Amplify Dot
Amplify Dot | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Ashley Charles |
| Born | 9 April 1988 |
| Origin | South London, England |
| Genres | Hip hop, grime |
| Occupation(s) | Rapper, DJ, radio presenter, TV presenter |
| Years active | 2008–present |
| Website | amplifydot.co.uk |
A.Dot (born Ashley Charles; 9 April 1988), also known as Amplify Dot or Dotty, is a rapper and broadcaster from South London, England. She has been a radio presenter on BBC Radio 1Xtra since 2014 and co-presenter of the BBC One show Sounds Like Friday Night since October 2017.
]] concert at the Brixton Academy after Elliott asked if anyone in the audience could rap.[1][2] She describes this as a defining moment that led her to pursue a career as MTV|website=MTV}}</ref>
Amplify Dot gradually built a reputation in the UK grime and hip hop scenes, featuring on the grime track "Game Over Female Takeover" (2010), and self-releasing the mixtape Born Ready (2011)[3] and the EP Short Back and Sides (2012), which entered the iTunes Hip Hop Chart.[1] She also launched her own clothing label, Quiff Head, in conjunction with London street-wear brand House of Hoxshore.[4]
In June 2012, Amplify Dot signed a recording contract with Virgin Records and a publishing contract with Sony ATV, with Music Week reporting that she was the first female rapper in the UK to secure a major-label deal in over a decade.[1] Soon after signing to Virgin, she released the Spare Parts mixtape,[5] which she said contained tracks that were not going to make the cut for her debut album but that she was still keen for people to hear.[6] This was followed in 2013 by the Spare Parts II mixtape hosted by UK radio personality Charlie Sloth.[7] In December 2013 she presented her own radio show as part of the Xtra Talent series on BBC Radio 1Xtra and was offered a regular presenting slot in 2014. She hosted Saturday's 4-7pm, Weekends 1-4pm and Weekday Afternoons 1-4pm all before she replaced Twin B and Yasmin Evans as host of the weekday breakfast show in July 2016.[8][9]
Amplify Dot has collaborated with artists and producers including Busta Rhymes, Emeli Sandé, Zane Lowe, Krunchie, Show N Prove, Chris Loco, Fraser T. Smith, Midi Mafia, Beatfreakz, Kano, Gyptian, and Ms Dynamite. She has also performed with Lioness and Lady Leshurr as part of the all-female crew 367, including on a remix of the Ms Dynamite single "Neva Soft" (2011).[10]
In 2017, she will co-present Sounds Like Friday Night, a new primetime music show for BBC One with Greg James.[11]
Discography
- Born Ready (2011) Mixtape
- Short Back and Sides (2012) EP
- Spare Parts (2012) Mixtape
- Spare Parts II (2013) Mixtape
Singles
- "Get Down" (2012)
- "Kurt Cobain" (2013)
- "I'm Good" feat. Busta Rhymes (2013)
References
- ^ a b c "Amplify Dot signs to EMI in first UK female rapper major deal in a decade - News - Music Week". www.musicweek.com.
- ^ On the talent contest that formed part of Elliot's Brixton Academy show, see Maddy Costa, "The Missy Elliott love-in," The Guardian, 2 June 2001. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
- ^ "Amplify Dot (A.Dot) - Born Ready - HOODTAPES.CO.UK". 4 July 2011.
- ^ "Quiff Head".
- ^ "Amplify Dot - Spare Parts - HOODTAPES.CO.UK". 4 December 2012.
- ^ "Interview: Get Down with… Amplify Dot - MOBO Awards". 20 September 2013.
- ^ "Amplify Dot: Spare Parts II - Hosted By Charlie Sloth". amplifydot.co.uk.
- ^ "The 1Xtra Breakfast Show with A.Dot". BBC.
- ^ "Twin B and Yasmin leave 1Xtra Breakfast with A.Dot replacing them - BBC Newsbeat". BBC. 27 April 2016.
- ^ "Ms Dynamite Feat. Amplify Dot, Lady Leshurr and Lioness – Neva Soft (Remix)," Archived February 25, 2015, at the Wayback Machine SME. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
- ^ "Sounds Like Friday Night bursts onto BBC One in October". BBC. 22 September 2017.
External links
| Authority control databases: Artists |
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