For many R&B fans, “Time Machine” or “Hrs & Hrs” isn’t the first time you’ve heard of Muni Long. In fact, you’ve been listening to her for years but didn’t know it. Before she embraced the moniker Muni Long, she was Priscilla Renea Hamilton, the lyrical genius behind some of our favorite hits, like Rihanna’s “California King Bed” and Pitbull’s “Timber.” Yes, Muni Long’s songwriting career rivals some of the greats!
Hamilton first entered the industry as a teenager in 2009, using her vocals and pen game to write songs for Ariana Grande, Chris Brown, Mariah Carey, and more. Though her resume is stacked with songwriting credits and musical collaborations, the Flordia native dreamed of coming out from behind the scenes. In 2020, she adopted the stage name, “Muni Long,” and began building her artistry and career, per Ebony.
“Once I made the transition in 2020, Priscilla is gone,” she told the outlet. “She does not live here anymore. Even though that’s my government name, that’s what my mother named me. As far as collaborations go, I’m just not interested in writing songs for other people anymore. Why would I want to do that when I can have the same success, if not bigger, with my musical pursuits.”
While we — and so many other fans — are excited for Muni to step into her own, we wonder what exactly spurred this change. Below, we get into Muni’s songwriting journey and how (and why) she transitioned from writer to artist.
Muni Long became a full-time artist because of the unequal treatment of songwriters.
For Muni Long, the goal was always to have a musical career and be on stage.
“I want to be on TV, I want to travel the world, I want the jets, the houses, and the boats,” she told the Los Angeles Times in 2022. “Why wouldn’t I want that?”
However, the unequal treatment and low pay of songwriters influenced her decision to leave.
In a March 2024 interview with Complex, Long revealed that she would’ve pivoted out of music entirely if her musical career didn’t pan out, adding that “songwriters get beat up a lot, and they take a lot of L’s in order to deliver this incredible product.”
Even though she’s transitioned into a full-time artist, she’ll continue advocating songwriters and equal pay. The Florida Native has made a point to stand up for songwriters and has even lobbied Congress about better legal protections, including the right to strike, which is currently illegal. Now, Long can do more work (and reach more people), thanks to her newfound popularity and rising stardom.
“I’m excited that I have a platform now to speak up for songwriters,” she told Variety in 2022. “I’ve always been vocal about making sure artists get compensated fairly. There’s no one really speaking up for those lower-level creatives who really contribute the meat and potatoes of the music. I’m excited to speak up for those people.”
The “Time Machine” artist will return to songwriting someday.
Though songwriting got her foot in the door, Long is closing that chapter — for now. She told Variety that she’s spent years creating hits for other artists and now focuses on using those skills for her career.
“I spent a decade and then some giving away songs and helping to build other people’s dreams,” she said. “I think it’s OK if I take three, five years to focus on myself.”
That said, she’s always open to collaborating and co-writing. In fact, one of her greatest experiences is collaborating with other co-writers like Madonna, Mary J. Blige, and Mariah Carey, per Variety.
While Muni Long’s songwriting career is in the past, she is grateful for her experiences working on viral hits like “Don’t Wake Up” by Chris Brown, “Worth It” by Fifth Harmony, and more. Songwriting ultimately got her into the musical industry, and her pen game (and vocals) will keep her there.
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