Megan Thee Stallion begins her “Cobra” video by saying, “Just as a snake sheds its skin, we must shed our past over and over again” — the same message she used to tease the song on socials last week — and proceeding to crawl out from inside of a cobra. Objectively, the best part of an artist dropping new music is the race to subjectively decode what it all means, and in this case, the shedding of the cobra skin could very well symbolize Hot Girl Meg’s recently becoming an independent artist.
“Hotties — the real Hotties, not the Notties, kinda them, too — this part of my album is definitely very much funded by Megan Thee Stallion,” she said, in part. “Y’all know what’s the tea. But I have no label right now. And we’re doing everything funded straight out of Megan Thee Stallion’s pockets. So, the budget is coming from me. Motherf*cking Hot Girl Productions! The next sh*t y’all about to see about to be all straight from Megan Thee Stallion’s brain and Megan Thee Stallion’s wallet. We in my pockets, Hotties!”
As promised, “Cobra” was released under Hot Girl Productions LLC.
Megan Thee Stallion politely requested that her Hotties “stop trying” to guess what her next single, “Cobra,” would sound like because “y’all are not gonna be able to guess.” Within the same post, Meg also shared, “I spilled my guts on this song, I helped produce this song, I’m just so proud of it.” When “Cobra” arrived this morning, November 3, Hotties no longer had to guess about the song’s sonic contents, but now, they’ve shifted into hypothesizing who “Cobra” is about.
In the accompanying “Cobra” video, Megan Thee Stallion emerges from inside of a cobra after saying, “Just as a snake sheds its skin, we must shed our past over and over again.” Once she’s standing on her own two feet, she shreds everyone who has done her wrong. If you’ve been paying attention over the last three-ish years, that’s a lengthy list.
Who Is “Cobra” About?
Disclaimer: We don’t know. We can’t know unless Megan Thee Stallion explicitly says whom “Cobra” is based upon. She’s endured an overwhelming amount of people projecting opinions onto her, especially after Tory Lanez was alleged to have shot her in her feet in July 2020.
That said, it would appear that the majority of “Cobra” finds Meg venting about how she navigated Lanez’s abuse toward her — evidenced by brave and vulnerable bars like “Breakin’ down, and I had the whole world watchin’ / But the worst part is really who watched me / Every night I cried, I almost died / And nobody close tried to stop it” or “Yes, I’m very depressed / How can somebody so blessed wanna slit they wrist?”
For reference, Meg testified during Lanez’s trial, in part, “I can’t even be happy. I can’t hold conversations with people for a long time. I don’t feel like I want to be on this earth. I wish he would have just shot and killed me, if I knew I would have to go through this torture” (as NPR relayed last December).
Additionally, there’s this: “Damn, I got problems / Never thought a b*tch like me would ever hit rock bottom / Man, I miss my parents, way too anxious, always cancel my plans / Pulled up, caught him cheatin’, gettin’ his d*ck sucked in the same spot I’m sleepin’.” People were quick to assume that those bars were reserved for her ex, Pardison “Pardi” Fontaine.
Earlier this month, Megan Thee Stallion revealed that she is no longer signed to a label and will pursue her career independently for the foreseeable future. This seemed to suggest that her long-simmering legal dispute with Houston label 1501 Certified Entertainment had finally come to an end, and today, Billboard confirmed as much, reporting that Megan and 1501 Certified had “mutually reached a confidential settlement to resolve their legal differences” and will “amicably part ways.”
Over the course of the past four years, the dispute had grown quite acrimonious at times. Still, in a statement, 1501 said, “Both Megan and 1501 are pleased to put this matter behind them and move forward with the next chapter of their respective businesses,” with the label’s founder and president Carl Crawford saying he and 1501 “wish Megan the very best in her life and career.”
Here’s a timeline of the legal battle.
March 2020 — Megan Says 1501 Is Blocking Her From Releasing New Music
After her song “Big Ole Freak” blew up in the summer of 2019, Megan signed with Roc Nation management in September 2019. However, in March 2020, after releasing the follow-up singles “B.I.T.C.H.” and “Captain Hook,” Megan said during an Instagram Live session that 1501 was blocking her from releasing new music after she requested to renegotiate her 2018 contract with the label, citing unfair terms that gave 1501 cuts of every revenue stream.
August 2021 — 1501 Tries To Block The Release Of Meg’s Remix Of BTS’s Hit “Butter”
While Crawford and Houston music icon J. Prince insinuated that 1501 and Meg were close to a new deal throughout 2020, through the releases of the EP Suga and her debut album Good News, in August 2021, the reveal that the label once again tried to block the release of new music appeared to belie their comments.
This time, Megan once again went to court to grant the release of a song, her remix to K-pop band BTS’s monster hit “Butter.” Once again, she was granted a court order allowing the release of the song, but it became clear that her issues with 1501 weren’t going away.
February 2022 — Megan Sues To End Her Contract With 1501
Things came to a head early last year when Megan finally outright sued 1501 Certified Entertainment after the label refused to count Something For Thee Hotties against her contract. By her reckoning, the project satisfied her four-album deal, but because many of its 21 tracks were freestyles or previously recorded material, 1501 labeled it a compilation.
August 2022 — Megan Amends Her Suit, Demanding $1 Million In Unpaid Royalties
“This part of my album is definitely very much funded by Megan Thee Stallion because we’re trying to get off,” Hot Girl Meg said (as per Rolling Stone). “Y’all know what’s the tea. But I have no label right now. We’re doing everything funded straight out of Megan Thee Stallion’s pockets.”
“After more than three years of litigation over a record deal she calls ‘unconscionable,’ attorneys for 1501 announced Thursday that the two sides had ‘mutually reached a confidential settlement to resolve their legal differences.’ Under the deal, Megan and 1501 will ‘amicably part ways.’
‘Both Megan and 1501 are pleased to put this matter behind them and move forward with the next chapter of their respective businesses,’ 1501 said. In the same statement, the label’s president Carl Crawford said that he and his company ‘wish Megan the very best in her life and career.’ Specific terms of the deal, including whether any money changed hands, were not disclosed.”
In September, around the release of her and Cardi B’s “Bongos” single, Megan Thee Stallion told Billboardthat material on her next album is “definitely coming very soon.”
“The tea is… everything about the music is tea!” Megan Thee Stallion added. “Just expect the unexpected. Expect a lot of rawness, a lot of realness, a lot of sh*t talking. Just know I’m coming, and I hope everybody ready.”
Based on “Anxiety” rapper Megan Thee Stallion’s latest social media posts, she could be entering into a new era. In this new cycle, the H-Town hottie could be wiping the slate clean in all areas of her life, including her professional partnerships. Yesterday (October 12), during a live stream on Instagram, Megan dropped a major bombshell on her fans.
“I have no label right now. And we’re doing everything funded straight out of Megan Thee Stallion’s pockets,” confessed the musician. This unexpected revelation has made fans ask, is Megan still signed to Roc Nation? According to the current roster page on their official website, the answer is yes.
But it is important to note that when Megan inked a deal with Roc Nation in 2019, the reported terms of their agreement were solely to handle her management needs. The press notes also reflected this for Megan’s extended partnership with the Flamin’ Hot brand. So, her alleged claims that she’s a free agent might only apply to the record contract side of her business dealings.
It is unclear if a final legal decision has been made in the ongoing trial of Megan and her former record label, 1501 Entertainment. During yesterday’s broadcast, Megan confessed that she is excited to be an independent artist again for the first time in years.
Megan Thee Stallion is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
Megan Thee Stallion is still dealing with the fallout from a high profile legal battle with her former 1501 label. In particular, she’s accused label head Carl Crawford of making decisions in an attempt to deliberately sabotage her career and withholding money that she was owed. Clearly, that’s affected Megan’s approach to the music industry. Now that she’s returned to releasing new music she’s elaborating on her approach to labels going forward.
Megan took to her Instagram live to share updates with fans and that included an explanation of how her new music is being handled. “This part of my album is very much so funded by Megan because we’re trying to get off… Y’all know what’s the tea. But I have no label right now,” she begins. Megan has only been a part of two new singles this year. The first was an appearance on Cardi B’s “Bongos” which was released through Cardi’s label Atlantic. Her other single is from the soundtrack for D*cks: The Musical, an upcoming film she’s acting in. That song was released through production studio A24. Check out the clip from her Instagram live below.
She went on to explain where the funds for her new music are coming from. “And we’re doing everything funded straight out of Megan Thee Stallion’s pockets. So, the budget is coming from me. Motherf*cking Hot Girl Productions! The next sh*t y’all about to see is all straight from Megan Thee Stallion’s brain and Megan Thee Stallion’s wallet. We are in my pockets, hotties, so let’s do our big one.”
Overnight, 1501 Entertainment hit back at Megan. She’s requesting in court that the labels money be handled by a third party in the short term until their legal bindings are untangled. 1501 is describing the move as “bad faith and solely for harassment.” What do you think of Megan releasing her new music independently? Let us know in the comment section below.
Could Megan Thee Stallion’s industry issue be over? For years, the “Savage” rapper has been tied up in a legal battle with her former label, 1501 Certified Entertainment, and company head Carl Crawford. In past court documents, the Grammy Award-winning musician has accused the entity of sabotaging her past releases and hiding money. Now that Megan has officially returned from her hiatus, she’s shared a significant update with fans.
Yesterday (October 12), during an Instagram Live session, Megan revealed that she’s not signed to a label and explained why she’ll stay independent. The broadcast, which longtime producer Lil JuMade It hosted, gave fans hope that things were looking up.
“Hotties! The real hotties, not the notties. Kinda them, too. This part of my album is very much so funded by Megan Thee Stallion because we’re trying to get off… Y’all know what’s the tea. But I have no label right now,” said the recording artist.
She continued, “And we’re doing everything funded straight out of Megan Thee Stallion’s pockets. So, the budget is coming from me. Motherf*cking Hot Girl Productions! The next sh*t y’all about to see is all straight from Megan Thee Stallion’s brain and Megan Thee Stallion’s wallet. We are in my pockets, hotties, so let’s do our big one.”
Megan discussed the decision to step out on her own and what the future holds. “I’m so excited to be doing something for the first time independently since it was just me and my momma. So excited. It’s really just me this go around until we sign to a new label. But I don’t want to sign to a new label right now because I just want to do it myself,” she remarked.
Watch the full clip below.
| Megan Thee Stallion gives more insight into her upcoming album; says she’s funding it herself while trying to get out of her previous deal.
“I have no label right now, we’re doing everything funded straight out of Megan Thee Stallion’s pocket.” pic.twitter.com/lLqd1cL8bA
Now more than ever, the rise of women in rap is positively booming. There’s still quite a ways to go, but many more women artists have sprung up within the Hip Hop scene in recent years. These acts are willing to brave the industry and make a name for themselves in a male-dominated space. One such artist is Erica Banks, an emerging rap star. If the name sounds familiar, it’s probably because she had a viral hit in early 2021. However, since then, she has not made as many waves. Regardless, she is still very present in the industry and working hard to consistently put herself out there.
The rapper revealed in June 2023 that she has parted with 1501 Certified Entertainment. Furthermore, she called them “greedy” and alleged they owed her money. Banks is also signed to Warner Records, and records show that she has the potential to become a major star. For example, Megan Thee Stallion, whom Erica Banks is often compared to, also found great success after departing from 1501 Ent. Banks just might be on the right track with her decision to leave. In the meantime, however, she’s joined the main cast of Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta.
Background & Debut
ATLANTA, GA – OCTOBER 24: Erica Banks performs 2021 A3C Conference and festival at The Gathering Spot on October 24, 2021 in Atlanta, Georgia.(Photo by Prince Williams/Wireimage)
Erica Banks was born on October 5, 1998, in DeSoto, Texas. She developed an interest in music from a young age and started writing her lyrics in her preteen years. Banks started off writing poems in high school. She soon realized she had an affinity for rap and transitioned to rapping while still there
Like many other contemporary rap artists, Banks first started uploading her songs on SoundCloud in 2018. She amassed a moderate following from there and in March 2019, independently released her debut mixtape, Art of the Hustle. In the same year, she independently released two more mixtapes, Pressure and Cocky on Purpose, in June and November, respectively. Prior to the release of the latter two projects, Banks signed a record deal with 1501 Certified Entertainment in April 2019. She bagged the deal after giving the label’s CEO a preview of her then-unreleased song “Buss It” on Instagram Live.
Breakout Single
Following her steady rise, Erica Banks dropped the eponymous Erica Banks mixtape in 2020, under 1501 Certified Entertainment. The self-titled mixtape was released mid-pandemic, on June 19, 2020. It contained 12 songs, including her eventual viral TikTok hit, “Buss It.” Not much came of the album or any of its singles upon its release, and the reception was lukewarm at best. However, in January 2021, “Buss It” began gaining traction on TikTok, and soon became a massive hit.
The “Buss It” challenge on TikTok, where people would typically transition from casual attire to glamorous outfits while dancing to the song, significantly contributed to the song’s popularity. “Buss It” became Erica Banks’ breakout single and went on to achieve commercial success. The single peaked at No. 47 on the Billboard Hot 100, her first appearance on the chart. It also earned a Platinum certification from the RIAA for selling over one million units. “Buss It” is Banks’ most successful single to date.
Musical Style
Hollywood, CA – November 13: Recording artist Erica Banks, on the red carpet of the 2021 AFI Fest Gala Premiere of Netflixs, Bruised at the TCL Chinese Theatre, in Hollywood, CA, Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021. The film, Halle Berrys directorial debut, follows an aging mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter, played by Berry, who accepts an offer to fight the top female MMA fighter, while also dealing with the return of a son she given up for adoption. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
In an interview with Nylon magazine, Banks credited the iconic artists Missy Elliot and Nicki Minaj as her biggest creative influences. The rapper has taken notes from their artistry and developed her unique voice along the way. Banks is also known for her assertive and confident style of rapping. Furthermore, she often addresses themes of empowerment and self-confidence in her lyrics.
This, in addition to her delivery style, has made the rapper come up in multiple discussions comparing her to Megan Thee Stallion. Admittedly, there are some similarities between the two rappers, but their brands are distinctly different. In summary, they both clearly express their individuality in their music, fashion, and personality.
Body-Shaming Controversy
The 24-year-old rapper has been involved in a few controversies in her career so far. She received backlash in 2022 after accidentally sharing a story intended for her Instagram Close Friends to the public. In the video, she states the physical requirements that have to be met before any lady can be allowed to club with her. Following the outrage, she expressed that she did not feel she was being discriminatory and just wanted a certain type of look. The public, however, did not buy it and believed she was body-shaming.
Growth & Potential
In 2021, Erica Banks was nominated for two American Music Awards. She received the nods for Favorite Female Hip Hop Artist and Favorite Trending Song for “Buss It.” Although she didn’t take home either of the two awards that night, Banks has the potential to eventually bag some in the future. The rapper is considered an up-and-coming artist with the potential for further success and influence in the Hip Hop scene. Perhaps her time on Love & Hip-Hop will aid her prominence as a burgeoning star. Nonetheless, her music isn’t taking a back seat, and new music is still on the way.
Erica Banks may have recently left her label 1501 Certified Entertainment, but the label’s founder, former MLB player Carl Crawford, insists that he was really the victim of shady business practices, not the perpetrator. During an Instagram Live stream, Crawford argued that he’s the one who is in debt to Warner Music Group after Banks’ departure, which he blamed on her following Megan Thee Stallion’s example.
According to AllHipHop, during the stream, Crawford said, “Erica’s not even making no money for me to take… I was just as surprised as y’all [were] to hear we’re greedy and stealing money. I’m still trying to figure that one out because last I checked we’re $500,000 in the hole with Warner. That’s all I know. So who owes who money?”
He also referenced Meg, with whom 1501 has been engaged in a years-long legal battle, saying, “The only reason why the one’s doing it is because the other one did it, so if the first one hadn’t took this route, the second wouldn’t have took this route. They only follow each other.”
The first indications that Banks was also feuding with the label came with a late-June snippet of her new song “Real Rap B*tch.” In it, she raps, “Give a f*ck about that label they see me / And they owe me some money, they greedy.” The full song was released this past weekend on YouTube.
Megan Thee Stallion sued 1501 in 2020 after the label refused to release her from or renegotiate her contract and tried to block her from releasing new music. Since then, the dispute has only grown more contentious, with Meg recently accusing the label of hiding money to keep from paying her royalties.
Erica Banks is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
Megan Thee Stallion is currently fighting a court battle against her former label 1501 Certified Entertainment, involving planning purported diss tracks after the Tory Lanezsituation and halting the release of new music. Previously, outlets reported that Carl Crawford and his company denied her motion for a deposition to dig deeper into the case. Now, court documents obtained by Radar Online indicate that the Houston MC’s attorneys took matters into their own hands. Moreover, they issued a subpoena demanding that Darien Smith, her former best friend Kelsey Harris’ boyfriend, sit for a deposition before trial begins on August 7. However, the label thinks that she’s looking for the wrong Darien Smith.
Furthermore, 1501 stated that Smith does not work at the label, and that Megan Thee Stallion is instead referring to Darrian Smith. Regardless, the Traumanize artist believes that Harris’ boyfriend has crucial information that could help her prove Carl Crawford and his associates’ wrongdoing. Not only that, but she alleged that Harris worked with 1501 to make a diss track, which the label also denied. Harris and Megan fell out after Tory Lanez shot the latter in the foot, resulting in a long and nasty feud in and outside the courtroom.
Megan Thee Stallion Performing At L.A. Pride In The Park
Megan Thee Stallion performs onstage at LA Pride in the Park held at Los Angeles State Historic Park on June 9, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Christopher Polk/Variety via Getty Images)
Instead of being a full-on employee at 1501, Crawford claimed that Darien Smith is an independent contractor. Rather than work for them, he manages one of their artists but keeps business separate. “The allegations that 1501 has ‘maliciously collaborated’ in a ‘campaign to disparage [Megan]’ are as ludicrous as [Megan’s] refusal to listen to 1501 when it told her long ago that she was after the wrong Darien Smith,” the label reportedly stated.
“The label said it has never refused ‘to produce a corporate representative’ to testify regarding its publishing claim,” it continued. “Instead, 1501 has repeatedly asked [Megan’s] counsel to articulate what testimony [Megan] is seeking so that it might present an appropriate witness.” This case certainly isn’t getting any easier to untangle. Still, surely many more allegations and claims will come forward before, during, and after the trial that could enlighten the situation. With that in mind, come back to HNHH for the latest news and updates on Megan Thee Stallion.
| Megan Thee Stallion gives more insight into her upcoming album; says she’s funding it herself while trying to get out of her previous deal.
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