Muni Long

Muni Long Artistfacts

  • September 14, 1988
  • Muni Long is an American singer-songwriter known for her soulful voice, dynamic range, and successful songwriting career.
  • Muni Long was born in Vero Beach, Florida. She grew up in a close-knit family with a deep appreciation for music. Her father was in the Navy, which led to a disciplined upbringing, while her mother encouraged her early love for singing and performing.
  • She began writing songs as a teenager and honed her craft through singing in local choirs and performing in school talent shows. Long is largely self-taught in music, using platforms like YouTube to develop her skills.
  • Long first found success under her birth name, Priscilla Renea, as a songwriter, creating hits for artists across various genres. They include "Timber" for Pitbull, "Who Says" for Selena Gomez, "Worth It" for Fifth Harmony, "Don't Wake Me Up" for Chris Brown and "Imagine" for Ariana Grande.
  • After becoming a successful songwriter as Priscilla Renea, she reinvented herself as Muni Long to establish her own musical identity. Her stage name is pronounced "money long," which means having a lot of money.

    "I picked Melrose at first. That was terrible, a very short phase," Long recalled to Billboard with a laugh. "Then I quickly settled on [the word] 'money' and went through a few last names like Money Jones, Money Smith."

    It was when she heard the 2 Chainz lyric 'hair long, money long' from his 2012 track "I'm Different," that she settled on Muni Long. "I was like, 'Whoa. That's it,'" she said.
  • Her 2021 hit single "Hrs And Hrs" propelled her into the spotlight as a solo artist, leading to a Grammy win for best R&B performance.
  • Long married Masimba Chibanda, a musician and producer, in June 2014. He has co-written and produced several of her songs and also helps keep her grounded. Muni admitted to Jennifer Hudson that her lyrics can sometimes get a bit too poetic or "corny," and her husband's honest feedback keeps her work sharp and fresh.
  • She revealed in August 2024 on The Cruz Show that she and her husband had split. "It just didn't work out. You know, it's like, again, what I was saying: I don't have time for drama," Long said, "I don't have time for nonsense. This is one of the most amazing times in my life, and if you can't celebrate that with me, I'm so sorry, I'm going to have to leave you behind."
  • Muni Long was diagnosed with lupus in 2018. Some of the symptoms she has experienced include hair loss, skin rashes, and pain. Even something as benign as someone touching her arm can be painful.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Glen Phillips of Toad the Wet Sprocket

Glen Phillips of Toad the Wet SprocketSongwriter Interviews

The "All I Want" singer went through a long depression, playing some shows when he didn't want to be alive.

Harry Wayne Casey of KC and The Sunshine Band

Harry Wayne Casey of KC and The Sunshine BandSongwriter Interviews

Harry Wayne Casey tells the stories behind KC and The Sunshine Band hits like "Get Down Tonight," "That's The Way (I Like It)," and "Give It Up."

Grammar In Lyrics

Grammar In LyricsMusic Quiz

Lyrics don't always follow the rules of grammar. Can you spot the ones that don't?

Donny Osmond

Donny OsmondSongwriter Interviews

Donny Osmond talks about his biggest hits, his Vegas show, and the fan who taught him to take "Puppy Love" seriously.

Tom Waits Lyrics Quiz

Tom Waits Lyrics QuizMusic Quiz

Pool balls, magpies and thorns without roses - how well do you know your Tom Waits lyrics?

Vince Clarke

Vince ClarkeSongwriter Interviews

An original member of Depeche Mode, Vince went on to form Erasure and Yaz.