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Lethal Bizzle | |
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Background information | |
Birth name | Maxwell Owusu Ansah |
Also known as | Lethal B |
Born | Walthamstow, London, England | 14 September 1984
Genres | |
Occupation | Rapper |
Years active | 2000–present |
Labels |
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Website | Lethal Bizzle on Twitter |
Maxwell Owusu Ansah [1] [2] (born 14 September 1984), known by his stage name Lethal Bizzle, is a British rapper from Walthamstow, London, of Ghanaian origin. [3] He emerged in 2002 as a grime MC as part of More Fire Crew, with their grime single "Oi!" charting in the top 10 of the UK Singles Chart. His debut solo single "Pow! (Forward)" attracted attention for its aggressive content, charting at number 11 despite being banned from airplay and clubs. Although known notably for his single releases, Lethal Bizzle released his debut studio album, Against All Oddz , in 2005, followed by Back to Bizznizz in 2007.
Throughout his career Lethal Bizzle has experimented with blending mainstream chart genres such as dance music with grime, leading to numerous top 40 singles. He is known for his singles "Pow! (Forward)", "Rari WorkOut" and "Fester Skank", including other top 40 songs such as "The Drop", "Pow 2011" and "Party Right" – all of which have been non-album releases, besides "Pow 2011", which was included on his first compilation album Best of Bizzle (2011).
Outside of music, Bizzle is a social media personality through platforms Twitter and Snapchat, which have been used to promote his music independently. In 2012, he launched a clothing brand titled "Stay Dench" based on his popular British slang phrases. [4]
In 2000, Lethal Bizzle formed the grime collective More Fire Crew, consisting of himself, Neeko and Ozzie B as MCs. Their debut single, "Oi!", was released in 2002 and charted at number 7 on the UK Singles Chart. [5] It was one of the first grime songs to chart in the top 10 and remains one of the most highest-charting grime singles to be released. Their sole studio album, More Fire Crew C.V., was released the following year. Their follow-up single, "Back Then", peaked at number 45, while their third single "What's the Point?" did not chart. Soon after, the crew disbanded and Lethal Bizzle pursued a solo career. [6] In early July 2005, Lethal Bizzle appeared on stage at the final Live 8 concert in Edinburgh. [7]
In December 2004, he released the single "Pow! (Forward)", also known as "Forward Riddim" [8] which was banned from airplay by some mainstream radio stations because it contained some lyrics about gun culture. [9] It entered the UK Singles Chart at number 11 in its first week on the chart in 2005, [10] and it reached number one on the UK Dance Chart. He won a MOBO for "Pow! (Forward)" as "Best Single", and was nominated at the same awards as "Best Newcomer". [11]
Following the success of "Pow! (Forward)", Bizzle released the follow-up singles "Uh Oh (I'm Back)", "Fire" and "What We Do" with Kray Twinz, Twista and Gappy Ranks, the latter two which peaked at number 34 and number 23 respectively. Bizzle's debut album, Against All Oddz (2005), was released on 15 August 2005. The album peaked at number 89 on the UK Albums Chart
In 2007, the single "Police on My Back" charted at number 37, and was included on Bizzle's second studio album, Back to Bizznizz (2007), released on 23 July 2007. The album peaked at number 86 on the UK Albums Chart.
After releasing no singles for two years, Lethal Bizzle returned with "Go Hard" featuring Donae'o, as the lead single off his third album Go Hard (2009). The album was released on 5 October 2009.
It was announced by Lethal Bizzle on Twitter that he would be re-releasing "Pow!" on 13 December 2010, to try to get the Christmas number 1 in the UK Singles Chart, like many people were trying to do by using Facebook campaigns. On 18 November 2010, Lethal was interviewed by Grime Daily. Bizzle revealed: "The whole Pow 2011 thing started as a joke. I was on Twitter one day and I said 'You know what? Pow for Christmas number 1'. And bare people retweeted it and someone was like 'Bizz you should do an updated version to go with it.'" Lethal (saying to another source) said: "I felt the original was still relevant, 6 years on it's still one of the biggest club tunes, so it was kind of a no brainer. I was messing around on Twitter about doing a new POW and getting it to the top of the charts- and the reaction was so crazy I thought wow I actually have to make this happen..." [12] Upon release, "Pow 2011" entered and peaked at number 33 on the UK Singles Chart, becoming Bizzle's fifth top 40 entry as a solo entry and sixth overall.
The single was included on Bizzle's first compilation album, Best of Bizzle (2011), which was released on 27 February 2011.
From 2013, Lethal Bizzle began experimented with musical genres, particularly with dance, dubstep and house music. Bizzle released a string of non-album singles without releasing a full-length project. He released the single "Not a Saint" with Dutch DJ & producer Vato Gonzalez and frequent collaborator Donae'o, which peaked at number 20. This was followed by "Party Right" featuring Ruby Goe, which peaked in the top 30. The grime-dubstep song "They Got It Wrong" featuring Wiley peaked in the top 80, and was later remixed featuring Krept and Konan, Kano and Squeeks. In 2014, "The Drop" featuring Cherri Voncelle also peaked in the top 20.
In late 2014, the single "Rari WorkOut" featuring Jme and Tempa T received notable attention due to the popularity of Bizzle's Snapchat posts of working out in the gym. The single became tied with "Pow! (Forward)" as Bizzle's highest-charting single as a solo artist, peaking at number 11. In 2015, the popular dance-inspired single "Fester Skank" also charted at number 11, giving Bizzle three top 15 chart entries and three peaking at number 11.
The singles "Going to the Gym", considered a sequel to "Rari WorkOut", "Playground" featuring Shakka, "Dude" featuring Stormzy and "Box" featuring Jme and Face were also released, three of which entered the top 100.
In late 2016, Lethal Bizzle announced he would be releasing his first album after eight years, following his third studio album Go Hard (2009). The album was revealed to be titled Lennox Rd in December 2016, following a teaser for the lead single off the album. The lead single, "Round Here" featuring Giggs and Flowdan was released on 10 January 2017. [13] [14]
In early April 2017, Bizzle abruptly preceded the release of Lennox Rd with the announcement of an EP titled You'll Never Make a Million from Grime, featuring a guest appearance from Skepta. The seven-track EP was released 5 May 2017, charting at number 79 on the UK Albums Chart. It became Bizzle's highest-charting album release. The second single released from the EP was "Hold You" featuring Mostack.
In 2011, Bizzle started a successful T-shirt business with his first cousin and footballer Emmanuel Frimpong, featuring his catchphrase "Dench". Since then he has been very successful branching out to his fans on Snapchat, that has led him to create the hit song "Rari Workout". [15] In September 2017 the social media website LADBible posted a video of Bizzle rapping with actress Judi Dench whose support for Stay Dench is credited with raising the profile of the brand. [16] [17]
In 2011, he had a cameo in the Adam Deacon film Anuvahood , knocking him out in the opening scene. [18]
In 2012, Lethal Bizzle appeared in the BBC Three comedy drama, Bad Education in which he competed in a rap battle with the headmaster. [19]
On 20 October 2013, Lethal B appeared on BBC's Match of the Day 2 ; after being hired to deliver a one-off report on the Arsenal Premier League match against Norwich City. [20] On 17 April 2014, Bizzle made a guest appearance on ITV2's Celebrity Juice . [21]
On 22 September 2014, Lethal Bizzle, along with DJ Semtex, DJ Target and A.Dot, took part in a special BBC iPlayer version of the classic quiz show Mastermind titled Hip Hop Mastermind, presented by host John Humphrys, which Semtex went on to win. [22]
Ansah is the cousin of former football player Emmanuel Frimpong.[ citation needed ]
He had a feud with N-Dubz over intellectual property rights citing emails of hooks[ clarification needed ] he had sent Tulisa. [23] N-Dubz members Tulisa and Dappy responded with foul-mouthed attacks. [24]
Title | Details | Peak chart positions | ||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
UK [25] | ||||||||||||||
Against All Oddz |
| 89 | ||||||||||||
Back to Bizznizz |
| 86 | ||||||||||||
Go Hard |
| — | ||||||||||||
"—" denotes an album that did not chart or was not released in that territory. |
Title | Details | Peak chart positions |
---|---|---|
UK [25] | ||
You'll Never Make a Million from Grime |
| 79 |
Title | Details |
---|---|
Best of Bizzle |
|
Title | Details |
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Da Bizzle Mixtape |
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Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
UK | UK R&B | UK Ind. | UK DL | AUS [26] | ||||||||||
"Pow! (Forward)" (featuring Fumin, D Double E, Nappa, Jamakabi, Neeko, Flowdan, Ozzie B, Forcer & Demon) | 2004 | 11 | — | — | — | — | Non-album single | |||||||
"Uh Oh (I'm Back)" | 2005 | 47 | 9 | — | — | — | Against All Oddz | |||||||
"Fire" | 34 | — | 4 | — | — | |||||||||
"What We Do" (with Kray Twinz, Twista & Gappy Ranks) | 23 | 3 | — | — | — | |||||||||
"Mind Your Head" (limited edition 7" vinyl single) | 2006 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||
"Mr." (featuring Face) | 2007 | — | — | — | — | — | Back to Bizznizz | |||||||
"Bizzle Bizzle" / "Babylon Burning the Ghetto" | 99 | 28 | — | — | — | |||||||||
"Police on My Back" | 37 | 11 | — | — | — | |||||||||
"Go Hard" (featuring Donae'o) | 2009 | 79 | 23 | — | — | — | Go Hard | |||||||
"Going Out Tonight" | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||
"Go Go Go!" (featuring Luciana) | 2010 | — | — | — | — | 67 | Best of Bizzle | |||||||
"Pow 2011" (featuring Jme, Wiley, Chipmunk, 2Face, P Money, Ghetts and Kano) | 2011 | 33 | 10 | 4 | 37 | — |
| |||||||
"Mind Spinning" | 73 | 21 | 10 | — | — | Non-album singles | ||||||||
"Look Up to the Sky" (featuring Jamal Hadaway) | — | 31 | — | — | — | |||||||||
"Leave It Yeah" (featuring Jme & Fire Camp) | 98 | 40 | — | — | — | |||||||||
"Not a Saint" (Vato Gonzalez vs. Lethal Bizzle & Donae'o) | 2013 | 20 | — | 1 | — | — | ||||||||
"They Got It Wrong" (featuring Wiley) | 74 | — | 9 | — | — | |||||||||
"Party Right" (featuring Ruby Goe) | 29 | 5 | 7 | — | — | |||||||||
"The Drop" (featuring Cherri Voncelle) | 2014 | 20 | 3 | 3 | — | — | ||||||||
"Rari WorkOut" (featuring Jme & Tempa T) | 11 | 2 | 1 | — | — | |||||||||
"Fester Skank" (featuring Diztortion) | 2015 | 11 | 2 | — | — | — |
| |||||||
"Playground" [28] (featuring Shakka) | 79 | 19 | — | — | — | |||||||||
"Dude" (with Stormzy) | 49 | 7 | 7 | — | — | |||||||||
"Going to the Gym" | — | 21 | 19 | — | — | |||||||||
"Box" [29] (featuring JME and Face) | 2016 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||
"Wobble" | 98 | 26 | — | — | — | |||||||||
"Round Here" (featuring Giggs) | 2017 | — | — | — | — | — | Lennox Rd | |||||||
"I Win" (featuring Skepta) | — | — | — | — | — | You'll Never Make a Million from Grime | ||||||||
"Hold You" (featuring Mostack) | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||
"—" denotes a single that did not chart or was not released in that territory. |
Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album |
---|---|---|---|
UK | |||
"Staring at the Rude Bois" (Gallows Featuring Lethal Bizzle) | 2006 | 31 | Orchestra of Wolves |
"Maybe Ting Refix" (Ozzie B featuring Lip E, Double S, Shocka, Flirta D, Lethal Bizzle, JME and Frisco) [30] | 2010 | 182 | Non-album singles |
"Flutes" (New World Sound & Thomas Newson featuring Lethal Bizzle) | 2014 | 67 | |
"Man's Not Hot (MC Mix)" (Big Shaq featuring Lethal Bizzle, Chip, Krept & Konan and Jme) | 2017 | — |
Title | Year | Album |
---|---|---|
"Leave It Yeah (Remix)" (featuring Emmanuel Frimpong, JME, Scrufizzer, 2Face, Frisco & Flowdan) | 2012 | Non-album singles |
"Not a Saint" (featuring Donae'o) |
Paris Joel Moore-Williams, better known by his stage name P Money, is a British grime MC, rapper and songwriter from New Cross, South East London, who is also active in the drum and bass scene. He is best known for his live performances as well as for songs such as "Slang Like This", "Anthemic" and "Round the Clock". N.E was the founding member of Lewisham-based grime crew OGz and P Money released one album with the group entitled OGz Season Vol. 1. He also appeared on the sixth edition of highly popular grime DVD Lord of the Mics in a grime clash (battle).
"Pow! (Forward)" is the debut commercial solo single by English grime artist Lethal Bizzle. The track features guest appearances from a variety of underground grime artists from East London. It was released on 25 October 2004 for digital download via iTunes and then released on 20 December 2004. It charted on 26 December 2004 at number 11 on the UK Singles Chart and currently stands as Bizzle's joint highest-charting solo single, along with "Rari WorkOut" and "Fester Skank". It won a MOBO Award for Best Single.
More Fire Crew are an English grime crew from Waltham Forest, whose 2002 single "Oi!" with Platinum 45 was widely recognised as the first grime song to reach the UK Singles Chart, peaking at number eight.
N-Dubz are an English hip-hop trio from Camden Town, London, England, consisting of cousins Dappy and Tulisa, and their friend Fazer. After winning a MOBO Award for Best Newcomer in 2007, N-Dubz briefly signed with Polydor Records before joining All Around the World. Released the following year, the trio's debut album Uncle B was certified double platinum and gave rise to four UK top-40 singles.
Uncle B is the debut studio album released by British hip hop group N-Dubz. The album is dedicated to former N-Dubz manager and father of Dappy, Byron Contostavlos, who died shortly before the band were signed to their second record label All Around the World. It entered the official UK Albums Chart at number 11. On 6 January 2009 it was announced on the official All Around the World website that the album had gone platinum. Seven singles have been released from the album, with the first three being released by LRC, and the last four being released by All Around the World. The album was not released until in 2008, despite recording starting in 2006. This was due to the group changing record label from LRC to All Around the World.
"Number 1" is a song by British rapper Tinchy Stryder featuring vocals from Dappy of N-Dubz and co-written by Dappy, James Lavelle and Fraser T. Smith, who produced the track, for Stryder's second studio album, Catch 22. The song was released as a single on 20 April 2009 from Stryder's studio album Catch 22 and a remix was later included on N-Dubz's second studio album, Against All Odds.
Jamie Adenuga, known professionally as Jme, is a British grime MC, songwriter, record producer and DJ who was born in Hackney, and raised in Tottenham. He is the co-founder of the crew and label Boy Better Know. He also serves as a sole owner and director of an associated company, Boy Better Know Limited, which he incorporated in 2008. He was previously part of the grime collective Meridian Crew and later Roll Deep alongside his older brother, Skepta.
"Pow 2011" is a song by grime MC Lethal Bizzle, featuring fellow grime artists Jme, Wiley, Chipmunk, Face, P Money, Ghetts and Kano – who are usually credited as 'Grime All Stars'. The song is a sequel of Lethal Bizzle's hit single "Pow! (Forward)" which was released in 2004. "Pow 2011" was released as a single on 6 February 2011 for digital download and was produced by Teddy, also known as Silencer. It was the first single from Bizzle's compilation album, Best of Bizzle. Soccer AM used the song for the background music to a part of the show called "Frimponged".
"Best of Bizzle" is a compilation album by grime MC, Lethal Bizzle. It was released on February 27, 2011 for digital download. The album features artists such as Mr Hudson, Donae'o, Dizzee Rascal, Tawiah, Kate Nash and Mark Ronson - along with Lethal Bizzle's fellow grime artists. The first single off the album, "Pow 2011", was released on February 6, 2011. The album consists of 27 songs.
"Mind Spinning" is a single by UK independent grime artist Lethal Bizzle. It was released on 19 June 2011 for digital download. The track features chorus vocals by producer Shaun Barrett better known as Hypertone
Vato Gonzalez is a Dutch record producer, songwriter, artist, DJ, who is signed to Spinnin' Records and DOORN Records. Best known for his single Badman Riddim (Jump), which reached No. 7 on the UK Singles Chart after a release on 19 June 2011.
"Party Right" is a single by English Grime artist Lethal Bizzle, featuring vocals from British pop recording artist Ruby Goe. It was released on 25 August 2013 for digital download in the United Kingdom. The song has peaked at number 29 on the UK Singles Chart.
"The Drop" is a single by English Grime artist Lethal Bizzle, featuring vocals from British R&B and soul recording artist Cherri Voncelle. It was released on 4 May 2014 for digital download in the United Kingdom. The song has peaked at number 20 on the UK Singles Chart.
"Rari WorkOut" is a single by English grime MC Lethal Bizzle, featuring vocals from Jme and Tempa T. It was released on 31 August 2014 for digital download in the United Kingdom. The song has peaked at number 11 on the UK Singles Chart.
Raoul Lionel Chen, better known as Diztortion, is a Dutch-born songwriter and record producer, best known for his work with the UK artists Stylo G, Lethal Bizzle, Tinie Tempah and Sigma.
"Fester Skank" is a single by the English grime rapper Lethal Bizzle, featuring the Dutch electronic producer Diztortion. It was released on 12 April 2015 for digital download in the United Kingdom and was his first single to be released after signing to Virgin EMI Records. The song peaked at number 11 on the UK Singles Chart.
Marc Veira, better known by his stage name Flowdan, is an English grime MC and record producer from Bow and Poplar, East London. A founding member of Roll Deep, he was responsible for naming the group and remained a member until its hiatus. In 2015, he founded his record label, SpentShell, which has since signed YGG and GHSTLY XXVII to its roster. In 2023, he featured on two songs which reached the top 20 of the UK Singles Chart, and in 2024 he won his first Grammy Award for the Skrillex and Fred Again collaboration "Rumble", becoming the first grime MC to win a Grammy in any category.
"Oi!" is the debut single by English grime group More Fire Crew, taken from their debut studio album More Fire Crew C.V. It was first released as a promotional single in 2001, and later released commercially on 4 March 2002.
Godfather is the eleventh studio album by English grime MC Wiley. It was released on 13 January 2017 through CTA Records, a record label venture between Wiley and Logan Sama and is distributed by Warner Music Group. It succeeds the album Snakes & Ladders (2014), originally announced as Wiley's final album.
"Dude" is a song by British rapper, actor Lethal Bizzle and English rapper Stormzy. It was released as a single on 30 October 2015 by Stay Dench Records. The song peaked at number 49 on the UK Singles Chart.