Estelle (musician)
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Fanta Estelle Swaray (born 18 January 1980),[1] most widely known as Estelle, and formerly as Est'elle is an English hip hop singer, rapper, and producer. She has received the MOBO for “Best Newcomer” and received three consecutive “Best Female Artist” trophies from the UK Hip-Hop Awards.
Life and music
Estelle was born in West London in 1980 (after which her autobiographical first single was named). She is one of eight children, born to a Senegalese mother and a father from Grenada.[2] Estelle runs her own record label, Stellar Ents,[3] and has released her own material through this - including the two "Da Heat" mixtapes Part 1 and 2, the album The 18th Day and the singles "1980", "Free" and "Go Gone". She featured on Natasha Bedingfield's song "Drop Me In The Middle" for Natasha's U.S. release of Unwritten. She also did a memorable rap verse on a 2006 Omar song, "Lay it down". In addition, she released a hit song featuring rapper Kanye West titled "American Boy".
Estelle was originally on the Ill Flava Records.[4] label owned by Hip Hop award winner Karl Hinds, who together with Estelle and Joni Rewind re-released the well known Althia & Donna - 1978 track, "Uptown Top Rankin". Estelle also worked on various other tracks and videos with Karl Hinds and Ill Flava Records.
In 2006, Estelle appeared at the London School Harris City Technology College for a Post 16 Year Of Achievement Night, and she could also be seen in the video for John Legend's single "Save Room". Also in 2006, Estelle joined rapper Kardinal Offishall's Black Jays International, and was eventually signed to singer John Legend's Homeschool Records through Atlantic Records.[5]
Her second album featured production from the likes of Will.I.Am, Wyclef Jean, Mark Ronson, Cee-Lo, Swizz Beatz, and John Legend.
Kanye West also features on the album, on a track called "American Boy" which reached number one in the UK singles chart on March 23 2008.[6] Estelle will be touring with Wyclef Jean with the tour dates soon to be announced.[7] The album was placed on the short list for the Nationwide Mercury Music Prize in 2008.[8]
Recently she has got into a controversy by claiming that racist attitudes in the U.K. music industry promote white artists over black artists performing the same style of music.[9]
In April 2008 Estelle announced a short UK tour with Natalie Matychak, calling at the Manchester Ritz on the 8th June, Glasgow ABC on the 9th June, Birmingham Custard Factory on the 10th June and the Shepherds Bush Empire on the 12th June.
Estelle performed at halftime of the 2008 MLS All-Star Game on July 24, 2008 at BMO Field in Toronto, Ontario.[10]
Discography
Awards/Nominations
- BET Awards
- 2008, Best New Artist (Nominated)
- Mercury Music Prize
- 2008, Estelle - Shine (Shortlisted)
References
- ^ How Estelle headed to the US and scored her first No. 1 - mirror.co.uk
- ^ ESTELLE - Biography - ESTELLE
- ^ Estelle: Stellar fun - Features, Music - The Independent
- ^ karl hinds, ill flava records, don gramma, hindsight, have patience, shade sheist, nune, rj, pyo, put yourself out entertainment, digital dreamspace, estelle, joni rewind, sea...
- ^ http://www.allhiphop.com/Alternatives/?ID=422
- ^ BBC - Radio 1 - Chart Show - The UK Top 40 Singles
- ^ Base News | Estelle Returns! | MTV UK
- ^ Estelle Nomintated For Mercury Music Prize
- ^ Estelle attacks 'blindness to black talent' | News | guardian.co.uk Music
- ^ Estelle to Perform at MLS All-Star Game