It's 11:30 pm in October, and Megan Thee Stallion is live from New York. The hip-hop sensation, 27, bounds up the Saturday Night Live stage, vamping for the cheering audience while wearing a tight sheer black dress and shimmering corset, her hair hanging to her calves.
Tonight, Megan will serve as both SNL's host and musical guest, joining an elite club of musicians including Jennifer Lopez, Mick Jagger, Queen Latifah, Debbie Harry, Elton John and Ray Charles who have done double duty for the show. She finishes her monologue and hustles backstage in high heels for the first of many split-second costume changes. Hot-pink scrubs for a hospital skit, then a preppy sweater and jeans for a log cabin scene. Next, the Grammy-winning rapper emerges in a Miss America-esque gown to perform her new single, "Anxiety" - a song about the stress and struggles of celebrity before again dashing backstage.
"I can't slow down right now," says Megan, whom Forbes estimates earned some $13 million in 2022 from a combination of royalties, ticket sales, endorsements and merch. Hit pause? Not for a second. "I'll take a break when I'm dead," she says. "I'm trying to really build something." She adds, "When I start sitting, I feel like I'm not doing enough or I'm giving somebody else the opportunity to pass me."
Since 2019, Megan Thee Stallion has surged ahead on hip hop's inside rail, leaping from $500 gigs in her hometown of Houston to partnering with music's biggest stars - Beyoncé, Nicki Minaj, BTS and Dua Lipa. In 2020, Cardi B tapped Megan to collaborate on "WAP," a lascivious anthem of female sexual positivity that became thee hit of the year with nearly 2 billion streams on Spotify and YouTube. “That was the song for her. I don’t think it would have made sense for anybody else,” Cardi B says. “She added that spark.”
This story is from the February - March 2023 edition of Forbes Africa.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the February - March 2023 edition of Forbes Africa.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
HIP-HOP'S HOTTEST HUSTLER
The Memphis rap star runs one of the biggest music labels, owns a piece of an MLS team and is looking to expand his empire like his billionaire mentor Jay-Z. But first, he's going to business school.
Kigali Triennial, The Ambitious New Event On The African Cultural Calendar
Rwanda has rightly earned the nickname of \"a land of a thousand hills and a thousand and one opportunities\" because of the country's impressive economic progress. However, after the recently-concluded celebration of arts which was the inaugural Kigali Triennial festival, you can now add culture to the list of things the country offers for tourists and investors.
The dark Side of AI
There is a thin line between innovation and abuse. A look at how large language models (LLMs) are making cyber-criminals even better at mastering the art of deception.
Gene Gamechanger
Disease-resistant crops? Cows that can withstand climate change? Here's how CRISPR is already transforming the continent, and why building a network of skilled scientists can help position Africa as a key global contributor in this frontier of crop development.
Women Empowerment And Transformation In Mining: A Distinctive Perspective
GMDC is a mining company that specializes in tungsten (wolfram) and operates in the city of Kigali, Nyarugenge District, Mageragere Sector.
How The Mining Sector Contributes To Community Development Initiatives
It plays a significant role in Rwanda's overall development, contributing to infrastructure, job creation, health, education, and even environmental conservation. It's not just about extracting resources; mining is mandated to build up the communities and nation alongside its operations.
Reflecting On 2023 Milestones And A Look Ahead
Last year solidified Rwanda's position as a prime African mining investment destination and a burgeoning hub for mineral value addition. What will 2024 hold?
Rwandan Mining Regulator Unveils Three-Year Mineral Exploration Campaign
A holistic approach to responsible mineral resource management in the country.
TASTING SUCCESS
Paul Siguqa has had an unlikely journey in the wine business in South Africa. His mother worked in the vineyards as a laborer during the apartheid era and now, his fully black-owned wine farm sells premium products.
Creating Stronger Communities In Africa Through Digital And Financial Inclusion
In Sub-Saharan Africa, a silent barrier to economic inclusion and social mobility persists: one in four adults lacks identification, according to a World Bank report.