000album-equivalent units sold.[89] On January 14, 2021, Megan was featured on a remix ofAriana Grande's single "34+35", the second single from her sixth studio albumPositions, alongside American singer and rapperDoja Cat.[90] A music video for the remix was later released on February 12, 2021. In June, she released the single "Thot Shit", with a music video featuring an hypocritical,socially conservative politician. Megan took home the most awards at the2021 BET Awards ceremony, with four nominations won.[91] Boy bandBTS released a remix of the single "Butter" featuring Megan Thee Stallion, which reached number three on theBillboard Global 200.[92] She also led the nominations for the2021 BET Hip Hop Awards along withCardi B, with nine categories each; both rappers won the most awards during that ceremony, including three for "WAP".[93] Megan was featured onDJ Snake's single "SG", along withOzuna andLisa ofBlackpink, released in October.[94] Megan releasedSomething for Thee Hotties, a collection of previously unreleased songs and freestyles, on October 29, 2021.[95] Thecompilation album debuted at number five on the USBillboard 200, becoming Megan's fourth top 10.[96]
On September 16, 2021,Post Malone announced thePosty Fest 2021 lineup, with Megan as one of the performers at the festival based inArlington, Texas, to be held that October.[97] Megan was honored as one ofGlamour's Women of the Year in November.[98] Megan won three awards at the2021 American Music Awards, tying with Doja Cat and BTS for the most wins that night.[99]
Megan graduated from Texas Southern University on December 11, 2021. Shortly after, Megan was honored with the 18th Congressional District of Texas Hero Award byRep. Sheila Jackson Lee for herphilanthropy efforts in Houston.[100]
2022–present:Traumazine, Hot Girl Productions,Megan, andMegan: Act II
In aRolling Stone cover story, Megan revealed that she collaborated withFuture for her upcoming second album on a song titled "Pressurelicious".[104] On August 11, 2022, Megan took to Twitter to announce that her second studio albumTraumazine would be released the next day.[105] It became the rapper's fifth US top-10 album.[106] After the low promotion ofTraumazine by the label, Megan started a second lawsuit, accepting an agreement with the breaking off of the relationship between the two parties.[107] On September 4, 2023,Cardi B and Megan announced their new single "Bongos".[108] On October 27, she announced a new single titled "Cobra", that was released on November 2 from her third album.[109] This was her first independent single since departing from her record label 1501 Certified Entertainment in October 2023.
Megan appeared onGood Morning America in January 2024 to announce that she would be headlining her first tour, the "Hot Girl Summer Tour".GloRilla served as a special guest for the North American leg, which started on May 14 inMinneapolis; while Nigerian-British rapperMs Banks was an opening act for the European leg. "Hot Girl Summer Tour" garnered rave reviews and grossed over $40 million.[110][111][112][113] On February 2, 2024, Megan signed a distribution deal withWarner Music.[114] On June 2, 2024, she announced her self-titled third studio album,Megan, which was released on June 28.[115] She released three singles in anticipation of the album: "Cobra" on November 3, 2023,[116][117] "Hiss" on January 26, 2024,[118] and "Boa" on May 10, 2024.[119] "Hiss" reached number one on the Apple Music charts a day after its release, receiving widespread acclaim and media coverage involving multiple artists Megan has dissed in the song.[120][121][122] It also later debuted atop theBillboard Hot 100, becoming the rapper's third No. 1 hit as well as her first solo number one.[123][124] After going viral on TikTok, the music video for the fourth single from the album, "Mamushi," featuring Japanese rapperYuki Chiba, was released on August 9, 2024.[125][126][127]
On September 5, 2024, the music video for Megan's single "Neva Play" featuringRM of BTS was released.[128] Megan covered English rock bandQueen's 1977 hit single "We Will Rock You" in a September 2024Pepsitelevision advertisement;[129] on September 5, 2024, the song, sampling the original chorus, was released as a single. Queen are credited as co-lead artists.[130][131] On October 18, 2024, she announced a reissue of her albumMegan,Megan: Act II, which was released on October 25, 2024.[132][133][134] On December 6, 2024, Megan was featured on South Korean girl groupTwice's title track "Strategy" from their EP of the same name.[135][136] On February 28, 2025, Megan was featured on the digital release of "Rapunzel" fromAlter Ego, the first studio album by Thai rapperLisa.[137]
Artistry
Public image
Megan Thee Stallion is known for weaving her sexuality into her lyrics, videos, and live performances.[10] In an interview withPitchfork she stated, "It's not just about being sexy, it's about being confident and me being confident in my sexuality."[138] Her Texas rap origins are an important part of her identity, she toldRolling Stone, "I don't feel like we ever really had a female rapper come from Houston or Texas and shut shit down. So that's where I'm coming from."[10] Some journalists opine that she is asex symbol.[139][140][141]
She has also been influenced byBeyoncé. In her Grammy Awards acceptance speech with Beyoncé for "Savage", she said: "Ever since I was little, I was like, 'you know what? One day, I'm gonna grow up and I'm gonna be like the rap Beyoncé.' That was definitely my goal. [..] I love her work ethic, I love the way she is, I love the way she carries herself."[145]
Alter egos
Megan Thee Stallion uses alter egos to express different facets of her personality in music. "Tina Snow," one of heralter egos and also the name of her debut EP was influenced byPimp C's alias Tony Snow. The ego has similar confidence and an unapologetically sexually dominant delivery.[10] "Hot Girl Meg" another alter ego embodies Megan's carefree and outgoing side, which she compares to a "college, party girl."[146][36] She first introduced "Hot Girl Meg" on her EP,Fever.[36] She has also referred to herself as "Thee HoodTyra Banks."[147][148]
Trademarks
Megan Thee Stallion (shown in 2019) doing her signaturead-lib
"Hot Girl Summer": Megan Thee Stallion originated theviral catchphrase "hot girl summer" on social media.[149][150][151][152] It is a derivative of another of her most-known catchphrases, "hot girl", also derived from "real hot girl shit". She first used the phrase in a tweet on April 14, 2018.[153] It later appeared on theFever album cover, which read: "She's thee HOT GIRL and she's bringing THEE HEAT."[154] She defined the term as "women and men being unapologetically them, just having a good-ass time, hyping up their friends, doing you."[155] Megan officially trademarked the term "hot girl summer" in September 2019 after applying for it in July of that year.[156][157] Asong of the same name was released on August 9, 2019.[158]
Signature Ad Lib: Megan is known for her signature ad-lib, which involves sticking her tongue out, creating a "creaky", audible "agh" or "blah" sound.[159][160][161]
Twitter Emoji: In August 2019,Twitter created an official emoji for this tongue symbol, which could be spawned directly after thehashtag "#MeganTheeStallion".[159] This symbol also inspired thecover art of her EPSuga which was revealed in March 2020.[162]
In 2020, Megan Thee Stallion appeared as a judge on the premiere season ofHBO'sballroom andvoguing competition seriesLegendary. She would continue appearing as a judge for the series' second season in 2021, before being replaced byKeke Palmer, in the third and final season, due to scheduling and contractual agreements. On December 16, 2021, she signed an exclusive first-look deal atNetflix, to create and executive produce new series and other projects.[164]
She contributed $15,400 worth ofThanksgiving turkeys and helped hand them out to 1,050 households in need at the Houston Food Bank portwall pantry, in November 2019.[173] In April 2020, she donated over $10,000 to bail relief effort for Houston protestors.[174] The same month, Megan Thee Stallion teamed up withAmazon Music to donate to a Nursing Facility in Houston.[175] All the proceeds collected from her collaboration withBeyoncé on the "Savage" remix went toBread of Life, which helps local Houston communities withCOVID-19 relief efforts. The song raised over $2.5 million.[176]
In October 2020, she partnered withAmazon Music's rap rotation and launched the "Don't Stop" scholarship fund that awarded two women of color pursuing associate, bachelor or postgraduate degrees, $10,000 each.[177] In February 2021, she launched "Hotties Helping Houston" with US House DemocratRep. Sheila Jackson Lee of Texas, the National Association of Christian Churches disaster services,Taraji P. Henson,300 Entertainment,Maroon 5,Revlon, Mielle Organics,Fashion Nova, andBillie Eilish to help senior citizens and single moms recovering from the area's storm related devastation.[178] In March 2021, she collaborated withFashion Nova for the 'Women on Top" initiative, which would give away $1 million to support female-owned businesses and organizations.[179] The same month, along with Fashion Nova and journalistMay Lee, they donated $50,000 after theAtlanta spa shootings to the legal non-profit, Advancing Justice Atlanta.
In June 2021, she offered a full tuition, four-year scholarship to theRoc Nation school of music, sports & entertainment atLong Island University.[180] In June 2021, she partnered withCash App to make "Investing for Hotties" educational videos. This partnership also donated $1 million worth of stock to randomly-selected fans.[181]
In October 2021, as part of her wide-ranging agreement withPopeyes, she made a six-figure donation to the charitable organization Houston Random Acts of Kindness.[182]
On February 15, 2022, Megan announced the launching of a nonprofit program, the Pete and Thomas Foundation, in honor of her late mother and father Holly Thomas and Joseph Pete Jr.[183] The foundation seeks to help underserved communities in Houston, Texas and beyond through education, housing, and health and wellness needs. On May 1, 2022, the Mayor of HoustonSylvester Turner honored Megan for her philanthropic and humanitarian efforts for the Houston people by proclaiming May 2 Megan Thee Stallion Day inHouston, Texas. She received an honorary key to the City of Houston, a symbolic cowboy hat and belt buckle.[184]
Following the release of the remix of "Butter" withBTS, the group's fanbase, known as ARMY, launched "Thee Army Fund" project in collaboration with Megan's fans, the "Hotties", which raised over $120,000 to donate to three different organizations in her name:Women for Afghan Women, Black Women of Wellness, andHouston Food Bank.[185] As part of her ceremony to receive the key to the city of Houston, the non-profit Pete and Thomas Foundation donated $5,000 to three people in Houston to assist with their education, housing, and wellness expenses.[184]
Personal life
Megan Thee Stallion mentioned being partCreole in her songs "Cocky AF" and "Freak Nasty" as well as in a tweet in September 2017.[186][187][188] Her mother, Holly Thomas, died in March 2019 from a longstanding cancerousbrain tumor, and Megan's grandmother died in the same month.[189][190][191] She mentioned her mother's death in her song "Flip Flop" from the album,Traumazine, released on August 12, 2022. In January 2024, fans of Nicki Minajdoxed the location of Thomas' grave before Minaj's single "Big Foot" was released.[192][193][194]
Megan is a self-described fan ofanime and her favorites areMy Hero Academia andNaruto.[195] Manga artist Shōta Noguchi, who assistsMy Hero Academia creatorKōhei Horikoshi, has published several renditions ofMHA character Rumi Usagiyama using Instagram photos of Megan as reference. In turn, Megan published photos of her 2022 Halloween costume of Usagiyama.[196] She has previously cosplayed asMHA character Shoto Todoroki andUsagi Tsukino fromSailor Moon.[197][198]
In addition to acting as her manager, Megan's grandmother was a major influence on her decision to study health administration and also helped foster her goal to establishassisted living facilities in her hometown of Houston.[138]
While she has never publicly stated a particular label for her sexuality, she has continually expressed interest in women through her music.[204]
On July 15, 2020, Megan Thee Stallion stated that she had suffered gunshot wounds, and that she had undergone surgery to remove the bullets. Her statement countered an earlierTMZ report that she had injured her foot on broken glass three days prior when she was in a car with rap and R&B musicianTory Lanez (Daystar Peterson) and an unidentified woman. The car was pulled over by police, and Lanez was arrested ongun charges following a vehicle search.[205][206][207]
On July 27, 2020, Megan revealed that she had been shot in both feet, and denounced rumors in an Instagram Live session where she tearfully recounted the shooting incident.[207][208] The following month, Megan claimed that Lanez was the person who shot her, saying, "I didn't tell the police what happened immediately right there because I didn't want to die."[209][210][211] In a statement toVariety, Megan's attorney,Alex Spiro, claimed Lanez's representatives had attempted to launch a "smear campaign", using falsified messages to "peddle a false narrative" discrediting Megan.[212] Lanez's team denied this, stating that they would investigate whoever was behind the fake emails, then would take appropriate action.[213] Megan later confirmed that she had been offered money by Lanez and his team to keep quiet on the incident.[214]
On October 8, 2020, Lanez was charged with shooting Megan byLos Angeles County prosecutors. Hisarraignment was scheduled on October 13;[215][216] however, it was rescheduled for November 18 after Lanez's attorney requested acontinuance. Megan was issued a protection order against Lanez, directing him to stay at least 100 yards (91 m) away from her, and to not contact her. He was also ordered to surrender any guns he owns.[217] In anop-ed forThe New York Times, published on October 13, 2020, Megan addressed the shooting allegation further, writing, "Black women are still constantly disrespected and disregarded in so many areas of life. I was recently the victim of an act of violence by a man. After a party, I was shot twice as I walked away from him. We were not in a relationship. Truthfully, I was shocked that I ended up in that place."[218][217]
In April 2022, Lanez was arrested for violating the protection order relating to the case; and he was released shortly after on an increased bond of $350,000.[219][220] On December 13, 2022, Megan testified in Lanez's assault trial and stated that she "wish[ed Tory] would have just shot and killed me."[221][222] On December 23, 2022, a jury convicted Lanez on three felony charges stemming from the shooting: assault with a semiautomatic handgun, having a loaded and unregistered firearm in a vehicle, and gross negligence in discharging his firearm.[223] On August 8, 2023, Tory Lanez was sentenced to 10 years in prison for the shooting.[224]
Legal disputes
In 2015, Megan Thee Stallion was arrested on assault charges after an incident with her ex-boyfriend at SXSW. According to Megan, she found out her boyfriend had cheated and had a baby with another woman, and that when she confronted him about it, he started "pulling and pushing" her, and she started punching him. The charges against Megan were dismissed in April 2016 after her ex-boyfriend failed to appear in court.[225][226]
On October 30, 2024, Megan filed a lawsuit against blogger Milagro Cooper for alleged harassment and "churning out falsehoods" on behalf ofTory Lanez surrounding his assault on her via firearm.[227][228]
In November 2024, rapperPlies sued Megan,Glorilla, andSoulja Boy over his song "Me & My Goons" for sampling it while the track was still infringed on Soulja's "Pretty Swag Boy."[229][230]
Lawsuit and departure from 1501 Certified Entertainment
In 2020, Megan Thee Stallion filed suit against her record label 1501 Certified Entertainment to renegotiate her contract, after her management companyRoc Nation found it "iffy".[231][232] She started the hashtag "#FreeTheeStallion" to raise awareness of the issue, noting that "[she did not] understand some of the verbiage" when she signed the initial contract with 1501.[233][234][235]On March 6, 2020, she released the EP,Suga, against the wishes of 1501, after a judge granted a temporaryrestraining order against the label.[236][237]
When Megan publishedSomething for Thee Hotties in 2021, the record label did not recognize it as an album, because it has 29 minutes of new material instead of 45, so the rapper would have to release two more albums in addition toSomething.[238] On February 18, 2022, Megan filed suit against the label claiming thatSomething respects the definition of an album with at least 45 minutes of material.[232][239]
On August 12, 2022, the rapper published the second studio albumTraumazine, writing with its announcement about the lawsuit, expressing her disappointment and emotional distress at the difficulty she is experiencing in releasing her music, but ending her message to fans with the phrase "we almost out".[240][241] The week after the album's release, the rapper filed a new complaint, seeking recognition of her performance under the contract, and also asking for $1 million in damages.[242] The label's law firm stated that Megan would be summoned for an in-person deposition in mid-October, and that a ruling would be issued by May 2023.[243] On October 19, 2023, attorneys for 1501 Certified Entertainment confirmed that "Megan Thee Stallion and 1501 Certified are pleased to announce that they have mutually reached a confidential settlement to resolve their legal differences, [...] As part of the arrangement, both parties have agreed to amicably part ways".[244]
Shortly after the legal proceedings ended, Megan founded the independent music and entertainment company Hot Girl Productions.[245] On February 2, 2024, Megan signed a distribution deal withWarner Music Group (WMG); hermasters andpublishing will be released through Hot Girl.[246][247][248]
^Megan Thee Stallion (October 13, 2020)."Why I Speak Up for Black Women".The New York Times.Archived from the original on December 31, 2020. RetrievedDecember 30, 2020.
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