13 February 2025 3 minute read
The countdown ends. At exactly 6 PM on Valentine’s Day 2025, Meela Ali presses post and within seconds for music video is live. Notifications flood her phone – likes comments and shares. The anticipation has been building for months and finally the world gets to see what she’s been working on. This isn’t just another upload; it’s a defining moment in her career, proof of the hard work, dedication, and passion she’s poured into our craft. 
For Ali, music has always been more than just a creative outlet – it’s about storytelling connection and legacy. From her earliest songwriting sessions at 12 years old mentored by Alisha M’jestie Brooks the songwriter behind Rihanna’s Pon de Replay to rediscovering her artistry at Spelman College, Ali’s journey has been one of resilience. Now with her artistry in full bloom, she’s ready to claim her place in the industry.
Born in Fayetteville, North Carolina and raised in Virginia Beach. Meela was always surrounded by music and creativity. Her mother encouraged her and her brother to explore different passions – sports music, and beyond. While her brother eventually pivoted to football, Meela continued honing her musical talents, and performing at songwriting camps. However, despite her early start, she put music on pause during her teenage years. It wasn’t until she got to Spelman, that she found herself surrounded by a thriving community of creatives. Seeing fellow students like Hasani Vibes — a 2023 Morehouse graduate — actively pursuing music inspired her to return to the passion she had once set aside. In February 2024, she dropped her first single, taking the lead into the industry with fresh determination.
While music remained her passion, Ali’s time at Spelman played a pivotal role in shaping her into a multifaceted creative. As a documentary filmmaking major, she developed an eye for storytelling, a skill that would influence her approach to directing and crafting her own music visuals. Her experience wasn’t just about academics – it was about breaking barriers and quitting opportunities. Meela made history as the first female content creator for Morehouse College’s C3 team, stepping into a male dominated space and proving her worth. She also spent four years as an ambassador for Spelman, working on outreach and student engagement and took on a leadership role in the Transfer Association where she served as Executive Director of External Affairs.
Though she never considered herself deeply involved in campus clubs, her time in sports and leadership roles gave her the confidence to take on new challenges. Her experience with Morehouse’s content creation team exposed her to high profile campus events, granting her media access to major campus events from homecoming to exclusive productions. That opportunity she says “opened doors and helped me build lasting industry connections.”
Determined to take her artery to the next level, Ali spent months refining her sound, networking, and strategizing the perfect way to introduce herself as an artist. By November 2024, she was ready to make a bold move. She gathered a team of industry Creative – her friend Trecy Dior was the videographer and a her other friend, Bit Riot served as a director to oversee the project and began filming her debut music video. Coordinating schedules, scouting, locations, and perfecting every detail took time but for Ali, it was all worth it. “I hope this inspires people to keep following their dreams,” she says. “Coming from Virginia, I’ve seen artists like Missy Elliott, Chris Brown, and Timbaland make it big, and that lets me know I can do it, too.”
Her passion for music goes beyond just making a name for herself. She wants to use her platform to tell real stories, connect with audiences and leave a lasting impact. Through her visuals, she helps to address personal struggles, relationships, or bring our social themes to create something meaningful.
Ali’s journey is still unfolding, but if her Valentine’s Day release is any indication, she’s well on her way to achieving her dreams. With each song video and create a project, she’s building a legacy, rooted and authenticity resilience and self belief. “This is just the beginning,” she says. “I know I’m going to win a Grammy one day. I know I’m going to have a big house. But most importantly, I know that if I keep pushing forward, everything will fall into place.”
As she looks toward the future, one thing is certain – Ali isn’t waiting for the music industry to make space for her. She’s carving out her own lane and the world is finally paying attention.