The Bite Magazine - Spring/Summer 2025 - Issue 37

bitemusicceleb In her Glamour Woman of the Year Award acceptance speech in 2021, the rapper said, “I want to thank my mom because she taught me how to be the woman I am. She was my best friend and my manager. She was my everything, and I know she’s proud of me today.” She also gave her parents a big shout-out at the Oc- tober 2024 premiere of her documentary, Megan Thee Stallion: In Her Words, thanking her mom specifically. “I wouldn’t be the woman I am today without Holly Thom- as. So, mommy, I love you.” While studying at Prairie View A&M University, Megan Thee Stallion gained attention through viral freestyle videos on social media showcasing her sharp delivery and commanding presence against male rappers in cy- pher battles. Her 2016 mixtape Rich Ratchet displayed her raw talent, Southern flow, and confident lyricism. It introduced listeners to her bold, sexually empowered style and her ability to dominate a beat with charisma and technical skill. The 2019 14-track project Fever marked her explosive entry into the mainstream three years later. It was her first commercial mixtape distributed through 300 En- tertainment and 1501 Certified Ent. It is steeped in the Houston rap tradition, with heavy bass and trap beats. It nods to Southern legends like Pimp C. Her confident, raunchy, and razor-sharp delivery is unapologetically in control. Breakout track ‘Cash Sh*t’ featuring DaBaby went quintuple platinum and peaked at No. 36 on the Billboard Hot 100. The following year, the rapper’s debut studio album, Good News , arrived like a bold, unfiltered thunderclap brimming with confidence. The album’s name coun- tered the barrage of negativity dominating headlines at the time. In her words, “We’ve been hearing so much bad news. Megan Thee Stallion is finally coming with good news.” The album featured 17 tracks, including high-profile collaborations with Beyoncé, DaBaby, City Girls, SZA, Young Thug, Big Sean, 2 Chainz, Lil Durk, and Popcaan. Some standout tracks include ‘Shots Fired’, a fiery response to the 2020 shooting incident involving Ca- nadian singer and rapper Tory Lanez, currently serving a 10-year prison sentence for the incident, sampling Biggie’s ‘Who Shot Ya’. Viral hit ‘Body’ celebrates body positivity and is known for its TikTok dance craze. Taken from Megan Thee Stallion’s Suga EP, ‘Savage Remix’ featuring Beyoncé became her first No.1 on the Bill- board Hot 100 and ‘Girls in the Hood’ is a feminist flip of Easy-E’s classic. Her second studio album, Traumazine , released in 2022, marked a bold and deeply personal chapter in her career. Megan coined the title, which refers to the emo- tional and psychological process of confronting trauma. The album delves into her inner world, where she tells her story rather than letting others narrate it for her. It explores grief, anxiety, betrayal, and resilience while maintaining swagger and lyrical dexterity. Musically, it blends hard-hitting trap with melodic introspection. The album includes ‘Sweetest Pie’ featuring Dua Lipa, a pop-rap crossover hit that peaked at No. 15 on the Bill- board Hot 100. ‘Plan B’ is a gritty, no-holds-barred track channelling 1990s hip-hop energy and addressing toxic relationships. The self-love anthem ‘Her’ has a bouncy beat and a message of unapologetic confidence. On ‘Anxiety’, Megan opens up about mental health and the pressure of fame. ‘Pressurelicious’ featuring Future is a sultry, bass-heavy collaboration that oozes confidence and chemistry. It debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard 200, becoming