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Lady Leshurr

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Lady Leshurr
BEM
Lady Leshurr performing at Field Day 2017
Lady Leshurr performing at Field Day 2017
Background information
Birth nameMelesha Katrina O'Garro[1]
Born (1987-12-15) 15 December 1987 (age 36)
OriginKingshurst, Solihull, England[2]
Genres
Occupations
  • Rapper
  • singer
  • songwriter
  • record producer
Years active2009–present
Labels

Melesha Katrina O'Garro BEM (born 15 December 1987), known professionally as Lady Leshurr (/ˈliːʃər/),[3] is a British rapper, singer, songwriter and producer.[4] She is known for her Queen's Speech series of freestyles,[5] the fourth of which became popular in 2016. Her subsequent freestyle, Queen's Speech 5, was called "brilliant" and "2015's crowning freestyle" by Spin.[6] In 2021, she entered the Channel 4 series The Celebrity Circle for Stand Up to Cancer, catfishing as Big Narstie, and won. She also competed in the thirteenth series of Dancing on Ice, where she reached the semi-final.

Early life

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Melesha Katrina O'Garro was born on 15 December 1987[7][8] to Kittitian parents.[9][2] She became interested in poetry and writing at the age of six,[10] but decided that writing music would bring her to a wider audience.[9] She released her first mixtape at the age of fourteen.[11] In her words:

I grew up around music. My mum used to play a lot of reggae like Sister Nancy and Bob Marley around the house so basically, when I was around six, I was messing about and doing my own little raps and songs. My family are all rappers and singers anyway so I was always involved in it from a young age.

— Lady Leshurr, 2011[12]

Career

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Leshurr played one of the lead female roles in Vertigo Films' 2009 film 1 Day.[13] In 2010 Leshurr's first television music video appearance came in the music video 'Game Over Female Takeover', featuring Amplify Dot, Mz Bratt, Ruff Diamondz and others. The music video was directed by Nick Donnelly and produced by Carla Marie Williams. Leshurr won second place in the Best Female category of the Official Mixtape Awards 2011. To complement the music releases, she has designed a range of merchandise, the "Friggin L" clothing line[14] named after her 2011 mixtape Friggin L.[15]

In 2016, she won the MOBO Award, celebrating excellence in black music, for Best Female Act. In 2019, she won the award for "Best Rap / Grime Act" and in 2020 she won "Best Solo Female" at the Birmingham Music Awards. In 2019, Leshurr performed at The Nicki Wrld Tour in Birmingham and Manchester as a special guest for rapper Nicki Minaj.

She was awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) in the 2020 Birthday Honours for services to music and charity.[16]

In 2020, she appeared in a commercial advertising for beauty brand Olay and became the first Black British woman to lead a campaign for the company.[17]

In late 2020, it was announced that Lady Leshurr would be joining the line-up at BBC Radio 1Xtra with her own Saturday afternoon radio show.[18] In February 2023, it was announced that she would be replaced by Joelah Noble as presenter of the Saturday afternoon show.[19]

In 2021, she appeared as a contestant on the thirteenth series of Dancing on Ice, partnered with Brendyn Hatfield.[1] After surviving three skate-offs during the competition, Leshurr was eliminated in the semi-final, leaving her in fourth place.[20] She also won The Celebrity Circle for Stand Up to Cancer.

In 2021, Leshurr announced a partnership with Kamo Premium Vodka, through which she became a co-owner.

In April and August 2022, Leshurr appeared as a guest panellist on the ITV show Loose Women.

Influences

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Leshurr has named Eminem, Busta Rhymes, Ms. Dynamite, Missy Elliott and Lil Wayne as her primary influences.[21][22] Nia Kay, a competitor on The Rap Game season 2, stated that Leshurr was one of her influences due to her uniqueness and rap skill.[23]

Personal life

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Leshurr came out as pansexual in September 2018.[24]

In late 2019 Leshurr took time out from her music career following the death of her sister from breast cancer.[25]

On 22 October 2022, Leshurr and Sherelle Smith allegedly assaulted Leshurr's ex-girlfriend Sidnee Hussein and Hussein's new girlfriend Chante Boyea. She was charged with two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and Smith was charged with one count of the same offence. Both women pleaded not guilty to their charges and were bailed.[26] Twelve months later, the pair were found not guilty at Snaresbrook Crown Court. The prosecution said that Leshurr had bitten Boyea's hand, while the defence said that Leshurr had been bitten by Boyea's Belgian Shepherd dog. After her acquittal, Leshurr said that her career had been ruined due to loss of deals and income because of the charges.[27]

Discography

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Mixtapes

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Title Details
Friggin L
2000 and L
  • Released: 11 May 2012[28]
  • Label: Self-released
  • Formats: Streaming
L Yeah!
  • Released: 15 February 2013
  • Label: Self-released
  • Formats: Streaming
Mona Leshurr
  • Released: 9 March 2013
  • Label: Self-released
  • Formats: Streaming, Digital download
Lil Bit of Lesh
  • Released: 22 May 2014
  • Label: Self-released
  • Formats: Streaming, Digital download

Extended plays

[edit]
Title Details
Queen's Speech
  • Released: 9 September 2016
  • Label: Self-released
  • Formats: Streaming, digital download
Mode
  • Released: 27 April 2017
  • Label: Sony
  • Formats: Streaming, digital download
Quaranqueen
  • Released: 6 June 2020
  • Label: Unleshed Records
  • Formats: Streaming, digital download
Astronaut
  • Released: 26 December 2020
  • Label: Unleshed Records
  • Formats: Streaming, digital download

Singles

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As lead artist

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Year Title[29] Album
2011 "Friggin L"[30] Friggin L
"Lego" Non-album singles
2015 "Lukatar"
"Queen's Speech 1" Queen's Speech
"Queen's Speech 2"
"Queen's Speech 3"
"Queen's Speech 4"
2016 "Queen's Speech 5"
"Panda Freestyle" Non-album singles
"Where Are You Now?"
(featuring Wiley)
"Queen's Speech 6"
2017 "Juice" Mode
"Queen's Speech 7" Non-album singles
2018 "R.I.P"
"New Freezer"
"OMW"
"Black Madonna"
(featuring Mr Eazi)
"Black Panther"
"3AM In Brum"
2019 "Horrid"
"I've Gotta Be Me"
"Your Mr"
2020 "Carmen"
"Quarantine Speech" Quaranqueen
"Quaranting"
(featuring Busy Signal)
"Unleshed 4" Non-album single
"DIV" Astronaut
2021 "2Gether Now" Non-album single
2022 "Likkle Darling" TBA
[edit]
Year Title Album
2011 "Move"
(Fire Camp featuring Lady Leshurr and Scrufizzer) 		Move
2012 "Murder"
(Lea-Anna featuring Lioness, Lady Leshurr and Ce'Cile) 		Murder EP
"Finally"
(Leon & Harvey featuring Lady Leshurr) 		Finally EP
"Wonky"[31]
(Orbital featuring Lady Leshurr) 		Wonky
"Boring Bitches"[32]
(Etta Bond and Raf Riley featuring Lady Leshurr) 		Emergency Room
"Run Your Mouth"
(Noisses featuring Rtkal, Foreign Beggars and Lady Leshurr) 		Run Your Mouth EP
"Step in the Dance"[33]
(Mike Delinquent Project featuring Lady Leshurr) 		Step in the Dance EP
"Sick Love"[34]
(Vince Kidd featuring Lady Leshurr) 		Sick Love EP
2013 "Blazin'"
(Torqux featuring Lady Leshurr) 		Blazin' EP
"Bet on It"
(Young O featuring Griminal and Lady Leshurr) 		Bet on It
"Swag Fi Dem"
(RSXG Productions, Juki Ranx and Brooklynne featuring Lady Leshurr) 		Swag Fi Dem EP
"I Ain't Rich... Yet"
(J. Appiah featuring Lady Leshurr) 		I Ain't Rich... Yet EP
2016 "Run"[35]
(Tiggs Da Author featuring Lady Leshurr) 		Non-album singles
2018 "Block and Delete"
(C4 featuring Lady Leshurr)
"Don't Believe You"
(Lethal Bizzle featuring Lady Leshurr)
2019 "Pretty Little Thing"[36]
(will.i.am featuring Lady Leshurr, Lioness & Ms Banks)
"Mike Myers"
(Swifta Beater featuring Lady Leshurr, Remtrex and Bowzer Boss)
"Still Here"
(Off course featuring Lady Leshurr)
2020 "Up In Smoke"
(Remtrex feat. Lady Leshurr and Yates) 		Bars From the Pen 2
2021 "No Time For Tears"
(Nathan Dawe and Little Mix) 		Non-album singles
2022 "Likkle Miss (The Fine Nine Remix)"
(Nicki Minaj feat. Skeng, Spice, Destra, Patrice Roberts, Lady Leshurr, Pamputtae, Lisa Mercedez, Dovey Magnum, London Hill) 		Queen Radio: Volume 1

Guest appearances

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Year Title Album Label
2010 "This is SRE (Drop the Funk)" (Invasion Remix)
(SRE featuring Lady Leshurr, Jaykae and Hitman) 		This is SRE EP Sidewinder Raw
2011 "We Know"
(Trilla featuring R.I.O and Lady Leshurr) 		01:21 Trilla Music
"Ready" (Remix 2)
(Cons featuring Tor, Kasay, Tempa, Lady Leshurr and Nolay) 		June Bug RGS
"Gangster" (Lady Leshurr Remix)
(Zdot featuring Lady Leshurr) 		Gangster Elite Music
"So Much More"
(Manga featuring KOF and Lady Leshurr) 		Obzokey Wranglings —
2012 "Heart of Stone"
(Bashy featuring Dot Rotten, Black the Ripper and Lady Leshurr) 		The Great Escape SB.TV
"Level Up" (Remix)
(Sway featuring Kelsey and Lady Leshurr) 		Level Up EP 3Beat
"WAVY" (Seamix)
(Kano and Footsie featuring Lady Leshurr, Jme, D Double E and Sway) 		WAVY / Kano Stencils —
"Hoods Up" (Remix)
(Teddy Music featuring Lil Nasty, Double S, Lady Leshurr, Scrufizzer, Dot Rotten and Tre Mission) 		Hoods Up EP Teddy Music
"I Wanna Rock" (All Stars Remix)[37]
(Maxsta featuring Tinchy Stryder, Rizzle Kicks and Lady Leshurr) 		I Wanna Rock EP Sony
"Move to Da Gyal Dem" (Female Remix)
(Donae'o featuring Mz. Bratt, Lioness, Terri Walker and Lady Leshurr) 		Move to Da Gyal Dem Zephron
"Da Cypher (Part Deux)"
(Bigz featuring Lady Leshurr and Mistah Fab) 		The Bigz Bang Theory DCypha
"Va Heter Det"
(Max Peezay featuring Lady Leshurr) 		F.A.S 3 Devrim
2013 "Let the Dogs Run Wild"
(Labrinth featuring Lady Leshurr) 		Atomic Odd Child
"Now That You're Gone" (Remix)
(Tanya Lacey featuring Lady Leshurr) 		Now That You're Gone EP Laceywood
"Hoods Up" (Remix)
(Lil Nasty featuring Double S, Lady Leshurr, Dot Rotten and Tre Mission) 		This is UK Grime Vol. 3 Defenders
"Off the Leash"
(Teddy Music featuring Double S and Lady Leshurr) 		Rehearsals Teddy Music
"Spitfire"
(Big Shizz, Lady Leshurr, Jammer, Realz, Jammin and Villain) 		Lord of the Mics V Lord of the Mics
2014 "Evolution 2.0"
(Kid Bookie Samantha Mumba, Kuniva, Crooked I, Scrufizzer, Lady Leshurr & Dot Rotten) 		That SP Compilation, Vol.1[38] That SP Studios
"Bother You" (Remix)
(D'banj featuring Lady Leshurr) 		Bother You Mi7, DKM
"Got It"
(Zdot and Krunchie featuring Krept, Konan and Lady Leshurr) 		Adrenaline EP Sonus Music
"Blow It Up"
(Zdot and Krunchie featuring Lady Leshurr)

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
2009 1 Day Shakia
2015 Lapse of Honour Eve
2018 The Intent 2: The Come Up Cameo
2021 On the Other Foot Therese

Television

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Year Title Function Notes
2018 Later...With Jools Holland Musical guest
2018 Sunday Brunch Musical guest
2018 Don't Hate the Playaz Team captain
2018 The X Factor UK Musical guest
2018 Happy Hour with Olly Murs Musical guest
2018 The Big Narstie Show Guest
2018 I'm A Celebrity: Extra Camp Guest panelist
2019 The Rap Game UK Special guest judge
2019 CelebAbility Contestant
2019 Even Later...with Jools Holland & Lady Leshurr Special guest co-host
2020 Celebrity MasterChef Contestant
2020 Ghost Bus Tours Participant
2020 Shopping with Keith Lemon Guest
2020 I'm A Celebrity: The Daily Drop Guest Panelist
2020 Steph's Packed Lunch Guest Co-host
2021 Dancing on Ice Contestant Semi- Finalist
2021 The Celebrity Circle Contestant Winner
2021 CelebAbility Contestant
2021 Michael McIntyre’s The Wheel Contestant
2021 The Hit List Contestant
2021 Blankety Blank Contestant
2021 I Like The Way U Move Guest judge
2021 Rock of All Ages Mentor
2022 Taskmaster's New Year Treat II Contestant
2022 Would I Lie to You? Contestant
2022 Rock Till We Drop Presenter[39]
2022 Loose Women Guest Panellist 4 episodes

References

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  1. ^ a b "Dancing On Ice Lady Leshurr: Real Name, Most Famous Songs And Instagram Handle". Capital FM. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Lady Leshurr". SXSW. Archived from the original on 14 April 2012. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
  3. ^ "Lady Leshurr Reveals Origin Of Her Name and Correct Way To Pronounce It" Archived 18 August 2017 at the Wayback Machine.
  4. ^ "Lady Leshurr: 7 interesting facts about the 'Queen's Speech' rapper". What's Good?. Archived from the original on 28 January 2016. Retrieved 22 January 2016.
  5. ^ Carley, Brennan Lady Leshurr's Brilliant 'Queen's Speech 5' Is 2015's Crowning Freestyle Archived 1 January 2016 at the Wayback Machine Spin. 30 December 2015
  6. ^ Leshurr, Lady (15 December 2021). "happy bday to me". Instagram. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
  7. ^ "Melesha Katrina O'GARRO". gov.uk. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  8. ^ a b "Lady Leshurr: 'The industry just doesn't know what to do with women'". The Guardian. 20 April 2013. Archived from the original on 26 August 2014. Retrieved 16 October 2013.
  9. ^ "Lady Leshurr". Britishunderground.net. Archived from the original on 15 July 2013. Retrieved 18 November 2013.
  10. ^ "Glastonbury Festival – Lady Leshurr". BBC. Archived from the original on 25 September 2015. Retrieved 16 October 2013.
  11. ^ Anderson, Errol. "Lady Leshurr: The female Busta Rhymes". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 15 October 2013. Retrieved 16 October 2013.
  12. ^ "WRAP UP AND WATCH OUT: LADY LESHURR". MTV UK. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
  13. ^ "lady leshurr". RTD Productions. Archived from the original on 26 November 2013. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
  14. ^ "Lady Leshurr unleashes Friggin L Mixtape". SoulCulture. Archived from the original on 26 November 2013. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
  15. ^ "No. 63142". The London Gazette (Supplement). 10 October 2020. p. B74.
  16. ^ Adejobi, Alicia (23 June 2020). "Lady Leshurr defends Olay advert after trolls question her 'integrity'". Metro. Retrieved 7 March 2024.
  17. ^ "Nadia Jae announced as new 1Xtra Breakfast Show presenter". BBC News. 17 December 2020. Retrieved 27 November 2021.
  18. ^ "Reece Parkinson to leave BBC Radio 1Xtra and Lady Leshurr replaced". BBC News. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
  19. ^ "Dancing On Ice fans devastated as Lady Leshurr is 'unfairly' axed ahead of final". Daily Mirror. 7 March 2021. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
  20. ^ "Lady Leshurr Loves Lil Wayne". MTV. Archived from the original on 14 April 2015. Retrieved 16 October 2013.
  21. ^ "Lady Leshurr". Archived from the original on 15 February 2012.
  22. ^ "Everyone is talking about Lady Leshurr". Shazam. 22 September 2015. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
  23. ^ Johnson, Shakeena (21 September 2018). "Lady Leshurr comes out as pansexual: "If you can't take me for who I am then you can leave"". Gay Times. Archived from the original on 21 September 2018. Retrieved 21 September 2018.
  24. ^ "Blush Winter 2021". Blush Magazine. Retrieved 27 November 2021.
  25. ^ "Lady Leshurr assaulted ex-girlfriend, court hears". BBC News. 25 October 2022. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
  26. ^ "Lady Leshurr says her career is ruined following assault case". BBC News. 1 November 2023. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
  27. ^ "Mixtape: Lady Leshurr – 2000ANDL (hosted by DJ Whoo Kid)". Archived from the original on 2 December 2013. Retrieved 18 November 2013.
  28. ^ "Lady Leshurr on iTunes". Apple Inc. Archived from the original on 10 April 2016. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
  29. ^ "2012 Official Mixtape Awards". {{cite episode}}: Missing or empty |series= (help)
  30. ^ Pelly, Jenn (19 January 2012). "New Release: Orbital: Wonky". Pitchfork Media. Archived from the original on 6 November 2013. Retrieved 18 November 2013.
  31. ^ "Etta Bond featuring Lady Leshurr – Boring Bitches". Soundophiles.com. Archived from the original on 18 November 2013. Retrieved 18 November 2013.
  32. ^ "iTunes – Music – Step in the Dance (Remixes) (feat. Lady Leshurr) – Single by Mike Delinquent Project". iTunes Store. 23 September 2012. Archived from the original on 10 June 2015. Retrieved 19 November 2013.
  33. ^ "UK Chart > New Entries: 12 December 2012". zobbel.de. Archived from the original on 30 October 2013. Retrieved 5 July 2013.
  34. ^ "Tiggs Da Author - Run (Official Video) ft. Lady Leshurr". YouTube. Archived from the original on 15 November 2017. Retrieved 22 September 2017.
  35. ^ "Pretty Little Thing (feat. Lady Leshurr, Lioness & Ms Banks) - Single by will.i.am". iTunes Store. Apple. 20 May 2019. Retrieved 24 May 2019.
  36. ^ "20 Years of East London in 20 Minutes!". BBC. Archived from the original on 4 July 2012. Retrieved 18 November 2013.
  37. ^ "That Sp Compilation, Vol. 1 - EP by Various Artists on iTunes". 19 September 2014. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
  38. ^ "Rock Till We Drop". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
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