Lady Leshurr
Melesha Katrina O'Garro BEM (born 15 December 1988), known professionally as Lady Leshurr (/ˈliːʃər/),[3] is an 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]
Lady Leshurr BEM | |
|---|---|
![]() Lady Leshurr performing at Field Day 2017 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Melesha Katrina O'Garro[1] |
| Born | 15 December 1988 |
| Origin | Kingshurst, Solihull, England[2] |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) |
|
| Years active | 2009–present |
| Labels | |
Early life
Born to parents from the Caribbean[7] Isle of Saint Kitts,[2] her first foray was into poetry and writing at age six[8] but she decided that writing music would bring her to a wider audience,[7] releasing her first mixtape at age fourteen.[9] 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[10]
Career
Leshurr played one of the lead female roles in Vertigo Films' 2009 film 1 Day.[11] She 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[12] named after her 2011 mixtape Friggin L.[13]
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.[14] In 2021, Leshurr is set compete in the thirteenth series of Dancing on Ice. She will be paired with Brendyn Hatfield.[1]
Influences
Leshurr has named Ashley Walters, Eminem, Ms. Dynamite, Nicki Minaj, Missy Elliott and Lil Wayne as her primary influences.[15] 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.[16]
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 |
|
As lead artist
| Year | Title[19] | Album |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | "Friggin L"[20] | 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 | |
| "Astronaut" | Astronaut | |
| "DIV" |
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"[21] (Orbital featuring Lady Leshurr) |
Wonky | |
| "Boring Bitches"[22] (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"[23] (Mike Delinquent Project featuring Lady Leshurr) |
Step in the Dance EP | |
| "Sick Love"[24] (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"[25] (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"[26] (will.i.am featuring Lady Leshurr, Lioness & Ms Banks) | |
| "Mike Myers" (Swifta Beater featuring Lady Leshurr, Remtrex and Bowzer Boss) | ||
| "Still Here" (Offcourse featuring Lady Leshurr) | ||
| 2020 | "Up In Smoke" (Remtrex feat. Lady Leshurr and Yates) |
Bars From the Pen 2 |
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 | N/A | |
| 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 | N/A | |
| "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)[27] (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 | "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) – TBA
Television
- Later...With Jools Holland (2018) – Musical guest
- Sunday Brunch (2018) – Musical guest
- Don't Hate the Playaz (2018–present) – Team captain
- The X Factor UK (2018) – Musical guest
- Happy Hour with Olly Murs (2018) – Musical 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 and Lady Leshurr (2019) – Special guest co-host
- Celebrity MasterChef (2020) – Contestant
- Ghost Bus Tours (2020) - Participant
- Shopping with Keith Lemon (2020) - Guest
- Dancing on Ice (2021) – Contestant
- The Celebrity Circle (2021) - Contestant
References
- "Dancing On Ice Lady Leshurr: Real Name, Most Famous Songs And Instagram Handle". Capital FM. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
- "Lady Leshurr". 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" Archived 18 August 2017 at the Wayback Machine.
- "About << LadyLeshurr.com". Progresslink.co.uk. Archived from the original on 5 May 2014. Retrieved 18 November 2013.
- "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.
- 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
- "Lady Leshurr: 'The industry just doesn't know what to do with women'". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 26 August 2014. Retrieved 16 October 2013.
- "Lady Leshurr". Britishunderground.net. Archived from the original on 15 July 2013. Retrieved 18 November 2013.
- "Glastonbury Festival – Lady Leshurr". BBC. Archived from the original on 25 September 2015. Retrieved 16 October 2013.
- Anderson, Errol. "Lady Leshurr: The female Busta Rhymes". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 15 October 2013. Retrieved 16 October 2013.
- "WRAP UP AND WATCH OUT: LADY LESHURR". MTV UK. Archived 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.
- "Lady Leshurr Loves Lil Wayne". MTV. Archived from the original on 14 April 2015. Retrieved 16 October 2013.
- "Everyone is talking about Lady Leshurr". Shazam. 22 September 2015. Archived 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. Archived from the original on 21 September 2018. Retrieved 21 September 2018.
- "Mixtape: Lady Leshurr – 2000ANDL (hosted by DJ Whoo Kid)". Archived from the original on 2 December 2013. Retrieved 18 November 2013.
- "Lady Leshurr on iTunes". Apple Inc. Archived from the original on 10 April 2016. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
- "2012 Official Mixtape Awards". Missing or empty
|series=(help) - Pelly, Jenn. "New Release: Orbital: Wonky". Pitchfork Media. Archived 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. Archived from the original on 10 June 2015. Retrieved 19 November 2013.
- "UK Chart > New Entries: 12 December 2012". zobbel.de. Archived from the original on 30 October 2013. Retrieved 5 July 2013.
- "Tiggs Da Author - Run (Official Video) ft. Lady Leshurr". YouTube. Archived 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. Retrieved 24 May 2019.
- "20 Years of East London in 20 Minutes!". BBC. Archived from the original on 4 July 2012. Retrieved 18 November 2013.
External links
- Lady Leshurr at IMDb
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