Muni Long Shuts Down Label Execs Request To Write ‘Soulful’ Songs For ‘Non-Melanated’ Artists

R&B singer Muni Long has publicly called out Atlantic Records for a perceived attempt to exploit her songwriting talent.

The “Hrs and Hrs” hitmaker took to Instagram to share her frustrations about being asked to craft “soulful” songs specifically for “non-melanated artists.”

. On Thursday (Dec. 26), the singer-songwriter shared her gripes about an undated industry request. Sharing a brief video on Instagram, she portrayed a scenario where she rejected a record label executive, enhancing the moment with a funny, profanity-filled voiceover from one of Boosie Badazz’s interviews on Vlad TV for extra effect. Muni lip-synced to an emphatic audio track that declared, “F*ck no… and I’m going to stand on that.”

The video was captioned with a direct jab at Atlantic Records: “Me to the president of Atlantic asking me to write ‘soulful’ songs for non-melanated artists.”

But the tea didn’t stop there. In a fiery elaboration, Muni Long revealed an even more audacious response she received after turning down the request. According to Muni, one of the label’s representatives suggested she could “reach in that Priscilla Renea vault and see what you have in there.”

For those unfamiliar, Priscilla Renea is Muni’s birth name and the moniker she used during her early songwriting career, which boasts hits for stars like Rihanna and Ariana Grande.

Muni didn’t mince words about her feelings on this suggestion. “Boy, do you know what a VAULT is? That’s where you keep the valuables. If you don’t get somewhere and sit down…,” she wrote. She also confessed, “I wanted to cuss them out so bad, ya’ll.”

Although no specific names were mentioned, a press release from Warner Music Group disclosed that Elliot Grainge and Craig Kallman have assumed the CEO positions for Atlantic Music Group and its subsidiary Atlantic Records, respectively.

Muni Long debuted in the music industry in 2009 with her first album, Jukebox, which did not achieve any chart success. Over the following ten years, she wrote songs for numerous top artists, including “Promise This” by Cheryl, “California King Bed” by Rihanna, “Worth It” by Fifth Harmony, “Love So Soft” by Kelly Clarkson, “Imagine” by Ariana Grande, “Who Says” by Selena Gomez & the Scene, and the worldwide hit “Timber” by Pitbull.

In 2021, she found commercial success as an artist with her hit single “Hrs and Hrs,” which reached the top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 and resulted in her signing with Def Jam Recordings. The track won Best R&B Performance at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards and was the lead single for her third album, Public Displays of Affection: The Album.

As the story gains traction, Atlantic Records has yet to comment on Muni Long’s claims.