Ms. Dynamite
Niomi Arleen McLean-Daley (born 26 April 1981), known professionally as Ms. Dynamite, is a British singer and rapper. She is the recipient of the Mercury Music Prize, two Brit Awards and three MOBO Awards.
Also recorded as Niomi Arleen MacLean-Daley · Miss Dynamite
Ms. Dynamite

Pedro Kwezi · Ms Dynamite Uploaded by ShinePhantom · CC BY 2.0
- Born
- 1981. · Archway district.
- Nationality
- United Kingdom.
- Occupation
- singer-songwriter, singer, rapper and musician.
- Fields
- music composing.
- Education
- Acland Burghley School.
- Honours
- Mercury Prize and Member of the Order of the British Empire.
- Languages
- English.
VALÉORINE Encyclopedia
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Documentary summary
Niomi Arleen McLean-Daley (born 26 April 1981), known professionally as Ms. Dynamite, is a British singer and rapper. She is the recipient of the Mercury Music Prize, two Brit Awards and three MOBO Awards.
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Note VALÉORINE
Ms. Dynamite (born 1981) is a musician, rapper and singer, among other activities, of British nationality. The musician was born in Archway district.
Ms. Dynamite was educated at Acland Burghley School. Activity centred on music composing.
The work spans 2-step garage, contemporary R&B and grime, among others. Languages used include English. Honours include Member of the Order of the British Empire and Mercury Prize.
Composed from admitted, traceable facts · 27 September 2026
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Authority files
gnd · 135310903 · wikidata · Q440834 · wikipedia · Ms. Dynamite
In this article
Early years
Early years
Dynamite studied at Acland Burghley School. The recorded working language is English. The field of work recorded is music composing. Subjects and genres recorded for the work are contemporary R&B, grime, UK garage and hip-hop. Distinctions recorded are Mercury Prize and Member of the Order of the British Empire.
Niomi Arleen McLean-Daley was born in Crawley, West Sussex, and raised in Kentish Town, North London, to a Jamaican father and a Scottish mother. She has eleven younger siblings, one of which is the rapper Akala.
2001–2004: A Little Deeper
2001–2004: A Little Deeper
Ms. Dynamite (originally Lady Dynamite) was first known for her vocals on the UK garage underground track "Booo!", which was regularly played on London pirate radio stations and was later released as a single. While working at the radio station RAW FM, Ms. Dynamite was discovered by Richard Forbes ("DJ Sticky") at a West End club. Interest grew from all major British labels and eventually she was signed via her management Bigga Beats to Polydor Records, where she met producer Salaam Remi, who cultivated her talent. She released her debut album, A Little Deeper, in 2002, which featured hit songs "It Takes More" and "Dy-Na-Mi-Tee". In 2003, the album was released in the United States to critical acclaim. In 2002, Ms. Dynamite won the prestigious Mercury Music Prize, for A Little Deeper. She donated the £20,000 prize to the NSPCC. On 8 March 2003, Ms. Dynamite was the musical guest on Saturday Night Live, hosted by Queen Latifah. Also in 2003, Ms. Dynamite signed a deal to promote Pepsi, reported to be worth £1m She performed at the closing ceremony of the 2002 Commonwealth Games at the City of Manchester Stadium. On 2 July 2005, she performed at the Live 8 concert in Hyde Park, London. Among the songs performed was "Redemption Song" written by Bob Marley, which she performed alongside her brother, Akala.
2005–2006: Judgement Days
2005–2006: Judgement Days
On 11 September 2005, she returned to the limelight (having taken time off to have her son, Shavaar) with a new album titled Judgement Days. Featuring more social commentary, in songs such as the first double A-side single, "Judgement Day"/"Father" and the Tony Blair critique, "Mr Prime Minister," reviews of the album were not as favourable as those of her debut. However, "Judgement Day" reached No. 25 in the UK Singles Chart. In 2006, she was convicted of assaulting a police officer and was sentenced to 60 hours community service.
2007–present: Hiatus and career wind-down
2007–present: Hiatus and career wind-down
After a break from music, Ms. Dynamite guest-hosted BBC Radio 1Xtra, and said she would be releasing a third album, Democracy, in 2009, with the first single from the new album being "Bad Gyal". However, this was deferred as she concentrated on other projects and motherhood. Meanwhile, she appeared on Hell's Kitchen on ITV1 in 2009, finishing fourth, and later as an expert adviser on Goldie's Band: By Royal Appointment on BBC Two. Since then, she has appeared on several collaborations, notably Katy B's second single, "Lights On", which peaked at number 4 in the UK Singles Chart in 2010, and the Magnetic Man track "Fire", which appeared on their debut album. A single, "Neva Soft" (produced by Labrinth), was released in 2011, although a promised associated album did not appear. Since then she has been the featured vocalist on the DJ Fresh Versus Jay Fray track "Dibby Dibby Sound" (February 2013) and a David Guetta and Showtek song for the former's 2014 album Listen, "No Money No Love" along with Elliphant. In 2020 Ms. Dynamite appeared on a CLIPZ (Redlight), single "Again" which also featured Ms Banks and JayKae.
Personal life
Personal life
Ms. Dynamite became engaged to Dwayne Seaforth, who was previously her bodyguard. She gave birth to their son, Shavaar, in 2003. The couple separated two years later.
Soundtracks
Soundtracks
"Dy-Na-Mi-Tee" (FIFA 2003 soundtrack) "Dy-Na-Mi-Te" (Ali G Indahouse soundtrack) "Dy-Na-Mi-Te" (My Scene Barbie Mix) "Krazy Krush" (Misfits Channel 4 soundtrack)
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 1 entries
2011
UK Black Pride: "We are family!" 20th August 2011 with headline act Ms Dynamite: Torrington Square, Birkbeck College, University of London: advance tickets: £10..., dated 2011, held by Wellcome Collection.
Discography
Studio albums A Little Deeper (2002) Judgement Days (2005) Mixtapes A Little Darker (with Akala) (2006)
Primary material
Documents and archives
reference work
- “Ms. Dynamite”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q440834: Ms. Dynamite
Reputable secondary · Wikidata
authority file
- Gemeinsame Normdatei 135310903, Ms. Dynamite.
Unverified · Deutsche Nationalbibliothek
Awards and nominations
Ms. Dynamite was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2018 Birthday Honours for services to music.
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Robinson, Safiya. international women's day 2022 - an interview with ms dynamite. sisterwomanvegan. 8 March 2022.
- 2.Duerden, Nick. Interview: Ms Dynamite talks therapy, self-help, motherhood, and coming back after eight years away from the spotlight. The Independent. 18 October 2013.
- 3.Mossman, Kate. Akala: Dynamite by any other name…. 1 June 2013.
- 4.Brian Rose, "Fight the Power — Akala and the Power of the Word" , London Real Academy, 20 October 2015.
- 5.Ms Dynamite (Booo!) | Raw FM 90.0: UK Garage 1999 | DJs Juvenile B2B Whiz Kid, MCs Peck, Flex & More. 19 September 2019.
- 6.Mercury Prize official site. Nationwidemercurys.com.
- 7.SNL SEASON 28, EPISODE 14. NBC .com.
- 8.BBC News: Ms Dynamite in '£1m' Pepsi deal. News.bbc.co.uk. 8 April 2003.
- 9.YouTube. Ms Dynamite – It Takes More at the Commonwealth Games Closing Ceremony.MPG. 6 October 2011 cbignore.
- 10.YouTube. Live 8 2005 / Ms. Dynamite (ft.Akala)- Redemption Song. 10 December 2010.
- 11.Roberts, David. British Hit Singles & Albums. Guinness World Records Limited. 370. 2006. 1-904994-10-5.
- 12.Hall, Tim. Ms Dynamite spared a prison sentence. The Telegraph.
- 13.Allen: 'Ms. Dynamite return is massive'. Digital Spy. 22 January 2009.
- 14.Categories. ITV Player.
- 15.BBC Two – Goldie's Band: By Royal Appointment, Episode 1. BBC.
- 16.Ms Dynamite interview: "I don't want to be put in a box" – Music Interview. Digital Spy. 22 September 2011.
- 17.Fox, Killian. Ms Dynamite's back with a bang. The Observer. 21 May 2011.
- 18.Album Review: David Guetta's All-Star 'Listen' Makes a Beeline for the Pop Charts. Billboard.
- 19.'A Little Deeper': Ms. Dynamite's Award-Winning Debut. 10 June 2024.
- 20.Fox, Killian. Ms Dynamite's back with a bang. 21 May 2011.
- 21.Ms Dynamite awarded MBE for services to music. The Irish News. 8 June 2018.
- 22.MOBO Awards 2002. MOBO Awards 2002 – history.
- 23.100 Great Black Britons – Ms Dynamite. 100greatblackbritons.com.
- 24.Archive | the Ivors | the Ivors Academy | Champions of Music Creators.
References
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
authority file
Gemeinsame Normdatei 135310903, Ms. Dynamite.Deutsche Nationalbibliothek
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The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 14 August 2026.
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