Meshell Ndegeocello

Meshell Ndegeocello ( mish-EL ən-DAY-gay-oh-CHEL-oh; born Michelle Lynn Johnson on August 29, 1968) is an American singer-songwriter, poet, and bassist. She has gone by the name Meshell Suhaila Bashir-Shakur, which is used as a writing credit on some of her mid-career work. Her music incorporates a wide variety of influences, including funk, soul, jazz, hip-hop, reggae and rock. She has received significant critical acclaim throughout her career, being nominated for 13 Grammy Awards, and winning three. She also has been credited for helping to "spark the neo-soul movement".