'I am Me'Shell NdegeOcello. I play bass, I write music and I sing. Oh, and I happen to be a lesbian.' This outspoken black Lesbian, who 'uncovers new musical ground with a gritty hybrid of jazz, funk, and hip-hop,' is the first artist to be recorded by Madonna on her new Maverick label. The artist describes the title's paradox: 'Plantation is a metaphor for all sorts of urban situations, from Harlem to the shantytowns in Jamaica, just black urban living sort of thing. Lullabies are songs to lull your soul to rest, to caress your mind.' 1993.

Plantation Lullabies is the debut album by Me'shell Ndegeocello. It was released 19 October 1993 on Maverick Records. The album peaked at #166 on the Billboard Top 200 list in 1994; with the single "If That's Your Boyfriend (He Wasn't Last Night)" reaching #73 on the Hot 100.

Me'shell got three Grammy nominations in 1995: Best R&B Album and Best Female R&B Vocal Performance and Best R&B Song for "If That's Your Boyfriend".

In the U.S, "Plantation Lullabies" peaked at #166 on The Billboard 200 Album chart. It also peaked at #7 on Billboard's Heatseekers Album chart and #35 on Billboard's Top R&B Album chart.

The first single that was lifted off the LP was "Dred Loc", in 1993 "Dred Loc" peaked at #86 on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart. The third single "Outside Your Door", peaked at #41 on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart, after the success of "If That's Your Boyfriend" in 1994.

"If That's Your Boyfriend" was a major crossover success for Me'Shell. It peaked at #73 on The Billboard Hot 100. As well as peaking at #21 on Billboard's Hot Rap Singles and #23 on Billboard's Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart. The remixed versions of the single peaked at #20 on Billboard's Dance Music/Club Play Singles chart and #18 on Billboard's Hot Dance Music/Maxi Single Sales chart. The song was also a left field Top 40 hit in the States, peaking at #35 on Billboard's Rhythmic Top 40. The music video for "If That's Your Boyfriend" was nominated for two MTV Music Video Awards. One for "Best New Artist" and another for "Best Female Video".

Personnel

* Me'shell Ndegeocello – producer, vocals, bass, additional instruments

* Wah-Wah Watson – guitar

* Geri Allen – piano

* Joshua Redman – tenor saxophone

* Luis Conte – congas

* Bobby Lyle – piano solo

* Byron Jackson – background vocals

* David Fiuczynski – acoustic guitar

* James "Sleepy Keys" Preston – piano

* DJ Premier – turntable interpretations

* Bill Summers – drums, shekere

* David Gamson – drums, producer

* André Betts – producer, drum programming

* Bob Power – producer, mixer

* George Karas – mixer

* Tom Coyne – mastering

* Mic Murphy – additional engineering

* Julie Larson – A&R coordinator

* Bill Toles – Executive Producer

Singles

*Dred Loc

US 12" single (1993) 0-41039

1. Dred Loc

2. Dred Loc (Skins I'm In Remix)

3. Dred Loc (Sly N Robbie Remix)

4. Dred Loc (Skins I'm In Instrumental)

5. Dred Loc (Sly N Robbie Instrumental)

*If That's Your Boyfriend (He Wasn't Last Night)

*Outside Your Door

US 12" promo (1993) PRO-A-6852

1. Outside Your Door (Edit) 4.23

2. Outside Your Door 5.07

3. Outside Your Door (Remix) 5.05

US CD promo (1993) PRO-CD-6852-R

1. Outside Your Door (Edit) 4.23

2. Outside Your Door (Remix) 5.05

3. Outside Your Door 5.07

*Call Me

UK 12" single (1993) WO244T

UK CD single (1994) WO244CD

1. Call Me (Master Mix)

2. Call Me

3. If That's Your Boyfriend (He Wasn't Last Night) (Cool R&B Extended Mix)

Category:Me'shell Ndegeocello albums

Category:1993 albums

Category:Debut albums

Category:Maverick Records albums

This text has been derived from Plantation Lullabies on Wikipedia and is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License 3.0