Feature Photo: BABYGIRLTOS on YouTube, CC BY 3.0
Megan Thee Stallion, born Megan Jovon Ruth Pete, launched her career from Houston, Texas, where her freestyle videos began attracting attention while she was still a student at Texas Southern University. Her rise began with the 2016 mixtape Rich Ratchet and the viral 2017 single “Stalli (Freestyle).” By 2018, she had signed with 1501 Certified Entertainment and released her breakthrough EP Tina Snow, which included the fan-favorite “Big Ole Freak.” That single marked her first entry on the Billboard Hot 100 and foreshadowed her future as one of hip-hop’s most dynamic voices.
Her ascent accelerated in 2019 with the release of the Fever mixtape and its hit “Cash Shit” featuring DaBaby. But it was her 2020 single “Savage,” especially the remix with Beyoncé, that became a cultural and commercial phenomenon, earning her two Grammy Awards. That same year, she collaborated with Cardi B on the global smash “WAP,” which debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and broke streaming records. These releases helped establish Megan not just as a Southern rapper with lyrical prowess, but as a pop culture force with the charisma to dominate multiple charts.
Her debut studio album Good News arrived in November 2020 and solidified her staying power, with tracks like “Body” and “Cry Baby” (featuring DaBaby) showcasing both her versatility and her ability to deliver hits. In 2022, she followed up with Traumazine, a deeply personal and sonically diverse project that expanded her artistry and touched on themes of grief, betrayal, and self-healing. Songs like “Plan B” and “Anxiety” offered insight into the emotional landscape behind her bold public persona.
Outside of music, Megan has earned accolades and respect for her work in television, fashion, and philanthropy. She appeared in shows like P-Valley and She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, and hosted Saturday Night Live in 2022. She’s also been recognized for her activism and support for women’s rights and education. In 2021, she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in health administration from Texas Southern University, fulfilling a personal goal and honoring her late mother’s encouragement to pursue education.
Megan’s career hasn’t been without conflict. Legal battles with her original label 1501 Certified Entertainment and the widely publicized shooting incident involving rapper Tory Lanez brought intense scrutiny and public debate. Despite these challenges, she has remained a commanding presence in the industry, using both her music and her public platform to advocate for resilience, autonomy, and empowerment.
Her impact has been recognized by multiple awards: three Grammy Awards, multiple BET Awards, MTV Video Music Awards, and recognition from publications like Time, which included her on its list of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2020. With chart-topping singles, viral influence, and a fiercely loyal fanbase, Megan Thee Stallion has reshaped the mainstream perception of women in hip-hop.
Beyond the accolades and streaming numbers, what has made Megan so beloved is her authenticity, confidence, and ability to connect through both triumph and trauma. Whether she’s commanding a festival stage or speaking openly about personal struggles, she remains unapologetically herself — a testament to the power of individuality in a genre too often defined by conformity.