“The way this song came about is probably the opposite of what everyone thinks,” says Muni Long, laughing about her R&B hit “Made for Me.” That's because the compassionate ballad — which arrived in 2023 before catching fire on TikTok, followed by a Mariah Carey remix this year — was inspired by a different love story.
As Muni Long recalls, it was November 2022 and she had given birth to her son two months earlier (she kept all of this private until August, when she performed with him on her hip during her opening tour with Chris Brown). She says she “got an itch to write,” so she set up a studio in her home. One day, the Grammy Award winner started listening again to a piano chord she had sent back to her boyfriend, producer Jordan XL. “I just started literally doing what the song says,” adds Muni Long, “looking around this room, seeing children's toys. And I'm writing this song for my baby because he's right next door.”
Still not satisfied with the track after performing it live a few times, Muni Long wondered what was missing — “Does it need drums?” she wondered. At the suggestion of the A&R executive, he booked a meeting with producers Jermaine Dupri and Bryan-Michael Cox. While working on other songs with the pair, he played the track he had become obsessed with. “They were nice, but nobody had a crazy reaction,” he recalls. Two weeks later, they sent her a new version — complete with drums.
However, Muni Long was still unsure: “ “Perhaps it is just a piano vocal,” he thought. “I played with it for a few months, asking the others, 'Is this good? Am I tripping?' Then Tunji [Balogun, Def Jam Recordings chairman/CEO] he said, “That's the song we're going with.” I say, “If you're willing to stand behind it, then do it.” “
In January, the catchy track with its emotional chorus gained traction on TikTok thanks to a challenge linked to a lyric: “Twin, where have you been?” The boost helped “Made for Me” reach No. 8 Bulletin boardHot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and No. 20 on the Hot 100 in March. In May, Muni Long kept the momentum going with Carey's remix. And now, her hot streak continues with “Make Me Forget,” her first No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay. Both hits appear on her recently released sophomore album, Revenge.
This story appears in the August 31, 2024 issue Bulletin board.
from our partners at https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/muni-long-made-for-you-inspiration-interview-1235762894/