Muni Long Explains How She “Made” It

Muni Lengthy’s “Made for Me” reached platinum standing, hit the No. 1 spot on R&B/hip-hop radio and, very similar to her breakthrough groove “Hrs & Hrs,” went viral on TikTok — with customers posting hilarious and playful movies to the lyric, “Twin, the place have you ever been?” It was inevitable that the R&B tune of the yr could be showered with Grammy nominations.

But it surely didn’t qualify for the 2025 present, technically talking. The tune was launched on Sept. 15, 2023, the final day of eligibility for the 2024 Grammys. It was submitted to that present — a dangerous transfer that didn’t repay: The observe was too new and didn’t garner any noms.

Lengthy posted in regards to the unhealthy information on social media — a video of herself mendacity on the ground in misery with the caption: “When administration tells you ‘Made for Me’ isn’t eligible for any Grammys.”

However her workforce regrouped and located a loophole utilized by artists who got here earlier than her: Submit a reside model of the tune. It wouldn’t qualify in all classes, like tune of the yr or finest R&B tune, however it could be eligible for document of the yr and finest R&B efficiency ­— the place it certainly landed a nomination. And the Grammy love for the singer — a revered songwriter who has crafted hits for Rihanna, Ariana Grande, Selena Gomez, Madonna and Miranda Lambert — was highly effective: She swept the R&B classes, additionally touchdown noms for finest R&B album (Revenge), R&B tune (“Ruined Me”) and conventional R&B efficiency (“Make Me Overlook”).

“The most important lesson [and] takeaway is you must be very intentional about what you’re doing, and I feel that was the error we made. Holistically, I feel we weren’t centered. Specifically, there have been sure individuals who didn’t perceive that I might have an even bigger second than ‘Hrs and Hrs,’” she says of her tune that gained the very best R&B efficiency Grammy in 2023. “I’ll by no means let that occur to me once more. I’ll at all times make sure that we’re taking it significantly. ‘What’s the plan? What are we doing?’ And even when nobody else has a plan, I’ve my very own plan.”

Was it a reduction if you came upon there was a technique to submit “Made for Me” for Grammys?

It’s like a fork within the highway. I could possibly be grateful that I’m even within the dialog this yr. Then there’s the opposite path: If we weren’t so in disbelief at how huge the tune was … I feel that we might have had a number of nominations in a number of classes, tune of the yr presumably.

“Ruined Me” was impressed by your break up out of your husband of 9 years and is nominated for finest R&B tune. What was it like writing that tune?

Actually, it was the final tune [I recorded]. I wrote the tune in in all probability 20 minutes. That’s the way it at all times is. If it takes me longer than that, I simply want to maneuver on.

Is it straightforward to write down that shortly when you’re being susceptible?

It actually doesn’t matter what the topic is — I take away myself from the method. To be trustworthy, I’m not tremendous susceptible. I would take a chunk from my actual life, however the remainder of it’s theater. I need you to really feel the emotion that I’m attempting to evoke. That’s it. My precise emotions round my present scenario is like Michael Myers, Chucky. I’m not going to write down a tune about that, clearly.

Have you ever tried?

No. I simply wouldn’t as a result of I do know that it’s maniacal. You’d in all probability name the police. “Wow. She’s misplaced it.”

What impressed “Made for Me”?

My son had simply been born two months prior and generally I’ll simply stare off into the nook of the room and be like, “Hmm, what does this make me really feel?” And the phrases begin popping out. In order that tune is about my youngster, the emotions that I had at the moment of like, “Man, I can not imagine that I’ve an individual.”

Had been you shocked by the very best R&B album nomination since your album hasn’t been out for lengthy?

I went in with the intention of attempting to make the very best music I might presumably make with the 2 weeks that I had [in the studio] … so to get that recognition that I made one thing that was actually, rather well put collectively and folks actually fuck with it, that’s dope. As a result of generally you begin to lose hope. All people desires to be a musician, everyone desires to do music — that makes me need to do one thing else. It’s not particular. I don’t need to cheapen it, but it surely’s such as you don’t really need to have talent.

You imply when individuals are doing it as a interest or the subsequent scorching factor?

Yeah. Like, “Oh, I’m reserving studio time as we speak. I’m going to go make me a tune,” after which fuck round and the shit blows up. It feels just like the Twilight Zone. Like, why am I over right here making this expensive-ass music with strings and all these items?” I’m really actually attempting laborious to make one thing that may stand the check of time, after which right here comes this particular person farting on the observe and it’s going loopy. Like, “Am I tripping?” And then you definitely get the acknowledgement from the Academy and out of your friends and it’s like, “OK, cool. I wasn’t tripping.”

The title observe shocked me as a result of it’s known as “Revenge” however you sing the chorus: “Not on the lookout for revenge.” Inform me about writing that.

I at all times have this bounce-back-quick mentality. I don’t wish to be down for too lengthy. Even when I do have an excellent cry, it’ll final in all probability about 5, 10 minutes max. And after that it’s like, “OK woman, go wash your face, put your make-up on or eat you a bit of edible or go watch films or take a nap.” It’s by no means going to be, “Oh, my God, I’m so unhappy.” Tiny violin. By no means. That’s not in my DNA. It has to do with me by no means wanting to look weak. If my legs acquired blown off, I might fucking crawl on my elbows. I’m a roach. I don’t die.

That’s my essence. It’s like I by no means surrender. And the idea of revenge is like, “I actually must be unhappy proper now and that is one thing that I ought to in all probability cease and course of and undergo all of the levels of grief, however I’ll simply take care of it when it comes again up later. I actually would a lot slightly proceed having fun with my life. Fuck you.” It’s in all probability not probably the most wholesome technique to go about issues, however that’s how I do it.

The lyric that caught out probably the most was, “You understand I might’ve died for you/One night time I nearly did.” Did you write that?

Sure. That was stemming from a number of true occasions. I’ve a darkish perspective towards the dialog round home violence. And being in an abusive relationship, you understand that there isn’t assist, particularly with the outcomes of November sixth, it’s even worse now. There isn’t any assist for ladies and kids. There actually isn’t. There’s the looks of [help], however if you’re actually in that scenario, it’s nearly like you must dig deep and dig your self out of that gap or endure till you may get to a spot the place you might be protected and you might be protected, as a result of the world isn’t going to do it.

My finest revenge is continuous to achieve success, ensuring that my platform is so massive that after I lastly do converse up about sure issues, you’ll be able to’t silence me. You may’t make it appear to be I’m loopy. It’s actually unhappy, and it’s even worse now with a few of these legal guidelines they’re attempting to cross. We’re not our moms. We’re not our grandmothers. We’re not placing up with that shit. So hopefully individuals are listening to my album and listening to the lyrics and feeling impressed — not feeling like they need to be like, “Oh, woe is me.” Nah, take your energy again.

Did successful your first Grammy in 2023 change your life?

Yeah, it undoubtedly makes life simpler, however you’re solely nearly as good as your newest factor, proper? At the moment I used to be like, “Is that this actual? Is that this a joke? I don’t know. Possibly I gained as a result of there was nobody else higher.”

No. Beyoncé was within the class, let’s not overlook.

That’s true. Yeah, no, you’re proper, I feel it was Beyoncé, Jazmine Sullivan, Mary J. Blige, PJ Morton. It was really insane.

Individuals who have all gained Grammys earlier than …

I didn’t even take into consideration that. It’s true. It helps if you’re in a position to present that it wasn’t a coincidence. It wasn’t a fluke. They thought I acquired fortunate. Traditionally, each time I do have success, it’s attributed to the boys in my scenario, which is annoying, however I’m grateful for the chance to proceed to point out my present and that the one constant factor all through time is that I nonetheless have my present. You may’t take that, so I’m going to proceed being profitable whether or not you’re right here or not, which is nice. Even below duress — I’m going by way of so much personally proper now, so much.

If I began speaking about it, folks could be like, “No fucking method.” However to have one thing to have a look at and be like, “That is the explanation why we don’t surrender. That is the explanation why we hold placing every part now we have into the music.” In fact, I’ve my infant. That’s super-inspiring, being mommy to him and ensuring that I depart one thing for him. It’s like, “Simply hold going. Keep the course. Be constant. Be grateful. Keep in your gratitude. Preserve your frequency excessive and good issues will occur. Even when there may be the looks of darkness, there’s at all times a bit of piece of sunshine.”

Mariah Carey jumped on the “Made for Me” remix and also you additionally co-wrote her 2018 tune “A No No.” What was it like working together with her once more?

It was wonderful. I feel she is without doubt one of the most proficient folks I’ve ever labored with. Her voice is insane. She’s a superb producer, arranger, a vocal producer, songwriter. I don’t assume folks give her as a lot credit score as they need to. She talks about it on a regular basis — about a few of her hottest songs, it was simply her on the piano, after which she took it to a producer and the producer ended up getting all of the credit score as if she’s only a fairly face and a reasonably voice.

I draw numerous inspiration from her and her journey, and she or he’s a beautiful human. I realized a lot being in her presence, I can solely hope to provide somebody that very same expertise in a while. For her to take time to truly take part, that’s an enormous deal as a result of Mom Mariah don’t play. If she doesn’t assume it’s good, she’ll be like, “I don’t know her.”

You’ve written for Sabrina Carpenter, Kelly Clarkson, Mary J. Blige and Florida Georgia Line. Do you need to proceed to write down for others or focus by yourself music?

I need to go the place I’m cherished and appreciated. I need to go the place the enjoyment is. The dumb shit that occurs behind the scenes when legal professionals and A&Rs and document execs get entangled, it’s so unappetizing. It’s like, “Hey, guess what? I’m prepared to drag this tune and stroll away as a result of I don’t need to take care of the headache and the foolish shit.” It’s not that difficult.

After I work with artists like John Legend or Mariah, it doesn’t take all that. It’s quite simple. All the additional shit that comes with it, that signifies that somebody is attempting to devalue you or finesse you out of one thing. I don’t need no elements of that.

It makes me take into consideration how powerful it should be for songwriters who aren’t additionally performers.

It’s hell. Why do you assume I finished? I mentioned, “Oh, no, there needs to be one other method, honey, as a result of this ain’t it.”

Throughout the writers strike in TV and movie, there have been lots of people who mentioned streaming paid them in pennies. Was that the case for you?

Completely. Typically you have a look at your quarterly assertion and also you’re like, “Oh wow, $1,000 for 500 million streams. Nice. That’s superior.” The sheer quantity that I’ve to write down to be able to make an revenue that is smart [is insane]. What saved me is that I’ve high quality and amount, whereas a few of these folks, all they’ve is one or two data. And I needed to take numerous Ls. And I acquired taken benefit of and stolen from and all that.

You imply not getting credit score for one thing?

Not getting credit score, not getting paid, the producer working off with the cash — something you’ll be able to consider, it occurred to me. However my aim was to be the place I’m now, and people individuals who did these issues to me are nowhere to be discovered.

This story appeared within the Nov. 20 concern of The Hollywood Reporter journal. Click on right here to subscribe.