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Mereba

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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
LabelsInterscope[2]
Websitemerebamusic.com

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

Early life and education

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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

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

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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: The Jungle Is The Only Way Out

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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 Stevie Wonder-produced track, "Black Truck".

2021: Glock Peaceful

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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]

Influences

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Mereba has cited Stevie Wonder as a mentor and musical influence.[16][17] In 2017, she performed alongside Wonder in Malibu.[18]

Discography

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Studio albums

[edit]
List of studio albums, with selected details
Title Album 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

Extended plays

[edit]
List of extended plays, with selected details
Title Mixtape 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

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

Guest appearances

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List of non-single guest appearances, with other performing artists, showing year released and album name
Title Year Other performer(s) Album
"UFOs" 2013 EarthGang Shallow Graves For Toys
"Ultra Rare"
"Grand Theft Auto" JID Para Tu
"Church" 2014 Miloh Smith Pulp Fiction
"Good Night" Cyhi the Prynce Black Hystori Project
"Lucky Buddha" JID, Money Makin' Nique Lucky Buddha
"Calypso" Khary Swim Team
"Fryin'" 2015 Spillage Village Bears Like This Too
"Love Child"
"Liquor Sto'" EarthGang Strays With Rabies
"Lady Nectarine"
"Letters" JID Non-album single[19]
"Off The Lot" 2018 EarthGang Royalty
"PTSD" 2019 Dreamville Revenge of the Dreamers III
"Myrlie" Rapsody Eve
"Yo Love" Vince Staples, 6lack Queen & Slim: The Soundtrack
"Self" 2020 Brandon Banks Static
"Same Boat" Kojey Radical Non-album single
"Like I Feel" Xavier Omar If You Feel
"Westside" Reason New Beginnings
"End of Daze" Spillage Village Spilligion
"Hapi"
"Pslamsing"
"Golden Pt. 2" Berhana Non-album single

References

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  1. ^ "Mereba finds exceptional strength and love on AZEB EP". June 3, 2021.
  2. ^ https://www.interscope.com/artists/mereba [bare URL]
  3. ^ a b c d e f Martin, Syreeta (July 22, 2016). "[BLACK, FRESH & 20-SOMETHING]Singer/Songwriter Marian Mereba". EBONY. Retrieved February 24, 2019.
  4. ^ a b c "INTERVIEW: Marian Mereba on her musical journey, her tree hugging ways & the Atlanta music scene". AFROPUNK. September 16, 2014. Retrieved February 24, 2019.
  5. ^ a b "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. ^ "interview | mereba". Schön! Magazine. June 17, 2019. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
  17. ^ Schemmer, Cynthia (February 14, 2020). "Mereba and the Never-Ending Story of the Jungle". She Shreds Media. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
  18. ^ "An Evening with Stevie Wonder & Mereba". Retrieved March 16, 2019.
  19. ^ Thomas, Amara. "J.I.D Premieres Reflective New Single, "Letter"". The Fader. Retrieved May 14, 2019.