NoLay

Last updated

NoLay
Birth nameNatalie Athanasiou [1] [2]
Also known as
  • Isabella
  • Bella Gotti
Origin Croydon, London, England
Genres
Occupations
  • Rapper
  • songwriter
Years active2003–present
Website www.nolay.world

Natalie Athanasiou, known professionally as NoLay, Isabella, and Bella Gotti, is an English rapper of Greek-Cypriot and Caribbean background. [3]

Contents

Career

NoLay first contributed as a member of a grime music collective called Unorthodox. Unorthodox released "No Help or Handouts" in 2004, [4] which grabbed the attention of major labels leading to NoLay's first solo release "Unorthodox Daughter". [5] The track was included on Warner imprint label 679 Recordings' Run The Road compilation (2005) showcasing UK grime and featuring Dizzee Rascal, Wiley, Kano and others. The label also released a vinyl to record shops with just Plan B and Nolay on it to promote the release. Run The Road's success led 679 to release a second volume in 2006 on which Nolay features again with her track "Unorthodox Chick". [6]

NoLay has opened for Mobb Deep and the Infamous Mobb. [7] She has toured Europe with Australian electronic rock group The Bumblebeez and featured on their 2006 track "Fuck Disco". [8] In 2009 NoLay guested on Mongrel's Better Than Heavy album. She also featured on Tricky's 2014 album Adrian Thaws and toured Europe with him.

In 2013, she appeared in a drama on Channel 4 called Top Boy playing the character Mandy. Mandy was the girlfriend of leading character Dris and the mother of his child. [9] [10]

After a dozen EP and mixtape releases over the course of a decade, NoLay released album This Woman in 2017, previewed by a video for track "Dancing With The Devil", which tackled domestic violence. [11] Nolay also released a video in July 2017 for the track "Marching" also lifted from her March 2017 release "This Woman"

In 2021, NOW Entertainment Magazine reported that Nolay released a new song tagged Gang Shit which makes the third list of her 2021 7-track Hip-hop/Rap album titled Kalas. [12]

Explaining her name NoLay explains: “It comes from the times when I was younger. It’s like you know referring to not procrastinating and wasting time. Just get to it and also take nothing lying down. Where I come from back then and even now people say No lay lay which means no hesitation. So one day a friend of mine from Peckham said I should call myself No lay.” [13] In 2014 NoLay changed her name to Bella Gotti [14] but decided to change her name back to stay true to her original fanbase. She explained in interviews that her alias is an alter ego similar to Eminem's Marshall Mathers and Slim Shady or Jay Z's Jigga and Jay Hova.[ citation needed ]

Style

NoLay is known for her gritty rhymes and wordplay that have often gained her comparisons to MC Ghetts who she has collaborated with but to whom she doesn't believe herself to be similar: "I used to be described as 'the female version of Ghetts'; how do you know Ghetts isn’t the male version of me?" [15] [16]

Persona life

On 24 April 2016, NoLay was involved in a car accident that saw her hospitalized. [17]

Discography

Singles
YearSongReferences
2005“Unorthodox Daughter”-
“Unorthodox Chick”-
"Angels & Fly" [High Contrast ft. Nolay]-
2007"Things Could Get Ugly"-
2008“Bars of Truth”-
2012“Anarchy” (Engineered at That SP Studios) [18] [19]
“The War”-
"Off With Ya Head"-
2013“Because I Like it”-
“Talking Money”-
“The Jungle (ft. Ghetts)”-
2014"Floating"-
"Ya Done Know"-
"Don't Stop" (ft. P Money & Blacks)-
"Holy Sinners" (Dot Rotten)-
2015"Legendary"-
"Netflix And Pills" [20]
"Van Gogh"-
"Bloodstream"-
"Everybody Die"-
2016"Gotta Love It" (w/ Kid D) [21]
"Have You Forgotten" [22]
2020"Corn"-
2021"Gang Sh*t"-
2023"Rent Free"-
2023"Shade"-
Mixtapes and albums
YearTitleReferences
2007The New Chapter (Hosted by SK Vibemaker)-
2008No Comparisons-
2009Big Trouble in Little London (Hosted by SK Vibemaker)-
2011I am Legend (Hosted by DJ Limelight)-
2012I am Legend II (Hosted by DJ Limelight)-
2013Cuts & Salt-
2014Holy Sinners-
2017This Woman-
EPs
YearTitleReferences
2011He Said, She Said: I Am Bad-
2011Drop Me Out-
2012Flowcaine-
2012Rebellion-
2014Holy Sinners-
2016Grime, Guts & Glory (with Kid D)-
2017This Woman-
2021Kalas-
Guest appearances
YearTitleReferences
2006"Black Dirt"/"Fuck Disco" (ft. NoLay) single by The Bumblebeez, 1 track-
2008Low Deep - Star (ft. NoLay) album, Unsung, 1 track-
2009 Better Than Heavy album, Mongrel, 2 tracks-
2014 Adrian Thaws album, Tricky, 2 tracks-
2020 Brave (Joyryde album) album, JOYRYDE, 1 track-

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kano (British musician)</span> British rapper

Kane Brett Robinson, better known as Kano, is a British rapper, songwriter and actor from East Ham, London. His fifth album, Made in the Manor was shortlisted for the 2016 Mercury Prize and won Best Album at the 2016 MOBO Awards. On screen, he played the role of Sully in Top Boy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kurupt</span> American rapper and record producer (born 1972)

Ricardo Emmanuel Brown, better known by his stage name Kurupt, is an American rapper and record producer. Born and raised in Philadelphia, he formed Tha Dogg Pound in 1992 along with Daz Dillinger; the rap duo has released eight albums. He also formed the hip hop group The Hrsmn in 1996, with whom he has released two albums. His debut solo album, Kuruption! (1998) was released by A&M Records and peaked at number eight on the Billboard 200.

Justin Jude Clarke-Samuels, better known by his stage name Ghetts, is a British grime MC, rapper, songwriter and actor. His music has been played on national radio stations such as BBC Radio 1, Kiss 100, BBC Asian Network, and BBC Radio 1Xtra. Currently, Ghetts is signed to independent record label Disrupt, and released his debut studio album, Rebel with a Cause, on 9 March 2014. Known for his hard hitting lyrics and intricate rhyme schemes, he is associated and has toured internationally with such acts as Kano and was a member of NASTY Crew.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chip (rapper)</span> British rapper

Jahmaal Noel Fyffe, better known by his stage name Chip, is an English rapper from Tottenham, London. In the past 14 years he has collaborated with the likes of Skepta, T.I., Meek Mill, Young Adz and many others. In 2009, he released his debut album, I Am Chipmunk, featuring four songs which peaked in the top 10 of the UK Singles Chart, including the chart-topping "Oopsy Daisy". In 2011, Chipmunk released his follow-up album, the American hip hop-influenced Transition. It included the single "Champion" featuring Chris Brown, which peaked at #2 on the UK Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wretch 32</span> Musical artist

Jermaine Sinclaire Scott, better known by his stage name Wretch 32, is a British rapper, singer and songwriter from Tottenham, North London. He was a member of the grime collective Combination Chain Gang, before forming The Movement with Scorcher, Ghetts, and Mercston.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SB.TV</span> British music outlet

SB.TV Global Ltd, also known as SB.TV or SmokeyBarz, is a British music media and creative cultural industry company founded by Jamal Edwards. The platform was created on 2 November 2006, and has its origins in urban music. Most of the content can be seen on its own YouTube channel, or on the official SB.TV website and includes freestyle raps and music videos. SB.TV has diversified into events and have curated stages at Bestival, Wireless, Outlook and other festivals. SB.TV were also invited to film interviews with a host of leading politicians at 10 Downing Street, including the Prime Minister David Cameron. Edwards has also built a relationship with the Royal Family and first interviewed Prince Charles in 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zeph Ellis</span> Musical artist

Joseph Ellis-Stephenson, better known by his stage name Dot Rotten or Zeph Ellis, is a British grime MC, rapper, singer, songwriter and record producer from Lambeth, South London.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amplify Dot</span> Musical artist

Ashley Charles, also known as A.Dot or Dotty, is an English rapper, DJ, and radio and television presenter. She is best-known for presenting on BBC Radio 1Xtra from 2014 to 2020 and co-presenting the BBC One show Sounds Like Friday Night alongside Greg James from 2017 to 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Big Narstie</span> British musical artist (born 1985)

Tyrone Mark Lindo, known by his stage name Big Narstie, is a British MC, author, rapper, singer, songwriter, comedian and television presenter. He started his career in 2002 as a member of grime crew "N Double A," though he is better known for his solo work and as an internet personality performing comedy relating to grime music and the surrounding culture. He is also known for hosting his own chat show, The Big Narstie Show.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stormzy</span> British rapper (born 1993)

Michael Ebenezer Kwadjo Omari Owuo Jr., known professionally as Stormzy, is a British rapper, singer, and songwriter. In 2014, he gained attention on the UK underground music scene through his Wicked Skengman series of freestyles over classic grime beats. Stormzy's song "Shut Up", which was initially released as a freestyle on YouTube, became popular and peaked at number eight on the UK Singles Chart after he launched a campaign to reach Christmas number one.

Paige Meade, better known by her stage name Paigey Cakey, is an English MC, singer and actress, from Hackney, London.

<i>Rap vs. Grime</i> 2015 mixtape by Chip

Rap vs. Grime is the tenth mixtape by British rapper Chip, released for free download on 25 December 2015. The project, which is hosted by Hot 97's Peter Rosenberg, includes diss tracks aimed at Bugzy Malone and Tinie Tempah. While six music videos from the mixtape were released, "Hear Dis" / "BlukuByeByeBye" was the only single released onto iTunes, and the song entered the UK Singles Chart at number 199. It also peaked at number 26 on the UK Indie Chart.

Anthony George Harris, better known by his stage name President T, is a British grime artist from North London. President T was born in Birmingham, but moved to Tottenham, North London when he was 3 years old. He is known for his distinct style of delivery, offbeat rhyming patterns, and flow.

Deshane Cornwall, known professionally as Frisco, is a British grime MC, songwriter and record producer who is part of the Boy Better Know (BBK) music label which includes Jme, Skepta, Jammer, among others. He has released three solo albums and a series of mixtapes, guested on tracks by his label mates and established a successful monthly grime event in East London, contributing to the popularity of grime within the UK music scene.

Clive James "CJ" Brooks, known professionally as Yungen, is a British rapper, singer and songwriter from Herne Hill, South London. He first gained recognition for his 2011 freestyle video for SB.TV and in 2015 was nominated for Best Newcomer at the MOBO Awards. His 2017 song "Bestie" featuring Yxng Bane reached top 10 in the UK Singles Chart in October and became his first platinum single in February 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steel Banglez</span> British producer and solo artist

Pahuldip Singh Sandhu, known by his stage name Steel Banglez, is a British record producer and musician of Indian Punjabi descent. He is currently signed to Warner Bros. Records. Best known for his production work with artists including Mist, MoStack, J Hus and Wiley, Steel Banglez achieved his first chart hit as a lead artist when his track "Bad" reached the top 30 on the UK Singles Chart in February 2018. His highest-charting single on the UK Singles Chart is "Fashion Week" featuring British rappers AJ Tracey and MoStack which peaked at number 7.

Errol Kojo Bellot, known professionally as Kojo Funds, is an English singer, rapper and songwriter. His music blends West African and Caribbean sounds with road rap, dancehall and pop.

GRM Daily, formerly Grime Daily, is a British urban music outlet and entertainment platform. As the name suggests, the platform is an outlet for UK rap and its various genres, such as UK drill, afroswing, trap, and British hip hop. The platform also serves electronic genres such as UK garage and grime.

Dean West, better known by his stage name Black the Ripper, was a British rapper, grime emcee, activist, cannabis activist, and entrepreneur from Edmonton, London. He ran his own record label, Dank of England, which expanded into a clothing line and cannabis accessory company. He was also known for his viral stunts of smoking cannabis in public places, which he hoped would lead to the outcome of legalised cannabis in the United Kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Central Cee</span> British rapper (born 1998)

Oakley Neil Caesar-Su, known professionally as Central Cee, is a British rapper and songwriter from Shepherd's Bush, London. He rose to prominence in 2020 with the release of the singles "Day in the Life" and "Loading". His first mixtape Wild West was released on 12 March 2021, which debuted at number two on the UK Albums Chart. His second mixtape 23 was released on 25 February 2022 and debuted atop the UK Albums Chart.

References

  1. ↑ "No Lay". Discogs.com. Archived from the original on 7 September 2017. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
  2. ↑ "ALL I THINK ABOUT". ASCAP. American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
  3. ↑ "theguardian". Theguardian.com. 16 July 2008. Archived from the original on 23 June 2017. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
  4. ↑ "Unorthodox (4) - No Help Or Handouts". Discogs.com. Archived from the original on 7 September 2017. Retrieved 12 June 2017.
  5. ↑ "GRM Daily". GRM Daily. 30 November 2020. Archived from the original on 6 February 2015. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
  6. ↑ "Nolay unorthodox". Iamnolay.com. Archived from the original on 21 February 2022. Retrieved 15 November 2014.
  7. ↑ "Bella Gotti aka Nolay Interview | Following and showcasing the best in Grime music". grimedisciple.com. Archived from the original on 28 January 2015. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
  8. ↑ "Bumblebeez - Black Dirt". 45cat.com. Archived from the original on 2 December 2017. Retrieved 12 June 2017.
  9. ↑ "Biography — Bella Gotti". bellagotti.com. Archived from the original on 5 August 2014. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
  10. ↑ "SEPTEMBer's BIGGEST UNDERGROUND RELEASES: Lady Leshurr,NoLay,Izzy Bizu,Joel Baker | MOBO Awards". www.mobo.com. Archived from the original on 29 September 2013. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
  11. ↑ "South London MC NoLay confronts domestic violence in powerful new video 'Dancing with the Devil'". Factmag.com. 14 February 2017. Archived from the original on 7 September 2017. Retrieved 12 June 2017.
  12. ↑ HCamrone (24 January 2021). "NoLay Drops New Fire Music "Gang Sh*t"". NOW Entertainment. Archived from the original on 10 February 2022. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
  13. ↑ "BritishBlackMusic". www.britishblackmusic.com. Archived from the original on 6 February 2015. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
  14. ↑ "Nolay changes her name". Sbtv.com. Archived from the original on 6 December 2014. Retrieved 15 November 2014.
  15. ↑ "How Nolay Found The Strength To Speak Up For Women Everywhere". Thefader.com. Archived from the original on 20 April 2017. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
  16. ↑ "UK Rapper NoLay Returns To Music With 'Kalas' EP". Forbes . Archived from the original on 11 May 2022. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
  17. ↑ Butterly, Amelia (25 April 2016). "Grime MC NoLay in 'critical condition' after car accident - BBC Newsbeat". Bbc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 1 May 2016. Retrieved 12 June 2016.
  18. ↑ "NoLay Anarchy". YouTube. 25 May 2022. Archived from the original on 25 May 2022. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
  19. ↑ "NoLay Anarchy". Shojon. 25 March 2022. Archived from the original on 29 August 2022. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
  20. ↑ "behind the lyrics: south london rapper nolay discusses abuse and addiction on netflix and pills". I-d.vice.com. 19 November 2015. Archived from the original on 29 November 2015. Retrieved 4 May 2017.
  21. ↑ "Listen: Nolay and Kid D release 'Gotta Love It' - SBTV". Archived from the original on 25 June 2016.
  22. ↑ "video premiere: nolay, have you forgotten". I-d.vice.com. 6 September 2016. Archived from the original on 6 September 2016. Retrieved 4 May 2017.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.