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Dana Scruggs for TIMEMegan Thee Stallion is one of the many artists spotlighted on TIME magazine’s annual TIME 100: Most Influential People in the World list.
In the Pioneers category, award-winning actress Taraji P. Henson penned a touching statement about the “Savage” rapper, whom she described as a “deep” and “free-spirit[ed] entertainer,” who has a much bigger plan to “keep winning.”
“I remember hearing Megan Thee Stallion on one of those famous DJ radio shows a few years ago,” Henson wrote. “She rode the beat like I’d never heard anybody ride the beat in a long time — and I’m a hip-hop hea. There was something about this woman. Once you discover her, you become a fan.”
Henson also acknowledged Megan’s “strong” persona in the months since she was shot in both her feet back in July.
“I don’t like to put the stigma of the word strong on Black women because I think it dehumanizes us, but she has strength — strength through vulnerability,” the actress continued. “She’s lost much of her family — her mother, her father, her grandmother — yet she is the epitome of tenacity, of pulling herself up by her bootstraps. She was shot this summer, and still, people tried to tear her down. But she’s out here still loving and being sweet.”
Henson declared “it’s invigorating” to see Megan land several #1 records in the past year, including her most recent Cardi B collaboration, “WAP.”
“When I saw all of the politicians in an uproar about mine and Cardi’s ‘WAP,’ I was just really taken back,” Megan joked during her TIME interview. “Like why is this your focus right now? If you have an issue with what I’m saying, don’t listen to it. Tune out because I didn’t ask you to tune in.”
By Rachel George
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