N-Dubz
Their debut album Uncle B released in November has gone
platinum in the UK. Is their anything N-Dubz can’t do?
W
hen you think of Dappy,
Tulisa and Fazer, the
Camden Town collective
known as N-Dubz, you really can’t
help but to say ‘Na na nai!’ Already
armed with an identifiable sound
that has helped catapult artists
such as Busta Rhymes (Woo Ha!)
to superstardom, setting trends is
a walk down Camden Road for this
trio. ‘You have to create an image.
Stamp your spot like – this is us.
If you see us dressed up you’ll
say – it’s that group! That’s the kind
of vibe that we try and give.’ It’s
a vibe that has undoubtedly been
well-received by the fans. To date,
their new single Ouch has way over
5 million views on YouTube alone,
indicating a fanbase consisting
of more than just their mums, but
things haven’t always been so
bright for these shining stars.
Coming to a standstill
Having signed a deal with Polydor
Records following their Best
Newcomer success at the MOBO’s
in 2007, their dream quickly
became a nightmare. ‘We came
to a standstill after the MOBO’s Camden crew: Dapy, Tulisa and
because we were having problems
Fazer are stronger than ever
with the label and we weren’t
agreeing on the path they chose for long-awaited debut album Uncle by Fraser T Smith. If you think
us. We kept bringing them singles B. ‘It’s dedicated to the guy that his name is familiar, he’s the man
like Ouch and they said ‘No, we helped take us off the streets, built responsible for the global smash
don’t like it!’ and they kept trying to us up, made us into what we are, hit This Is The Girl That I Want.
put us with new writers, with new took us out of trouble, we dedicate ‘It was kind of weird for us to
producers. It was like – if you want that all to him.’ Their album is out have to work with other people,
to start doing this to us, you might now and includes the first two but we like Kano as an artist so
as well get three little kids off the singles Ouch and I Swear. it wasn’t too hard to let the ideas
street and re-make them because The next single Papa Can You flow and it turned out to be an
that’s not why we came here.’ Hear Me? keeps to the theme amazing track.’
“Sometimes we’d create songs and they
Better by degrees
Like fine wine over time, the
wouldn’t be as impressive as others. Now it’s
N-Dubz sound has matured
like every song we come up with is a banger!”
significantly over the past 18
months, by their own admission.
‘In the beginning, we’d create
songs and they wouldn’t be as
Finally finding peace at their of the album title, touching on impressive as others and we were
new independent-based label All emotional topics for everyone who trying to figure out what kind of
Around the World Records, Ouch is has lost a loved one. It might give sound we had. Now it’s like every
a follow up to their groundbreaking you goosebumps to listen to, but song we come up with is a banger!’
single I Swear. ‘This is like a year the message is clear – don’t leave You will definitely be seeing
and a half down the line and we it too late to tell the people who more of this energetic crew, whose
just got back together after she’s love you that you feel the same. ambition sees no boundaries. ‘One
cheated on him and now he’s gone thing’s for sure – America’s going
and cheated on her, so it was just Strong again to know about N-Dubz!’ You know
something for the girls to kind of Having penned 90 per cent of where you heard it first.
have their say ‘cause I Swear is their album, their third single to
ds by Lindie Mkwananzi
from a boy’s point of view.’ With be released, Strong Again, was co- Uncle B is out now on All or
a new label has come talk of their written by Kano and co-produced Around the World Records W
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