British Music Artist
Ms. Dynamite MBE
Since Winning the EMMA Award
Niomi Arleen McLean-Daley, aka Ms. Dynamite, is a British Singer and Rapper who performed at the Live 8 concert in Hyde Park, London, on 2nd July 2005. On 11th September that same year, she made her comeback with a new album titled Judgement Days, having taken time off to have her son, Shavaar. Featuring more social commentary in her music, the single “Judgement Day”, with its A-side “Father,” peaked at No. 25 in the UK Singles Chart.
After a break from music, Ms. Dynamite guest hosted on BBC Radio 1Xtra, competed on ITV1’s Hell’s Kitchen in 2009, finishing fourth, and appeared as an expert adviser on Goldie’s Band: By Royal Appointment on BBC Two. She has also appeared on several collaborations for other musicians, most notably Katy B’s second single, “Lights On”, which reached No.4 in the UK Singles Chart in 2010, and the Magnetic Man song “Fire”, which appeared on Magnetic Man’s debut album.
Since then, she has been a featured vocalist on the DJ Fresh vs. Jay Fray track “Dibby Dibby Sound,” released in February 2013, and on the David Guetta and Showtek song “No Money No Love” alongside Swedish rapper Elliphant for Guetta’s 2014 album Listen. In 2018, Ms. Dynamite was awarded an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) for her services to music. In 2020, Ms. Dynamite appeared on the CLIPZ single “Again”, which features Ms Banks and JayKae. Her rise from underground MC to the princess of British Black Music has been nothing short of sensational.
Background (Before 2003)
Niomi Arleen McLean-Daley was born to a Jamaican father and a Scottish mother, hence her mixed heritage. Ms. Dynamite, formerly known as Lady Dynamite, became prominent for her vocals on the UK garage underground track “Booo!”, which was regularly played on London pirate radio stations and later released as a single. While working at the radio station RAW FM, Ms. Dynamite was discovered by Richard Forbes, known as DJ Sticky, at a West End club. Eventually, she was signed via her management company Bigga Beats to Polydor Records, where she met producer Salaam Remi, who cultivated her talent.
Ms Dynamite released her debut album, A Little Deeper, in 2002, which featured hit songs “It Takes More” and “Dy-Na-Mi-Tee”. That same year, she won the prestigious Mercury Music Prize and donated the £20,000 prize to the NSPCC. She also performed at the closing ceremony of the 2002 Commonwealth Games at the City of Manchester Stadium. In 2003, ‘A Little Deeper’, was released in the United States to critical acclaim. Ms. Dynamite also signed a deal to promote Pepsi, which had been reported to be worth £1m at the time, and was the musical guest for Saturday Night Live’s 8th March 2003 episode, hosted by Queen Latifah.
