Verses, Visions & the Voice of a Generation: Muni Long Shines as Billboard’s Rising Star.

In the words of 2009’s Billboard Woman of the Year recipient: “Who run the world? GIRLS!”

Beyoncé’s iconic anthem of empowerment still stands as a testament to women who continue to break barriers as game-changers, trendsetters, hitmakers and everything in between.

Billboard’s Women in Music event took over the YouTube Theatre in Inglewood on Saturday night. The annual event recognizes groundbreaking women shaping the music scene, ranging from talented artists, songwriters, engineers to influential executives.

It was a certified girls’ night out for honorees like Muni Long, a name that has sprinkled her pen onto chart-topping songs for big names artists like Rihanna, Chris Brown, and Ariana Grande. Long found herself in the spotlight not only as an astounding songwriter but as a rising star performer in her own right.

Muni Long received the Rising Star Award presented by Honda Stage after having a breakout year. Presented by singer-songwriter, Julia Michaels, the award recognizes artistic evolution and celebrates the musician’s efforts in reinventing and experimenting with their sound.

“I stand before you tonight in awe of the incredible journey that has brought me to this moment,” Long said in her acceptance speech. “It is a testament to the power of perseverance, dedication and the unwavering belief in the artistry that courses through my days.”

Before gaining mainstream success, the singer-songwriter spent nearly a decade going by her government name, Priscilla Renea Hamilton, while writing top-charting songs across different genres. From R&B to pop and country to hip hop. Later on, Hamilton reinvented herself in the music industry as Muni Long.

Letting the world know her name is “MUH-Knee LONG” you will find written in her Instagram bio.

A few songs under her belt includeChris Brown’s Don’t Wake Me Up, Rihanna’s California King Bed, Ariana Grande’s Just Like Magic, Imagine and Fake Smile, K. Michelle V.S.O.P and Worth It by Fifth Harmony.

The Florida-born, has spoken about the journey it took to create the R&B synergy that has become part of her superpower.

Earlier in February, Long performed her Grammy winning song “Made for Me” live at the 67th Grammy Awards premiere ceremony and that night she took home the award for Best R&B Performance.

“R&B was probably the only genre that I had not explored,” Long expressed, Grammy award in hand.

“Even writing for other artists I think I had only worked with Mary J Blige and Mariah Carey as a songwriter everything else was pop…,” she adds. “I’m a very very strong pop writer. I would love to do that for myself and the gigantic hits that I’ve written for my fellow artists I can also do that for myself.”

She’s a trailblazer behind writing more than 15 hits. Long introduced the world to infectious, heart-filled records like “Hrs & Hrs” which was popularly circulated through TikTok back in 2020. This record by far was on everyone’s radar and became a sensational hit on Billboard charts. The world was made fully aware of the woman known as “MUH-Knee” Long.

Not long after, the R&B muse struck gold again with her second hit “Made For Me,” proving the former songwriter was more than just a writer and more than just a change of name. She was evolving in her sound and vision and becoming an established artist.

Her songs continued to go viral on social media with numerous TikTok challenges. From best friends showing their love for each other to couples expressing affection to even the ‘girlies’ showcasing their love for God.

In 2024, she released her sophomore album, “Revenge,” and debuted and peaked at number eight on the US Top Heatseekers chart in the week of September 14, 2024 according to Billboard.

The album garnered positive reviews from music critics, a selection of whom called it one of the best R&B albums of the year. A lot of praise has been directed at “Revenge” as a “songwriting showcase.” The project earned the top spot on Rated R&B’s 25 Best R&B Albums of 2024 list, solidifying her place as one of the genre’s most impactful artists of the year."

The album produced multiple No.1 Billboard hits, featuring “Made For Me,” which became a top 20 hit on the US Billboard Hot 100 as well as follow-up “Ruined Me” and “Made Me Forget.” on Billboard’s Adult R&B Airplay. Long’s latest single, “Superpowers,” which she performed at Billboard Women in Music, is bubbling under the top 10 on Billboard’s Adult R&B Airplay chart at No. 11.

The Grammy-winning singer highlights the importance of the culture and people who have shaped her journey, particularly Black women in the music industry.

“I want to acknowledge Black women as the bedrock of not only the music industry, but the very heart of the culture itself,” Long said in her acceptance speech. “Black women have always been the architects of innovation, resilience, and power, from the soulful tones of Patti LaBelle and Aretha Franklin to the boldness of Beyoncé.”

As she continues to celebrate these influential figures, Muni Long brings her own unique voice to the stage, performing her latest single, “Superpowers”—a powerful anthem that embodies the strength and resilience of Black women.

“We have seen our brilliance shape the world in ways that transcend music and art to the artists before me, those who dare to dream, to break barriers, to challenge the status quo,” Long says on stage as she looks out into the audience.

She then turned to honor her hometown, Gifford, Florida, which was the foundation of her passion for music.

“[To] the aunties with four rings on every finger and a mouth full of slugs. The unpaved, unincorporated Florida streets, the communities that birthed the soul of modern music, the hood which is the genesis of pop culture. A place where the creativity of the people screams back into the mainstream.”

Long echoed words of thanks for the contributions of executives, visionaries, and taste makers who have supported and fueled the movement.

“I see you. This is for you.” Long said. “This is for the culture. This for the hood and for all those who will come after me. Thank you so much.”

Muni Long is set to hit the stage at the 2025 Coachella which kicks off this weekend April 11-13th and next weekend April 18-20th.

She posted on her X (formerly Twitter) account, “Coachella here we come…”

Find out more about set times at https://www.coachella.com/

To learn more about Muni Long’s pen game in music, you can check out Tidal’s playlist “Written By: Muni Long.”