An extraordinarily versatile and energetic performer, Meshell Ndegeocello – born
Michelle Lynn Johnson in Berlin, Germany on August 29, 1968 - is an acclaimed
rapper, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. She is also an ardent political
activist campaigning on race and gender issues. Born in Berlin, her American
father, a sergeant major who also played jazz saxophone, was serving in the
army. She was mostly raised in Washington DC and attended the Duke Ellington
School of Arts and adopted the surname of Ndegeocello when she was 17. She
forged a local reputation playing in variou...