Megan Thee Stallion's Perseverance Reminds Us There's More Than One Way to Mourn

By Michael Arceneaux


Rising Houston rapper Megan Thee Stallion habitually discussed fondly about her mother, Holly Thomas. A former emcee herself, who rapped under the moniker “Holly-Wood,” Thomas ultimately began managing her daughter’s music career — which started first with the release of multiple freestyles and evolved to mixtapes like 2017’s Make It Hot and 2018’s Tina Snow.


“My mom is the initial female rapper I’ve ever known,” the 24-year-old Texas Southern University student explained to Vulture’s Hunter Harris in a recently-published profile. “I’m thinking, like, ‘Okay, yeah, this is regular. Everybody’s doing this.’” She was so inspired that whenever she would accompany Holly-Wood to the studio, as an alternative opposed to doing “little kid stuff” like coloring and watching television, she kept her ear to the door, studying her mom’s technique. As Megan recalled there and in a separate interview with XXL, her mom was habitually encouraging her creativity as a child — be it drawings or the comic books she would work on herself — nevertheless it was Holly-Wood’s music, as well as other acts of that era like Biggie and UGK, that captivated her most.


For those of us that have been following Megan’s career, we have long known just how impactful Ms. Holly has been to her daughter, and why with each other, they delivered the most successful launch for a solo Southern female rap artist in well over a decade. In case you are native of Houston, as I am, you know that for all of the talent that pours out of Houston, we have never saw a woman from Houston who primarily raps attain this level of national attention.


When I look at Megan, I visualize residence. Among others, I can hear the Pimp C, Tela, and Eightball & MJG in her. Her drawl warms my heart in ways that are tough to describe to someone not from me and Beyoncé’s hometown. Everything about her — how she performs, how she acts in interviews, or how she even speaks with fans online — screams Houston, Texas.


Although even in the event you aren’t from the greatest city in Texas, there really is a reason why so several folks have such a strong affinity for Megan. As well as her immense talent and promise, she’s kind. You simply aspire to root for someone like that.


That’s why it was so hard to learn that, on the same day the Megan was releasing her newest single, her mother had suddenly passed away. In her Vulture profile, Megan did acknowledge that Thomas was “sick right now,” although because the story notes, Thomas died literally the day immediately after Megan’s interview took place. Ms. Holly suffered from a brain tumor, and while several of us have learned how cruel life can be at times, the news of her death hit especially hard.


Yet, Megan has kept going.


She is still a student at Texas Southern — a juggling act all its own — nevertheless the 300 Entertainment signee has, also, continued rapping. Her single, “Big Ole Freak,” has made the Billboard 100 and is steadily climbing in airplay. She is still performing, and yes, doing press.


To several of us, this is admirable. Others, nevertheless, have taken offer with Megan’s perseverance, or at the very least, questioned how she may continue amusing despite losing her mom. Immediately after Megan’s recent efficiency at Howard University, one person tweeted, “I’m so happy for Megan yet I just don’t understand like.... Her mom died and idk why she’s acting like she didn’t.”


Megan responded directly, tweeting in response: “Just bc I’m not crying on social media doesn’t mean I’m not hurt. My mother was a very strong woman and she raised a strong woman. Godbless.”


"I hope to show people that you could still hold your head high even as soon as times get tough,” she added. “Pain does not last forever."


I have a strong love for Southern-flavored gentility, although even I couldn’t be this gracious.


If I initially read this exchange, I had hoped it could be an one-off, that no one else would be insensitive enough to express such feelings publicly. Although, I’ve been on The world wide web way also long to not know better. Others, whether on Twitter or message boards, have opened similar lines of questioning.


in case if you've done this, do the world a solid by destroying your SIM card and disconnecting from The world wide web from the foreseeable future. The worst thing happened to Megan at worst the possible time, yet she, like several people, is pressing on.


It’s fine to hope she is being loved on and resting. It’s cool to send words of encouragement in her time of need. What isn’t fair, nevertheless, is to put yourself in a position you aren’t in and dictate how someone chooses to deal with their plight. There really is no right or wrong way to mourn a loss.


We are all doing the perfect we can. In Megan’s case, not only is she keeping her dream alive, she is currently continuing to build the future she forged with her mother. No one should question that; we should simply just mind our corporation and cheer the H-Town Hottie on.