Well the ESP Family just got a WHOLE lot cuter...Have you met our newest addition?
Alicia Mae Drackett
At 6lb 5oz, Alicia was born to our Drassick and his beautiful Mrs, Luzie on Wednesday, 21 December at 17:14 after 5 hours labour, making her one week old today!
I've heard something about a queue blocking my path to my newest niece...something about Parents? Terms were negotiated earlier today, expect her to be moving in with her Aunty before 2011's end...;)
Suffice to say, we're already planning Baby 'Doe' Couture and booking her first gigs, where Daddy can open for Her...
On behalf of the entire ESP Family - CONGRATULATIONS Luzie and Andre! And Welcome to the World Alicia Mae! You have never known doting like that which you will shortly experience...(not just because you're only a week old, but because you haven't met your favourite Aunty yet)!
Outside of the ESP family, there are quite a few highlights that have made my first year memorable. It wouldn't be right if I didn't pay homage to those that stood out the most so, as the year draws to a close, I'm bringing you my '2011 Honours List'.
In my best GHETTS impression; "Izabelle is a Gelle" that if you don't already, you should reallyget to know.
First introduced to the works of Mz. Fender by her Manager, Radio 1Xtra DJ and Presenter Ace, I remember how he gushed about these two amazing talents he was working with (the other being Bianca Monet - more about Miss M coming soon); and how he couldn't wait for the new year to put his plans for both into action.
The first time I saw Lioness perform was at a North London University showcase. Catching the tail-end of her set, she was talking to the audience between songs when I arrived. Unimposing and not half as scary as she sounded in her recordings, I actually mistook her for hype support; scanning the stage for the real artist, who obviously had to be out of sight from my 'back of the room' view. Then she launched into 'Black High Heels' and set me straight...
Entranced by her confidence and skill, it wasn't until the song's end that I realised; she had so swept me up in the story, I forgot that she was dominating with her club night tale, in baggy blue denim dungarees, a white tee and some kicks...she literally performed magic I have not forgotten to this day.
So hypnotic were her style and delivery, that Lioness' sex appeal had every eye in the room fooled. What they saw was everyday, casual street style, but what they heard wasmatching La Perla sets and untold Secrets kept by Vicky. By the time she wrapped 'Good For A Girl', I remember thinking "Good? Girl? Your talent isn't even human, love!"
Introduced afterward, Izabelle was sweet, charming and not nearly as braggadocious as five minutes prior! The following day I jumped onto her website, downloaded 'Loch Ness Monster', and got my late self up-to-speed on exactly who Ace had been schooling me on. Class was now in session.
Loch Ness Monster - Lioness
A few months later at the Female DJ Takeover launch, I didn't actually recognise the gorgeous Glamazon who turned up for her set. Once again, the almost shy, friendly Izabelle disappeared on stage and a fierce Lioness sent an already hyped crowd to the funny farm; only to retract her claws 15 minutes later.
Running into one another at event after event, I soon learned that whilst the stage persona - larger than life, devouring competitors like endless plates of 1/2 Peri Peri chicken and rice from her favourite establishment - is an apt one; behind it is really just an extremely talented, funny, highly intelligent young woman, evolving and perfecting her craft.
By early September, with a new EP and HUGE launch event, came a fresh outlook. By her own admission, she was now taking her grind more seriously and her immense talent found a new playground as a result.
'RoarNess' is a literal work of art that left 'Mona Lisa's' critics looking a bit silly, really.
Full-to-brimming with infectious tracks, it has that 'album feel' that I so love amidst today's mixtape madness. With an overall flow as shapely as her "BlackBerry figure", Lioness brought her friends and family along for the ride in such a way, that she still remains front and centre. Each artist compliments their track, no-one overshadows anyone. Instead she celebrates her talented circle and their obviously close relationships with support that is unmistakable, and it clearly inspires the creative output.
With features from In'sight, Lady Leshurr, Amplify Dot, AL, Julie Iwheta and the earlier-mentioned Ghetts, to name but a few, RoarNess really IS big enough to justify the goal of a music video for each track (check her out in this one, rockin' a lil deer oh deer ltd swag...).
'Don't Tell Me' - Lioness
She has raised the bar so high for herself, that her Star is literally shooting. In the last three months alone, there was that 'Neva Soft' remix for SoulCulture Co-Sign; with the legend that is Ms. Dynamite, and Ness' bonafides Amplify Dot & Lady Leshurr...
Stages have been shredded everywhere. You would have had to have been surviving under the Rock of Gibraltar if you haven't heard about her headline shows, that Biggafish Tour, or the UK Female Allstars at November's 1Xtra Live show, with a handful of her fellow UK Top 10 female MCs (RoxXxan, Baby Blue, Mz. Bratt and of course Leshurr and A.Dot).
After such a huge year, I for one cannot wait for that April album release. I'm sorry...but competition, I ask you - is it even worth your turning up next Spring?
Izabelle 'Lioness' Fender: you are so sick that you are a Gray's Anatomy Illness - #iSaluteU.
Drassick and Lekhem both took the Muzikality stage by storm at the event's recent relaunch. If you were unlucky enough to miss it, watch the videos here:
Drassick and Tneek Femcee - 'Knock Knock':
Lekhem and Krome - 'Love of Hip Hop':
Interviews from press in attendance will be coming as and when we receive the footage. For now, check out what happened when Lekhem and Krome caught up with NotSignedTV:
Keep up to date with both of the ESP Boys by subscribing to their youtube channels: Drassick / Lekhem.
deer oh deer, Lekhem and myself all enjoyed a FAB May Sunday in this year's 5-minute Summer window - courtesy of Tamu and Kenema Girl at The First Lady LDN Fayre.
Welcomed like extended family from our first contact, the Summer Fayre was one of those rarities that operated more like a fun day out, as opposed to typical work event where the ESP family were out in near full-force! More about that later...
The SuperTeam are back to do it again for their First Anniversaryand, in honour of the event where deer oh deer have some exclusive twists to The Heritage Collection ONLY available at the event; Tamu had a fun, 'get-to-know-you' chat with Lekhem in advance of his set.
Not just a stellar shopping opportunity, excellent learning curve through the inspiring workshops and opportunity to make waist-room for your impending plates of Christmas Crimes at the Zumba workshop; The First Lady are all about highlighting the lesser known causes that aren't granted as much of a popular spotlight.
Shopping, music and entertainment are all good and fun, but The First Lady team have a bigger picture in mind. The May Fayre raised enough to secure Secondary school education for two young girls in Sierra Leone and with the aid of the Inspirational You Social Enterprise, many more works are being done, starting right here on our own doorstep. It's works and dedication of this kind that inspires the ESP Family to donate time and services. More on that will be coming on that in 2012 so watch this space; but in the meantime I urge you to get in contact and do the same.
Going back to that 'Summer Second'; deer oh deer experienced a very successful day at the May Fayre. We spent some great time interacting with new fans of the brand and made some great lasting contacts:
On the musical front, Lekhem dropped a track or few in a MONSTER set that included a then exclusive debut of Ladies Favourite, 'Thoughts of Her'...
We're VERY grateful to Tamu and The First Lady for ALL the support they've shown us over the past seven months. You're an excellent cause, an inspiration and a force to be reckoned with. See you Sunday!
£5 tickets are available NOW via Eventbrite - come and say hello!
If you're familiar with Grime Daily / 1Xtra's resident brunette beauty, you know she just so happens to be a bit of a madhatter...and the teaser for new weekly webshow 'Weak 2 Week', following Claira Hermet's daily antics, does nothing to make her days appear any more normal!
Follow the Hottie on her hosting travels; from radio shows, to artist interviews, to backstage shenanigans at some of the biggest tickets in town...
