Estelle (musician)

Infobox Musical artist


Img_size =
Img_capt= Estelle at the MTV Day 2008
Name = Estelle
Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = Estelle Fanta Swaray
Born = birth date and age|df=yes|1980|1|18
Origin = Hammersmith, West London, England
Genre = Hip hop, R&B, soul, reggae, british hip hop
Occupation = Singer, rapper, songwriter, producer
Years_active = 2002-present
Associated_acts = Kanye West, John Legend, Will.I.Am, Karl Hinds
Label = Stellarents, V2 Records, Home School, Black Jays, Atlantic,Ill Flava Records
URL = [http://www.estellemusic.com/ estellemusic.com]

Estelle Fanta Swaray (born 18 January 1980), [ [http://www.mirror.co.uk/showbiz/entertainment/music/2008/06/05/how-estelle-headed-to-the-us-and-scored-her-first-no-1-89520-20596225/ How Estelle headed to the US and scored her first No. 1 - mirror.co.uk ] ] widely known as Estelle, and formerly as Est'elle is a Grammy-nominated Black British hip hop/R&B singer, rapper, and producer. She has received the MOBO for "Best Newcomer" and received three consecutive "Best Female Artist" trophies from the "UK Hip-Hop Awards".

Life and music

Estelle was born in Hammersmith West London in 1980 (after which her autobiographical first single was named). She is one of eight children, born to a Senegalese mother and a father from Grenada. [ [http://www.channelu.tv/default.asp?sec=1&artist=130 ESTELLE - Biography - ESTELLE ] ] Estelle runs her own record label, Stellar Ents, [ [http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/estelle-stellar-fun-544550.html Estelle: Stellar fun - Features, Music - The Independent ] ] and has released her own material through this - including the two "Da Heat" mixtapes Part 1 and 2, the album "The 18th Day" and the singles "1980", "Free" and "Go Gone". She is featured on Natasha Bedingfield's song "Drop Me In The Middle" for Natasha's U.S. release of "Unwritten". She also did a rap verse on a 2006 Omar song, "Lay it down". In addition, she released a song featuring rapper Kanye West titled "American Boy".

Estelle was originally signed to Ill Flava Records. [ [http://www.illflavarecords.com karl hinds, ill flava records, don gramma, hindsight, have patience, shade sheist, nune, rj, pyo, put yourself out entertainment, digital dreamspace, estelle, joni rewind, sea... ] ] label owned by hip hop award winner Karl Hinds, who together with Estelle and Joni Rewind re-released the well known Althia & Donna - 1978 track, "Uptown Top Rankin". Estelle has also worked on various other tracks and videos with Hinds.

In 2006, Estelle appeared at the London School Harris City Technology College for a Post 16 Year Of Achievement Night, and she could also be seen in the video for John Legend's single "Save Room". Also in 2006, Estelle joined rapper Kardinal Offishall's Black Jays International, and was eventually signed to singer John Legend's Homeschool Records through Atlantic Records. [http://www.allhiphop.com/Alternatives/?ID=422]

Her second album featured production from the likes of will.i.am, Wyclef Jean, Mark Ronson, Cee-Lo Green, Swizz Beatz, and John Legend.

Kanye West features on the album, on a track called "American Boy" which reached number one in the UK singles chart on March 23 2008. [ [http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/chart/singles.shtml BBC - Radio 1 - Chart Show - The UK Top 40 Singles ] ] Estelle will be touring with Wyclef Jean with the tour dates soon to be announced. [ [http://www.mtv.co.uk/channel/mtvuk/news/15082007/base_news_estelle_returns Base News | Estelle Returns! | MTV UK ] ] The album was placed on the short list for the Nationwide Mercury Music Prize in 2008. [ [http://www.taletela.com/news/122/estelle-nominated-for-nationwide-mercury-prize Estelle Nomintated For Mercury Music Prize] ]

Recently she has got into a controversy by claiming that racist attitudes in the U.K. music industry promote white artists over black artists performing the same style of music. [ [http://music.guardian.co.uk/news/story/0,,2268835,00.html Estelle attacks 'blindness to black talent' | News | guardian.co.uk Music ] ]

In April 2008 Estelle announced a short UK tour with Nathalie Matychak, calling at the Manchester Ritz on the 8th June, Glasgow ABC on the 9th June, Birmingham Custard Factory on the 10th June and the Shepherds Bush Empire on the 12th June.

Estelle performed at halftime of the 2008 MLS All-Star Game on July 24, 2008 at BMO Field in Toronto, Ontario. [ [http://theoffsiderules.blogspot.com/2008/06/estelle-to-perform-at-mls-all-star-game.html Estelle to Perform at MLS All-Star Game] ]

Estelle performed at V festival 2008 16th/17th Aug. on the JJB stage with a full band.

Estelle also penned a song for Canadian songstress Kreesha Turner.

She watched her best friend, Jeanette Kwakye, finish 6th in the Women's 100m at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/olympics/article4552474.ece]

Discography

Awards/Nominations

*BET Awards
**2008, Best New Artist (Nominated)
*Mercury Music Prize
**2008, Estelle - Shine (Shortlisted)
*MOBO Awards
**2008, Best UK Female (Nominated)
**2008, Best Song: "American Boy" (Nominated)
**2008, Best Video: "American Boy" (Nominated)
**2008, Best Album: Shine (Nominated)
**2008, Best R&B Act (Nominated)
*MTV Video Music Awards
**2008, Best UK Video (Nominated)

References

External links

* [http://www.estellemusic.com Official Website]
* [http://www.myspace.com/estelleonline Official MySpace]
* [http://www.chartsinfrance.net/communaute/index.php?showtopic=20659 Estelle single's & album's Charts]
* [http://www.john-legend.net/homeschool/ Unofficial Homeschool Records Website]
* [http://www.holymoly.co.uk/news/44/estelle-says-pat-sharp-should-shave-his-head-3571.html/ Interview with Estelle on Holy Moly]
* [http://www.britishhiphop.co.uk/features/interviews/estelle_2.html Interview at britishhiphop.co.uk, June 2008]