Without question, N-Dubz are one of the most culturally significant groups in contemporary British pop music. The trio - Tula ‘Tulisa’ Contostavlos, her cousin Dino ‘Dappy’ Contostavlos, and childhood friend Richard ‘Fazer’ Rawson - have sold over 1.2 million copies of their debut album, Uncle B (2008) and its 2009 follow-up, Against All Odds. Between them, the three wrote, produced, mixed, mastered and engineered both albums in their entirety.
The antithesis of manufactured, mass-produced pop puppets, the Camden three have already left an indelible mark on the charts, while their cultural impact - from their look to their sound, slang and catchphrases - is unequivocal. Boasting an incredible amount of self-sufficiency, a fiercely independent streak, and three distinctive personalities, N-Dubz continue to exponentially increase their fanbase across the UK.
With three MOBO Awards, a BRIT nomination, fans in the form of Gary Barlow and Little Wayne, the band also have an almost unmatchable online presence, with 100 million views on YouTube, 700,000 friends on Facebook and 150,000 followers on Twitter. Providing further insight into their individual characters, they released a Sunday Times Bestselling book, Against All Odds: From Street Life To Chart Life and starred in a major Channel 4 reality series, Being N-Dubz, while Tulisa presented the BBC3 documentary My Mum And Me about her mum’s struggle with mental illness. The band is currently in talks with two major networks about their next TV show, due to be screened early 2011.
This year, N-Dubz have been booked on every significant stage, with critically acclaimed performances at Glastonbury, Wireless and The Isle of Wight, a co-headline slot alongside Pendulum at The Royal Albert Hall and a headline date at Wembley Arena as part of 1Xtra Live 2010. After selling out a 21-date tour earlier this year, the band are about to announce an Arena tour for 2011, the first UK urban act to embark on such major venues.
Their third album is yet another emphatic strike against mainstream mediocrity. Stuffed full of club bangers, powerful ballads and carefully composed pop smashes, the record will establish the group is able to translate their UK success story across the globe.
We’re nowhere near finished yet,” insists Tulisa. “Our aim has always been to be the best in the UK, and now we’re setting our sights on the rest of the world.”
N-Dubz At A Glance:
* 1.2 million album sales
* 3 MOBO Awards, 3 nominations for 2010 and confirmed to perform at the ceremony in Liverpool.
* Sold-out 21 date Academy tour 2010. First UK urban group to announce a UK arena tour, 2011
* 100 million views on YouTube
* 700,000 friends on Facebook
* 150,000 followers on Twitter
* 9 hit singles including a No.1 with Tinchy Stryder
* Major Channel 4 series, Being N-Dubz…
* Sunday Times Bestseller Book, Against All Odds: From Street Life To Chart Life
* Signed to Def Jam/ Island in the U.S.
* Lead single Best Behaviour A-listed at Radio 1 and over 3m views in one month.
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