Lady Leshurr
Melesha Katrina O'Garro BEM (born 2nd August 1987), known professionally as Lady Leshurr (/ˈliːʃə/),[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
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
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.[1] 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.[2]
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.[17] In February 2023, it was announced that she would be replaced by Joelah Noble as presenter of the Saturday afternoon show.[18]
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.[19] 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
Leshurr has named Ashley Walters, Eminem, Busta Rhymes, Ms. Dynamite, Missy Elliott and Lil Wayne as her primary influences.[20][21] 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.[22]
Personal life
Leshurr came out as pansexual in September 2018.[23]
In late 2019 Leshurr took time out from her music career following the death of her sister from breast cancer.[24]
On 22 October 2022, Leshurr and Sherelle Smith allegedly assaulted Leshurr's ex-girlfriend and the woman's new girlfriend. 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.[25]
Discography
Mixtapes
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Friggin L |
|
| 2000 and L |
|
| L Yeah! |
|
| Mona Leshurr |
|
| Lil Bit of Lesh |
|
Extended plays
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Queen's Speech |
|
| Mode |
|
| Quaranqueen |
|
| Astronaut |
|
Singles
As lead artist
| Year | Title[27] | Album |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | "Friggin L"[28] | 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 |
As featured artist
| 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"[29] (Orbital featuring Lady Leshurr) | Wonky | |
| "Boring Bitches"[30] (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"[31] (Mike Delinquent Project featuring Lady Leshurr) | Step in the Dance EP | |
| "Sick Love"[32] (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"[33] (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"[34] (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 |
Guest appearances
| 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)[35] (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[36] | 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
Film
- 1 Day (2009) – Shakia
- Lapse of Honour (2015) – Eve
- The Intent 2: The Come Up (2018) – Cameo Role
- On the Other Foot (2021) – Therese
Television
- Later...With Jools Holland (2018) – Musical guest
- Sunday Brunch (2018) – Musical guest
- Don't Hate the Playaz (2018–) – Team captain
- The X Factor UK (2018) – Musical guest
- Happy Hour with Olly Murs (2018) – Musical guest
- The Big Narstie Show (2018) - Guest
- I'm A Celebrity: Extra Camp (2018) – Guest panelist
- The Rap Game UK (2019) – Special guest judge
- CelebAbility (2019) – Contestant
- Even Later...with Jools Holland & Lady Leshurr (2019) – Special guest co-host
- Celebrity MasterChef (2020) – Contestant
- Ghost Bus Tours (2020) – Participant
- Shopping with Keith Lemon (2020) – Guest
- I'm A Celebrity: The Daily Drop (2020) – Guest Panelist
- Steph's Packed Lunch (2020) –Guest Co-host
- Dancing on Ice (2021) – Contestant – Semi- Finalist
- The Celebrity Circle (2021) – Contestant – Winner
- CelebAbility (2021) – Contestant
- Michael McIntyre’s The Wheel (2021) – Contestant
- The Hit List (2021) – Contestant
- Blankety Blank (2021) – Contestant
- I Like The Way U Move (2021) – Guest judge
- Rock of All Ages (2021) – Mentor – TBA
- Taskmaster New Year Treat II (2022) – Contestant
- Would I Lie to You? (2022) - Contestant
- Rock Till We Drop (2022) - Presenter[37]
- Loose Women (2022) - Guest Panellist (4 episodes)
References
- ^ a b "Dancing On Ice Lady Leshurr: Real Name, Most Famous Songs And Instagram Handle". Capital FM. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
- ^ a b . SXSW. Archived from the original on 14 April 2012. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
- ^ "Lady Leshurr Reveals Origin Of Her Name and Correct Way To Pronounce It" 18 August 2017 at the Wayback Machine.
- ^ . Progresslink.co.uk. Archived from the original on 5 May 2014. Retrieved 18 November 2013.
- ^ . What's Good?. Archived from the original on 28 January 2016. Retrieved 22 January 2016.
- ^ Carley, Brennan Lady Leshurr's Brilliant 'Queen's Speech 5' Is 2015's Crowning Freestyle 1 January 2016 at the Wayback Machine Spin. 30 December 2015
- ^ Leshurr, Lady (15 December 2021). "happy bday to me". Instagram. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
- ^ "Melesha Katrina O'GARRO". gov.uk. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
- ^ a b "Lady Leshurr: 'The industry just doesn't know what to do with women'". The Guardian. 20 April 2013. from the original on 26 August 2014. Retrieved 16 October 2013.
- ^ . Britishunderground.net. Archived from the original on 15 July 2013. Retrieved 18 November 2013.
- ^ "Glastonbury Festival – Lady Leshurr". BBC. from the original on 25 September 2015. Retrieved 16 October 2013.
- ^ Anderson, Errol. . The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 15 October 2013. Retrieved 16 October 2013.
- ^ "WRAP UP AND WATCH OUT: LADY LESHURR". MTV UK. from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
- ^ "lady leshurr". RTD Productions. Archived from the original on 26 November 2013. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
- ^ "Lady Leshurr unleashes Friggin L Mixtape". SoulCulture. Archived from the original on 26 November 2013. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
- ^ "No. 63142". The London Gazette (Supplement). 10 October 2020. p. B74.
- ^ "Nadia Jae announced as new 1Xtra Breakfast Show presenter". BBC News. 17 December 2020. Retrieved 27 November 2021.
- ^ "Reece Parkinson to leave BBC Radio 1Xtra and Lady Leshurr replaced". BBC News. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
- ^ "Dancing On Ice fans devastated as Lady Leshurr is 'unfairly' axed ahead of final". Daily Mirror. 7 March 2021. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
- ^ "Lady Leshurr Loves Lil Wayne". MTV. from the original on 14 April 2015. Retrieved 16 October 2013.
- ^ . Archived from the original on 15 February 2012.
- ^ "Everyone is talking about Lady Leshurr". Shazam. 22 September 2015. from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
- ^ 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. from the original on 21 September 2018. Retrieved 21 September 2018.
- ^ "Blush Winter 2021". Blush Magazine. Retrieved 27 November 2021.
- ^ "Lady Leshurr assaulted ex-girlfriend, court hears". BBC News. 25 October 2022. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
- ^ . Archived from the original on 2 December 2013. Retrieved 18 November 2013.
- ^ "Lady Leshurr on iTunes". Apple Inc. from the original on 10 April 2016. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
- ^ "2012 Official Mixtape Awards".
{{cite episode}}: Missing or empty|series=(help) - ^ Pelly, Jenn (19 January 2012). "New Release: Orbital: Wonky". Pitchfork Media. from the original on 6 November 2013. Retrieved 18 November 2013.
- ^ "Etta Bond featuring Lady Leshurr – Boring Bitches". Soundophiles.com. Archived from the original on 18 November 2013. Retrieved 18 November 2013.
- ^ "iTunes – Music – Step in the Dance (Remixes) (feat. Lady Leshurr) – Single by Mike Delinquent Project". iTunes Store. 23 September 2012. from the original on 10 June 2015. Retrieved 19 November 2013.
- ^ "UK Chart > New Entries: 12 December 2012". zobbel.de. from the original on 30 October 2013. Retrieved 5 July 2013.
- ^ "Tiggs Da Author - Run (Official Video) ft. Lady Leshurr". YouTube. from the original on 15 November 2017. Retrieved 22 September 2017.
- ^ "Pretty Little Thing (feat. Lady Leshurr, Lioness & Ms Banks) - Single by will.i.am". iTunes Store. Apple. 20 May 2019. Retrieved 24 May 2019.
- ^ "20 Years of East London in 20 Minutes!". BBC. from the original on 4 July 2012. Retrieved 18 November 2013.
- ^ "That Sp Compilation, Vol. 1 - EP by Various Artists on iTunes". 19 September 2014. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
- ^ "Rock Till We Drop". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
External links
- Lady Leshurr at IMDb