The East Coast icon that mentored Megan Thee Stallion: “I don’t even know why”
Megan Thee Stallion built many powerful connections with MCs before being catapulted into the limelight. However, the Houston native had one unlikely mentor early in her career.
The Texas star first broke into the mainstream with her 2019 single ‘Big Ole Freak’. Still, she had already garnered attention in her hometown and nationwide before the track’s release, and one person who was highly supportive of Megan Thee Stallion before fame was Q-Tip.
As the frontman of A Tribe Called Quest, Q-Tip is considered a product of the East Coast, who rose to fame in the 1980s and 1990s with his group. As such, his association with Megan Thee Stallion seems strange. However, as a fan of hip-hop music, he is always trying to advance the culture and he saw something in the ‘Hiss’ rhymer that others didn’t.
Since her break, Megan has credited Q-Tip with teaching her and giving her essential tips concerning how to navigate the music industry. In 2018, Tina Snow was travelling across the US to perform at festivals and other venues. Due to her various appearances, she ended up on Q-Tip’s radar, and in 2019, he reached out to her.
Q-Tip sent an e-mail, but in an interview with Okayplayer, Megan Thee Stallion admitted she didn’t think it was indeed Tip on the other line but was happy her mom answered his request.
Recalling the first time Q-Tip contacted her, Megan Told the online magazine, “So, we got like a real mysterious e-mail, and the e-mail is one of those things where they say it’s from someone famous who wants to get into communication with you. And I’m like, ‘Momma, that sound funny. I don’t think we should reply.’”
Megan was hesitant and extremely cautious. However, her late mother was a bit more brave and eventually decided to go ahead with a response. Reflecting on her mother’s decision, Megan continued, “I don’t even know why my momma would reply, but whatever made her reply, I’m glad she did because it actually wound up being Q-Tip.”
Megan expressed how essential Q-Tip was in building the foundations of her career, continuing, “He is just so supportive, and he loves the way I rap, and he really rocked with me. So every time I go to New York, I have to hang with him. He’s like a mentor. He’s just amazing.”
Not only did Q-Tip mentor Megan, but he also listened to her music and gave her advice before she released it. Tip was one of Megan’s earlier supporters and even compared her lyrical style to rapper Nas. In a 2019 interview with Fader, Q-Tip spoke about the Houston legend, stating, “She’s just an amazing MC! She’s barred out. Some people may think her stuff is just over-sexualized, but it is her approach to it. It’s her tact with it. It is very innovative to me — especially to see a young woman like herself being in a position of standing in her power, to stand in her royalty and never let that be shaken. It was just something in her that I really love.”