Megan Rochell is an American contemporary R&B singer, who was formerly signed to Def Jam Records. After parting ways with the label, she signed a production deal with producer Rodney Jerkins of Darkchild Productions. Rochell also signed a publishing deal with EMI/Blackwood publishing within the same time frame.

Megan Rochell
Birth nameMegan Rochell Nieves
Born (1985-08-19) August 19, 1985 (age 39)
OriginBrooklyn,[1] New York, United States
GenresR&B[2]
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
Years active2001–present
Labels
WebsiteMegan Rochell

Biography

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At the age of 11, Rochell was a five-time winner on Showtime at the Apollo. Several years later, she met Philadelphia International's Leon Huff and started working on her recording career. One day outside of Philadelphia International, she met Boyz II Men's Nathan Morris and sang for him which prompted Morris to sign her to his management company. Then Rochell secured herself a deal with Def Jam Records. She was enrolled at Rowan University, originally as a business major, then switching to secondary elementary education before dropping out after getting the record deal with Def Jam.[3]

Rochell's debut album, You, Me and the Radio, featured collaborations from Rodney Jerkins, Ne-Yo, Fabolous, the Underdogs, and Stargate.[4] The album was scheduled for released on June 20, 2006, but was never released. Rochell chalked the industry changing, along with the management at Def Jam, with Jay Z becoming president, Rihanna being the big new artist, and many other new artists they were trying to market.[5]

However, the project leaked in full online shortly after the project's shelving via the promotional CD. The following year, she collaborated with rapper Peedi on the single "Take Me Home."

In 2008, she released Vibe Love Party mixtape and promoted through on her MySpace page.[6] Additionally, she collaborated with Skinny & Scales on the single "We're Gonna Make It" released in 2009.[7]

In 2015, her digital single "Hell Nah" was released on December 28, 2015.[8] It was later re-released on February 4, 2016 through different label distribution.

In 2016, Rochell released a new single called "I'm Busy!" on digital services. Later that year, she self-released her debut album digitally onto sites such as Apple Music, Spotify and Amazon Music with a slightly altered tracklist and various bonus tracks not originally available on the original album.[9][10] It received a limited vinyl release in 2018.[11]

In 2017, she released her first EP, Insight independently and discussed she was working on a girls-only mixtape. Additionally, she spent some time as a songwriter for other artists such as Kehlani, K. Michelle and Keyshia Cole.[12]

In late 2018, she released two digital singles "X" and "Because of Love" ahead of her new EP New Wave Music, which was released on November 22.[13] [14]

Personal life

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She has a son named Austin[15] with her husband Sam Crush.[16] She cites Brandy, Lauryn Hill, Mary J. Blige, Aaliyah, Whitney Houston, and Mariah Carey as influences.[1]

Discography

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Albums

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  • 2006: You, Me and the Radio

Mixtapes

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  • 2008: Vibe Love Party
  • 2017: Insight
  • 2018: New Wave Music

Singles

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Year Title Chart positions Album
U.S. R&B Rhythmic Top 40
2006 "The One You Need" (feat. Fabolous) 42[17] You, Me and the Radio
"Floating" 55[18]
2007 "Let Go" 34[19]
"Take Me Home" (with Peedi) non-album track
2009 "We're Gonna Make It" (with Skinny & Scales)
2015 "Hell Nah"
2016 "I'm Busy!"
2018 "X"
"Because of Love"

References

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  1. ^ a b "Megan Rochell: The One You Need | the A&T Register". 20 September 2006. Archived from the original on 2020-03-29.
  2. ^ Kellman, Andy. "Megan Rochell". AllMusic. Retrieved August 20, 2020.
  3. ^ "Megan Rochell: Aim for the Stars". 25 May 2006. Archived from the original on 2013-05-13.
  4. ^ "Megan Rochell Biography". Archived from the original on 2012-10-12. Retrieved 2011-05-15.
  5. ^ "Reintroducing Megan Rochell: 'The One You Need' Singer Talks Comeback". Ratedrnb.com. 2017-03-15. Retrieved 2020-04-14.
  6. ^ "Megan Rochell : Vibe Love Party". Myspace.com. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  7. ^ "We're Gonna Make It (Nappy Roots Presents) [ft. Megan Rochell] - Single by Skinny & Scales on Apple Music". Itunes.apple.com. 2009-02-24. Retrieved 2020-04-14.
  8. ^ "Hell Nah - Single by Megan Rochell". Itunes.apple.com. 28 December 2015. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  9. ^ "You, Me and the Radio by Megan Rochell". Itunes.apple.com. January 2007. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  10. ^ "Megan Rochell - You, Me & The Radio". Discogs. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  11. ^ "Megan Rochell YOU ME & THE RADIO Vinyl Record". Archived from the original on 2019-01-03.
  12. ^ "Reintroducing Megan Rochell: 'The One You Need' Singer Talks Comeback". Ratedrnb.com. 15 March 2017. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  13. ^ "New Wave Music EP : Megan Rochell". Amazon.com. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  14. ^ "New Wave Music EP : Megan Rochell". Bandcamp.com. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
  15. ^ "ROYAL (@austinroyalsam) • Instagram photos and videos". Instagram.com. Retrieved 2020-04-14.
  16. ^ [1][dead link]
  17. ^ "The One You Need" (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart), Billboard, July 15, 2006.
  18. ^ "Floating" (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart), Billboard, October 14, 2006.
  19. ^ "Let Go" (Rhythmic Top 40 chart), Billboard, February 24, 2007.
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