Dappy
Encyclopedia
Costadinos Contostavlos (born 11 June 1987) better known by his stage name
Dappy, is a British singer-songwriter
, rapper
, actor
of Greek
descent. He is best known for being the lead singer of the Camden
-based Grime/hip hop
/R&B
trio N-Dubz
, with his cousin Tulisa and their friend Fazer. He is known for his slightly unusual dress sense and his love for what he describes as "eye-catching headwear". His trademark is wearing a selection of woolly chullo
s (sometimes referred to as "Dappy hats"), turning up one of or both the ear-flaps of the hat.
, North London
, Dappy grew up with his parents, Byron Contostavlos and Zoi Agorou and older brother Spiros. His father had been a member of the group Mungo Jerry
. Byron died on 12 April 2007.
When Costadinos was younger, he attended Richard Cobden Primary school, then St Aloysius
secondary, a Roman Catholic
boys-only school in Islington
, attending for a year before being expelled for truancy. In N-Dubz's book Against All Odds: From Street Life to Chart Life, Dappy says that he doesn't remember the school "because I wasn't there often". He then attended Bishop Douglass school when he was around twelve years old, where he got into fights "almost everyday", which "...always started if someone had been making fun of me or something stupid".
Dappy eventually dropped out of education when he was 15, but he returned later to study at college and received an A* in English
and a B in GCSE
Music.
However, realising they shared so much in common, Dappy and Fazer (who he had first met at karate lessons when he was 9, before becoming best friends with him at school) started making beats together and coming up with lyrics, later asking Dappy's cousin, Tulisa, to join the band and started to perform in and around Camden Town
from the age of thirteen. At the time they were called the Lickle Rinsers Crew and went under the management of Dappy's father Byron, who had found success with 1970s pop band Mungo Jerry
, and to Dappy was the "inspiration behind the band". Byron worked at a local barbers shop, putting all the money he had into equipment and resources for the band at their studio. However, Byron died on 12 April 2007 after a heart-attack and N-Dubz
wrote the song "Papa (Can You Hear Me?)
", which was played at his funeral and became the group's second biggest hit at #19, and at #17 in the download charts. Dappy later described his dad's death as "the lowest point in our lives, we had no money, no manager, no driver, no accountant, but most of all I had no father - B was everything to me and it hurts so much to think that he never got to see what we have achieved now, but I know he's looking down on us and he'd be really proud".
Dappy had the words "RIP Dad" tattooed on his neck and doesn't like to say his dad's name, instead referring to him as "B" or "Uncle B", which was also the name of N-Dubz's debut album
. Before Byron died, he said he'd like their album to be called Against All Odds but after his death, the group called their debut album Uncle B
in tribute, with their second album being called Against All Odds
.
on 29 November 2007, on Phill Jupitus
' team, and wore a trademark "Dappy hat", also giving one to Simon Amstell
to wear as part of the gag. Despite vowing he would not return to the show he appeared for a second time on the guest team on 4 December 2008 and for a third time, on Phill's team, which was broadcast on 18 November 2009.
He is known to be a good friend of Chris Moyles
and also gets on well with Tinchy Stryder
after releasing a single together, called "Number 1", although in the past they have said to have fallen out many times over credits for the song etc. They responded by telling the crowd after their performance at BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend in May 2009, "and remember, don't believe what the media say 'cos it ain't true".
Dappy has made cameo appearances on K.I.G's "Head, Shoulders, Kneez and Toez" music video, Gracious K's "Migraine Skank" music video, and Chipmunk
's "Chip Diddy Chip
" music video, as one of Chipmunk's school friends.
who also manage Tinchy Stryder
. Dappy's first solo single is "No Regrets
". Dappy was quoted to have said "I really want to earn the respect of an older audience."
“I don't think there's any shame in trying to write music that will be recognised by people I admire, like Adele. Even Bono. I have big goals. I want to have two No. 1 singles back-to-back as a solo artist.” In reference to his debut solo album which is being released late 2011 or early 2012.
Dappy also confirmed that on his album, there will be a collaboration with The Wanted
which will be a single, and also a very possible collaboration with Rihanna
after she heard his music.
During December 2008, Dappy pleaded guilty to two accounts of assault at Chelmsford Magistrates Court, Essex
after reportedly spitting in a girl's face while drunk on a night out. Dappy pleaded guilty to the offences and for each count received four weeks' imprisonment, suspended for 12 months, to run concurrently and 100 hours community service. He was also ordered to pay £50 compensation to the girl and her friend and £300 costs.
On 29 January 2009, Contostavlos was arrested and bailed after he was accused of making death threats with a gun. He denied the allegation. His home in Camden was raided following the incident, by police looking for a firearm. Three days later (31 January) he was then hauled off a BA flight from Edinburgh
to London
by police after it touched down, with fellow N-Dubz
performer Fazer, after appearing to be acting disorderly. A source said: "They were swearing at kids on the plane, being foul and threatening passengers. Cabin crew called ahead to the police, who were waiting when the plane landed. They were taken away by armed officers."
On 12 January 2010, Contostavlos appeared on the Chris Moyles Show on BBC Radio 1
along with Fazer and Tulisa. The show received a text message from a single mother named Chloe Moody in Boston, Lincolnshire
complaining that Dappy was "vile" and "a little boy with a silly hat" and that N-Dubz were "losers". Dappy secretly copied Moody's phone number from the studio console and, the following day, tried calling her and sent threatening messages including: "Your gonna die. U sent a very bad msg towards Ndubz on The Chris Moyels show yesterday Morning and for that reason u will never be left alone!!! u say sorry I will leave u alone u ****." Moody claimed that she continued to receive messages after declining to apologise, one of which said: "u dum f****** ***head u can call me names over the radio but when I call u direct u chicken out u punk!nana f****** niii, Dappy").The Guardian
wrote that asterisks were presumably added by The Sun, who originally reported the story Dappy's management later apologised on his behalf and offered free tickets to one of his concerts, but he has not apologised to Moody personally. N-Dubz
were subsequently dropped from the Government's anti-bullying "R U Cyber Safe?" campaign. The rapper previously appeared with Schools Secretary Ed Balls
to launch pop single "R U Cyber Safe?" in November 2009, and Balls said he was "thrilled to have them on board". After the band was dropped, he commented that "[the] text message was totally unacceptable. There is no excuse. We have no further plans to work with the band."
Dappy was then shamed again live on GMTV
on 28 April 2010 after he was on that day's front pages with CCTV pictures of him taking the illegal drug Mephedrone, in a night club. He apologised, insisting "It's just not a thing to be doing. I've learnt my mistake. I'll never do such things again", going on to say, "I was just a bit tipsy and it just fell into the wrong place at the wrong time."
Just a day later, Dappy was kicked out of Alton Towers
theme park hotel in Staffordshire
, for allegedly smoking cannabis
. Contostavlos and his two other companions suspected to be Kaye Vassell and fellow hip-hop musician Fearless after guests complained about a "funny smell" coming from his room, according to reports. An Alton Towers spokesperson told Sky
News: "We can confirm a guest was asked to leave."
In October 2011, Dappy was arrested on suspicion of assaulting the mother of his two children, Kaye Vassell, and was later released without charge.
N-Dubz
were forced to reschedule some of their live shows from the Uncle B tour after Dappy was diagnosed with temporary deafness. He later said the ordeal "was terrible and it has really taught me to take better care of my ears because I wouldn't be the musician I am today if I couldn't hear". However he still "suffers from really bad Tinnitus
after ignoring advice not to turn his headphones up" according to his ex-girlfriend and "he can't get to sleep unless there's some loud background noise to drown out the ringing. He will leave the shower running all night, thundering away, so he can sleep".
It has been claimed that Dappy has an obsessive habit of crashing model planes. There was a rumour Dappy had set up his own Greek kebab
shop in London called 'Dapz Bapz', a claim which he later rubbished.
He revealed that he is a "massive" Arsenal
fan when N-Dubz appeared on Live from Studio Five
, gushing "it is an honour to sit next to you" to former Arsenal striker Ian Wright
who was one of three hosts on the show.
In September 2011, he revealed that he puts pepper into his toddler's mouth when he swears which received a lot of criticism from parents and critics.
Stage name
A stage name, also called a showbiz name or screen name, is a pseudonym used by performers and entertainers such as actors, wrestlers, comedians, and musicians.-Motivation to use a stage name:...
Dappy, is a British singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
, rapper
Rapping
Rapping refers to "spoken or chanted rhyming lyrics". The art form can be broken down into different components, as in the book How to Rap where it is separated into “content”, “flow” , and “delivery”...
, actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
of Greek
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
descent. He is best known for being the lead singer of the Camden
London Borough of Camden
In 1801, the civil parishes that form the modern borough were already developed and had a total population of 96,795. This continued to rise swiftly throughout the 19th century, as the district became built up; reaching 270,197 in the middle of the century...
-based Grime/hip hop
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
/R&B
Contemporary R&B
Contemporary R&B is a music genre that combines elements of hip hop, soul, R&B and funk.Although the abbreviation “R&B” originates from traditional rhythm and blues music, today the term R&B is most often used to describe a style of African American music originating after the demise of disco in...
trio N-Dubz
N-Dubz
N-Dubz are a British hip hop group from Camden Town, London. The group consists of members Dappy, Tulisa Contostavlos and Fazer.N-Dubz were previously signed to Polydor Records before joining All Around the World Records...
, with his cousin Tulisa and their friend Fazer. He is known for his slightly unusual dress sense and his love for what he describes as "eye-catching headwear". His trademark is wearing a selection of woolly chullo
Chullo
Chullo is an andean style of hat with earflaps, made from vicuña, alpaca, llama or sheep's wool. Alpaca has wool-like qualities that help to insulate its wearer from the harsh elements in the Andean Mountain region...
s (sometimes referred to as "Dappy hats"), turning up one of or both the ear-flaps of the hat.
Early life
Born and raised in Camden TownCamden Town
-Economy:In recent years, entertainment-related businesses and a Holiday Inn have moved into the area. A number of retail and food chain outlets have replaced independent shops driven out by high rents and redevelopment. Restaurants have thrived, with the variety of culinary traditions found in...
, North London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, Dappy grew up with his parents, Byron Contostavlos and Zoi Agorou and older brother Spiros. His father had been a member of the group Mungo Jerry
Mungo Jerry
Mungo Jerry is an English rock group whose greatest success was in the early 1970s, though they have continued throughout the years with an ever-changing line-up, always fronted by Ray Dorset. They are remembered above all for their hit "In the Summertime". It remains their most successful and most...
. Byron died on 12 April 2007.
When Costadinos was younger, he attended Richard Cobden Primary school, then St Aloysius
St Aloysius College, London
St. Aloysius' College is a Roman Catholic, boys-only state school in the London Borough of Islington, North London. Each year around 180 pupils are admitted to Year 7 on the basis of examination, however the local education authority also assigns students without a school to this school.St...
secondary, a Roman Catholic
Catholic school
Catholic schools are maintained parochial schools or education ministries of the Catholic Church. the Church operates the world's largest non-governmental school system...
boys-only school in Islington
Islington
Islington is a neighbourhood in Greater London, England and forms the central district of the London Borough of Islington. It is a district of Inner London, spanning from Islington High Street to Highbury Fields, encompassing the area around the busy Upper Street...
, attending for a year before being expelled for truancy. In N-Dubz's book Against All Odds: From Street Life to Chart Life, Dappy says that he doesn't remember the school "because I wasn't there often". He then attended Bishop Douglass school when he was around twelve years old, where he got into fights "almost everyday", which "...always started if someone had been making fun of me or something stupid".
Dappy eventually dropped out of education when he was 15, but he returned later to study at college and received an A* in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
and a B in GCSE
General Certificate of Secondary Education
The General Certificate of Secondary Education is an academic qualification awarded in a specified subject, generally taken in a number of subjects by students aged 14–16 in secondary education in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and is equivalent to a Level 2 and Level 1 in Key Skills...
Music.
However, realising they shared so much in common, Dappy and Fazer (who he had first met at karate lessons when he was 9, before becoming best friends with him at school) started making beats together and coming up with lyrics, later asking Dappy's cousin, Tulisa, to join the band and started to perform in and around Camden Town
Camden Town
-Economy:In recent years, entertainment-related businesses and a Holiday Inn have moved into the area. A number of retail and food chain outlets have replaced independent shops driven out by high rents and redevelopment. Restaurants have thrived, with the variety of culinary traditions found in...
from the age of thirteen. At the time they were called the Lickle Rinsers Crew and went under the management of Dappy's father Byron, who had found success with 1970s pop band Mungo Jerry
Mungo Jerry
Mungo Jerry is an English rock group whose greatest success was in the early 1970s, though they have continued throughout the years with an ever-changing line-up, always fronted by Ray Dorset. They are remembered above all for their hit "In the Summertime". It remains their most successful and most...
, and to Dappy was the "inspiration behind the band". Byron worked at a local barbers shop, putting all the money he had into equipment and resources for the band at their studio. However, Byron died on 12 April 2007 after a heart-attack and N-Dubz
N-Dubz
N-Dubz are a British hip hop group from Camden Town, London. The group consists of members Dappy, Tulisa Contostavlos and Fazer.N-Dubz were previously signed to Polydor Records before joining All Around the World Records...
wrote the song "Papa (Can You Hear Me?)
Papa Can You Hear Me?
"Papa Can You Hear Me?" is the sixth single by British Hip hop trio, N-Dubz. The song is dedicated to the group's former manager Byron Contostavlos, who died shortly before the band were signed to new label All Around the World...
", which was played at his funeral and became the group's second biggest hit at #19, and at #17 in the download charts. Dappy later described his dad's death as "the lowest point in our lives, we had no money, no manager, no driver, no accountant, but most of all I had no father - B was everything to me and it hurts so much to think that he never got to see what we have achieved now, but I know he's looking down on us and he'd be really proud".
Dappy had the words "RIP Dad" tattooed on his neck and doesn't like to say his dad's name, instead referring to him as "B" or "Uncle B", which was also the name of N-Dubz's debut album
Uncle B
Uncle B is the debut album released by N-Dubz. It was released on 17 November 2008. 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...
. Before Byron died, he said he'd like their album to be called Against All Odds but after his death, the group called their debut album Uncle B
Uncle B
Uncle B is the debut album released by N-Dubz. It was released on 17 November 2008. 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...
in tribute, with their second album being called Against All Odds
Against All Odds (N-Dubz album)
Against All Odds is the second platinum selling studio album by N-Dubz. The album was released in Ireland on 13 November 2009 and was released on 16 November 2009 in the UK.-Background: given by tulisa conastovlos...
.
N-Dubz and other projects
Dappy appeared on the television show Never Mind the BuzzcocksNever Mind the Buzzcocks
Never Mind the Buzzcocks is a comedy panel game television show with a pop music theme, currently without a permanent presenter. It stars Phill Jupitus and Noel Fielding as team captains. The show is produced by Talkback Thames for the BBC, and is usually aired on BBC Two...
on 29 November 2007, on Phill Jupitus
Phill Jupitus
Phillip Christopher Jupitus is an English stand-up and improvised comedian, actor, performance poet, musician and podcaster....
' team, and wore a trademark "Dappy hat", also giving one to Simon Amstell
Simon Amstell
Simon Marc Amstell is a BAFTA nominated, award-winning English comedian, television presenter, screenwriter and actor, best known for his roles as former co-host of Popworld, former host of Never Mind the Buzzcocks and co-writer and star of the sitcom Grandma's House.-Early life:Amstell was born...
to wear as part of the gag. Despite vowing he would not return to the show he appeared for a second time on the guest team on 4 December 2008 and for a third time, on Phill's team, which was broadcast on 18 November 2009.
He is known to be a good friend of Chris Moyles
Chris Moyles
Christopher David Moyles is an English radio and television presenter and author, who currently presents The Chris Moyles Show on BBC Radio 1 and Chris Moyles' Quiz Night on Channel 4....
and also gets on well with Tinchy Stryder
Tinchy Stryder
Kwasi Danquah III , better known by his pseudonyms Tinchy Stryder and Star In The Hood, is a Ghanaian British recording artist, music executive, A&R executive, and businessman...
after releasing a single together, called "Number 1", although in the past they have said to have fallen out many times over credits for the song etc. They responded by telling the crowd after their performance at BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend in May 2009, "and remember, don't believe what the media say 'cos it ain't true".
Dappy has made cameo appearances on K.I.G's "Head, Shoulders, Kneez and Toez" music video, Gracious K's "Migraine Skank" music video, and Chipmunk
Chipmunk (rapper)
Jahmaal Noel Fyffe known by his stage name Chipmunk, is a British hip hop rapper and songwriter from Tottenham, London....
's "Chip Diddy Chip
Chip Diddy Chip
"Chip Diddy Chip" is a song by rapper Chipmunk, released in March 2009. It is first official single from his debut album, I Am Chipmunk.- Music video :...
" music video, as one of Chipmunk's school friends.
N-Dubz break and solo career
It was annouced in June 2011 that N-Dubz had left their American record deal, amidst rumour that the band had split. These rumours began circulating again in September 2011, however Dappy insisted the band had not split, but were simply taking a break. Dappy has since took the chance to start a solo career with the management company Takeover Entertainment LtdTakeover Entertainment
Takeover Entertainment is an independent record label, talent agency, musician management company, producer, and publisher of music, currently based in the United Kingdom. The company was founded in 2006 and is run by Kwasi Danquah III , Archie Lamb IV and Jack Foster...
who also manage Tinchy Stryder
Tinchy Stryder
Kwasi Danquah III , better known by his pseudonyms Tinchy Stryder and Star In The Hood, is a Ghanaian British recording artist, music executive, A&R executive, and businessman...
. Dappy's first solo single is "No Regrets
No Regrets (Dappy song)
"No Regrets" is the debut solo single by British hip hop artist Dappy. The song was produced by TMS and was written by Dappy, TMS, and Ayak Thiik . It was released in the United Kingdom on 18 September 2011. This was Dappy's first solo number 1 single in the UK...
". Dappy was quoted to have said "I really want to earn the respect of an older audience."
“I don't think there's any shame in trying to write music that will be recognised by people I admire, like Adele. Even Bono. I have big goals. I want to have two No. 1 singles back-to-back as a solo artist.” In reference to his debut solo album which is being released late 2011 or early 2012.
Dappy also confirmed that on his album, there will be a collaboration with The Wanted
The Wanted
The Wanted are a British-Irish boy band based in London, England. The band consists of Max George, Siva Kaneswaran, Jay McGuiness, Tom Parker and Nathan Sykes. Their debut single, "All Time Low", was released in July 2010 and reached number one in the United Kingdom for one week...
which will be a single, and also a very possible collaboration with Rihanna
Rihanna
Robyn Rihanna Fenty , better known as simply Rihanna, is a Barbadian recording artist. Born in Saint Michael, Barbados, Rihanna moved to the United States at the age of 16 to pursue a recording career under the guidance of record producer Evan Rogers...
after she heard his music.
Criticism and controversy
In mid 2007, Dappy released "Love for My Slum" with fellow UK rap artist Baker Trouble, which was number one on Channel U (now Channel AKA) for several weeks and was a big hit in the underground urban scene. However, it didn't do as well with the media and was heavily criticized for a scene in which Dappy is standing outside a block of expensive luxury flats with a "rich kid" who is trying to look like a gangster. The Independent wrote, "His lyrics combine jealousy with anger: 'You got too much to lose / You're in a great position... You wouldn't last a minute where I'm from / You'd go missing / So appreciate what you got / 'cos I'm still wishing.' And then he grabs the rich kid by his coat, pulls him toward him, and punches him in the face. The silent boy falls instantly to the pavement ... Do scenes like these suggest that music videos are encouraging their viewers to indulge in criminality?". Other papers put that he was "idolising thuggery". When asked in interviews about the single, following these comments he said "these people need to listen to the lyrics, they are about showing appreciation to what you've got".During December 2008, Dappy pleaded guilty to two accounts of assault at Chelmsford Magistrates Court, Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
after reportedly spitting in a girl's face while drunk on a night out. Dappy pleaded guilty to the offences and for each count received four weeks' imprisonment, suspended for 12 months, to run concurrently and 100 hours community service. He was also ordered to pay £50 compensation to the girl and her friend and £300 costs.
On 29 January 2009, Contostavlos was arrested and bailed after he was accused of making death threats with a gun. He denied the allegation. His home in Camden was raided following the incident, by police looking for a firearm. Three days later (31 January) he was then hauled off a BA flight from Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
by police after it touched down, with fellow N-Dubz
N-Dubz
N-Dubz are a British hip hop group from Camden Town, London. The group consists of members Dappy, Tulisa Contostavlos and Fazer.N-Dubz were previously signed to Polydor Records before joining All Around the World Records...
performer Fazer, after appearing to be acting disorderly. A source said: "They were swearing at kids on the plane, being foul and threatening passengers. Cabin crew called ahead to the police, who were waiting when the plane landed. They were taken away by armed officers."
On 12 January 2010, Contostavlos appeared on the Chris Moyles Show on BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
along with Fazer and Tulisa. The show received a text message from a single mother named Chloe Moody in Boston, Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire is a county in the east of England. It borders Norfolk to the south east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south west, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to the west, South Yorkshire to the north west, and the East Riding of Yorkshire to the north. It also borders...
complaining that Dappy was "vile" and "a little boy with a silly hat" and that N-Dubz were "losers". Dappy secretly copied Moody's phone number from the studio console and, the following day, tried calling her and sent threatening messages including: "Your gonna die. U sent a very bad msg towards Ndubz on The Chris Moyels show yesterday Morning and for that reason u will never be left alone!!! u say sorry I will leave u alone u ****." Moody claimed that she continued to receive messages after declining to apologise, one of which said: "u dum f****** ***head u can call me names over the radio but when I call u direct u chicken out u punk!nana f****** niii, Dappy").The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
wrote that asterisks were presumably added by The Sun, who originally reported the story Dappy's management later apologised on his behalf and offered free tickets to one of his concerts, but he has not apologised to Moody personally. N-Dubz
N-Dubz
N-Dubz are a British hip hop group from Camden Town, London. The group consists of members Dappy, Tulisa Contostavlos and Fazer.N-Dubz were previously signed to Polydor Records before joining All Around the World Records...
were subsequently dropped from the Government's anti-bullying "R U Cyber Safe?" campaign. The rapper previously appeared with Schools Secretary Ed Balls
Ed Balls
Edward Michael Balls, known as Ed Balls, is a British Labour politician, who has been a Member of Parliament since 2005, currently for Morley and Outwood, and is the current Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer....
to launch pop single "R U Cyber Safe?" in November 2009, and Balls said he was "thrilled to have them on board". After the band was dropped, he commented that "[the] text message was totally unacceptable. There is no excuse. We have no further plans to work with the band."
Dappy was then shamed again live on GMTV
GMTV
GMTV was the national Channel 3 breakfast television contractor, broadcasting in the United Kingdom from 1 January 1993 to 3 September 2010. It became a wholly owned subsidiary of ITV plc. in November 2009. Shortly after, ITV plc announced the programme would end...
on 28 April 2010 after he was on that day's front pages with CCTV pictures of him taking the illegal drug Mephedrone, in a night club. He apologised, insisting "It's just not a thing to be doing. I've learnt my mistake. I'll never do such things again", going on to say, "I was just a bit tipsy and it just fell into the wrong place at the wrong time."
Just a day later, Dappy was kicked out of Alton Towers
Alton Towers
Alton Towers is a theme park and resort located in Staffordshire, England. It attracts around 2.7 million visitors per year making it the most visited theme park in the United Kingdom. Alton Towers is also the 9th most visited theme park in Europe...
theme park hotel in Staffordshire
Staffordshire
Staffordshire is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. Part of the National Forest lies within its borders...
, for allegedly smoking cannabis
Cannabis
Cannabis is a genus of flowering plants that includes three putative species, Cannabis sativa, Cannabis indica, and Cannabis ruderalis. These three taxa are indigenous to Central Asia, and South Asia. Cannabis has long been used for fibre , for seed and seed oils, for medicinal purposes, and as a...
. Contostavlos and his two other companions suspected to be Kaye Vassell and fellow hip-hop musician Fearless after guests complained about a "funny smell" coming from his room, according to reports. An Alton Towers spokesperson told Sky
British Sky Broadcasting
British Sky Broadcasting Group plc is a satellite broadcasting, broadband and telephony services company headquartered in London, United Kingdom, with operations in the United Kingdom and the Ireland....
News: "We can confirm a guest was asked to leave."
In October 2011, Dappy was arrested on suspicion of assaulting the mother of his two children, Kaye Vassell, and was later released without charge.
Personal life
Dappy is cousin to fellow band member Tulisa. Dappy lives with his girlfriend, Kaye Vassell and their two sons, Gino and Milo. Gino was born in January 2009 and Dappy's second son, Milo, was born on 10 December 2010.N-Dubz
N-Dubz
N-Dubz are a British hip hop group from Camden Town, London. The group consists of members Dappy, Tulisa Contostavlos and Fazer.N-Dubz were previously signed to Polydor Records before joining All Around the World Records...
were forced to reschedule some of their live shows from the Uncle B tour after Dappy was diagnosed with temporary deafness. He later said the ordeal "was terrible and it has really taught me to take better care of my ears because I wouldn't be the musician I am today if I couldn't hear". However he still "suffers from really bad Tinnitus
Tinnitus
Tinnitus |ringing]]") is the perception of sound within the human ear in the absence of corresponding external sound.Tinnitus is not a disease, but a symptom that can result from a wide range of underlying causes: abnormally loud sounds in the ear canal for even the briefest period , ear...
after ignoring advice not to turn his headphones up" according to his ex-girlfriend and "he can't get to sleep unless there's some loud background noise to drown out the ringing. He will leave the shower running all night, thundering away, so he can sleep".
It has been claimed that Dappy has an obsessive habit of crashing model planes. There was a rumour Dappy had set up his own Greek kebab
Kebab
Kebab is a wide variety of meat dishes originating in Middle East and later on adopted by the Middle East, and Asia Minor, and now found worldwide. In English, kebab with no qualification generally refers more specifically to shish kebab served on the skewer...
shop in London called 'Dapz Bapz', a claim which he later rubbished.
He revealed that he is a "massive" Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
fan when N-Dubz appeared on Live from Studio Five
Live from Studio Five
Live From Studio Five was an early evening, British magazine programme which was produced by Sky News for Channel 5. The show was presented by Kate Walsh and a line-up of other co-presenters during its run. It consisted of interviews and discussing topical issues, with an emphasis on showbusiness...
, gushing "it is an honour to sit next to you" to former Arsenal striker Ian Wright
Ian Wright
Ian Edward Wright, MBE is a retired English footballer turned television and radio personality.Wright enjoyed success with London clubs Crystal Palace and Arsenal, spending six years with the former and seven years with the latter. With Arsenal he has lifted the Premier League title and both major...
who was one of three hosts on the show.
In September 2011, he revealed that he puts pepper into his toddler's mouth when he swears which received a lot of criticism from parents and critics.
Studio albums
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Certifications | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK UK Albums Chart The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart... |
UK R&B UK R&B Chart The Official UK R&B Chart is a forty-position R&B/Hip-Hop chart compiled by The Official UK Charts Company. Although the chart does not receive any airplay, its compilation is viewed on BBC Radio 1's website and publications such as ChartsPlus and Music Week... |
IRE | |||
| No Regrets |
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— | — | — | |
Singles
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
UK R&B UK R&B Chart The Official UK R&B Chart is a forty-position R&B/Hip-Hop chart compiled by The Official UK Charts Company. Although the chart does not receive any airplay, its compilation is viewed on BBC Radio 1's website and publications such as ChartsPlus and Music Week... |
IRE Irish Singles Chart The Irish Singles Chart is Ireland's music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association and compiled on behalf of the IRMA by Chart-Track. Chart rankings are based on sales, which are compiled through over-the-counter retail data captured... |
SCO |
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| "No Regrets No Regrets (Dappy song) "No Regrets" is the debut solo single by British hip hop artist Dappy. The song was produced by TMS and was written by Dappy, TMS, and Ayak Thiik . It was released in the United Kingdom on 18 September 2011. This was Dappy's first solo number 1 single in the UK... " |
2011 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 1 | No Regrets |
| "Rockstar" | — | — | — | — |
As featured artist
| Year | Single | Peak positions |
Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
UK R&B UK R&B Chart The Official UK R&B Chart is a forty-position R&B/Hip-Hop chart compiled by The Official UK Charts Company. Although the chart does not receive any airplay, its compilation is viewed on BBC Radio 1's website and publications such as ChartsPlus and Music Week... |
IRE Irish Singles Chart The Irish Singles Chart is Ireland's music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association and compiled on behalf of the IRMA by Chart-Track. Chart rankings are based on sales, which are compiled through over-the-counter retail data captured... |
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| 2009 | "Number 1" The single "Number 1" was credited as Tinchy Stryder featuring N-Dubz, when in fact only Dappy appeared as a featured artist. (Tinchy Stryder Tinchy Stryder Kwasi Danquah III , better known by his pseudonyms Tinchy Stryder and Star In The Hood, is a Ghanaian British recording artist, music executive, A&R executive, and businessman... featuring Dappy) |
1 | 1 | 1 | Catch 22 Catch 22 (Tinchy Stryder album) Catch 22 is the second full-length solo studio album by Ghanaian British recording artist Tinchy Stryder, and his major label debut, since allying with Universal Island Records. After three successful singles leading up to the album, the album, was released on August 17, 2009. The album is produced... |
| 2011 | "Spaceship Spaceship (Tinchy Stryder song) -Critical reception:Lewis Corner of Digital Spy Blog gave the song a positive review stating:It's been a rocky few months for Tinchy Stryder. After catapulting to the upper echelons of the charts with his debut LP and its subsequent spinoff singles, the pint-sized rapper suffered a textbook case of... " (Tinchy Stryder featuring Dappy) |
5 | 1 | 48 | Full Tank |