View source for Ms. Dynamite

{{Short description|British rapper (born 1981)}}
{{about|Ms. Dynamite|Little Miss Dynamite|Brenda Lee|the TV series|Miss Dynamite (TV series)}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
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{{Infobox musical artist
| name                = Ms. Dynamite
| honorific_suffix    = {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|commas=on|MBE}}
| image               = Ms Dynamite (4663812211).jpg
| caption             = Ms. Dynamite in 2010
| birth_name          = Naomi Arleen McLean-Daley
| birth_date          = {{birth date and age|1981|4|26|df=yes}}
| birth_place         = [[Crawley]], [[West Sussex]], England
| origin              = [[Kentish Town]], London, England
| genre               = {{hlist|[[Contemporary R&B|R&B]]|[[hip-hop]]|[[ragga]]|[[2-step garage]] (early)}}
| occupation          = {{hlist|Singer|rapper|songwriter}}
| years_active        = 2001–present
| label               = {{hlist|[[Polydor Records|Polydor]]|[[Relentless Records|Relentless]]}}
| associated_acts     = {{hlist|[[Sticky (musician)|Sticky]]|[[Jess Mills]]|[[So Solid Crew]]|[[Akala (rapper)|Akala]]|[[DJ Fresh]]|[[Katy B]]|[[Magnetic Man]]}}
}}

'''Naomi Arleen McLean-Daley''' {{post-nominals|size=100%|country=GBR|MBE}} (born 26 April 1981), better known as '''Ms. Dynamite''', is a British singer and rapper. She is the recipient of the [[Mercury Prize|Mercury Music Prize]], two [[Brit Awards]] and three [[MOBO Awards]].

== Early years ==
She was born Naomi Arleen McLean-Daley in [[Crawley|Crawley, West Sussex]], and raised in [[Kentish Town]], [[North London]], to a [[Jamaicans of African ancestry|Jamaican]] father and a [[Scottish people|Scottish]] mother.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sisterwomanvegan.com/post/international-women-s-day-2022-ms-dynamite|title=international women's day 2022 - an interview with ms dynamite|first=sisterwoman|last=saf|date=8 March 2022|website=sisterwoman}}</ref> She is the older sister of the rapper [[Akala (rapper)|Akala]].<ref>Kate Mossman, [https://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/jun/02/akala-thieves-banquet-rap-interview "Akala: Dynamite by any other name…"], ''[[The Observer]]'', 2 June 2013.</ref><ref>Brian Rose, [https://londonrealacademy.com/fight-the-power-akala-and-the-power-of-the-word/ "Fight the Power — Akala and the Power of the Word"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161124160432/https://londonrealacademy.com/fight-the-power-akala-and-the-power-of-the-word/ |date=24 November 2016 }}, London Real Academy, 20 October 2015.</ref>

== Career ==
=== 2001–2004: ''A Little Deeper'' ===
Ms. Dynamite (originally Lady Dynamite) was first known for her vocals on the [[UK garage]] underground track "[[Booo!]]", which was regularly played on London [[pirate radio]] stations and was later released as a single. While working at the radio station RAW FM,<ref>Ms. Dynamite on Raw FM, in 1999, [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fg8mCGg4_GU]</ref> Ms. Dynamite was discovered by [[Sticky (musician)|Richard Forbes]] ("DJ Sticky") at a [[West End of London|West End]] [[nightclub|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]]'', in 2002, which featured [[hit record|hit]] songs "[[It Takes More]]" and "[[Dy-Na-Mi-Tee]]". In 2003, the album was released in the United States to [[music journalism|critical]] acclaim.{{Citation needed|date=August 2012}} In 2002, Ms. Dynamite won the prestigious [[Mercury Prize|Mercury Music Prize]],<ref name="mercury">{{cite web |url=http://www.nationwidemercurys.com/ |title=Mercury Prize official site |website=Nationwidemercurys.com |access-date=7 September 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070314034015/http://www.nationwidemercurys.com/ |archive-date=14 March 2007  }}</ref> 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]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/season-28/episode/14-queen-latifah-with-ms-dynamite-62106 | title=SNL SEASON 28, EPISODE 14|website=NBC .com}}</ref>

Also in 2003, Ms. Dynamite signed a deal to promote Pepsi, reported to be worth £1m <ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/2929205.stm | title=BBC News: Ms Dynamite in '£1m' Pepsi deal|website=News.bbc.co.uk| date=8 April 2003}}</ref>

She performed at the closing ceremony of the [[2002 Commonwealth Games]] at the [[City of Manchester Stadium]].<ref name="com">{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pt8AcM00_yU |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/pt8AcM00_yU |archive-date=21 December 2021 |url-status=live|title= Ms Dynamite – It Takes More at the Commonwealth Games Closing Ceremony.MPG |publisher=[[YouTube]] |date=6 October 2011 }}{{cbignore}}</ref> 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 (rapper)|Akala]].<ref name="live8">{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmQehUgwBVE&list=RDvmQehUgwBVE&index=1|title=Live 8 2005 / Ms. Dynamite (ft.Akala)- Redemption Song |publisher=[[YouTube]]  |date=10 December 2010 }}</ref>

=== 2005–2006: ''Judgement Days'' ===
{{BLP sources section|date=August 2017}}
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]]''. Featuring more social commentary, in songs such as the first [[double A-side]] single, "[[Judgement Day (Ms. Dynamite song)|Judgement Day]]"/"[[Father (Ms. Dynamite song)|Father]]" 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.&nbsp;25 in the [[UK Singles Chart]].<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums">{{cite book|first=David|last=Roberts|year=2006|title=British Hit Singles & Albums|edition=19th|publisher=Guinness World Records Limited|location=London, UK|isbn=1-904994-10-5|page=370}}</ref>

In 2006, she was convicted of assaulting a police officer and was sentenced to 60 hours community service.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hall |first1=Tim |title=Ms Dynamite spared a prison sentence |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1508283/Ms-Dynamite-spared-a-prison-sentence.html |access-date=5 March 2019 |agency=The Telegraph |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306174818/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1508283/Ms-Dynamite-spared-a-prison-sentence.html |archive-date=6 March 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== 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".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/a144141/allen-ms-dynamite-return-is-massive.html|title=Allen: 'Ms. Dynamite return is massive'|work=Digital Spy|date=22 January 2009 |access-date=11 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090928001939/http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/a144141/allen-ms-dynamite-return-is-massive.html|archive-date=28 September 2009|url-status=live}}</ref> However, this was deferred as she concentrated on other projects and motherhood. Meanwhile, she appeared on ''[[Hell's Kitchen (UK)|Hell's Kitchen]]'' on [[ITV1]] in 2009,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.itv.com/Entertainment/reality/hellskitchen/default.html|title=Categories|work=ITV Player|access-date=11 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121220065958/http://www.itv.com/entertainment/reality/hellskitchen/default.html|archive-date=20 December 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> finishing fourth, and later as an expert adviser on ''Goldie's Band: By Royal Appointment'' on [[BBC Two]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0101mc3#synopsis|title=BBC Two – Goldie's Band: By Royal Appointment, Episode 1|work=[[BBC]]|access-date=11 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131207184906/http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0101mc3#synopsis|archive-date=7 December 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>

Since then, she has appeared on several collaborations, notably [[Katy B]]'s second single, "[[Lights On (Katy B song)|Lights On]]", 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]]" (produced by [[Labrinth]]), was released in 2011, although a promised associated album did not appear.<ref name="dig">{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/interviews/a333058/ms-dynamite-interview-i-dont-want-to-be-put-in-a-box.html|title= Ms Dynamite interview: "I don't want to be put in a box" – Music Interview|website= [[Digital Spy]]|date=22 September 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110922034857/http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/interviews/a333058/ms-dynamite-interview-i-dont-want-to-be-put-in-a-box.html|archive-date= 22 September 2011}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2011/may/22/ms-dynamite-interview-neva-soft|title=Ms Dynamite's back with a bang|first=Killian|last=Fox|work=The Observer |date=21 May 2011|via=The Guardian}}</ref> Since then she has been the featured vocalist on the DJ Fresh Versus Jay Fray track "[[Dibby Dibby Sound]]" (February 2013) and a [[David Guetta]] and [[Showtek]] song for the former's 2014 album ''[[Listen (David Guetta album)|Listen]]'', "No Money No Love" along with [[Elliphant]].<ref>{{cite magazine | url=https://www.billboard.com/music/reviews/album-review-david-guetta-listen-6327659/ | title=Album Review: David Guetta's All-Star 'Listen' Makes a Beeline for the Pop Charts | magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] }}</ref>

In 2020 Ms. Dynamite appeared on a CLIPZ ([[Redlight (musician)|Redlight]]), single "Again" which also featured [[Ms Banks]] and [[JayKae]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.udiscovermusic.com/stories/ms-dynamite-a-little-deeper-album-feature/ | title='A Little Deeper': Ms. Dynamite's Award-Winning Debut | date=10 June 2024 }}</ref>

== Discography ==
{{Main|Ms. Dynamite discography}}
;Studio albums
* ''[[A Little Deeper]]'' (2002)
* ''[[Judgement Days]]'' (2005)
;Mixtapes
* ''A Little Darker'' <small>(with [[Akala (rapper)|Akala]])</small> (2006)

== Soundtracks ==
* "Dy-Na-Mi-Tee" (''[[FIFA 2003]]'' soundtrack)
* "Dy-Na-Mi-Te" (''[[Ali G Indahouse]]'' soundtrack)
* "Dy-Na-Mi-Te" (''[[My Scene]]'' Barbie Mix)
* "Krazy Krush" (''[[Misfits (TV series)|Misfits]]'' Channel 4 soundtrack)

== Awards and nominations ==
{{BLP unsourced section|date=January 2014}}

Ms. Dynamite was appointed [[Member of the Order of the British Empire]] (MBE) in the [[2018 Birthday Honours]] for services to music.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.irishnews.com/magazine/entertainment/2018/06/08/news/ms-dynamite-awarded-mbe-for-services-to-music-1352125|title=Ms Dynamite awarded MBE for services to music|newspaper=[[The Irish News]]|date=8 June 2018|access-date=8 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612163144/http://www.irishnews.com/magazine/entertainment/2018/06/08/news/ms-dynamite-awarded-mbe-for-services-to-music-1352125/|archive-date=12 June 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Year
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Organisation
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Award
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Nominated Work
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Result
|-
|rowspan="5"|2002
|[[2002 MTV Europe Music Awards|MTV Europe Music Awards]]
|Best UK & Ireland Act
|"Ms. Dynamite"
|{{nom}}
|-
|[[Mercury Prize]]
|Album of the year
|"[[A Little Deeper]]"
|{{won}}
|-
|rowspan="3"|[[MOBO Awards]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://beta.mobo.com/history/2002|title=MOBO Awards 2002|website=MOBO Awards 2002 – history|access-date=20 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180620231927/http://beta.mobo.com/history/2002|archive-date=20 June 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
|Best single
|"[[It Takes More]]"
|{{won}}
|-
|UK Act of the Year
|Ms. Dynamite
|{{won}}
|-
|Best Newcomer
|Ms. Dynamite
|{{won}}
|-
|rowspan="10"|2003
|[[100 Great Black Britons]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.100greatblackbritons.com/bios/ms_dynamite.html|title=100 Great Black Britons – Ms Dynamite|website=100greatblackbritons.com|access-date=30 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170815004043/http://www.100greatblackbritons.com/bios/ms_dynamite.html|archive-date=15 August 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>
|100 Great Black Britons (rank 14)
|Ms. Dynamite
|{{nom}}
|-
|rowspan="4"|[[2003 Brit Awards|Brit Awards]]
|[[Brit Award for British Urban Act|British Urban Act]]
|Ms. Dynamite
|{{won}}
|-
|[[Brit Award for British Female Solo Artist|British Female Solo Artist]]
|Ms. Dynamite
|{{won}}
|-
|[[Brit Award for British Breakthrough Act|British Breakthrough Act]]
|Ms. Dynamite
|{{nom}}
|-
|[[Brit Award for British Album of the Year|British Album of the Year]]
|"A Little Deeper"
|{{nom}}
|-
|rowspan="3"|[[MOBO Awards]]
|Best Single
|"[[Dy-Na-Mi-Tee]]"
|{{nom}}
|-
|Best Newcomer
|Ms. Dynamite
|{{nom}}
|-
|UK Act of the year
|Ms. Dynamite
|{{nom}}
|-
|Race in Media Awards
|Media Personality
|Ms. Dynamite
|{{nom}}
|-
| [[Ivor Novello Awards]]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://ivorsacademy.com/awards/the-ivors/archive/?ay=2003 | title=Archive &#124; the Ivors &#124; the Ivors Academy &#124; Champions of Music Creators }}</ref>
| Best Contemporary Song
| "[[It Takes More]]"
| {{nom}}
|-
|2006
|[[2006 Brit Awards|Brit Awards]]
|British Urban Act
|Ms. Dynamite
|{{nom}}
|}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
*{{Allmusic|class=artist|id=p531170|label=Ms. Dynamite}}

{{Ms. Dynamite}}
{{Navboxes
|title = Awards for Ms. Dynamite
|list =
{{Brit British Female}}
{{Brit Hip Hop/Grime/Rap Act}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Dynamite, Miss}}
[[Category:1981 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Anglo-Scots]]
[[Category:21st-century Black British women singers]]
[[Category:21st-century British women singers]]
[[Category:Black British women rappers]]
[[Category:British women rappers]]
[[Category:Brit Award winners]]
[[Category:British hip-hop singers]]
[[Category:English people of Jamaican descent]]
[[Category:English people of Scottish descent]]
[[Category:British contemporary R&B singers]]
[[Category:English women singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:English singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:People from Crawley]]
[[Category:Rappers from the London Borough of Camden]]
[[Category:Singers from the London Borough of Camden]]
[[Category:UK garage singers]]
[[Category:BBC Radio 1Xtra presenters]]
[[Category:Polydor Records artists]]
[[Category:Relentless Records artists]]
[[Category:Members of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:British women radio presenters]]
[[Category:People from Kentish Town]]