Mereba

Last updated

Mereba
Birth nameMarian Azeb Mereba [1]
Born (1990-09-19) September 19, 1990 (age 34)
Montgomery, Alabama, U.S.
Genres
Occupations
  • Singer
  • rapper
  • songwriter
  • record producer
InstrumentVocals
Years active2013–present
Labels Interscope [2]
Website merebamusic.com

Marian Azeb Mereba (born September 19, 1990), known mononymously as Mereba, is an American singer, rapper, songwriter, and record producer. [3]

Contents

Early life and education

Mereba was born in Montgomery, Alabama on September 19, 1990,[ citation needed ] and raised in Pennsylvania. Her father is from Ethiopia. [4] [5] Her mother is African American and was born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. [6] Her family moved frequently because of her parents' jobs as university professors. [3]

Mereba first developed an interest in music at age four. [3] She began writing songs in elementary school and learned to play the piano and guitar. [4] She went to high school in Greensboro, North Carolina. [5] [7]

Mereba attended Carnegie Mellon University [3] before transferring Spelman College. [3] [4] She graduated from Spelman in 2011 with an English degree and a music minor. [3]

Career

2013–2017: Room For Living, Radio Flyer, and Spillage Village

After several years performing in the indie music scene in Atlanta, Mereba self-released her debut project Room For Living EP, under her full name, on February 14, 2013. [8]

2018–2019, 2021: The Jungle is the Only Way Out & "Glock Peaceful"

In 2018, Mereba signed to Interscope Records, [9] releasing the singles "Black Truck" and "Planet U", [10] [11] which went on to appear on her debut album, The Jungle Is The Only Way Out, released February 27, 2019. [12] [13] The album, often acronymed as TJITOWO, was written and produced by Mereba with co-production by Samuel Hoffman, excluding the 9th Wonder-produced track, "Black Truck".

On December 13, 2021, Mereba released "Glock Peaceful", which envisions a country free of gun violence and police brutality. [14] The song was featured on season 5 of the show Insecure produced by Issa Rae on HBO Max. [15]

2024-present: The Breeze Grew a Fire

In October 2024, it was announced Mereba signed a deal with Secretly Canadian, releasing the single "Counterfeit", which served as the lead single to her upcoming second album The Breeze Grew a Fire. The album is scheduled to be released on February 14, 2025. [16]

Influences

Mereba has cited Stevie Wonder as a mentor and musical influence. [17] [18] In 2017, she performed alongside Wonder in Malibu. [19]

Discography

Studio albums

List of studio albums, with selected details
TitleAlbum details
The Jungle is the Only Way Out
Spilligion
(as part of Spillage Village)
  • Released: September 25, 2020
  • Label: Dreamville, Interscope, Sincethe80's
  • Format: CD, LP, Digital download, streaming
The Breeze Grew a Fire

Extended plays

List of extended plays, with selected details
TitleMixtape details
Room For Living
  • Released: February 14, 2013
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
Radio Flyer
  • Unreleased; originally slated for July 2014
  • Label: Red Kotton
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
Kotton House, Vol. 1
  • Released: February 10, 2017
  • Label: Jam Solutions, Remote Control Music
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
Azeb
  • Released: May 26, 2021
  • Label: Interscope
  • Format: Digital download, streaming

Singles

List of singles, with showing year released and album name
TitleYearAlbum(s)
"September"2014Non-album singles
"Radio Flyer"
"Bet"2016
"Black Truck"2018
"Planet U"
"Late Bloomer"
"Sandstorm"2019

Guest appearances

List of non-single guest appearances, with other performing artists, showing year released and album name
TitleYearOther performer(s)Album
"UFOs"2013 EarthGang Shallow Graves For Toys
"Ultra Rare"
"Grand Theft Auto" JID Para Tu
"Church"2014Miloh SmithPulp Fiction
"Good Night" Cyhi the Prynce Black Hystori Project
"Lucky Buddha"JID, Money Makin' NiqueLucky Buddha
"Calypso"KharySwim Team
"Fryin'"2015 Spillage Village Bears Like This Too
"Love Child"
"Liquor Sto'"EarthGangStrays With Rabies
"Lady Nectarine"
"Letters"JIDNon-album single [20]
"Off The Lot"2018EarthGangRoyalty
"PTSD"2019 Dreamville Revenge of the Dreamers III
"Myrlie" Rapsody Eve
"Yo Love" Vince Staples, 6lack Queen & Slim: The Soundtrack
"Self"2020Brandon BanksStatic
"Same Boat" Kojey Radical Non-album single
"Like I Feel"Xavier OmarIf You Feel
"Westside" Reason New Beginnings
"End of Daze"Spillage Village Spilligion
"Hapi"
"Pslamsing"
"Golden Pt. 2" Berhana Non-album single

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stevie Wonder</span> American musician (born 1950)

Stevland Hardaway Morris, known professionally as Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, musician, and record producer. He is regarded as one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century. Wonder is credited as a pioneer and influence by musicians across a range of genres that include R&B, pop, soul, gospel, funk, and jazz. A virtual one-man band, Wonder's use of synthesizers and other electronic musical instruments during the 1970s reshaped the conventions of contemporary R&B. He also helped drive such genres into the album era, crafting his LPs as cohesive and consistent, in addition to socially conscious statements with complex compositions. Blind since shortly after his birth, Wonder was a child prodigy who signed with Motown's Tamla label at the age of 11, where he was given the professional name Little Stevie Wonder.

<i>Songs in the Key of Life</i> 1976 studio album by Stevie Wonder

Songs in the Key of Life is the eighteenth studio album by American singer, songwriter and musician Stevie Wonder. A double album, it was released on September 28, 1976, by Tamla Records, a division of Motown. It was recorded primarily at Crystal Sound studio in Hollywood, with some sessions recorded at the Record Plant in Hollywood, the Record Plant in Sausalito, and The Hit Factory in New York City; final mixing was conducted at Crystal Sound. The album has been regarded by music journalists as the culmination of Wonder's "classic period" of recording.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">India Arie</span> American singer-songwriter (born 1975)

India Arie Simpson is an American singer and songwriter. Her debut album, Acoustic Soul, was released in 2001, and she has since released six more studio albums. Arie has sold over five million records in the US and ten million worldwide, and has won four Grammy Awards from 23 nominations, including Best R&B Album.

<i>Hotter than July</i> 1980 studio album by Stevie Wonder

Hotter than July is the nineteenth studio album by American singer, songwriter, and musician Stevie Wonder, released on September 29, 1980, by Tamla, a subsidiary of Motown Records. Wonder primarily recorded the album in Los Angeles, California, at Wonderland Studios, which he had recently acquired. The album peaked at number three on the Billboard Top LPs & Tapes chart and was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on February 3, 1981. It was Wonder's most successful album in the UK, where it peaked at number two on the UK Albums Chart and produced four top-10 singles. Music videos were produced for the album's first, third, and fourth singles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Superstition (song)</span> 1972 single by Stevie Wonder

"Superstition" is a song by American singer-songwriter Stevie Wonder. It was released on October 24, 1972, as the lead single from his fifteenth studio album, Talking Book (1972), by Tamla. The lyrics describe popular superstitions and their negative effects.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert Glasper</span> American jazz pianist, record producer, and songwriter

Robert Andre Glasper is an American pianist, record producer, songwriter, and musical arranger. His music embodies numerous musical genres, primarily centered around jazz. Glasper has won five Grammy Awards from 11 nominations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Overjoyed (Stevie Wonder song)</span> 1985 single by Stevie Wonder

"Overjoyed" is a hit single written and performed by American R&B singer-songwriter Stevie Wonder on the Tamla (Motown) label from his 1985 album In Square Circle. The single peaked at No. 24 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in April 1986, remaining in the Top 40 for six weeks. In addition, "Overjoyed" was a No. 1 hit on the adult contemporary chart, the eighth of his career. An alternate single release featured an instrumental version on the B-side.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AlunaGeorge</span> British pop music duo

AlunaGeorge are an English electronic music duo from London, consisting of singer-songwriter Aluna Francis and producer George Reid. Since 2020, the duo has been on indefinite hiatus, allowing both members to pursue solo projects.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kamasi Washington</span> American saxophonist and bandleader

Kamasi Tii Washington is an American jazz saxophonist. He is a founding member of the jazz collective West Coast Get Down.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SZA</span> American singer-songwriter (born 1989)

Solána Imani Rowe, known professionally as SZA, is an American singer-songwriter. She first gained recognition through her self-released EPs See.SZA.Run (2012) and S (2013), which helped her become the first female artist to sign with Top Dawg Entertainment. Her third EP, Z (2014), was her first project to be released to digital retailers and reached the top-ten on the U.S. Independent Albums chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kelela</span> American singer (born 1983)

Kelela Mizanekristos is an American singer. She made her debut in the music industry with the release of her 2013 mixtape Cut 4 Me. In 2015, she released Hallucinogen, an EP which deals with the beginning, middle, and end of a relationship in reverse chronological order. Her debut studio album, Take Me Apart, was released in 2017 to critical acclaim. After a nearly 5-year hiatus, Kelela released her second album, Raven, in February of 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lola Kirke</span> American and British actress (born 1990)

Lola Kirke is an American and British actress and singer. She starred in the 2015 film Mistress America and the Amazon Studios television series Mozart in the Jungle. She appeared in Gone Girl (2014), Gemini (2017), and Lost Girls (2020) among other films. Recent work includes HBO's Winning Time (2022) and the Starz limited series Three Women. Kirke started her singing career in 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">EarthGang</span> American hip hop duo

EarthGang is an American hip hop duo from Atlanta, Georgia, composed of Olu and WowGr8. They are co-founders of the musical collective Spillage Village, with JID, Hollywood JB, JordxnBryant, 6lack, Mereba, and Benji.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kali Uchis</span> American singer and songwriter (born 1994)

Karly Marina Loaiza, known professionally as Kali Uchis, is an American singer and songwriter. After releasing her debut mixtape Drunken Babble (2012), she gained recognition for her debut extended play, Por Vida (2015). She signed with Virgin EMI Records to release her debut studio album Isolation (2018), which peaked at number 34 on the Billboard 200 and saw widespread acclaim. She then signed with Interscope Records to release her second studio album and first Spanish-language project, Sin Miedo (2020). It spawned the single "Telepatía", which first gained virality on TikTok and marked her first entry on the Billboard Hot 100 at number 25, also receiving double platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Her third studio album, Red Moon in Venus (2023) peaked at number four on the Billboard 200, while her fourth album and second Spanish-language project, Orquídeas (2024), peaked at number two.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kari Faux</span> American rapper (born 1992)

Kari Rose Johnson better known by her stage name Kari Faux, is an American rapper from Little Rock, Arkansas. She is best known for her flamboyant dress, and conversational style of rap. Her songs are most commonly characterized as "internet rap" with repetitive hooks, minimal production, and an emphasis on clever wordplay.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jay Som</span> American singer (born 1994)

Melina Mae Cortez Duterte, better known by her stage name Jay Som, is an American, Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer and mixing engineer. Her debut record Everybody Works was released on Double Denim Records & Polyvinyl Records in March 2017, which was preceded by Turn Into, a collection of songs that first gained her attention as a singer-songwriter. The follow-up to Everybody Works and Jay Som's second home studio album, Anak Ko, was released on August 23, 2019 via Polyvinyl, Lucky Number, and Inertia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Berhana</span> American singer

Amain Berhane, better known as Berhana, is an American singer-songwriter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Baby Tate (rapper)</span> American rapper and singer (born 1996)

Tate Sequoya Farris, known professionally as Baby Tate, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer. The daughter of singer Dionne Farris, she released her debut project, ROYGBIV, in 2015. She has since garnered significant attention for the successful viral single "I Am" featuring Flo Milli and the EP After the Rain, among others. Her song "Beckham" was featured in the pilot episode of Euphoria in 2019. In 2021, she signed a record deal with Warner Records and released her major label debut single, "Pedi", on October 29, 2021. She dropped her EP Baby Tate Presents: Sexploration the Musical on October 27, 2023

Kaina Castillo, known simply as, KAINA, is an American singer-songwriter. On July 12, 2019, she released her debut album, Next to the Sun. In 2022, she released her second studio album, It Was a Home.

References

  1. "Mereba finds exceptional strength and love on AZEB EP". June 3, 2021.
  2. https://www.interscope.com/artists/mereba [ bare URL ]
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Martin, Syreeta (July 22, 2016). "[BLACK, FRESH & 20-SOMETHING]Singer/Songwriter Marian Mereba". EBONY. Retrieved February 24, 2019.
  4. 1 2 3 "INTERVIEW: Marian Mereba on her musical journey, her tree hugging ways & the Atlanta music scene". AFROPUNK. September 16, 2014. Retrieved February 24, 2019.
  5. 1 2 "Mereba Is a Musician Who Thrives on Discomfort". www.lofficielusa.com. Retrieved February 24, 2019.
  6. Wong Ken, Steph (February 14, 2020). "Mereba and the Never-Ending Story of the Jungle". She Shreds Media. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  7. "Mereba". Spotify. Retrieved February 24, 2019.
  8. "Room For Living EP, by Marian Mereba". Marian Mereba. Retrieved March 16, 2019.
  9. Kermah, Jonathan. "Mereba, Solange and black women leading the charge in music". Amherst Wire. Retrieved March 16, 2019.
  10. Kim, Michelle (October 1, 2018). ""Planet U" by Mereba (review)". Pitchfork.
  11. "10 songs you need in your life this week". The FADER. Retrieved March 27, 2019.
  12. "Mereba Relays Emotionally-Layered Dynamism in 'The Jungle is the Only Way Out'". Hypebeast. February 27, 2019. Retrieved March 27, 2019.
  13. Lyle, Ashley (February 28, 2019). "Mereba Captivates Her Audience During "The Jungle Is The Only Way Out" Listening". HipHopDX . Retrieved March 27, 2019.
  14. "Mereba: AZEB EP". Pitchfork. Retrieved November 2, 2022.
  15. Inman, DeMicia (November 30, 2021). "Issa Rae Shares 'Insecure' Season 5 Soundtrack Tracklist Featuring Saweetie, Mereba, And More". VIBE.com. Retrieved November 2, 2022.
  16. Strauss, Matthew. "Mereba Announces First Album Since 2019, Shares Video for New Song "Counterfeit"". Pitchfork. Retrieved November 3, 2024.
  17. "interview | mereba". Schön! Magazine. June 17, 2019. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
  18. Schemmer, Cynthia (February 14, 2020). "Mereba and the Never-Ending Story of the Jungle". She Shreds Media. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
  19. "An Evening with Stevie Wonder & Mereba" . Retrieved March 16, 2019.
  20. Thomas, Amara. "J.I.D Premieres Reflective New Single, "Letter"". The Fader. Retrieved May 14, 2019.