Meshell Ndegeocello is an American singer-songwriter, rapper, bassist, and record producer. She has released 10 studio albums, the most recent of which being Ventriloquism in 2018. Ndegeocello has incorporated several genres into her music, including hip hop, soul, funk, and jazz. She has collaborated with artists such as John Mellencamp, Madonna, and the Rolling Stones.

In 1993, Ndegeocello released her debut album, Plantation Lullabies, to critical acclaim. The album won her an American Music Award for Favorite Jazz New Artist, and earned her a Grammy award nomination. Despite the success of her debut album, she has yet to receive wider recognition, likely due to her unique “fluid genre-blending".

Ndegeocello has had a large impact on many modern artists and her influence has turned up on records from names such as