Baby Blue (rapper)
Encyclopedia
Baby Blue is an English rapper and singer (born Rachel Johnson in London
). She is known for her work with singer Estelle
and collaborations with John Legend
, Madness
, Sway
, Shystie
, Ms. Dynamite
and Lady Sovereign
. Baby Blue has a sound that fuses Hip-hop
with Grime
, R&B and Soul
.
Baby Blue started rapping while at school and eventually recorded a track called 'I Woulda', which was inspired by her cousin's gang-related death in the US. The track received heavy rotation and was the start of Baby Blue's career as a recording artist. When she was 19 she sent her music to UK artist Estelle, who immediately invited Baby Blue to New York
to record the song 'Hey Girl' featuring John Legend, as well as 'Don't Talk', another track for Estelle's début album The 18th Day
, which was certified gold in the UK and she was also featured rapping in the video for the hit top 20 track 1980.
Later that year, Blue released the mixtape
'Out of the Blue Vol I' (with Volume II released two years later) which featured Estelle, members of So Solid Crew
, Shystie
, Sway, and Akala
. Her first solo music video
was for the single 'Sometimes,' which was released to push Vol II of the mixtape. This led Mobo Magazine to dub her "The Uncrowned Queen of the UK" and MTV to list her as "one of the hottest up 'n' coming stars".
Baby Blue featured on British legends Madness
' comeback single Sorry
in 2007, which went to 23 in the UK pop chart and was on the soundtrack for the FIFA 08
football game. She recently toured with Estelle for four months, travelling around the US and Europe. Baby Blue has also worked with Ms. Dynamite
, Kardinal Offishall
, and Idris Elba
.
In 2010 in an interview with www.thekoalition.com Baby Blue stated that she is working on an EP to be released in March 2010 and an album to be released later on in the same year. On March 17 Baby Blue released a digital mixtape entitled Firefly . It was revealed that the title of her latest album would be called No Smoke Without Fire.
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
). She is known for her work with singer Estelle
Estelle (musician)
Estelle Fanta Swaray commonly known as Estelle, and formerly as Est'elle, is an English R&B singer-songwriter, rapper and record producer.-Early Life:Estelle was born 18 January 1980 in Hammersmith, London, England...
and collaborations with John Legend
John Legend
John Roger Stephens , better known by his stage name John Legend, is an American singer, musician, and actor. He is the recipient of nine Grammy Awards, and in 2007, he received the special Starlight award from the Songwriters Hall of Fame.Prior to the release of his debut album, Stephens' career...
, Madness
Madness (band)
In 1979, the band recorded the Lee Thompson composition "The Prince". The song, like the band's name, paid homage to their idol, Prince Buster. The song was released through 2 Tone Records, the label of The Specials founder Jerry Dammers. The song was a surprise hit, peaking in the UK music charts...
, Sway
Sway DaSafo
Derek Andrew Safo is a Ghanaian British musician who uses the stage names Sway DaSafo or Sway. He is signed to Akon's Konvict Muzik record label and he is also a producer, establishing DCypha Productions.-Childhood:...
, Shystie
Shystie
Chanelle Scott Calica , also known as Shystie, is an English female rapper-songwriter and actress. Her mother was born and raised in Barbados and her father born and raised in Grenada making her heritage West-Indian. She grew up in Hackney, East London...
, Ms. Dynamite
Ms. Dynamite
Niomi Arleen McLean-Daley , who performs as Ms. Dynamite, is a double BRIT Award and three time MOBO Awards winning UK garage, R&B and hip hop singer and rapper.-Biography:...
and Lady Sovereign
Lady Sovereign
Louise Amanda Harman , better known by the stage name Lady Sovereign, is an English rapper & grime artist. She is noted for her professional success in performing styles of music generally dominated by males...
. Baby Blue has a sound that fuses Hip-hop
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
with Grime
Grime (music)
Grime is a style of music that emerged from Bow, East London, England in the early 2000s, primarily as a development of UK garage, dancehall, and hip hop...
, R&B and Soul
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
.
Baby Blue started rapping while at school and eventually recorded a track called 'I Woulda', which was inspired by her cousin's gang-related death in the US. The track received heavy rotation and was the start of Baby Blue's career as a recording artist. When she was 19 she sent her music to UK artist Estelle, who immediately invited Baby Blue to New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
to record the song 'Hey Girl' featuring John Legend, as well as 'Don't Talk', another track for Estelle's début album The 18th Day
The 18th Day
The 18th Day is an album by hip hop singer Estelle. The first edition was released on 18 October 2004 and the second edition on 4 April 2005. It Includes the singles "1980","Free" and "Go Gone."-Track listing:...
, which was certified gold in the UK and she was also featured rapping in the video for the hit top 20 track 1980.
Later that year, Blue released the mixtape
Mixtape
A Mix Tape or Mixed Tape is a compilation of songs recorded in a specific order, traditionally onto an audio Compact Cassette.A Mix Tape, which usually reflects the musical tastes of its compiler, can range from a casually selected list of favorite songs, to a conceptual mix of songs linked by a...
'Out of the Blue Vol I' (with Volume II released two years later) which featured Estelle, members of So Solid Crew
So Solid Crew
So Solid Crew is an electronic and urban musical collective from South London, England, whose hits include "Oh No " and "21 Seconds", the latter reaching number one in the UK Singles Chart in August 2001. Another hit, "They Don't Know", reached number three in November 2001 and "Haters" got to...
, Shystie
Shystie
Chanelle Scott Calica , also known as Shystie, is an English female rapper-songwriter and actress. Her mother was born and raised in Barbados and her father born and raised in Grenada making her heritage West-Indian. She grew up in Hackney, East London...
, Sway, and Akala
Akala (rapper)
Akala is an English rap and hip hop artist from Kentish Town, Camden, London. He is the younger brother of the singer Ms...
. Her first solo music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
was for the single 'Sometimes,' which was released to push Vol II of the mixtape. This led Mobo Magazine to dub her "The Uncrowned Queen of the UK" and MTV to list her as "one of the hottest up 'n' coming stars".
Baby Blue featured on British legends Madness
Madness (band)
In 1979, the band recorded the Lee Thompson composition "The Prince". The song, like the band's name, paid homage to their idol, Prince Buster. The song was released through 2 Tone Records, the label of The Specials founder Jerry Dammers. The song was a surprise hit, peaking in the UK music charts...
' comeback single Sorry
Sorry (Madness song)
"Sorry" is a single by the band Madness, released in March 2007 as a single. It is the first original Madness UK single not to be primarily written by a member of the band, and was given to them by their new management group to fill the gap between The Dangermen Sessions Vol. 1 and The Liberty of...
in 2007, which went to 23 in the UK pop chart and was on the soundtrack for the FIFA 08
FIFA 08
FIFA 08 is the 2008 installment of EA Sports' series of football video games. Developed by EA Canada, it is published by Electronic Arts worldwide under the EA Sports label. It was released on all popular gaming formats in September 2007 in Europe, Australia, and Asia, and in October 2007 in North...
football game. She recently toured with Estelle for four months, travelling around the US and Europe. Baby Blue has also worked with Ms. Dynamite
Ms. Dynamite
Niomi Arleen McLean-Daley , who performs as Ms. Dynamite, is a double BRIT Award and three time MOBO Awards winning UK garage, R&B and hip hop singer and rapper.-Biography:...
, Kardinal Offishall
Kardinal Offishall
Jason D. Harrow , better known by his stage name Kardinal Offishall , is a Canadian rapper and record producer. He is often credited as Canada's "hip-hop ambassador", and is best known for his distinctive reggae and dancehall-influenced style of hip-hop.-Life and career:Harrow was born in...
, and Idris Elba
Idris Elba
Idrissa Akuna "Idris" Elba is a British television, theatre, and film actor. He has starred in both British and American productions. Elba grew up in Canning Town, East London. One of his first acting roles was in the soap opera Family Affairs. He has worked in a variety of TV roles including ...
.
In 2010 in an interview with www.thekoalition.com Baby Blue stated that she is working on an EP to be released in March 2010 and an album to be released later on in the same year. On March 17 Baby Blue released a digital mixtape entitled Firefly . It was revealed that the title of her latest album would be called No Smoke Without Fire.
External links
- http://www.thekoalition.com/12-rounds-with-baby-blue/