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Muni Long
Muni-long-may-19-2022-2.png
Muni Long in 2022
Background information
Birth name Priscilla Renea Hamilton
Born (1988-09-14) September 14, 1988 (age 35)
Origin Gifford, Florida, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • songwriter
Years active 2007–present
Labels

Priscilla Renea Hamilton (born September 14, 1988), known professionally as Muni Long (pronounced "money long"), is an American singer and songwriter from Gifford, Florida. Under her birth name, she released her solo debut studio album, Jukebox, in December 2009 through Capitol Records. She then spent the following decade co-writing songs for other artists, including the hit singles "California King Bed" for Rihanna, "Worth It" for Fifth Harmony, "Love So Soft" for Kelly Clarkson, "Imagine" for Ariana Grande, and the global chart-topping hit "Timber" for Pitbull featuring Kesha.

Returning to her recording career in 2018, she independently released her second studio album, Coloured in June of that year, which saw Hamilton exploring Americana and country soul genres. After adopting the stage name Muni Long, she saw further recording success with her 2022 single "Hrs and Hrs", which reached the top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100; prompting a recording contract with Def Jam Recordings. The song also received a Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance, and was included on her third album Public Displays of Affection: The Album (2022).

She has received three other Grammy Award nominations throughout her career, including for Best New Artist, Best R&B Song ("Hrs & Hrs"), and a nomination for Album of the Year through her work on Back of My Mind (2021) by H.E.R.

Early life

Born Priscilla Renea in rural Vero Beach, Florida in 1988. Her father was a member of the Navy. She has stated she began singing at age two but was not comfortable with singing around people until she was older. She later stumbled upon YouTube and began posting videos of her singing in her room. Her first video was a rendition of "Cry Me a River" she submitted to a contest whose winner would sing with Justin Timberlake at the Grammy Awards, albeit she did not win. She recorded videos of herself singing the dictionary, and made her own songs independently. Her channel eventually received over 30,000 subscriptions and she was given the opportunity to participate in MTV's Say What? Karaoke.

Career

2009–2010: Career beginnings and Jukebox

In 2009, after garnering popularity on YouTube, at age 21, Long signed with Capitol Records under her birth name. Her debut album was due for an October 20, 2009, release but was delayed for additional recording to occur. The album was preceded by the single "Dollhouse", which was released on August 18, 2009. The single failed to reach the Billboard Hot 100 but did reach number eleven on the Heatseekers singles chart, No. 31 on the Hot Dance Club Songs becoming a mild chart success.

Priscilla Renea performing in 2009
Hamilton performing in December 2009

Jukebox, was released on December 1, 2009. The record sold a mere 1,200 copies in its first week and failed to reach the Billboard 200. However, it did reach number twenty-three on the Billboard Heatseekers album chart, staying on the chart for one week. Despite its commercial failure, the album was critically acclaimed. Billboard highlighted her "knack for combining prose and poetry with catchy beats". The second and final single, "Lovesick", was released on March 2, 2010, but failed to chart completely.

2010–2018: Songwriting for other artists and Coloured

Long began writing songs for other recording artist. In 2010, she co-wrote the UK number-one single "Promise This"; as well as "California King Bed", a track from Rihanna's fifth studio album, Loud, released in November 2010. During late 2011, she took part in the ASCAP retreat, a songwriting event in France sponsored by Cain Foundation, Avid, Gibson and Sennheiser. She continued her songwriting career, landing credits on 2011 and 2012 albums by Rihanna, Demi Lovato, Madonna, Mika, Selena Gomez & The Scene, Chris Brown and Little Mix.

In 2013, Long was featured on B.o.B's song "John Doe" from his album Underground Luxury. In 2014 she also contributed to Fifth Harmony's debut album Reflection, by co-writing the song "Worth It", being the album's third single; the song reached number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100. Long co-wrote Carrie Underwood and Miranda Lambert's 2014 hit duet, "Somethin' Bad", which was nominated for a Grammy Award, and reached number one on Billboard's Country Chart. The song was later chosen by NBC Sports to replace "I Hate Myself for Loving You" by Joan Jett as the opening theme for its National Football League. Like Jett's song, "Somethin' Bad" was reworked to fit the broadcast's narrative as "Oh, Sunday Night" and was performed by Carrie Underwood, who recorded the original with Miranda Lambert.

Long appeared as the vocalist on the 2015 single "Be Right There" by Diplo and Sleepy Tom. The track was given 'the hottest record in the world' title on the Annie Mac BBC Radio 1 Friday night show. The lyrics in "Be Right There" were taken from the 1992 single "Don't Walk Away" by Jade. In 2016, Long collaborated with Pusha T and Meek Mill on "Black Moses". The song served as part of The Birth of a Nation soundtrack album.

In 2017, Long featured on Train's song "Loverman", from their album A Girl, a Bottle, a Boat. On April 6, 2018, Long released "Gentle Hands" and "Heavenly", the first two singles from her then-forthcoming album, Coloured. Music videos for both singles premiered online via Paper Magazine. The album was released on June 22, 2018, marking nine years since her debut. NPR noted that as an African-American country album, Coloured is a "consciously confrontational statement". Rolling Stone showcased "Family Tree" within the album as a song of "empowerment". The song "Land of the Free", according to NPR, serves as "an appeal for empathy toward those who live in fear of racial profiling and police brutality". Ashley Gorley co-wrote several tracks.

2019–present: Breakthrough and Public Displays of Affection

Renea, working under the pseudonym "Muni Long" (pronounced "money long") as of 2019, released the song "Midnight Snack" with an accompanying video, featuring Jacob Latimore in October 2020. That same year, she was also credited for co-writing Ariana Grande's "Just like Magic" and "Six Thirty" off the album Positions. Explaining that Muni Long is the "protector of Priscilla", Long released her single titled "Build a Bae" featuring rapper Yung Bleu in December 2020, her fourth single release since October. She previously released her debut extended play (EP) Black Like This, which celebrates Blackness , on November 13 under her co-founded label imprint, Supergiant Records. This was followed by a seven-track EP Nobody Knows in July 2021. In November 2021, she released an eight-track EP titled Public Displays of Affection. Regarding the title, Long explained: "I really went in the studio writing the music and it was times I caught myself crying. I'm not the most touchy-feely person. So, for me, putting all my feelings on this project is sort of like my 'public display of affection'". Describing the EP as "intimate", Vibe ranked it as the 19th best R&B album of 2021. Long also released a music video for the EP track "Hrs and Hrs", a song on which she "details what she can do for hours upon hours with her partner". In January 2022, the track "Time Machine" started going viral on TikTok.

In March 2022, Long signed with the record label Def Jam Recordings. According to Vogue, Muni Long reflects Renea's "new strong, fabulous persona through fashion" as well as music, creating a new "fashion identity" with the help of celebrity stylist Jason Rembert. Discussing the notion of being a Black role model, she stated: "how you're introduced to someone is the way they will remember you, unless you are reintroduced", following up with: "I'm in the reintroduction process."

On July 1, 2022 Long released the EP Public Displays of Affection Too, which was promoted by the singles "Pain", "Another", and "Baby Boo", the latter of which being a collaboration with rapper Saweetie.

On September 14, 2022, Long announced that her third studio album (and debut under her current moniker) Public Displays of Affection: The Album would be released on September 23, 2022. The eighteen-track collection will feature every song from her prior two EPs (aside from "Just Beginning"), as well as six new tracks.

Personal life

Long has lived in Atlanta and subsequently Los Angeles since leaving Florida. She has been diagnosed with lupus. Long is autistic. She has cited litigation, battles with former management, plus the "whirlwind of being dropped, re-signed then dropped again from a label" as creative catalysts for her work. She runs her own music label, Supergiant Records, named in reference to "the biggest star in the galaxy"

Her song "Family Tree" was inspired by the time she was "kicked out of her family's home as a teenager".

She attended Vero Beach High School, the same high school as Jake Owen.

Discography

Priscilla Renea/Muni Long discography
Releases
Studio albums 3
Extended plays 5
Singles 24

Studio albums

Title Details Peak chart positions
US
Heat

Jukebox 23
Coloured
  • Released: June 22, 2018
  • Format: LP, CD, digital download, streaming
  • Label: White Rose Garden, Thirty Tigers
Public Displays of Affection: The Album
  • Released: September 23, 2022
  • Label: Supergiant, Def Jam
  • Formats: CD, LP, Digital download, streaming
5
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

EPs

Title Details Peak chart positions
US
US
Heat

US
R&B
Hello My Apple
  • Released: 2009
  • Label: Capitol
  • Formats: CD, digital download, streaming
Black Like This
  • Released: November 13, 2020
  • Label: Supergiant, Create
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming
Nobody Knows
  • Released: July 14, 2021
  • Label: Supergiant, Def Jam
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming
Public Displays of Affection
  • Released: November 19, 2021
  • Label: Supergiant, Def Jam
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming, CD, LP
170 2 21
Public Displays of Affection Too
  • Released: July 1, 2022
  • Label: Supergiant, Def Jam
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming
8
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Singles

As lead artist

Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
US
US
R&B/
HH

US
R&B
CAN
NLD
NZ
UK
UK
R&B
UK
Indie
WW
"Dollhouse" 2009 Jukebox
"Lovesick"
"Kiss Me" 2017 Non-album single
"Gentle Hands" 2018 Coloured
"Heavenly"
"Family Tree"
"Mightnight Snack"
(with Jacob Latimore)
2020 Black Like This
"Breakin Up"
"Nekkid"
(with YFN Lucci)
"Build a Bae"
(featuring Yung Bleu)
Nobody Knows
"Thot Thoughts"
(featuring Sukihana)
2021
"Bodies"
"Luv Kanye" Non-album single
"Sneaky Link" Nobody Knows
"Bald Head ..."
(featuring Monaleo)
Non-album singles
"Plain Jane"
(with Femme It Forward)
"No R&B"
(with Ann Marie)
Public Displays of Affection and Public Displays of Affection: The Album
"Ain't Easy"
"Hrs and Hrs"
(solo or remix featuring August Alsina or Usher)
2022 16 4 1 69 91 15 41 18 3 33
"Another" Public Displays of Affection Too and Public Displays of Affection: The Album
"Pain"
"Baby Boo"
(with Saweetie)
"Santa Baby" Non-album singles
"Still Work"
(with OG Parker and Ty Dolla Sign)
2023
"Made For Me" TBA
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

As featured artist

Title Year Peak chart positions Album
US
US
R&B/
HH

US
Rap
BEL
(FL)
Tip

NLD
"John Doe"
(B.o.B featuring Priscilla)
2013 69 18 10 6 32 Underground Luxury
"Chainzzz"
(Kaliii featuring Muni Long)
2022 Toxic Chocolate
"Honey"
(John Legend featuring Muni Long)
Legend
"The Recipe"
(Babyface featuring Muni Long)
Girls Night Out
"Mine"
(Tink featuring Muni Long)
Pillow Talk
"Obvious"
(Craig David featuring Muni Long)
22 (Deluxe)
"Day N Night"
(Afrojack & Black V Neck featuring Muni Long)
non-album single
"Obsession"
(Eric Bellinger featuring Muni Long)
"Angel Pt. 1"
(Kodak Black and NLE Choppa featuring Jimin, Jvke and Muni Long)
2023 65 18 11 Fast X: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
"Angel Pt. 2"
(Jvke featuring Jimin, Charlie Puth and Muni Long)
non-album single
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Writing credits

All writing credits adapted from Spotify unless otherwise noted.

Year Artist Album Song
2008 Girlicious Girlicious "Here I Am"
2009 Cheryl 3 Words "Happy Hour"
2010 Messy Little Raindrops "Promise This"
"Hummingbird"
"Raindrops"
"The Flood"
Rihanna Loud "California King Bed"
2011 Chris Brown F.A.M.E. "Beg for It"
Selena Gomez & The Scene When the Sun Goes Down "Who Says"
"Bang Bang Bang"
Kelly Rowland Here I Am "Work It Man"
"Turn It Up"
Greyson Chance Hold On 'til the Night "Stranded"
Demi Lovato Unbroken "Fix a Heart"
"Yes I Am"
Cher Lloyd Sticks and Stones "Superhero"
Rihanna Talk That Talk "Watch n' Learn"
Mary J. Blige My Life II... The Journey Continues (Act 1) "Don't Mind"
Six D Non-album single "Best ... Night"
2012 Madonna MDNA "..."
"Love Spent"
Chris Brown Fortune "Don't Wake Me Up"
Mika The Origin of Love "Popular Song"
Bridgit Mendler Hello My Name Is... "All I See Is Gold"
"5:15"
Girls' Generation Girls' Generation II: Girls & Peace "I'm A Diamond"
Little Mix DNA "Turn Your Face"
Sabi All I Want "Where They Do That At?"
2013 Demi Lovato Demi "In Case"
K. Michelle Rebellious Soul "V.S.O.P."
Tamar Braxton Love and War "Tip Toe"
The Saturdays Living For the Weekend "Gentleman"
"Lease My Love"
Pitbull Meltdown "Timber"
Chrisette Michele Better "Snow"
2014 Miranda Lambert Platinum "Somethin' Bad"
FEMM Femm-Isation "Whiplash"
Mary J. Blige Think Like a Man Too "Wonderful"
2015 Fifth Harmony Reflection "Worth It"
"Going Nowhere"
Mariah Carey #1 to Infinity "Infinity"
Monica Code Red "I Miss Music"
Currensy Canal Street Confidential "Bottom of the Bottle"
Charlie Puth Nine Track Mind "River"
2016 K. Michelle More Issues Than Vogue "Time"
"Rich"
"All I Got"
"Memphis"
Fifth Harmony 7/27 "Write on Me"
"Squeeze"
Nick Jonas Last Year Was Complicated "Touch"
"Bacon"
Sabrina Carpenter Evolution "Thumbs"
Meek Mill, Pusha T The Birth of a Nation: The Inspired By Album "Black Moses"
Fantasia The Definition Of... "When I Met You"
2017 Brooke Candy, Sia Daddy Issues "Living Out Loud"
Kelly Clarkson Meaning of Life "Love So Soft"
ZZ Ward The Storm "Help Me Mama"
Train A Girl, a Bottle, a Boat "Drink Up"
"Crazy Queen"
K. Michelle Kimberly: The People I Used to Know "Brain on Love"
Tamar Braxton Bluebird of Happiness "Heart in My Hands"
Mary J. Blige Strength of a Woman "It's Me"
2018 Mariah Carey Caution "A No No"
David Guetta Non-album single "She Knows How to Love Me"
2019 Ariana Grande Thank U, Next "Fake Smile"
"Imagine"
Claudia Leitte Non-album single "Bandera"
2020 Ariana Grande Positions "Just like Magic"
"Six Thirty"
2021 Florida Georgia Line Life Rolls On "New Truck"

Awards and nominations

Year Association Category Nominated Work Result Ref
2022 American Music Awards Favorite R&B Song "Hrs and Hrs" Nominated
Favorite Female R&B Artist Herself Nominated
BET Awards Best New Artist Nominated
Give Her FlowHERS Awards The Bloom Award Won
Grammy Awards Album of the Year Back of My Mind (as songwriter) Nominated
MTV Europe Music Awards Best Push "Baby Boo" Nominated
MTV Video Music Awards Push Performance of the Year Nominated
People's Choice Awards The New Artist of 2022 Herself Nominated
Soul Train Music Awards Song of the Year "Hrs and Hrs" Nominated
The Ashford & Simpson Songwriter's Award Won
Video of the Year Nominated
Best New Artist Herself Nominated
2023 Grammy Awards Best New Artist Nominated
Best R&B Performance "Hrs and Hrs" Won
Best R&B Song Nominated

Filmography

Release Date Song Album Director Director of Photography Views
11.22.2021 HRS & HRS Public Displays of Affection Damien Sandoval Joshua Libertine 81,500,000+
07.13.2022 Baby Boo ft Saweetie Public Displays of Affection Too Jaquel Knight Doug Porter 1,400,000+
11.29.2021 IMU Public Displays of Affection 484,500+
11.18.2021 Time Machine Public Displays of Affection Damien Sandoval Joshua Libertine 18,750,000+
04.11.2022 Another Public Displays of Affection (Deluxe) Jon Primo Andrey Nikolaev 5,800,000+
05.12.2022 Pain Public Displays of Affection Too Muni Long 4,100,000+
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