N-Dubz
N-Dubz |
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N-Dubz are a MOBO award winning hip hop group from London, based around Camden Town. They were previously signed to Polydor Records before joining All Around the World Records. They have so far had three top 40 hits on the UK Singles Chart which one of them entered the top 20, their debut album Uncle B was released on 17 November 2008.
History
All of the members of N-Dubz attended school in St John's Wood (Quintin Kynaston School), and came together as a group under the management of Dino Contostavlos's father, Byron Contostavlos (formerly of Mungo Jerry), who died on April 12, 2007.[1] Members Dino (Dappy) and Tula (Tulisa) are cousins. Each appeared on Channel 4's Dubplate Drama after they began to get noticed as a group. Performing as the Lickle Rinsers Crew, they released the singles "Bad Man Riddim" and "Life Is Getting Sicker by the Day", which became hits on English pirate radio stations.[2]Before their first single release, they made a music video for the track "Everyday Of My Life" which received airplay on Channel U. Their first single to be released was "You Better Not Waste My Time" available for download only until their 2006 self-released single, "I Swear", won them their first mainstream notice, but it wasn't until 2007's "Feva Las Vegas" (also self-released) that the group dented the UK charts, peaking at #57.[3]
Polydor Records
After winning a MOBO for Best Newcomer,[4] the group signed to Polydor Records and re-released their first single "You Better Not Waste My Time" on the label, which debuted at #26 on the UK singles chart, which is now their highest chart position to date until "OUCH" was released which is now the highest they have ever achieved with a staggering 22# in the singles chart.[5]
Also, during the summer of 2007, Dappy released "Love for my Slums" with fellow UK artist Baker Troble. This song was number one on "Channel U" for many weeks, and was a big hit with the UK underground rap scene. Dappy appeared on Never Mind The Buzzcocks on Thursday, 29 November 2007 [6] He wore a trademark floppy eared hat which Simon Amstell also sported as part of a gag.
All Around the World
In May 2008 a song entitled "Ouch" surfaced along with a music video [7]. The video for "Ouch" attracted over 4 million viewers on networking site YouTube, in just over a month after release. On 6 August 2008, it was announced that the group had left Polydor Records and had signed to All Around the World records. The label specialises in dance music predominantly, however, the label have occasionally released hip-hop records such as Ice Cube's "You Can Do It". The press release stated that the label would be releasing "Ouch" as the group's first single on the label, in September 2008 [8].
The group's first album 'Uncle B' was released on 17 November 2008. The album features all of the releases that made N Dubz famous, including You Better Not Waste My Time, I Swear, Feva Las Vegas, Love for My Slums, N-Dubz (Feat. NAA), Ouch, Defeat You and Papa[9]. In an interview on UK music Channel FLAVA, Tulisa stated that 'Wouldn't You' would be the song to watch out for.
"Strong Again" will be the third official single from the album, as announced by All Around the World records [10]
Albums
| Year | Album | UK | Ireland
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Uncle B | 11 | 49 |
Singles
| Year | Title | Chart positions [11][12][13] | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK | IRE | |||
| 2006 | "You Better Not Waste My Time" (download only) | |||
| "I Swear" | ||||
| 2007 | "Feva Las Vegas" | |||
| "You Better Not Waste My Time" | ||||
| 2008 | "Ouch" | |||
| "Papa Can You Hear Me?" | ||||
| 2009 | "Strong Again" | |||
Music Videos
As NW1
- "Every Day Of My Life" [14]
As N-Dubz
- "You Better Not Waste My Time"[15]
- "I Swear"[16]
- "Love For My Slum"[17]
- "Feva Las Vegas"[18]
- "Better Not Waste My Time" (Rerelease)[19]
- "Sex"[20]
- "N-Dubz vs. NAA"[21]
- "Ouch"[22]
- "Defeat You"[23]
- "Papa (Can You Hear Me)"[24]
- "Strong Again"[25]
Awards
2007 - MOBO Awards - Best U.K Newcomer - WON
References
- ^ Talking Shop:N Dubz. BBC, October 19, 2007. Accessed November 17, 2007.
- ^ Biography, Channelu.tv. Accessed November 17, 2007.
- ^ Feva Las Vegas. Acharts.us. Accessed November 17, 2007.
- ^ Exploding on the UK Scene. The Sun, October 19, 2007. Accessed November 17, 2007.
- ^ You Better Not Waste My Time. Acharts.us. Accessed November 17, 2007.
- ^ Dappy Does Buzzcocks: N-Dubz News on RWD Magazine
- ^ Official N-Dubz Youtube channel adds "Ouch" music video - 21st May 2008
- ^ AATW Artist Profile - N-Dubz
- ^ http://www.amazon.co.uk/Uncle-B-N-Dubz/dp/B001HO02GU/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1223817841&sr=8-8
- ^ Confirmation of "Papa" as second AATW single
- ^ The Official UK Charts Company
- ^ Source for the chart position for the original release of "You Better Not Waste My Time"
- ^ Source for "I Swear" chart position
- ^ "Every Day Of My Life" Music Video
- ^ "You Better Not Waste My Time Music Video
- ^ "I Swear" Music Video
- ^ "Love For My Slum" Music Video
- ^ "Feva Las Vegas" Music Video
- ^ "Better Not Waste My Time" re-released Music Video
- ^ "Sex" Music Video
- ^ "N-Dubz vs. NAA" Music Video
- ^ "Ouch" Music Video
- ^ "Defeat You" Music Video
- ^ "Papa" Music Video
- ^ "Strong Again" Music Video