N-Dubz

N-Dubz are a rap trio from London, England, who won a MOBO Award in 2007 for Best U.K.

Newcomer before signing to the dance label All Around the World Records and releasing their full-length album debut, Uncle B (2008).

Comprised of Dino "Dappy" Contostavlos, Tula "Tulisa" Contostavlos, and Richard "Fazer" Rawson, N-Dubz are based in the Camden Town area of London and originally met as schoolmates.

Originally billing themselves as the "Lickle Rinsers Crew," the trio began its recording career with underground releases such as "Bad Man Riddim" and "Life Is Getting Sicker by the Day" that were intended for pirate radio play.

After changing their name to N-Dubz, the group began to experience modest chart success with the independently released singles "You Better Not Waste My Time" (2006), "I Swear" (2006), and "Feva Las Vegas" (2007) on LRC Records.

These early singles earned N-Dubz a 2007 MOBO Award for Best U.K.

Newcomer, followed by a short-lived recording contract with Polydor Records.

Around this same point in time, "You Better Not Waste My Time" (the group's only release on Polydor) was reissued as a single and became their first hit to break into the Top 50, rising all the way to number 26 on the U.K.

singles chart.

In late 2008, after some time away from the limelight, N-Dubz signed a new recording contract, this time with the dance label All Around the World.

"Ouch" was released as the lead single from the group's full-length album debut, Uncle B; both were major commercial success, charting number 22 and 11 respectively on the U.K.

charts.

Subsequent singles "Papa Can You Hear Me?" and "Strong Again" also proved popular.

~ Jason Birchmeier, All Music Guide

N-Dubz have been offered the chance to move to the US market, and are currently looking for a house in Los Angeles while their contract is being sorted out.

(BANG) -

N-Dubz have been offered the chance to crack the US, and are planning to move to Los Angeles.

The 'Better Not Waste My Time' group met with bosses at Def Jam records in Los Angeles last week and have been offered the chance to move to California for a year to concentrate on breaking the US market.

Although the band's management are still working on the contract with record company bosses, the band - which consists of members Dappy, Tulisa Contostavlos and Fazer - have started house hunting in the city.

A source told the Sun newspaper: "It's what they have always wanted, they can't believe it's finally happening.

"The meeting with Def Jam went really well and they told label boss LA Reid they were prepared to give up their lives in London and move to the US to make it work."

The band have previously shown their enthusiasm for a move to the US.

Tulisa said: "They say, 'Oh the Americans won't get it', but how do they know if they haven't heard it yet? It's about labels taking the risk and we think they'll love us over there."

Dappy - who is Tulisa's cousin - reckons a collaboration with a US artist may establish them in the country.

He said: "All I know is we can go there with an acoustic guitar and we'll make someone want to sign us. It's as simple as that. Maybe we'll sort out a collaboration or something."

Tulisa Contostavlos thinks Americans ''will love'' N-Dubz which is why the band are heading to America with the hope of getting signed by a record producer.

(BANG) -

Tulisa Contostavlos thinks Americans "will love" N-Dubz.

The 21-year-old singer - who revealed the London-based hip-hop trio have meetings set up with a number of record producers in the US - said she is confident the band will be just as popular in America as they are in the UK.

The 'Playing With Fire' star said: "Well, we're going for a meeting with Def Jam to see if they'll sign us, but that's the only plan we have right now. I think they might quite like it. They say, 'Oh the Americans won't get it', but how do they know if they haven't heard it yet? It's about labels taking the risk and we think they'll love us over there."

Bandmate and cousin Dappy said he was hoping a collaboration with a US artist might help them break the charts over there.

He told Digital Spy: "All I know is we can go there with an acoustic guitar and we'll make someone want to sign us. It's as simple as that. Maybe we'll sort out a collaboration out there or something. We'll show off our dynamic as a three."

N-Dubz star Tulisa Contostavlos has claimed she gets irritated about the success of reality TV music stars.

(BANG) -

N-Dubz singer Tulisa Contostavlos gets annoyed by the success of reality TV music stars.

The 'I Need You' singer has admitted she finds it "frustrating" when contestants on shows such as Britain's 'The X Factor' and 'American Idol' have their success handed to them on a plate.

She said: "It's annoying watching them just come up there and become worldwide acts selling millions of records after just standing in a queue for an hour. It happens overnight to them.

"It's very frustrating for all the other acts and artists but, at the end of the day, it is what it is."

Because of this, Tulisa is proud the band - also consisting of band members Dappy and Fazer - have succeeded even when former 'X Factor' contestants have dominated the charts.

The 21-year-old singer told RTE Entertainment website: "It's annoying but because I'm selling records, without the power of 'The X Factor', that's all that matters.

"And half of those acts, if they came out, off their own bat and not on 'X Factor', wouldn't sell ten records so then you've just got to remind yourself of that."