"Megan" (stylized in all capitals as MEGAN) is the third studio album by American rapper, singer, and songwriter Megan Thee Stallion, The album was released through Hot Girl Productions, as her first studio album since departure from 1501 Certified. The album had three songs revealed as singles; "Cobra", "Hiss" and "Boa", released November 3, 2023, January 26, 2024 and May 10, 2024 respectively. The album dropped June 28, 2024. In promotion for the album, Megan is currently embarking on the Hot Girl Summer Tour starting May 14, 2024 in Minneapolis, and ending July 27, 2024 in Washington, D.C.
Background[]
On October 19, 2023, 1501 Certified Entertainment announced that the label and Thee Stallion had "mutually reached a confidential settlement to resolve their legal differences", ending a three-year lawsuit and settling in Megan's favor.[1] On October 12, 2023. Megan announced that the then-unknown single, "Cobra", and her album would be solely funded by the artist herself on Instagram Live.[2] On one part of the live, the artist said:
"This part of my album is very much so funded by Megan Thee Stallion because we’re trying to get off… Y’all know what’s the tea. But I have no label right now, We’re doing everything funded straight out of Megan Thee Stallion’s pockets. So, the budget is coming from me. Motherfucking Hot Girl Productions! The next shit y’all about to see is all straight from Megan Thee Stallion’s brain and Megan Thee Stallion’s wallet. We are in my pockets, hotties, so let’s do our big one.”[2]
On January 26, 2024, Megan released the second single for the album, titled "Hiss". Among the release, controversy between her and fellow rapper Nicki Minaj spiked.[3] A few days later, Thee Stallion announced the album would be released "in time for the summer", as well as an headlining tour in support for the album, Hot Girl Summer Tour. In an interview with Good Morning America, Thee Stallion said:
“Oh, we’re having the tour this year. The Hot Girl Summer Tour is gonna be 2024 summer time. I feel like I’ve never been able to be outside during my early days during the summer since 2019. So this is gonna be the first time that I drop an album on time for the summer. I do want to give the Hotties the Megan Thee Stallion experience.”[4][5]
Shortly after her trip to Japan to present at the Cruncyroll awards, Megan posted on her social channels on March 12 to post a teaser for the tour.[6] The next day, Megan would announce the Hot Girl Summer Tour and the confirmed cities. The tour will be across the United States as well as various parts of Europe.[7][8] On April 3, Megan went on Instagram live to confirm more details of the album; she revealed the album was originally intended to contain 14 tracks, however after a short discussion with her live chat, she changed the track amount to 16. This amount was then extended to 18 tracks. She also confirmed rapper GloRilla would be one of the few features on the album. This comes after their first collaboration, "Wanna Be", for GloRilla mixtape "Ehhthang Ehhthang".
On May 2, Megan posted photos of multiple PlayStation styled video game cases, with photos of her dressed up, referencing anime character Boa Hancock, along with the word "Boa" on the photos of the cases. The single was then formally announced on May 7, 2024. Along with the announcement, Megan had released multiple CD versions with the PlayStation-alike case previously posted on her social channels on her web store for fans to buy.
On June 2, 2024, Megan formally announced the album during a show of her Hot Girl Summer Tour in Atlanta. Pre-save links were made available when Megan posted an announcement for the album. Fans who were at the Atlanta show got exclusive access to the album pre-save and announcement before the general public.
On June 28, 2024, the album was finally released on streaming services, featuring artists like Victoria Monet, GloRilla and Kylie Richh.
Composition and concept[]
While on Instagram live, Megan confirmed more rap-focused tracks would be on the record; "I was like, 'Damn, I need to rap my ass off', so the first ... 20 songs I had, I'm just straight rapping, like it's just rap." She also confirmed there would still be more 'feel good' tracks, but also remembering the criticism she would receive for recording music similar to this, which left her puzzled on what to put on the record;
"And then I start being in a better mood, then I was like ... recording 'feel good' songs. And then I got in a ratchet mood, cause you know it's about to be summer time, we about to be outside, so then I started making some 'pop that ass music', and I just remembered how y'all used to really wack me, for making 'pop that ass music', so I just really wanted to get on y'all ass and show how bad I could rap. So I really kind of like haven't been in touch with my roots! So I'm trying to see if y'all pop that ass, if y'all trying to ... what is giving? Like?"
The album focuses on a snake-inspired theme, representing a new era and feel for Megan musically and personally. During an interview with Women's Health Magazine, Megan had spoken about the choice of the snake-inspired aesthetic of the album,
“I'm in a space where I feel good mentally, so I want to look as good as I feel. I was inspired to create this album about rebirth because I feel I am becoming a new person physically and mentally. They’re feared, misunderstood, respected, healing".
Megan Act:II[]
Megan Act: II is the reissue of Megan. It was released on October 25, 2024, through Hot Girl Productions and Warner Music Group. It contains thirteen new tracks with four featuring Flo Milli, Twice, Spritbox, and RM. It was supported by the lead single, "Neva Play"
Tour[]
Main article: Hot Girl Summer Tour
On March 13, 2024, Megan announced she will commence on the Hot Girl Summer Tour mid-May 2024, in support of her third studio album. The cities Megan would perform at were posted on March 13. Dates and pre-sale tickets released March 20.[7][8] The tour began May 14, 2024 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and is set to end at July 27, 2024 in Washington, D. C. The tour will go throughout North America and Europe.
Merchandise[]
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Track listing[]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Hiss" | Shawn “Source” Jarrett • Julian Mason • Joel Banks • Taylor Banks • Megan Pete | LilJuMadeDaBeat • Bankroll Got It • Shawn “Source” Jarrett | 3:12 |
| 2. | "Rattle" | Mason • Bobby Sessions • Pete | LilJuMadeDaBeat | 3:25 |
| 3. | "Figueroa" | Mason • Kelton Scott II • Pete | FranchiseDidIt • LilJuMadeDaBeat | 2:23 |
| 4. | "Where Them Girls At" | Julian Mason, Joe Fountain, Kordero Williams & Megan Pete | LilJuMadeDaBeat | 3:11 |
| 5. | "Broke His Heart" | Aldrin Davis, Derrick Gray, Tay Keith, Jordan Houston III, Jay Jenkins, Jerome Temple & Megan Pete | Tay Keith | 2:39 |
| 6. | "B.A.S." (featuring Kyle Richh) | Mary Brockert, Henry Fasheun, Julian Mason & Megan Pete | LilJuMadeDaBeat & Megan Pete | 3:26 |
| 7. | "Otaku Hot Girl" | Joel Banks, Taylor Banks & Megan Pete | Bankroll Got It & Megan Pete | 2:38 |
| 8. | "Find Out" | Samuel Gloade, Samuel Lindley, Carl Mitchell, Dennis Round, Darnell Smith & Megan Pete | 30 Roc, 8 Major, Sloan, The Legendary Traxster | 2:35 |
| 9. | "Boa" | Derrick Gray, Gwen Stefani, Julian Mason, L. Perry & Megan Pete | LilJuMadeDaBeat | 2:34 |
| 10. | "Mamushi" (featuring Yuki Chiba) | Yuki Chiba, Koshiro Ota & Megan Pete | Koshy | 2:36 |
| 11. | "Accent" (featuring GloRilla) | Benjamin Wilson, Gloria Woods, Joel Banks, Taylor Banks, Jarret & Megan Pete | Bankroll Got It, Ben10k, Jarrett | 3:19 |
| 12. | "Paper Together" (featuring UGK) | Chad Butler, Bernard Freeman, Houston, Kevin Price & Megan Pete | Juicy J & Go Grizzly | 3:35 |
| 13. | "Spin" (featuring Victoria Monét) | Victoria Monét, Yonatan Ayal, Akeel Henry & Megan Pete | xSDTRK & Akeel Henry | 3:07 |
| 14. | "Down Stairs DJ" | Carlton Mays & Megan Pete | Da Honorable C.N.O.T.E. | 2:44 |
| 15. | "Miami Blue" (featuring Big K.R.I.T. & Buddah Bless) | Tyron Douglas, Justin Scott, Jacob Waddy Gayton & Megan Pete | Buddah Bless & Jacob Waddy | 2:37 |
| 16. | "Worthy" | Rob Gueringer & Megan Pete | Freaky Rob | 2:19 |
| 17. | "Moody Girl" | Marc Gay, Anthony Holmes, Houston, Carl Martin & Megan Pete | Juicy J & Hitkidd | 2:47 |
| 18. | "Cobra" | D. Gray, Joel Banks, Stanley Clarke, Shawn "Source" Jarrett, Tay Banks & Megan Pete | Bankroll Got It, Derrick Milano, Shawn "Source" Jarrett | 2:48 |
| Total length: | 52:00 | |||
References[]
- ↑ Article discussing the artist and the label's lawsuit settlement.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Billboard article discussing the speech and Instagram live.
- ↑ Article speaking about the timeline of the Megan Thee Stallion and Nicki Minaj feud.
- ↑ Rolling Stone article discussing the tour.
- ↑ Video of Megan Thee Stallion on Good Morning America.
- ↑ Teaser on Instagram
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Article discussing Megan announcing the Hot Girl Summer Tour
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Megan's Instagram post of the tour