Megan Thee Stallion, born Megan Jovon Ruth Pete, is a talented rapper who first rose to prominence when her freestyling videos became popular on social media platforms such as Instagram.

The 26-year-old was eventually signed to 300 Entertainment in 2018, with whom she released the mixtape Fever, the extended play Suga, and her debut studio album Good News in the subsequent years.

Her work garnered such attention that all of her projects with 300 Entertainment peaked in the top 10 of the Billboard 200.

In 2020, she collaborated with Beyoncé for her single 'Savage (Remix),' and also with Cardi B for the hit single 'WAP,' both songs reaching number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.

In her brief career, she has also been honored with prestigious accolades, including six BET Awards, five BET Hip Hop Awards, and three Grammy Awards, amongst many.

Her Early Days

But keeping her highs aside, the Houston, Texas native also had to work hard and experience lows to get to where she is now. Speaking with Essence in August 2021, Stallion recalled her early days in Houston and how freestyling came naturally.

"It doesn’t matter where you at, who you with, somebody is going to do a rap battle," she added. "I would see boys together and they would be rapping, so in my head, this is what you do. I wanted to make sure I was always sharp and I could do it."

The rapper admitted her struggles to get her hands on musical instruments while expressing her gratitude towards Neptunes’ Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo and music producer Tay Keith for presenting her with good beats.

Encounter with Juicy J in College

She also had a memorable first encounter with rapper Juicy J, the frontman of Three 6 Mafia, in college. Just in case you didn't know, Stallion is a Texas Southern University alum from where she will graduate this fall.

The Oscar-winning rapper was immediately impressed with Stallion's work ethic since she worked a desk job and studied at the HBCU while practicing rap during her breaks.

"She came in and I had some songs I wanted her to jump on, and she started knocking them songs out, boom, boom, boom, left and right," Juicy J told Essence. "I called her 'The Verse Killer.'"

The rapper also remembered telling Stallion's manager T. Farris that she was a superstar who rapped from her heart.

Losing Her Mother

Stallion's raps also voice her agony of losing her close ones on the verge of her rise, especially the passing away of her mother, Holly Thomas. Thomas, who also managed the rapper until her death, passed away from a brain tumor in March 2019.

"I know it's probably just hard, to be a single mama trying to take care of yourself and your daughter. And you're putting on a face... You are acting like everything was okay so I feel comfortable," Stallion told GQ in November 2020, addressing her mother.

For Stallion, Thomas was way more than a mother. When her father was in prison for the first eight years of her life and died when she was 15, her mother was the one who made her feel she had everything and wasn't missing out on what she wanted.

Now, Stallion is in a good place in her career, and although she might feel empty without her mother, Thomas is certainly happy looking at her daughter from wherever she is.