Ms. Dynamite

Biography

Niomi Arleen McLean-Daley (born 26 April 1981), known professionally as Ms. Dynamite, is a British singer and rapper. She is the recipient of the Mercury Music Prize, two Brit Awards and three MOBO Awards.

Early years

Niomi Arleen McLean-Daley was born in Crawley, and raised in Kentish Town, to a Jamaican father and a Scottish mother. She has eleven younger siblings, one of which is the rapper Akala.

2001–2004: A Little Deeper

Ms. Dynamite (originally Lady Dynamite) was first known for her vocals on the UK garage underground track "Booo!×Booo!11 June 2001 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1Booo! (original dirty mix)5:312Booo! (Medieval Hooligans Longshanks remix)5:013Booo! (Dubaholics Numb dub mix edit)5:174Booo! (Headquarters acoustic radio remix)3:18", which was regularly played on London pirate radio stations and was later released as a single. While working at the radio station RAW FM, Ms. Dynamite was discovered by Richard Forbes ("DJ Sticky") at a West End club. Interest grew from all major British labels and eventually she was signed via her management Bigga Beats to Polydor Records, where she met producer Salaam Remi, who cultivated her talent.
She released her debut album, A Little Deeper×A Little Deeper10 June 2002 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 16 tracks1Natural High (interlude)0:562Dy-na-mi-tee3:393Anyway U Want It3:424Put Him Out3:595Brother3:356It Takes More (Bloodshy main mix)4:397Sick 'n' Tired3:348Afraid 2 Fly4:489Watch Over Them1:1710Seed Will Grow3:2411Krazy Krush3:4412Now U Want My Love4:5413Too Experienced2:5914Gotta Let U Know4:1015All I Ever4:3216A Little Deeper10:25, in 2002, which featured hit songs "It Takes More×It Takes More20 May 2002 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1It Takes More (Bloodshy main mix)4:412It Takes More (album version)3:033It Takes More (Nash Band mix)4:42" and "Dy-Na-Mi-Tee×Dy-Na-Mi-Tee2002 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1Dy-Na-Mi-Tee3:402Dy-Na-Mi-Tee (Yoruba soul remix)6:223It Takes More (Radio 1 live lounge)4:32". In 2003, the album was released in the United States to critical acclaim. In 2002, Ms. Dynamite won the prestigious Mercury Music Prize, for A Little Deeper. She donated the £20,000 prize to the NSPCC.
On 8 March 2003, Ms. Dynamite was the musical guest on Saturday Night Live, hosted by Queen Latifah.
Also in 2003, Ms. Dynamite signed a deal to promote Pepsi, reported to be worth £1m
She performed at the closing ceremony of the 2002 Commonwealth Games at the City of Manchester Stadium. On 2 July 2005, she performed at the Live 8 concert in Hyde Park, London. Among the songs performed was "Redemption Song" written by Bob Marley, which she performed alongside her brother, Akala.

2005–2006: Judgement Days

On 11 September 2005, she returned to the limelight (having taken time off to have her son, Shavaar) with a new album titled Judgement Days×Judgement Days3 October 2005 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 15 tracks1Judgement Day4:242Father3:573Put Your Gun Away4:114Back Then3:475Fall in Love Again3:336Not Today3:327You Don't Have to Cry4:478Unbreakable3:319Pain4:2410Shavaar4:0911Self Destruct4:4912Gotta Let It Go4:1313She Don't Live Here Anymore5:0014Mr. Prime Minister4:4815Redemption Song3:09. Featuring more social commentary, in songs such as the first double A-side single, "Judgement Day×Judgement Day26 September 2005 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Judgement Day4:252Father3:58"/"Father×Father2005 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Father (clean version)3:162Father (album version)3:59" and the Tony Blair critique, "Mr Prime Minister," reviews of the album were not as favourable as those of her debut. However, "Judgement Day" reached No. 25 in the UK Singles Chart.
In 2006, she was convicted of assaulting a police officer and was sentenced to 60 hours community service.

2007–present: Hiatus and career wind-down

After a break from music, Ms. Dynamite guest-hosted BBC Radio 1Xtra, and said she would be releasing a third album, Democracy, in 2009, with the first single from the new album being "Bad Gyal". However, this was deferred as she concentrated on other projects and motherhood. Meanwhile, she appeared on Hell's Kitchen on ITV1 in 2009, finishing fourth, and later as an expert adviser on Goldie's Band: By Royal Appointment on BBC Two.
Since then, she has appeared on several collaborations, notably Katy B's second single, "Lights On×Lights On19 December 2010 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracksALights On (Skream remix)AA1Lights OnAA2Lights On (GIRL UNIT remix)", which peaked at number 4 in the UK Singles Chart in 2010, and the Magnetic Man track "Fire", which appeared on their debut album.
A single, "Neva Soft×Neva Soft4 September 2011 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1Neva Soft4:192Neva Soft (radio edit)3:443Neva Soft (Nu Tone remix)6:034Neva Soft (McGregor remix)3:54" (produced by Labrinth), was released in 2011, although a promised associated album did not appear. Since then she has been the featured vocalist on the DJ Fresh Versus Jay Fray track "Dibby Dibby Sound×Dibby Dibby Sound2 February 2014 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Dibby Dibby Sound3:15" (February 2013) and a David Guetta and Showtek song for the former's 2014 album Listen, "No Money No Love" along with Elliphant.
In 2020 Ms. Dynamite appeared on a CLIPZ (Redlight), single "Again×Again27 March 2020 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Again2:27" which also featured Ms Banks and JayKae.

Personal life

Ms. Dynamite became engaged to Dwayne Seaforth, who was previously her bodyguard. She gave birth to their son, Shavaar, in 2003. The couple separated two years later.

Soundtracks

"Dy-Na-Mi-Tee×Dy-Na-Mi-Tee2002 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1Dy-Na-Mi-Tee3:402Dy-Na-Mi-Tee (Yoruba soul remix)6:223It Takes More (Radio 1 live lounge)4:32" (FIFA 2003 soundtrack)
"Dy-Na-Mi-Te" (Ali G Indahouse soundtrack)
"Dy-Na-Mi-Te" (My Scene Barbie Mix)
"Krazy Krush" (Misfits Channel 4 soundtrack)