From an Army household in Washington, D.C. to New York’s creative community, Meshell Ndegeocello reflects on the people who shaped her life, and the love that expanded her world.

In this episode of Identified, Nabil Ayers sits down with Meshell Ndegeocello for a conversation about family, music, identity, mentorship, and belonging.

Meshell reflects on growing up in a musical household, where her father played tenor saxophone in the U.S. Army Band. She shares memories of learning bass alongside her older brother, playing her first professional gigs as a teenager with her father’s band, and discovering the discipline that would shape her career.

The conversation follows her journey from Washington, D.C. to New York, where mentors, collaborators, and close friends introduced her to new music, new ideas, and entirely new ways of thinking. She reflects on how love, community, and curiosity transformed both her creative life and her understanding of herself.

Guest: Meshell Ndegeocello
Host: Nabil Ayers
Executive Producer: Kieron Banerji
Produced by Palm Tree Island

Recorded Live at Public Records, Brookyn.