Ms. Dynamite: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
Changed the category
 
(591 intermediate revisions by more than 100 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Short description|British rapper}}
<!-- only free-content images are allowed for depicting living people. Non-free and "fair use" images, e.g. promo photos, CD/DVD covers, posters, screen captures, etc., will be deleted - see [[WP:NONFREE]] -->
{{otherpeople4|Ms. Dynamite|Little Miss Dynamite|Brenda Lee}}
{{about|Ms. Dynamite|Little Miss Dynamite|Brenda Lee|the TV series|Miss Dynamite (TV series)}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2014}}
{{Infobox Musical artist
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
| Name = Ms Dynamite
<!-- only free-content images are allowed for depicting living people. Non-free and "fair use" images, e.g. promo photos, CD/DVD covers, posters, screen captures, etc., will be deleted – see [[WP:NONFREE]] -->
| Img = Replace this image female.svg
{{Infobox musical artist
| Img_size = 150
| name = Ms. Dynamite
| Img_capt =
| honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|commas=on|MBE}}
| Background = solo_singer
| image = Ms Dynamite (4663812211).jpg
| Birth_name = Niomi Arleen McLean-Daley
| caption = Ms. Dynamite in 2010
| Born = {{birth date and age|1981|4|26|df=yes}}<br>[[Archway, London|Archway]], [[London]], [[England]]
| birth_name = Niomi Arleen McLean-Daley
| Died =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1981|4|26|df=yes}}
| Origin =
| Instrument = [[Singing]], [[rapping]]
| birth_place = [[Crawley]], [[West Sussex]], England
| origin = [[Kentish Town]], [[London]], England
| Genre = [[contemporary R&B|R&B]], [[British hip hop|rap]], [[UK garage#2-step|2-step]]
| genre = {{hlist|[[Contemporary R&B|R&B]]|[[Hip hop music|hip hop]]|[[ragga]]|[[2-step garage]] (early)}}
| Occupation = [[Singer]], [[songwriter]], [[rapping|rapper]]
| occupation = {{hlist|Singer|rapper|songwriter}}
| Years_active = 2001–present
| years_active = 2000–present
| Label = [[Polydor Records|Polydor]]
| label = {{hlist|[[Polydor Records|Polydor]]|[[Relentless Records|Relentless]]}}
| URL = [http://www.msdynamite.co.uk www.msdynamite.co.uk]
| associated_acts = {{hlist|[[Sticky (musician)|Sticky]]|[[Jess Mills]]|[[So Solid Crew]]|[[Akala (rapper)|Akala]]|[[DJ Fresh]]|[[Katy B]]|[[Magnetic Man]]}}
}}
}}
'''Ms Dynamite''' (born '''Niomi Arleen MacLean-Daley''' on [[26 April]] [[1981]]) is a [[Mercury Prize]]-winning<ref name="mercury">{{cite web |url=http://www.nationwidemercurys.com/ |title= Mercury Prize official site |accessdate=2007-09-07}}</ref> [[England|English]] [[contemporary R&B|R&B]] and [[hip hop music|hip hop]] [[singer]]-[[rapper]].


'''Niomi Arleen McLean-Daley''' {{post-nominals|size=100%|country=GBR|MBE}} (born 26 April 1981), better known as '''Ms. Dynamite''', is a British singer and rapper. She is the recipient of the [[Mercury Prize|Mercury Music Prize]], two [[Brit Awards]] and three [[MOBO Awards]].
==Biography==
Ms Dynamite was born and raised in [[Archway, London|Archway]], a district in [[North London]], to a [[Scottish people|Scottish]] mother and a [[Jamaica]]n father. She grew up listening to [[reggae]] and hip hop music. Though she wanted to become a schoolteacher or [[social worker]], her biggest aspiration was to be a musician. She is the eldest of eleven siblings, one of which is a [[grime (music)|grime]] artist known as [[Akala (rapper)|Akala]], and attended [[Acland Burghley School]] in [[Tufnell Park]].


== Early years ==
She was born Niomi Arleen McLean-Daley in [[Crawley|Crawley, West Sussex]], and raised in [[Kentish Town]], [[North London]], to a [[Jamaicans of African ancestry|Jamaican]] father and a [[Scottish people|Scottish]] mother. She is the older sister of the rapper [[Akala (rapper)|Akala]].<ref>Kate Mossman, [https://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/jun/02/akala-thieves-banquet-rap-interview "Akala: Dynamite by any other name…"], ''[[The Observer]]'', 2 June 2013.</ref><ref>Brian Rose, [https://londonrealacademy.com/fight-the-power-akala-and-the-power-of-the-word/ "Fight the Power — Akala and the Power of the Word"], London Real Academy, 20 October 2015.</ref>


== Career ==
=== 2001–2004: ''A Little Deeper'' ===
Ms. Dynamite (originally Lady Dynamite) was first known for her vocals on the [[UK garage]] underground track "[[Booo!]]", which was regularly played on London [[pirate radio]] stations and was later released as a single. While working at the radio station RAW FM,<ref>Ms. Dynamite on Raw FM, in 1999, [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fg8mCGg4_GU]</ref> Ms. Dynamite was discovered by [[Sticky (musician)|Richard Forbes]] ("DJ Sticky") at a [[West End of London|West End]] [[nightclub|club]]. Interest grew from all major British labels and eventually she was signed via her management Bigga Beats to Polydor Records, where she met producer [[Salaam Remi]], who cultivated her talent.


She released her debut album, ''[[A Little Deeper]]'', in 2002, which featured [[hit record|hit]] songs "[[It Takes More]]" and "[[Dy-Na-Mi-Tee]]". In 2003, the album was released in the United States to [[music journalism|critical]] acclaim.{{Citation needed|date=August 2012}} In 2002, Dynamite won the prestigious [[Mercury Prize|Mercury Music Prize]],<ref name="mercury">{{cite web |url=http://www.nationwidemercurys.com/ |title=Mercury Prize official site |website=Nationwidemercurys.com |access-date=7 September 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070314034015/http://www.nationwidemercurys.com/ |archive-date=14 March 2007 }}</ref> for ''A Little Deeper''. She donated the £20,000 prize to the [[NSPCC]].


On 8 March 2003, Ms. Dynamite was the musical guest on Saturday Night Live, hosted by [[Queen Latifah]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/season-28/episode/14-queen-latifah-with-ms-dynamite-62106 | title=SNL SEASON 28, EPISODE 14|website=Nbc.com}}</ref>
==Career==
Ms Dynamite (originally called Lady Dynamite) was first known for her vocals on the [[UK garage]] underground track "Booo!", which was regularly played on London [[pirate radio]] stations and was later released as a single. Whilst working at the radio station RAW FM, Ms Dynamite was discovered by Richard Forbes at a [[West End of London|West End]] [[nightclub|club]]. After working briefly with the [[UK garage]] act [[So Solid Crew]], she released her debut album, ''A Little Deeper'' in 2002, featuring the [[chart-topper|hit]] [[song]]s "It Takes More" and "Dy-Na-Mi-Tee". In 2003, the album was released in the [[United States]] to [[music journalism|critical]] acclaim.


Also in 2003, Ms. Dynamite signed a deal to promote Pepsi, reported to be worth £1m <ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/2929205.stm | title=BBC News: Ms Dynamite in '£1m' Pepsi deal|website=News.bbc.co.uk| date=8 April 2003}}</ref>
In 2002, Dynamite won the prestigious [[Mercury Prize|Mercury Music Prize]]<ref name="mercury"/>, a music award given to groundbreaking British and Irish acts, for her debut album ''A Little Deeper''. She donated the £20,000 prize to the [[NSPCC]].


Her first public performance was at the closing ceremony of the [[2002 Commonwealth Games]] at the [[City of Manchester Stadium]]. On [[July 2]] [[2005]], she performed at the [[Live 8]] concert in [[Hyde Park, London]]. Among the songs performed was "[[Redemption Song]]" - a [[Bob Marley]] penned song.
She performed at the closing ceremony of the [[2002 Commonwealth Games]] at the [[City of Manchester Stadium]].<ref name="com">{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pt8AcM00_yU |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/pt8AcM00_yU |archive-date=21 December 2021 |url-status=live|title= Ms Dynamite – It Takes More at the Commonwealth Games Closing Ceremony.MPG |publisher=[[YouTube]] |date=6 October 2011 }}{{cbignore}}</ref> On 2 July 2005, she performed at the [[Live 8]] concert in [[Hyde Park, London]]. Among the songs performed was "[[Redemption Song]]" written by [[Bob Marley]], which she performed alongside her brother, [[Akala (rapper)|Akala]].<ref name="live8">{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmQehUgwBVE&list=RDvmQehUgwBVE&index=1|title=Live 8 2005 / Ms. Dynamite (ft.Akala)- Redemption Song |publisher=[[YouTube]] |date=10 December 2010 }}</ref>


=== 2005–2006: ''Judgement Days'' ===
On [[11 September]] [[2005]], she returned to the limelight (having taken time off to have her [[son]], Shavaar) with a new [[album]] entitled ''Judgement Days''. Featuring more social commentary, in songs such as the single, "Judgement Day," and the [[Tony Blair]] critique, "Mr Prime Minister," reviews of the album were not as favourable as those of her debut. The double-[[A-side and B-side|A side]] lead single, "Judgement Day" and "Father," reached #25 in the [[UK Singles Chart]].
{{BLP sources section|date=August 2017}}
On 11 September 2005, she returned to the limelight (having taken time off to have her son, Shavaar) with a new album titled ''[[Judgement Days]]''. Featuring more social commentary, in songs such as the first [[double A-side]] single, "[[Judgement Day (Ms. Dynamite song)|Judgement Day]]"/"[[Father (Ms. Dynamite song)|Father]]" and the [[Tony Blair]] critique, "Mr Prime Minister," reviews of the album were not as favourable as those of her debut. However, "Judgement Day" reached No.&nbsp;25 in the [[UK Singles Chart]].<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums">{{cite book|first=David|last=Roberts|year=2006|title=British Hit Singles & Albums|edition=19th|publisher=Guinness World Records Limited|location=London, UK|isbn=1-904994-10-5|page=370}}</ref>


In 2006, she was convicted of assaulting a police officer and was sentenced to 60 hours community service.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hall |first1=Tim |title=Ms Dynamite spared a prison sentence |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1508283/Ms-Dynamite-spared-a-prison-sentence.html |access-date=5 March 2019 |agency=The Telegraph |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306174818/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1508283/Ms-Dynamite-spared-a-prison-sentence.html |archive-date=6 March 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref>
On the [[6 January]] [[2006]] Ms Dynamite was arrested outside a London nightclub, after a brawl in which she punched a male [[police officer]] in the [[groin]] whilst in [[custody]]. She was convicted and sentenced to sixty hours of [[community service]].


=== 2007–present: Hiatus and career wind-down ===
The second single from ''Judgement Days'' was due to be "Fall In Love Again" (previously titled "When I Fall In Love"), with a release date of January 30, 2006. A [[music video|video]] was shot for the track but, due to her arrest, the single was cancelled. The video did not surface until June 2006, when it was leaked on to the [[World Wide Web|web]].
After a break from music, Dynamite guest-hosted [[BBC Radio 1Xtra]], and said she would be releasing a third album, ''Democracy'', in 2009, with the first single from the new album being "Bad Gyal".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/a144141/allen-ms-dynamite-return-is-massive.html|title=Allen: 'Ms. Dynamite return is massive'|work=Digital Spy|date=22 January 2009 |access-date=11 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090928001939/http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/a144141/allen-ms-dynamite-return-is-massive.html|archive-date=28 September 2009|url-status=live}}</ref> However, this was deferred as she concentrated on other projects and motherhood. Meanwhile, she appeared on ''[[Hell's Kitchen (UK)|Hell's Kitchen]]'' on [[ITV1]] in 2009,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.itv.com/Entertainment/reality/hellskitchen/default.html|title=Categories|work=ITV Player|access-date=11 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121220065958/http://www.itv.com/entertainment/reality/hellskitchen/default.html|archive-date=20 December 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> finishing fourth, and later as an expert adviser on ''Goldie's Band: By Royal Appointment'' on [[BBC Two]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0101mc3#synopsis|title=BBC Two – Goldie's Band: By Royal Appointment, Episode 1|work=[[BBC]]|access-date=11 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131207184906/http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0101mc3#synopsis|archive-date=7 December 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>


Since then, she has appeared on several collaborations, notably [[Katy B]]'s second single, "[[Lights On (Katy B song)|Lights On]]", which peaked at number 4 in the UK Singles Chart in 2010, and the [[Magnetic Man]] track "Fire", which appeared on their debut album.
In February 2006, she won the [[Naomi Awards|Naomi Award]] for Worst Urban Act.


A single, "[[Neva Soft]]" (produced by [[Labrinth]]), was released in 2011, although a promised associated album did not appear.<ref name="dig">{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/interviews/a333058/ms-dynamite-interview-i-dont-want-to-be-put-in-a-box.html|title= Ms Dynamite interview: "I don't want to be put in a box" – Music Interview|website= [[Digital Spy]]|date=22 September 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110922034857/http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/interviews/a333058/ms-dynamite-interview-i-dont-want-to-be-put-in-a-box.html|archive-date= 22 September 2011}}</ref> Since then she has been the featured vocalist on the DJ Fresh Versus Jay Fray track "[[Dibby Dibby Sound]]" (February 2013) and a [[David Guetta]] and [[Showtek]] song for the former's 2014 album ''[[Listen (David Guetta album)|Listen]]'', "No Money No Love" along with [[Elliphant]].
Since her trouble with the police in January 2006 and her disappearance from the public eye, Ms Dynamite confirmed that the much rumoured "A Little Darker" album would be released in March 2006 as a mixtape. After the confirmation, the album was pushed back to June 2006. Also, in April 2006, Ms Dynamite confirmed that there would be no more releases from her ''Judgement Days'' album, and that she was due to start working on new material after the release of the "A Little Darker" mixtape.


In 2020 Ms. Dynamite appeared on a CLIPZ ([[Redlight (musician)]]), single "Again" which also featured [[Ms Banks]] and [[JayKae]].
A collection of new and upcoming UK hip-hop and garage artists, [http://wippit.com/Akala_&_Ms_Dynamite A Little Darker] was compiled by Ms Dynamite and her rapping [[sibling|brother]] [[Akala (rapper)|Akala]], who was voted Best Hip Hop Act at the [[MOBO Awards]] in September 2006, beating the like of [[Kanye West]] and [[Busta Rhymes]].


== Discography ==
In November 2006 she took part in a [[television]] show called ''The Race'' on [[Sky1]]. This was a week long event in which ten [[celebrity|celebrities]] had to compete against each other on the track in different races building up to a thirty lap [[Formula Ford]] race on Sunday 12 November 2006. After about ten laps into the race disaster struck, and Ms. Dynamite hit the wall on the pit straight at about 100mph. She was air lifted to hospital for overnight observations but later released.
{{Main|Ms. Dynamite discography}}
;Studio albums
* ''[[A Little Deeper]]'' (2002)
* ''[[Judgement Days]]'' (2005)
;Mixtapes
* ''A Little Darker'' <small>(with [[Akala (rapper)|Akala]])</small> (2006)


==Ancestry==
== Soundtracks ==
* "Dy-Na-Mi-Tee" (''[[FIFA 2003]]'' soundtrack)
As stated on the programme ''Ms. Dynamite: In Search of [[Nanny Maroon]]'' in addition to her [[Jamaica]]n-[[Scottish people|Scottish]] parentage, she shares [[Bajan]], [[English people|English]], [[Irish people|Irish]], [[Germans|German]], and [[Grenada|Grenadian]] ancestries.
* "Dy-Na-Mi-Te" (''[[Ali G Indahouse]]'' soundtrack)
* "Dy-Na-Mi-Te" (''[[My Scene]]'' Barbie Mix)
* "Krazy Krush" (''[[Misfits (TV series)|Misfits]]'' Channel 4 soundtrack)


== Awards and nominations ==
==Future of Ms.Dynamite==
{{BLP unsourced section|date=January 2014}}
After taking a break from the music scene for a couple of years, Dynamite recently guest hosted BBC's radio 1xtra and stated she would be releasing a third album late 2008/early 2009.


Ms. Dynamite was appointed [[Member of the Order of the British Empire]] (MBE) in the [[2018 Birthday Honours]] for services to music.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.irishnews.com/magazine/entertainment/2018/06/08/news/ms-dynamite-awarded-mbe-for-services-to-music-1352125|title=Ms Dynamite awarded MBE for services to music|newspaper=[[The Irish News]]|date=8 June 2018|access-date=8 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612163144/http://www.irishnews.com/magazine/entertainment/2018/06/08/news/ms-dynamite-awarded-mbe-for-services-to-music-1352125/|archive-date=12 June 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Discography==
===Albums===
{|class="wikitable"
! align="center"width="214" rowspan="2"| Year
! align="center"width="320" rowspan="2"| Album
! align="center"width="107" colspan="1"| Chart Positions
|-
! width="107"| <small>[[UK Albums Chart]]</small>
|-
| 2002
| ''[[A Little Deeper]]''
|align="center"| #10
|-
| 2005
| ''[[Judgement Days]]''
|align="center"| #42
|-
|}


{| class="wikitable"
===Singles===
===Solo===
{|class="wikitable"
!rowspan="2"| Year
!rowspan="2"| Single
!colspan="5"| Chart peak positions
!rowspan="2" width="170"| Album
|-
|-
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Year
!style="width:3em;font-size:90%"| [[UK Singles Chart|UK]]
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Organisation
!style="width:3em;font-size:90%"| [[Recording Industry Association of New Zealand|NZ]]
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Award
!style="width:3em;font-size:90%"| [[Dutch Top 40|NL]] <ref>[http://dutchcharts.nl/search.asp?search=ms+dynamite&cat=s dutchcharts.nl - Dutch charts portal<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Nominated Work
!style="width:3em;font-size:90%"| [[Switzerland|SWI]] <ref>[http://hitparade.ch/search.asp?search=ms+dynamite&cat=s Die Offizielle Schweizer Hitparade und Music Community<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Result
!style="width:3em;font-size:90%"| [[Sweden|SWE]] <ref>[http://swedishcharts.com/search.asp?search=ms+dynamite&cat=s swedishcharts.com - Swedish Charts Portal<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
|-
|-
|rowspan="3"| 2002
|rowspan="5"|2002
|[[2002 MTV Europe Music Awards|MTV Europe Music Awards]]
| "It Takes More"
|Best UK & Ireland Act
|align="center"| 7
|"Ms. Dynamite"
|align="center"| &mdash;
|{{nom}}
|align="center"| 24
|align="center"| 35
|align="center"| &mdash;
|rowspan="3"|<center> ''A Little Deeper''
|-
|-
|[[Mercury Prize]]
| "Dy-Na-Mi-Tee"
|Album of the year
|align="center"| 5
|"[[A Little Deeper]]"
|align="center"| 40
|{{won}}
|align="center"| 50
|align="center"| 25
|align="center"| 57
|-
|-
|rowspan="3"|[[MOBO Awards]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://beta.mobo.com/history/2002|title=MOBO Awards 2002|website=MOBO Awards 2002 – history|access-date=20 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180620231927/http://beta.mobo.com/history/2002|archive-date=20 June 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
| "Put Him Out"
|Best single
|align="center"| 19
|"[[It Takes More]]"
|align="center"| &mdash;
|{{won}}
|align="center"| &mdash;
|align="center"| &mdash;
|align="center"| &mdash;
|-
|-
|UK Act of the Year
|rowspan="1"| 2005
|Ms. Dynamite
| "Judgement Day" / "Father"
|{{won}}
|align="center"| 25
|align="center"| &mdash;
|align="center"| &mdash;
|align="center"| &mdash;
|align="center"| &mdash;
|rowspan="1"|<center> ''Judgement Days''
|-
|-
|Best Newcomer
|align="center" colspan="11" style="font-size: 8pt"| "&mdash;" Denotes singles not released in that particular country.
|Ms. Dynamite
|{{won}}
|-
|-
|rowspan="10"|2003
|}
|[[100 Great Black Britons]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.100greatblackbritons.com/bios/ms_dynamite.html|title=100 Great Black Britons – Ms Dynamite|website=100greatblackbritons.com|access-date=30 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170815004043/http://www.100greatblackbritons.com/bios/ms_dynamite.html|archive-date=15 August 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

|100 Great Black Britons (rank 14)
====''Collaborations''====
|Ms. Dynamite

|{{nom}}
{|class="wikitable"
! align="center"width="214" rowspan="2"| Year
! align="center"width="320" rowspan="2"| Title
! align="center"width="107" colspan="1"| Chart Positions
! align="center"width="320" rowspan="2"| Album
|-
|-
|rowspan="4"|[[2003 Brit Awards|Brit Awards]]
! width="107"| <small>[[UK Singles Chart]]</small>
|[[Brit Award for British Urban Act|British Urban Act]]
|Ms. Dynamite
|{{won}}
|-
|-
|[[Brit Award for British Female Solo Artist|British Female Solo Artist]]
| rowspan="2"|2001
| "Booo!" <br> ''(Sticky featuring Ms Dynamite)''
|Ms. Dynamite
|{{won}}
|align="center"| #12
|-
|-
|[[Brit Award for British Breakthrough Act|British Breakthrough Act]]
| "A Real Love Survives The Rock Steady Vibe" <br>''([[No Doubt]] featuring Ms Dynamite)''
|Ms. Dynamite
|align="center"| -
|{{nom}}
|-
|[[Brit Award for British Album of the Year|British Album of the Year]]
|"A Little Deeper"
|{{nom}}
|-
|rowspan="3"|[[MOBO Awards]]
|Best Single
|"[[Dy-Na-Mi-Tee]]"
|{{nom}}
|-
|Best Newcomer
|Ms. Dynamite
|{{nom}}
|-
|UK Act of the year
|Ms. Dynamite
|{{nom}}
|-
|Race in Media Awards
|Media Personality
|Ms. Dynamite
|{{nom}}
|-
| [[Ivor Novello Awards]]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://ivorsacademy.com/awards/the-ivors/archive/?ay=2003 | title=Archive &#124; the Ivors &#124; the Ivors Academy &#124; Champions of Music Creators }}</ref>
| Best Contemporary Song
| "[[It Takes More]]"
| {{nom}}
|-
|2006
|[[2006 Brit Awards|Brit Awards]]
|British Urban Act
|Ms. Dynamite
|{{nom}}
|}
|}


== References ==
====''Soundtrack Appearances''====
{{Reflist}}


== External links ==
* ''"Dynamite" (On the [[Ali G Indahouse]] OST)''
*{{webarchive |url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20021113124233/http://www.msdynamite.co.uk/ |title=Official website |date=13 November 2002}}
*{{Allmusic|class=artist|id=p531170|label=Ms Dynamite}}


{{Ms. Dynamite}}
==Awards and opinion polls==
{{Navboxes
* [[Mercury Prize|Mercury Music Prize]], Album of the Year 2002<ref name="mercury"/>
|title = Awards for Ms. Dynamite
* [[MOBO Awards]] 2003, Best Single, Best Newcomer, UK Act of the Year
|list =
* [[100 Great Black Britons]] 2003, 14th place.
{{Brit British Female}}

{{Brit Hip Hop/Grime/Rap Act}}
==References==
}}
{{reflist}}
{{Authority control}}

==External links==
*[http://www.msdynamite.co.uk Official website]
*{{allmusicguide|id=11:3zfuxql0ldhe|label=Ms Dynamite}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Dynamite, Miss}}
[[Category:1981 births]]
[[Category:1981 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Anglo-Scots]]
[[Category:Anglo-Scots]]
[[Category:BRIT Award winners]]
[[Category:21st-century Black British women singers]]
[[Category:English female singers]]
[[Category:Black British women rappers]]
[[Category:English hip hop musicians]]
[[Category:Brit Award winners]]
[[Category:English rappers]]
[[Category:British hip hop singers]]
[[Category:English rhythm and blues singers]]
[[Category:English people of Jamaican descent]]
[[Category:English people of Scottish descent]]
[[Category:British contemporary R&B singers]]
[[Category:English women singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:English singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:English singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:Female rappers]]
[[Category:People from Crawley]]
[[Category:English people of Jamaican descent]]
[[Category:Rappers from London]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Singers from the London Borough of Camden]]
[[Category:Music from London]]
[[Category:UK garage singers]]
[[Category:People from Archway]]
[[Category:BBC Radio 1Xtra presenters]]
[[Category:Multiracial musicians]]
[[Category:Polydor Records artists]]
[[Category:British people of mixed Black African-European ethnicity]]
[[Category:Relentless Records artists]]
[[Category:Members of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[de:Ms. Dynamite]]
[[Category:British women radio presenters]]
[[fr:Ms Dynamite]]
[[Category:People from Kentish Town]]
[[it:Ms. Dynamite]]
[[nl:Ms. Dynamite]]
[[ru:Ms. Dynamite]]
[[sk:Ms Dynamite]]

Latest revision as of 19:28, 20 April 2024

This article is about Ms. Dynamite. For Little Miss Dynamite, see Brenda Lee. For the TV series, see Miss Dynamite (TV series).

Ms. Dynamite
MBE
Ms. Dynamite in 2010
Ms. Dynamite in 2010
Background information
Birth nameNiomi Arleen McLean-Daley
Born (1981-04-26) 26 April 1981 (age 43)
Crawley, West Sussex, England
OriginKentish Town, London, England
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • rapper
  • songwriter
Years active2000–present
Labels

Niomi Arleen McLean-Daley MBE (born 26 April 1981), better known as Ms. Dynamite, is a British singer and rapper. She is the recipient of the Mercury Music Prize, two Brit Awards and three MOBO Awards.

Early years[edit]

She was born Niomi Arleen McLean-Daley in Crawley, West Sussex, and raised in Kentish Town, North London, to a Jamaican father and a Scottish mother. She is the older sister of the rapper Akala.[1][2]

Career[edit]

2001–2004: A Little Deeper[edit]

Ms. Dynamite (originally Lady Dynamite) was first known for her vocals on the UK garage underground track "Booo!", which was regularly played on London pirate radio stations and was later released as a single. While working at the radio station RAW FM,[3] Ms. Dynamite was discovered by Richard Forbes ("DJ Sticky") at a West End club. Interest grew from all major British labels and eventually she was signed via her management Bigga Beats to Polydor Records, where she met producer Salaam Remi, who cultivated her talent.

She released her debut album, A Little Deeper, in 2002, which featured hit songs "It Takes More" and "Dy-Na-Mi-Tee". In 2003, the album was released in the United States to critical acclaim.[citation needed] In 2002, Dynamite won the prestigious Mercury Music Prize,[4] for A Little Deeper. She donated the £20,000 prize to the NSPCC.

On 8 March 2003, Ms. Dynamite was the musical guest on Saturday Night Live, hosted by Queen Latifah.[5]

Also in 2003, Ms. Dynamite signed a deal to promote Pepsi, reported to be worth £1m [6]

She performed at the closing ceremony of the 2002 Commonwealth Games at the City of Manchester Stadium.[7] On 2 July 2005, she performed at the Live 8 concert in Hyde Park, London. Among the songs performed was "Redemption Song" written by Bob Marley, which she performed alongside her brother, Akala.[8]

2005–2006: Judgement Days[edit]

On 11 September 2005, she returned to the limelight (having taken time off to have her son, Shavaar) with a new album titled Judgement Days. Featuring more social commentary, in songs such as the first double A-side single, "Judgement Day"/"Father" and the Tony Blair critique, "Mr Prime Minister," reviews of the album were not as favourable as those of her debut. However, "Judgement Day" reached No. 25 in the UK Singles Chart.[9]

In 2006, she was convicted of assaulting a police officer and was sentenced to 60 hours community service.[10]

2007–present: Hiatus and career wind-down[edit]

After a break from music, Dynamite guest-hosted BBC Radio 1Xtra, and said she would be releasing a third album, Democracy, in 2009, with the first single from the new album being "Bad Gyal".[11] However, this was deferred as she concentrated on other projects and motherhood. Meanwhile, she appeared on Hell's Kitchen on ITV1 in 2009,[12] finishing fourth, and later as an expert adviser on Goldie's Band: By Royal Appointment on BBC Two.[13]

Since then, she has appeared on several collaborations, notably Katy B's second single, "Lights On", which peaked at number 4 in the UK Singles Chart in 2010, and the Magnetic Man track "Fire", which appeared on their debut album.

A single, "Neva Soft" (produced by Labrinth), was released in 2011, although a promised associated album did not appear.[14] Since then she has been the featured vocalist on the DJ Fresh Versus Jay Fray track "Dibby Dibby Sound" (February 2013) and a David Guetta and Showtek song for the former's 2014 album Listen, "No Money No Love" along with Elliphant.

In 2020 Ms. Dynamite appeared on a CLIPZ (Redlight (musician)), single "Again" which also featured Ms Banks and JayKae.

Discography[edit]

Main article: Ms. Dynamite discography
Studio albums
Mixtapes
  • A Little Darker (with Akala) (2006)

Soundtracks[edit]

Awards and nominations[edit]

Ms. Dynamite was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2018 Birthday Honours for services to music.[15]

Year Organisation Award Nominated Work Result
2002 MTV Europe Music Awards Best UK & Ireland Act "Ms. Dynamite" Nominated
Mercury Prize Album of the year "A Little Deeper" Won
MOBO Awards[16] Best single "It Takes More" Won
UK Act of the Year Ms. Dynamite Won
Best Newcomer Ms. Dynamite Won
2003 100 Great Black Britons[17] 100 Great Black Britons (rank 14) Ms. Dynamite Nominated
Brit Awards British Urban Act Ms. Dynamite Won
British Female Solo Artist Ms. Dynamite Won
British Breakthrough Act Ms. Dynamite Nominated
British Album of the Year "A Little Deeper" Nominated
MOBO Awards Best Single "Dy-Na-Mi-Tee" Nominated
Best Newcomer Ms. Dynamite Nominated
UK Act of the year Ms. Dynamite Nominated
Race in Media Awards Media Personality Ms. Dynamite Nominated
Ivor Novello Awards[18] Best Contemporary Song "It Takes More" Nominated
2006 Brit Awards British Urban Act Ms. Dynamite Nominated

References[edit]

  1. ^ Kate Mossman, "Akala: Dynamite by any other name…", The Observer, 2 June 2013.
  2. ^ Brian Rose, "Fight the Power — Akala and the Power of the Word", London Real Academy, 20 October 2015.
  3. ^ Ms. Dynamite on Raw FM, in 1999, [1]
  4. ^ "Mercury Prize official site". Nationwidemercurys.com. Archived from the original on 14 March 2007. Retrieved 7 September 2007.
  5. ^ "SNL SEASON 28, EPISODE 14". Nbc.com.
  6. ^ "BBC News: Ms Dynamite in '£1m' Pepsi deal". News.bbc.co.uk. 8 April 2003.
  7. ^ "Ms Dynamite – It Takes More at the Commonwealth Games Closing Ceremony.MPG". YouTube. 6 October 2011. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021.
  8. ^ "Live 8 2005 / Ms. Dynamite (ft.Akala)- Redemption Song". YouTube. 10 December 2010.
  9. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London, UK: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 370. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  10. ^ Hall, Tim. "Ms Dynamite spared a prison sentence". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 6 March 2019. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  11. ^ "Allen: 'Ms. Dynamite return is massive'". Digital Spy. 22 January 2009. Archived from the original on 28 September 2009. Retrieved 11 March 2015.
  12. ^ "Categories". ITV Player. Archived from the original on 20 December 2012. Retrieved 11 March 2015.
  13. ^ "BBC Two – Goldie's Band: By Royal Appointment, Episode 1". BBC. Archived from the original on 7 December 2013. Retrieved 11 March 2015.
  14. ^ "Ms Dynamite interview: "I don't want to be put in a box" – Music Interview". Digital Spy. 22 September 2011. Archived from the original on 22 September 2011.
  15. ^ "Ms Dynamite awarded MBE for services to music". The Irish News. 8 June 2018. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  16. ^ "MOBO Awards 2002". MOBO Awards 2002 – history. Archived from the original on 20 June 2018. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
  17. ^ "100 Great Black Britons – Ms Dynamite". 100greatblackbritons.com. Archived from the original on 15 August 2017. Retrieved 30 August 2017.
  18. ^ "Archive | the Ivors | the Ivors Academy | Champions of Music Creators".

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ms._Dynamite&oldid=1219932318"