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			{{Short description\|British rapper}}
	{{Cleanup\|date=June 2007}}
			{{About\|the rapper\|female sovereign topics\|Sovereign (disambiguation)}}
			{{Use dmy dates\|date=March 2022}}
	{{Infobox musical artist		{{Infobox musical artist
	\|~~Name~~ = Lady Sovereign		\| name = Lady Sovereign
	\|~~Img~~ = ~~Lady~~ ~~Sovereign~~ ~~live~~ @ ~~Reading~~ ~~Festival~~ ~~2006~~ - Oh .jpg		\| image = LadySOV2009.jpg
			\| caption = Lady Sovereign at ] 2009
	\|Background = solo_singer
			\| alt = A woman in a purple t-shirt and black skinny jeans with sunglasses and a baseball cap with a bobbed haircut, singing into a microphone
	\|Birth_name = Louise Amanda Harman
			\| birth_name = Louise Amanda Harman
	\|Alias =
			\| alias = {{hlist\|Lady Sovereign\|SOV\|Big Midget}}
	\|Born = {{birth date and age\|1985\|12\|19\|df=yes}}
			\| birth_date = {{birth year and age\|1985}}
	\|Origin = ], ], ] ]
			\| origin = ], London, England
	\|Years_active = 2003–present
			\| genre = {{Flatlist\|
	\|Label = Casual, Chocolate Industries, ]
			*]
	\|Associated_acts =
			*]
	\|URL =
			*]}}
			\| occupation = {{Flatlist\|
			*Rapper
			*songwriter}}
			\| years_active = 2001–2010
			\| label = {{Flatlist\|
			*Casual
			*]
			*]
			*]
			*Midget}}
	}}		}}

			'''Louise Amanda Harman''' (born 1985),<ref name="ind-grime" /> better known by the stage name '''Lady Sovereign''', is a British ], best known for the songs "]" and "]". She was signed to ] in 2005 by ].<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2006/11/03/with-jay-z-on-her-side-londons-lady-sovereign-is-back-for-more/\|title=With Jay-Z on her side, London’s Lady Sovereign is back for more\|first=Chicago\|last=Tribune\|date=3 November 2006}}</ref>
	'''Louise Amanda Harman''' (born 19 December 1985),<ref></ref> known as '''Lady Sovereign''', is an English ]<ref name="NewsComAU1">{{cite news\|title=Sovereign hits her gold mine \|url=http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/story/0,23663,21235541-5007184,00.html \|date=22 February 2007 \|publisher=News.com.au \|author=Catriona Mathewson}}</ref><ref name="Voice1">{{cite news\|publisher=The Voice \|title=Jasmine's Juice \|date=13 February 2007 \|author=Jasmine Dotiwala \|url=http://www.voice-online.co.uk/content.php?show=10867}}</ref>. Lady Sovereign is unique as the only white female artist in the primarily black British ].<ref>Frere-Jones, Sasha. "True Grime." ''New Yorker'', 21 March 2005. <http://www.newyorker.com/archive/2005/03/21/050321crmu_music></ref> As a white MC, her authenticity has been contested within the that scene, "even though she grew up in the same kind of public-housing project - Chalk Hill estate, now demolished - that many grime artists did."<ref>Frere-Jones, Sasha. "True Grime." ''New Yorker'', 21 March 2005. <http://www.newyorker.com/archive/2005/03/21/050321crmu_music></ref> She has been compared to both ] (namely her ''Sporty Spice'' persona), for their physical resemblance and similar athletic clothing, and to ], as "another lily-white rap sensation."<ref>Frere-Jones, Sasha. "True Grime." ''New Yorker'', 21 March 2005. <http://www.newyorker.com/archive/2005/03/21/050321crmu_music></ref><ref>Gitlin, Lauren. "Lady Sovereign Rules." ''Rolling Stone'' 1 December 2005. <http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/8901025/lady_sovereign_rules></ref> Lady Sovereign is notable for her adoption of a relatively masculine appearance and aggressive delivery, donning athletic gear and mocking the trappings of more traditional female sexuality, perhaps in order to better fit in with the male dominated Grime scene. This stands in sharp contrast to female artists in similar genres, such as ]’s <ref> ''Fact Magazine'' (UK). Original link http://www.factmagazine.co.uk/da/67961, archived on the Internet Archive 13 January 2008, accessed 27 September 2008. </ref> more traditionally feminine Zoe. <ref></ref>Her levels of success continue to rise domestically, and while she has not reached mainstream audiences abroad, she is becoming recognizable as a standout in the grime genre. ''New Yorker'' writer Sasha Frere-Jones describes her as "good: pithy, clever, and able to use her honking voice to humorous effect."<ref>Frere-Jones, Sasha. "True Grime." ''New Yorker'', 21 March 2005. <http://www.newyorker.com/archive/2005/03/21/050321crmu_music></ref> This can be seen in Lady Sovereign's track "Cha Ching (Cheque 1, 2 Remix)" and "Love Me or Hate Me".

	==Early life==		== Early life and family ==
			Harman grew up in ] in ], London.<ref name="askmen">{{cite journal \|url = http://www.askmen.com/celebs/women/singer_300/331_lady_sovereign.html \|title = Lady Sovereign Biography Music and News \|journal = Ask Men \|url-status = dead \|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160821022545/http://www.askmen.com/celebs/women/singer_300/331_lady_sovereign.html \|archive-date = 21 August 2016 \|df = dmy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite web \|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140313142900/http://www.mtv.com/artists/lady-sovereign/biography/ \|archive-date = 13 March 2014 \|url= http://www.mtv.com/artists/lady-sovereign/biography/ \|title=About Lady Sovereign \|work=MTV.com \|publisher=Viacom }}</ref> In 2010, she said "When I heard ]'s track 'Boooo!' in 2001 it inspired me. I hadn't heard a female MC before that. She's real. Her presence, her image, the way she does everything... she opened so many doors for us girls, MCs are real, they write their own stuff, they rap about what they know, the stuff around them."<ref name="ind-grime">{{Cite news
	Lady Sovereign was born Louise Amanda Harman to Lynette Parsons and Aden Harman. She was raised in northwest ]'s Chalkhill Estate, a public housing project. She was influenced by her mother's ] albums and began writing her own raps at the age of 14.
			\| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110213052945/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/partners-in-grime-570429.html
			\| archive-date = 13 February 2011
			\| last = Braddock
			\| first = Kevin
			\| title = Partners in Grime
			\| newspaper = ]
			\| publisher = ]
			\| date = 24 February 2004
			\| url = https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/partners-in-grime-570429.html
			\| access-date = 23 June 2010
			\| url-status = dead
			\| location=London}}</ref>

			Harman began uploading some of her songs and a picture to various music web sites when she was 15. She told '']'' in 2006 that comments initially ran along the lines of, "You're white. You're a girl. You're British. You're crap."<ref name=Newsweek>{{cite magazine\|magazine=Newsweek\|title=Homegirl From London\|date=30 October 2006\|author=Lorraine Ali\|url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2006/10/29/homegirl-from-london.html\|access-date=14 August 2011\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111011180133/http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2006/10/29/homegirl-from-london.html\|archive-date=11 October 2011\|url-status=live}}</ref>
	She began uploading some of her songs and a picture to various music Web sites. Around this time Harman adopted the Lady Sovereign moniker, a reference to the large ] she wore.<ref name="NewsComAU1"/> After dropping out of school she landed a job acting in an educational film about the life of an up-and-coming MC who also dropped out of Preston Manor High School at 16.

			Harman signed with Universal in 2004. She released a number of solo records and opened for ], ], ], ] and ].<ref name="askmen" />
	She convinced the film's producers that she could record a soundtrack for the film, the demos for which landed in the hands of ] ]. He partnered Sovereign with ], ], and ] for a male vs. female MC freestyle contest, titled "The Battle". It was released in 2003 on Casual Records. Every artist that was featured on "The Battle" has gone on to be signed by a record label.

			Her mother, Nicola, was diagnosed with a ] ] and died on 14 March 2010 (] in the UK).<ref>{{cite web \|url=https://www.twitter.com/ladysov/status/10463425529 \|title=Twitter / ladysov: Saddest day of my life, I \|publisher=Twitter.com \|date=14 March 2010 \|access-date=6 August 2014 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160909093109/https://twitter.com/ladysov/status/10463425529 \|archive-date=9 September 2016 \|url-status=live }}</ref>
	==Career==
	===Early singles and EPs===
	"The Battle" began a string of singles that would push Lady Sovereign into the spotlight. While "A Little Bit of Shhh!," "Random," "9 to 5," were selling well, free Internet-only freestyles like "Tango" and "Cheeky" were becoming just as popular. On 15 November 2005 Chocolate Industries released the ''Vertically Challenged'' EP, which collected most of her singles recorded to date.

			== Career ==
	Aside from her own records, 2005 saw Lady Sovereign appear as a guest or contributor on several projects. She began 2005 by appearing on the grime compilation ''Run the Road'', both as a solo artist and with ]. When ] released the single "Boys Will Be Boys", Lady Sovereign came back with a reply remix, featuring the music and chorus of the original, but with mostly her own vocals to the tune of "girls will be girls". In May 2006, she was featured on the Ordinary Boys single, "Nine2Five", a remixed version of her own "9 to 5", credited as "The Ordinary Boys vs Lady Sovereign." "Nine2Five" entered at #38 in the UK top 40 singles on downloads only, and jumped to #6 upon availability as a CD and 7" vinyl single during the week commencing 22 May 2006. This was her highest chart position to date.
			=== 2005–2006: Early singles and EPs ===
			"The Battle" began a string of singles that would push Lady Sovereign into the spotlight. While "A Little Bit of Shhh!", "9 to 5", and "]" were selling well, free Internet-only freestyles like "Tango" and "Cheeky" were becoming just as popular. On 15 November 2005, Chocolate Industries released the ''Vertically Challenged'' EP, which collected most of her singles recorded to date. In April 2006 she released her second EP, ''Blah Blah'' in the UK. She released yet another EP, but was limited for US radios; ''Size Don't Matter!'' ]
			Aside from her own records, 2005 saw Lady Sovereign appear as a guest or contributor on several projects. She began 2005 by appearing on the grime compilation ''Run the Road'', both as a solo artist and with ]. When ] released the single "Boys Will Be Boys", Lady Sovereign came back with a reply remix, featuring the music and chorus of the original, but with mostly her own vocals to the tune of "girls will be girls". In May 2006, she was featured on the Ordinary Boys single, "Nine2Five", a remixed version of her own "9 to 5", credited as "The Ordinary Boys vs Lady Sovereign." "Nine2Five" entered the UK top 40 singles at number 39 on downloads only, and jumped to number 6 upon availability as a CD and 7" vinyl single during the week commencing 22 May 2005. This is her highest chart position to date.{{Citation needed\|date=December 2023}}

	===~~Def~~ ~~Jam and~~ ''Public Warning''===		=== 2006–2009: ''Public Warning'' ===
			{{Main\|Public Warning}}
	Lady Sovereign capped off 2005 by meeting with the ] ] star and ] of the labels ] and ], ]. This marked her foray into the American music scene. With ] and ] seated next to him, Jay-Z asked for one on-the-spot ] from Sovereign before offering her a contract with ]. With the single "Hoodie", Lady Sovereign released her full-length debut, '']'', on Def Jam in 2006.<ref name="NewsComAU1" /> Lady Sovereign is the first non-American female to ever be signed to Def Jam.<ref name="Inde1">{{cite news\|url=http://enjoyment.independent.co.uk/music/reviews/article2259365.ece \|title= Lady Sovereign, Scala, London \|publisher=The Independent \|date=11 February 2007 \|author=Simon Price}}</ref><ref name="Voice1" />
			Lady Sovereign capped off 2005 by meeting with the American hip hop artist and ] of the labels ] and ], ]. This marked her foray into the American music scene. With ] and ] seated next to him, Jay-Z asked for one on-the-spot ] from Sovereign before offering her a contract with ]. With the single "Hoodie", Lady Sovereign released her full-length debut, '']'', on Def Jam in 2006.<ref name=NewsComAU1>{{cite news \|title=Sovereign hits her gold mine \|url=http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/story/0,23663,21235541-5007184,00.html \|date=22 February 2007 \|work=News.com.au \|author=Catriona Mathewson \|access-date=18 March 2007 \|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120524120319/http://www.news.com.au/sovereign-hits-her-gold-mine/story-e6frfn79-1111113004645 \|archive-date=24 May 2012 \|url-status=live }}</ref> Lady Sovereign is the first non-American female to ever be signed to Def Jam Record Label.<ref name=Voice1>{{cite news \|publisher=The Voice \|title=Jasmine's Juice \|date=13 February 2007 \|author=Jasmine Dotiwala \|author-link=Jasmine Dotiwala \|url=http://www.voice-online.co.uk/content.php?show=10867 \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927152118/http://www.voice-online.co.uk/content.php?show=10867 \|archive-date=27 September 2007 }}</ref><ref name=Inde1>{{cite news \|url=http://enjoyment.independent.co.uk/music/reviews/article2259365.ece \|title=Mika, Berkeley Square, London; Lady Sovereign, Scala, London \|newspaper=The Independent \|date=11 February 2007 \|first=Simon \|last=Price \|url-status=dead \|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090428151801/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/mika-berkeley-square-londonbr-lady-sovereign-scala-london-435970.html \| archive-date = 28 April 2009 }}</ref>

	On 31 October 2006, her debut album, '']'', was released, featuring "]," "]," "]" and single, "]," which was also released on the same day.<ref name="SovHomepage1">{{cite web\|url=http://www.ladysovereign.com \|title=Lady Sovereign: Official Site \|publisher=Def Jam}}</ref><ref>{{cite news\|url=http://uk.news.launch.yahoo.com/dyna/article.html?a=/060717/340/gh3ur.html&e=l_news_dm \|title=Lady Sovereign's Warning \|publisher=Yahoo! Launch \|date=17 July 2006}}</ref> The music video for the single features Lady Sovereign mocking stereotypical ideals of femininity by satirizing popular dress and mannerisms. Some of the lyrics include ''I'm fat, I need a diet./No, in fact I'm just ~~too~~ ~~light.~~/~~And~~ I ain't got the biggest breast-~~s-s~~,/but I write all the best disses.'' With the lyrics continuing in this satirical nature, Lady Sovereign continues to comment on and express her dissonance with female lifestyles in popular culture.<ref>"Love Me or Hate Me" ~~Video.~~ ~~Lady~~ ~~Sovereign.~~ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1sHAX2F4PE</ref>		On 31 October 2006, her debut album, ''Public Warning'', was released, featuring "]", "]", "]" and single, "]", which was also released on the same day.<ref name=SovHomepage1>{{cite web \|url=http://www.ladysovereign.com \|title=Lady Sovereign: Official Site \|publisher=Def Jam \|access-date=27 January 2009 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120314230025/http://islandrecords.co.uk/ \|archive-date=14 March 2012 \|url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news \|url=http://uk.news.launch.yahoo.com/dyna/article.html?a=/060717/340/gh3ur.html&e=l_news_dm \|title=Lady Sovereign's Warning \|publisher=Yahoo! Launch \|date=17 July 2006 \|access-date=1 February 2020 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927164945/http://uk.news.launch.yahoo.com/dyna/article.html?a=%2F060717%2F340%2Fgh3ur.html&e=l_news_dm \|archive-date=27 September 2011 \|url-status=live }}</ref> The music video for the single features Lady Sovereign mocking stereotypical ideals of femininity by satirizing popular dress and mannerisms. Some of the lyrics include ''I'm fat, I need a diet/No, in fact I'm just here lyin'/I ain't got the biggest breast-ises,/but I write all the best disses/I've got hairy armpits/But I don't walk around like this/I wear a big baggy t-shirt that hides that nasty shit.'' With the lyrics continuing in this satirical nature, Lady Sovereign continues to comment on and express her dissonance with female lifestyles in popular culture.<ref>{{cite web \|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1sHAX2F4PE \|title=Lady Sovereign Love Me Or Hate Me \|publisher=YouTube \|access-date=6 August 2014 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140523231129/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1sHAX2F4PE \|archive-date=23 May 2014 \|url-status=live }}</ref>
	She began an ] tour on 23 October 2006 and soon after appeared on ~~]'s~~ '']''. In addition to her own tour, she appeared as the opening act for various artists, including ] and ] on her 2007 ].		She began an American tour on 23 October 2006 and soon after appeared on '']''. In addition to her own tour, she appeared as the opening act for various artists, including The Streets and ] on her 2007 ].{{citation needed\|date=June 2023}}

	On 17 October 2006 "Love Me or Hate Me" became the first video by a British artist to reach #1 on the United States (and original) version of ]'s '']''.<ref name="NewsComAU1" /><ref name="Voice1" /> "Love Me Or Hate Me" was released in the UK on 29 January 2007,<ref>http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/chart/playlist.shtml ~~BBC~~ ~~Radio~~ 1 Playlist</ref> with the album following on 5 February 2007.<ref></ref>		On 17 October 2006 "Love Me or Hate Me" became the first video by a British artist to reach number 1 on the United States (and original) version of ]'s '']''.<ref name=NewsComAU1 /><ref name=Voice1 /> "Love Me or Hate Me" was released in the UK on 29 January 2007,<ref>{{cite web \| url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/chart/playlist.shtml \| title = Playlist \| publisher = BBC \| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070407113716/http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/chart/playlist.shtml \| archive-date=7 April 2007 }}</ref>{{failed verification\|date=May 2018}} with the album following on 5 February 2007.<ref>{{cite web \|url=http://www.hmv.co.uk/hmvweb/displayProductDetails.do?ctx=280;-1;-1;-1&sku=401163 \|title=Lady Sovereign – Public Warning \|publisher=HMV.com \|date=20 May 2018 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929105031/http://www.hmv.co.uk/hmvweb/displayProductDetails.do?ctx=280;-1;-1;-1&sku=401163 \|archive-date = 29 September 2007 \|access-date=6 August 2014}}</ref>

	Lady Sovereign has recorded a cover of ]' "]" for '']~~'''s new album, ''Music From The O.C.~~ Mix 6 "Covering Our Tracks"''~~.<ref~~ ~~name~~=~~"NewsComAU1"~~ />		Lady Sovereign has recorded a cover of the ]' "]" for ''Music from ] Mix 6 – Covering Our Tracks''{{citation needed\|date=June 2023}}

			=== 2009: ''Jigsaw'' ===
	Lady Sovereign's appearance on the American music scene is part of a greater trend of British grime venturing across the Atlantic, with the help of influential DJs and MCs in the United States<ref>Frere-Jones, Sasha. "True Grime." ''New Yorker'', 21 March 2005. <http://www.newyorker.com/archive/2005/03/21/050321crmu_music></ref>.
			{{Main\|Jigsaw (Lady Sovereign album)}}
			Lady Sovereign released a second album in spring 2009. She also went on tour.<ref>{{cite web \|url=https://www.myspace.com/ladysovereign \|title=Lady Sovereign \| Listen and Stream Free Music, Albums, New Releases, Photos, Videos \|publisher=Myspace.com \|access-date=6 August 2014 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140531110951/https://myspace.com/ladysovereign \|archive-date=31 May 2014 \|url-status=live }}</ref> After a final dispute with Island Records, it was revealed on her official website that she would release the album through her independent record label, Midget Records, and that it was fully written and some songs were already recorded. She also said the album was going to be released in the United States and United Kingdom on 7 April 2009. On Monday, 8 December 2008, Lady Sovereign restated that '']'' would be released on 6 April 2009. She also released a free single titled "I Got You Dancing", making it available on her MySpace and official website. During her "Jigsaw" tour she teamed up with DJ Annalyze as her tour DJ.<ref>{{Cite web \|url=http://www.papermag.com/lady-sovereign-commands-enamored-crowd-at-tribeca-grand-1425564387.html \|title=Lady Sovereign Commands Enamored Crowd at Tribeca Grand <!-- Bot generated title --> \|date=13 April 2009 \|access-date=25 May 2018 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180526043721/http://www.papermag.com/lady-sovereign-commands-enamored-crowd-at-tribeca-grand-1425564387.html \|archive-date=26 May 2018 \|url-status=live }}</ref>

			== Television and commercial appearances ==
	According to her MySpace bulletin a second album is due for release in Spring 2008. Plans for a tour are also mentioned.<ref></ref>
			Lady Sovereign has appeared on '']'' several times. She has appeared in a feature story on ] and in an educational movie called ''X-ED''.{{Citation needed\|date=December 2023}}

			In late 2006, "Love Me Or Hate Me" was played in a Verizon Wireless advertisement. It also appears on the soundtrack of the video game '']'', and became the theme song for the first season of reality TV show '']''. "9 to 5" also appeared on an episode of the aforementioned ''Bad Girls Club'', as well as on the soundtrack of the ]'s version of EA Sports' '']'' video game, on the '']'' soundtrack and features in the 2007 film ], "Random" appears on the ] soundtrack, and features on an episode of ], "I Got You Dancing" was featured in '']'', "Hoodie" was used for a '']'' ] commercial.
	===Role in the music industry===
	Although she is not the only ] female ], she is definitely the most well-known. The grime scene in the United Kingdom is very male-dominated, already making it much more difficult for a female to establish herself as an authentic artist. <ref></ref> There have been issues with Sovereign's authenticity because not only is she in the gender minority of the grime scene, but she is also the only white female MC. <ref></ref> Despite this, she is already hitting it big in the U.K., and is already becoming established with American and British ] producers and artists like ], ], ], ], and ] all wishing to work with her. <ref></ref> She has already been compared to hip-hop legend ].<ref></ref>

			Some of Lady Sovereign's such as "9 to 5" and "]" were also used on the BBC 1 show '']'' in 2009/10. Bizarre Creation's '']'' video game on the ] features the song "Blah Blah" by Lady Sovereign, EA's '']'' video game features Lady Sovereign's "Bang Bang" track, "So Human" appears in season 2 episode 1 of the television series ']', "Jigsaw" was featured in the second episode of the fifth season of MTV reality show '']'', called 'Everything Happens For A Reason'.
	==Television and commercial appearances==
	Lady Sovereign has appeared on '']'' several times. She has appeared in a feature story on the ] and in an educational movie called ''X-ED'' which can be viewed on ].

			On 23 October 2006, Sovereign made an appearance on American talk show the '']''. During her performance of "Love Me Or Hate Me" the lyrics "If you hate me, then fuck you" were changed to "if you hate me, then I hate you". Lady Sovereign served as the host and spokesperson for ] and Chocolate Industries' '']''. In January 2010, ] selected Lady Sovereign and her song "I Got You Dancing" for the featured artist section on their website, the song is also being used in their television commercials.{{Citation needed\|date=December 2023}}
	In late 2006, "Love Me or Hate Me" was played in a Verizon Wireless advertisement. It also appears on the '']'' soundtrack, and is also the theme music for the show, '']''. "9 to 5" also appears on '']'', as well as on the soundtrack of the ]'s version of ]' ] 2006 video game, on the '']'' soundtrack and features in the movie ]. Also "Random" appears on the ] soundtrack.

			On 22 January 2010, Sovereign was due to appear on '']'', a BBC political review show, to discuss the laws regarding self-defence for householders. Early in the programme, she was shown backstage waving to camera in anticipation of her appearance. However, when the segment began, presenter ] apologised to viewers and explained the rapper had "done a runner." Neil instead discussed the topic with regular contributors ] and ] and concluded by joking "Who needs Lady Sovereign? Who ''is'' Lady Sovereign?" Abbott laughed and responded "I don't know."<ref>{{cite news \|title=Lady Sovereign's brief appearance on This Week \|agency=] \|date=22 January 2010 \|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/this_week/8474312.stm \|access-date=22 January 2010 \|work=BBC News \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140512230047/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/this_week/8474312.stm \|archive-date=12 May 2014 \|url-status=live }}</ref> In an interview with '']'''s Rich Pelley on 30 January, Lady Sovereign said of the incident: "I had a panic attack! My hands went stiff and I started hyperventilating. I didn't want to do it hours before but I went anyway, then I just changed my mind at the last minute, I guess."<ref>{{cite news\|url= https://www.theguardian.com/music/2010/jan/30/lady-sovereign-big-brother\|title= One last thing ... Lady Sovereign\|newspaper= The Guardian\|first= Rich\|last= Pelley\|date= 30 January 2010\|access-date= 30 January 2010\|location= London\|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140513034429/http://www.theguardian.com/music/2010/jan/30/lady-sovereign-big-brother\|archive-date= 13 May 2014\|url-status= live}}</ref>
	"Hoodie" was used for the Mario Party Nintendo DS commercial.

			Lady Sovereign appeared on the British game show '']'''s eighth celebrity special. She made it to the second round by default but failed to advance any further. She was the third evicted housemate from the seventh series of '']''. She was nominated for both the first and second evictions. Having survived the first double eviction, she was evicted the second time around with 69.5% of the vote.<ref>{{cite web \|url=http://www.channel4.com/programmes/celebrity-big-brother/4od#3021674 \|title=Big Brother \|publisher=Channel 4 \|access-date=6 August 2014 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150530115420/http://www.channel4.com/programmes/celebrity-big-brother/4od#3021674 \|archive-date=30 May 2015 \|url-status=live }}</ref>
	On 23 October 2006, Sovereign made an appearance on American talk show ]. The lyrics "If you hate me, then fuck you" were changed to "if you hate me, then I hate you" for the show.

			== Controversies ==
	Lady Sovereign served as the host and spokesperson for ] and ]' '']''.
			In September 2009, while in ], Australia for the Parklife Festival, Lady Sovereign was arrested for ] and ] after spitting on a nightclub bouncer.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/09/26/2697313.htm\|title=Lady Sovereign spits on Nightclub bouncer\|publisher=ABC News\|date=26 September 2009\|access-date=26 September 2009\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090927090523/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/09/26/2697313.htm\|archive-date=27 September 2009\|url-status=live}}</ref> She had only been in the country seven hours before the assault occurred. She was ordered to pay a fine of $400 ], and $200 AUD in compensation to the bouncer.<ref>{{cite news \| date = 26 September 2009 \| url = http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/entertainment/6103280/british-rapper-spat-on-brisbane-bouncer/ \| title = British rapper spat on Brisbane bouncer \| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090927164205/http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/entertainment/6103280/british-rapper-spat-on-brisbane-bouncer/ \|archive-date=27 September 2009 \| first = Penny \| last = Brand \| work = Yahoo! 7 News \| agency = ] }}</ref>

			Lady Sovereign was involved in a feud {{clarify\|date=January 2024}} with fellow British rapper ].<ref>{{cite web \| url = https://pitchfork.com/features/article/5991-lady-sovereign/ \| title = Lady Sovereign \| first = Nick \| last = Sylvester \| date = 15 March 2005 \| work = ] \| publisher = ] \| access-date = 19 May 2018 \| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181209212702/https://pitchfork.com/features/article/5991-lady-sovereign/ \| archive-date = 9 December 2018 \| url-status = live }}</ref>
	==Controversies==
	===Studio B breakdown===
	While performing at Studio B in ], ], Lady Sovereign told the crowd she was experiencing money problems and battling depression before exiting the stage<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.brooklynvegan.com/archives/2007/05/lady_sovereign_12.html\|title= Lady Sovereign freaks out @ Studio B (video)\|publisher=Brooklynvegan\|date=2007-05-22}}</ref>. However, in a later performance at Avalon in ], she completed her set without incident.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://laist.com/2007/06/26/_while_we_were.php\|title=Lady Sov at Avalon\|publisher=LAist\|date=2007-06-26\|accessdate=2007-06-30}}</ref> She later said that it was simply a bad day.

			== Personal life ==
	==="Random Night" and aftermath===
			In a 2010 interview with '']'' magazine, Lady Sovereign said she came out as a lesbian<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.advocate.com/Arts_and_Entertainment/Entertainment_News/British_Rapper_Lady_Sovereign_Comes_Out/\|title=British Rapper Lady Sovereign Comes Out\|last=Bolcer\|first=Julie\|date=13 May 2010\|publisher=Advocate.com\|access-date=19 May 2010\|url-status=dead\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606050503/http://www.advocate.com/Arts_and_Entertainment/Entertainment_News/British_Rapper_Lady_Sovereign_Comes_Out/\|archive-date=6 June 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web \|first=Theo \|last=Bark \|url=http://theboombox.com/lady-sovereign-comes-out-in-lesbian-magazine/ \|title=Lady Sovereign Comes Out in Lesbian Magazine \|publisher=The Boombox \|date=17 May 2010 \|access-date=30 January 2011 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130710082844/http://theboombox.com/lady-sovereign-comes-out-in-lesbian-magazine/ \|archive-date=10 July 2013 \|url-status=live }}</ref> in the house during '']'' but that her declaration did not end up in the broadcast show.<ref>{{cite interview \| url = http://www.divamag.co.uk/category/arts-entertainment/lady-sovereign-britain%27s-out-lesbian-rapper.aspx \| title = Lady Sovereign, Britain's out lesbian rapper \| author = Lady Sovereign \| interviewer = Jane Czyzselska \| work = ] \| date = June 2010 \| quote = I did, they just didn't show it and they showed a tapping on the surface. I said to Nicola or Katia: 'I'm gay, I like girls', but they didn't show it. \| access-date = 20 July 2013 \| publisher = Millivres Prowler Limited \| location = London \| url-status = dead \| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140214134223/http://www.divamag.co.uk/category/arts-entertainment/lady-sovereign-britain's-out-lesbian-rapper.aspx \| archive-date = 14 February 2014 \| df = dmy-all }}</ref>
	In 2006, a San Francisco based fan named Zach Slow made an online plea to raise $10,000 for a "random" night with Lady Sovereign. The effort garnered wide media coverage, and was successful in both raising the required funds and securing the agreement of the artist to attend.<ref></ref>The aftermath was acrimonious, with both sides exchanging insults in the ''San Francisco Chronicle''
	<ref></ref> <ref></ref>.

			Lady Sovereign has not released any music since 2009. She previously spoke about medical issues halting her career.<ref>{{Cite web \|url=http://metro.co.uk/2016/06/26/whatever-happened-to-pint-sized-rapper-and-former-cbb-contestant-lady-sovereign-5967758/ \|title=Whatever happened to pint-sized rapper and former CBB contestant Lady Sovereign? <!-- Bot generated title --> \|date=26 June 2016 \|access-date=25 May 2018 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180526112852/https://metro.co.uk/2016/06/26/whatever-happened-to-pint-sized-rapper-and-former-cbb-contestant-lady-sovereign-5967758/ \|archive-date=26 May 2018 \|url-status=live }}</ref> In 2022, Lady Sovereign confirmed that she had been diagnosed with the rare disorder ].<ref>{{cite web \|last1=Hardiman \|first1=Jess \|title=Lady Sovereign diagnosed with rare disorder after ten years of symptoms \|url=https://www.ladbible.com/entertainment/lady-sovereign-rare-disorder-536211-20221223 \|website=Lad Bible \|date=23 December 2022 \|access-date=17 March 2023}}</ref>
	A local MC known as "Jelly Donut", originally involved with the "random night" endeavour, attended a 7 January 2007 show in San Francisco dressed in a donut costume and attempted to disrupt the performance. Lady Sovereign threw a drink on him, and spat at him. Security escorted Jelly Donut out of the concert.<ref></ref>

	==Discography==		== Discography ==
			{{Infobox artist discography
	===Albums===
			\|Artist = Lady Sovereign
	{\|class="wikitable"
			\|Image = Lady Sovereign Coachella.jpg
	!align="left" valign="top"\|Year
			\|Caption =
	!align="left" valign="top"\|Album
			\|Alt = Lady Sovereign performing at Coachella in 2006.
	!align="center" valign="top" width="40"\|]
			\|Studio = 2
	!align="center" valign="top" width="40"\|]
			\|EP = 2
	!align="center" valign="top" width="40"\|]
			\|Compilation =
			\|Music videos = 12
			\|Singles = 7
			}}

			=== Studio albums ===
			{\| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
			\|+ List of studio albums, with selected details and chart positions
			! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:12em;"\| Title
			! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:18em;"\| Album details
			! scope="col" colspan="4"\| Peak chart positions
			\|-
			! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"\| ]<br /><ref name="UK">{{cite web \|url=http://www.zobbel.de/cluk/CLUK_L.HTM \|title=Chart Log UK: DJ Steve L. - LZ Love \|website=Zobbel.de \|access-date=6 August 2014 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110823210218/http://www.zobbel.de/cluk/CLUK_L.HTM \|archive-date=23 August 2011 \|url-status=live }}</ref>

			! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"\| ]<br /><ref name="AUS2">{{cite web \|url=http://www.aria.com.au/issue874.pdf \|archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20061219130000/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20061220-0000/issue874.pdf \|url-status=dead \|archive-date=19 December 2006 \|title=The ARIA Report: Issue 874 \|publisher=webarchive.nla.gov.au \|date=23 August 2006 \|access-date=6 August 2014 }}{{cbignore\|bot=medic}}</ref>

			! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"\| ]<br /><ref name="AUS3">{{cite web \|url=http://www.aria.com.au/issue873.pdf \|archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20061219130000/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20061220-0000/issue873.pdf \|url-status=dead \|archive-date=19 December 2006 \|title=The ARIA Report: Issue 873 \|publisher=webarchive.nla.gov.au \|date=23 August 2006 \|access-date=6 August 2014 }}{{cbignore\|bot=medic}}</ref><ref name="AUS4">{{cite web \|url=http://www.aria.com.au/issue1000.pdf \|archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20090519140000/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20090520-0000/issue1000.pdf \|url-status=dead \|archive-date=19 May 2009 \|title=The ARIA Report: Issue 1000 \|publisher=webarchive.nla.gov.au \|date=23 August 2006 \|access-date=6 August 2014 }}{{cbignore\|bot=medic}}</ref>

			! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"\| ]<br /><ref name="US">{{cite web\|author=David Jeffries \|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/lady-sovereign-p691765/charts-awards \|title=Lady Sovereign \| Awards \|website=AllMusic \|date=19 December 1985 \|access-date=6 August 2014}}</ref>
			\|-
			! scope="row"\| '']''
			\|
			* Released: 31 October 2006
			* Label: ], ]
			* Formats: ], ]
			\| 58 \|\| 97 \|\| 10 \|\| 48
			\|-
			! scope="row"\| '']''
			\|
			* Released: 6 April 2009
			* Label: Midget Records, ]
			* Formats: CD, digital download
			\| 121 \|\| — \|\| 11 \|\| —
	\|-		\|-
			\| colspan="14" style="font-size:90%"\| "—" denotes items which were not released in that country or failed to chart.
	\|align="left" valign="top"\|2006
	\|align="left" valign="top"\|'']''
	\|align="center" valign="top"\|80
	\|align="center" valign="top"\|48
	\|}		\|}

	===EPs===		=== EPs ===
	{\|class="wikitable"		{\| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
			\|+ List of EPs, with selected details
	!align="left" valign="top"\|Year
	!~~align="left"~~ ~~valign~~="~~top"~~ width~~="210~~"\|Title		! style="width:12em;"\| Title
			! style="width:16em;"\| EP details
	\|-		\|-
			! scope="row"\| '']''
	\|align="left" rowspan="2"\|2006
			\|
	\|align="left" valign="top"\|'']''
			* Released: 15 November 2005
			* Format: CD, digital download
			* Label: Chocolate Industries
	\|-		\|-
	~~\|align="left"~~ ~~valign~~="~~top~~"\|'']''		! scope="row"\| '']''
			\|
			* Released: 17 April 2006
			* Format: CD, digital download
			* Label: Chocolate Industries
			\|}

			=== Mixtapes ===
			{\| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
			\|+ List of mixtapes, with selected details
			! style="width:12em;"\| Title
			! style="width:16em;"\| Mixtape details
			\|-
			! scope="row"\| '']''
			\|
			* Released: June 2006
			* Format: digital download
			* Label: Chocolate Industries
	\|-		\|-
			! scope="row"\| ''Jig-Raw!''
	\|align="left" valign="top"\|2007
			\|
	\|align="left" valign="top"\|'']''
			* Released: 2009
			* Format: digital download
			* Label: Independent
	\|}		\|}

	===Singles===		=== Singles ===
			{\| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
	====Full singles====
			\|+ List of singles, with selected chart positions
	{\|class="wikitable"
	!~~align~~="~~center~~"~~width~~="~~214~~" ~~rowspan~~="2"\|~~Year~~		! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:12em;"\| Title
	!~~align~~="~~center"width="320~~" rowspan="2"\|~~Title~~		! scope="col" rowspan="2"\| Year
	!~~align~~="~~center"width="107~~" colspan="4"\|~~Chart~~ positions		! scope="col" colspan="10"\| Peak chart positions
	!~~align~~="~~center"width="320~~" rowspan="2"\|Album		! scope="col" rowspan="2"\| Album
	\|-		\|-
	! ~~width~~="40"\|~~<small>~~]</~~small~~>		! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"\| ]<br /><ref name="UK" />

	! width="40"\|<small>]</small>
			! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"\| ]<br /><ref name="UK" />
	! width="40"\|<small>]</small>

	! width="40"\|<small>]</small>
			! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"\| ]<br /><ref name="AUS">{{cite web \|author=Steffen Hung \|url=http://australian-charts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Lady+Sovereign \|title=Discography Lady Sovereign \|publisher=australian-charts.com \|access-date=6 August 2014 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140810130912/http://australian-charts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Lady+Sovereign \|archive-date=10 August 2014 \|url-status=live }}</ref>

			! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"\| ]<br /><ref name="AUS5">{{cite web \|url=http://www.aria.com.au/issue882.pdf \|archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20070219130000/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20070220-0000/issue882.pdf \|url-status=dead \|archive-date=19 February 2007 \|title=The ARIA Report: Issue 882 \|publisher=webarchive.nla.gov.au \|date=23 August 2006 \|access-date=6 August 2014 }}{{cbignore\|bot=medic}}</ref>

			! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"\| ]<br /><ref name="DEN">{{cite web \|url=http://www.chartbase.dk/soegning.php?soeg=lady+sovereign&hitliste=1&artikler=1 \|title=ChartBase \|publisher=Chartbase.dk \|access-date=6 August 2014 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923202414/http://www.chartbase.dk/soegning.php?soeg=lady+sovereign&hitliste=1&artikler=1 \|archive-date=23 September 2015 \|url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="DEN2">{{cite web \|url=http://www.hitlisterne.dk/default.asp?w=6&y=2007&list=t40 \|title=Hitlisten.NU – Danmarks officielle hitlister \|publisher=Hitlisterne.dk \|access-date=6 August 2014 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131230234256/http://www.hitlisterne.dk/default.asp?w=6&y=2007&list=t40 \|archive-date=30 December 2013 \|url-status=live }}</ref>

			! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"\| ]<br /><ref name="FIN">{{cite web \|author=Steffen Hung \|url=http://finnishcharts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Lady+Sovereign \|title=Discography Lady Sovereign \|publisher=finnishcharts.com \|access-date=6 August 2014 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160111074015/http://finnishcharts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Lady+Sovereign \|archive-date=11 January 2016 \|url-status=live }}</ref>

			! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"\| ]<br /><ref name="GER">{{cite web \|url=http://www.musicline.de/de/chartverfolgung_summary/artist/Lady+Sovereign/single \|title=Die ganze Musik im Internet: Charts, Neuerscheinungen, Tickets, Genres, Genresuche, Genrelexikon, Künstler-Suche, Musik-Suche, Track-Suche, Ticket-Suche \|publisher=musicline.de \|date=13 May 2007 \|access-date=6 August 2014 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140810095610/http://www.musicline.de/de/chartverfolgung_summary/artist/Lady+Sovereign/single \|archive-date=10 August 2014 \|url-status=dead }}</ref>

			! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"\| ]<br /><ref>{{cite web\|url=http://irish-charts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Lady+Sovereign\|title=Discography Lady Sovereign\|website=irish-charts.com\|access-date=17 May 2023}}</ref>

			! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"\| ]<br /><ref name="US" />

			! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"\| ]<br /><ref name="US" />
	\|-		\|-
			! scope="row"\| "]"
	\|rowspan="3"\|2005
			\| rowspan="3"\| 2005
	\|"]"
			\| 73 \|\| — \|\| — \|\| — \|\| — \|\| — \|\| — \|\| — \|\| — \|\| —
	\|align="center"\|73
			\| rowspan="3"\| '']''
	\|align="center"\|—
	\|align="center"\|—
	\|align="center"\|—
	\|''Vertically Challenged'' EP<br>''Public Warning''
	\|-		\|-
	\|"]"		! scope="row"\| "]"
			\| 33 \|\| 141 \|\| — \|\| — \|\| — \|\| — \|\| — \|\| 44 \|\| — \|\| —
	\|align="center" valign="top"\|33
	\|align="center" valign="top"\|—
	\|align="center" valign="top"\|—
	\|align="center" valign="top"\|—
	\|rowspan="2"\|''Public Warning''
	\|-		\|-
	\|"]"		! scope="row"\| "]"
			\| 44 \|\| — \|\| — \|\| — \|\| — \|\| — \|\| — \|\| 46 \|\| — \|\| —
	\|align="center" valign="top"\|44
	\|align="center" valign="top"\|—
	\|align="center" valign="top"\|—
	\|align="center" valign="top"\|—
	\|-		\|-
			! scope="row"\| "]"<br /><small>(vs. ])</small>
	\|rowspan="2"\|2006
			\| rowspan="2"\| 2006
	\|"]" <small>(vs. ])</small>
			\| 6 \|\| 12 \|\| — \|\| — \|\| — \|\| — \|\| — \|\| 25 \|\| — \|\| —
	\|align="center" valign="top"\|6
			\| '']''
	\|align="center" valign="top"\|—
	\|align="center" valign="top"\|—
	\|align="center" valign="top"\|25
	\|—
	\|-		\|-
	\|"]"		! scope="row"\| "]"
			\| 26 \|\| — \|\| 48 \|\| 9 \|\| 17 \|\| 10 \|\| 65 \|\| — \|\| 45 \|\| 1
	\|align="center" valign="top"\|26
			\| rowspan="2"\| ''Public Warning''
	\|align="center" valign="top"\|45
	\|align="center" valign="top"\|48
	\|align="center" valign="top"\|—
	\|rowspan="2"\|''Public Warning''
	\|-		\|-
			! scope="row"\| "]"
	\|2007
			\| 2007
	\|"]"
			\| 101 \|\| — \|\| — \|\| — \|\| — \|\| — \|\| — \|\| — \|\| — \|\| —
	\|align="center" valign="top"\|88
			\|-
	\|align="center" valign="top"\|—
			! scope="row"\| "]"
	\|align="center" valign="top"\|—
			\| rowspan="2"\| 2009
	\|align="center" valign="top"\|—
			\| 38 \|\| — \|\| 36 \|\| — \|\| 26 \|\| — \|\| — \|\| — \|\| — \|\| —
			\| rowspan="2"\| '']''
			\|-
			! scope="row"\| "I Got You Dancing"
			\| — \|\| — \|\| — \|\| — \|\| 38 \|\| — \|\| — \|\| — \|\| — \|\| —
			\|-
			\| colspan="14" style="font-size:90%"\| "—" denotes items which were not released in that country or failed to chart.
	\|}		\|}

	===~~=Promo~~ singles====		=== Promotional singles ===
	{\|class="wikitable"		{\| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
			\|+ List of promotional singles
	!Year
			! scope="col" style="width:12em;"\| Title
	!Title
			! scope="col" \| Year
			! scope="col" \| Album
	\|-		\|-
			! scope="row"\| "Ch Ching (Cheque 1 2)"
	\|rowspan="2"\|2004
			\| 2004
	\|"The Battle" (Featuring Frost P, Shystie & Zuz Rock)
			\| '']''
	\|-		\|-
			! scope="row"\| "A Little Bit of Shhh"
	\|"Ch Ching (Cheque 1 2)"
			\| 2005
			\| rowspan="2"\| '']''
	\|-		\|-
			! scope="row"\| "Blah Blah"
	\|2005
			\| 2006
	\|"A Little Bit of Shhh"
	\|-
	\|2006
	\|"Blah Blah" (featuring Kalie Burgess)
	\|}		\|}

	==~~Notes~~==		== References ==
			{{Reflist}}
	* by Brian Garrity, ''Reuters UK'', 21 October 2006, retrieved 22 October 2006.

			== External links ==
	==References==
			{{Commons category}}
	{{Reflist\|2}}
			* {{Twitter\|ladysov}}
			* {{IMDb name\|2245374}}
			* on ]
			* {{Instagram\|itsladysov}}

			{{Lady Sovereign}}
	==External links==
			{{Authority control}}
	{{Commonscat\|Lady Sovereign}}
	*
	*
	*
	* {{MySpace\|ladysovereign}}
	* {{Discogs artist\|artist=Lady+Sovereign}}
	* {{Musicbrainz artist\|id=5fc21e44-d663-495a-b16a-7cc641af5deb\|name=Lady Sovereign}}
	* {{imdb name\|id=2245374\|name=Lady Sovereign}}

			{{DEFAULTSORT:Sovereign, Lady}}
	]		]
	]
	]
	]		]
	]		]
	]		]
			]
			]
			]
			]
			]
			]
			]
			]
	]		]
	]		]
			]

			]
	]
			]
	]
			]
	]
			]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]

Latest revision as of 18:55, 10 December 2024

British rapper This article is about the rapper. For female sovereign topics, see Sovereign (disambiguation).

Lady Sovereign
Lady Sovereign at Parklife 2009
Background information
Birth name	Louise Amanda Harman
Also known as	Lady Sovereign SOV Big Midget
Born	1985 (age 38–39)
Origin	Wembley, London, England
Genres	Hip hop UK garage grime
Occupations	Rapper songwriter
Years active	2001–2010
Labels	Casual Chocolate Def Jam EMI Midget

Musical artist

Louise Amanda Harman (born 1985), better known by the stage name Lady Sovereign, is a British rapper, best known for the songs "9 to 5" and "Love Me or Hate Me". She was signed to Def Jam in 2005 by Jay-Z.

Early life and family

Harman grew up in Chalkhill Estate in Wembley Park, London. In 2010, she said "When I heard Ms. Dynamite's track 'Boooo!' in 2001 it inspired me. I hadn't heard a female MC before that. She's real. Her presence, her image, the way she does everything... she opened so many doors for us girls, MCs are real, they write their own stuff, they rap about what they know, the stuff around them."

Harman began uploading some of her songs and a picture to various music web sites when she was 15. She told Newsweek in 2006 that comments initially ran along the lines of, "You're white. You're a girl. You're British. You're crap."

Harman signed with Universal in 2004. She released a number of solo records and opened for Basement Jaxx, the Streets, Dizzee Rascal, D12 and Obie Trice.

Her mother, Nicola, was diagnosed with a terminal brain tumour and died on 14 March 2010 (Mothering Sunday in the UK).

Career

2005–2006: Early singles and EPs

"The Battle" began a string of singles that would push Lady Sovereign into the spotlight. While "A Little Bit of Shhh!", "9 to 5", and "Sad Arse Stripah" were selling well, free Internet-only freestyles like "Tango" and "Cheeky" were becoming just as popular. On 15 November 2005, Chocolate Industries released the Vertically Challenged EP, which collected most of her singles recorded to date. In April 2006 she released her second EP, Blah Blah in the UK. She released yet another EP, but was limited for US radios; Size Don't Matter!

Aside from her own records, 2005 saw Lady Sovereign appear as a guest or contributor on several projects. She began 2005 by appearing on the grime compilation Run the Road, both as a solo artist and with The Streets. When The Ordinary Boys released the single "Boys Will Be Boys", Lady Sovereign came back with a reply remix, featuring the music and chorus of the original, but with mostly her own vocals to the tune of "girls will be girls". In May 2006, she was featured on the Ordinary Boys single, "Nine2Five", a remixed version of her own "9 to 5", credited as "The Ordinary Boys vs Lady Sovereign." "Nine2Five" entered the UK top 40 singles at number 39 on downloads only, and jumped to number 6 upon availability as a CD and 7" vinyl single during the week commencing 22 May 2005. This is her highest chart position to date.

2006–2009: Public Warning

Main article: Public Warning

Lady Sovereign capped off 2005 by meeting with the American hip hop artist and CEO of the labels Def Jam Recordings and Roc-A-Fella Records, Jay-Z. This marked her foray into the American music scene. With Usher and L.A. Reid seated next to him, Jay-Z asked for one on-the-spot freestyle from Sovereign before offering her a contract with Def Jam. With the single "Hoodie", Lady Sovereign released her full-length debut, Public Warning, on Def Jam in 2006. Lady Sovereign is the first non-American female to ever be signed to Def Jam Record Label.

On 31 October 2006, her debut album, Public Warning, was released, featuring "Random", "9 to 5", "Hoodie" and single, "Love Me or Hate Me", which was also released on the same day. The music video for the single features Lady Sovereign mocking stereotypical ideals of femininity by satirizing popular dress and mannerisms. Some of the lyrics include I'm fat, I need a diet/No, in fact I'm just here lyin'/I ain't got the biggest breast-ises,/but I write all the best disses/I've got hairy armpits/But I don't walk around like this/I wear a big baggy t-shirt that hides that nasty shit. With the lyrics continuing in this satirical nature, Lady Sovereign continues to comment on and express her dissonance with female lifestyles in popular culture. She began an American tour on 23 October 2006 and soon after appeared on Late Show with David Letterman. In addition to her own tour, she appeared as the opening act for various artists, including The Streets and Gwen Stefani on her 2007 The Sweet Escape Tour.

On 17 October 2006 "Love Me or Hate Me" became the first video by a British artist to reach number 1 on the United States (and original) version of MTV's Total Request Live. "Love Me or Hate Me" was released in the UK on 29 January 2007, with the album following on 5 February 2007.

Lady Sovereign has recorded a cover of the Sex Pistols' "Pretty Vacant" for Music from The O.C. Mix 6 – Covering Our Tracks

2009: Jigsaw

Main article: Jigsaw (Lady Sovereign album)

Lady Sovereign released a second album in spring 2009. She also went on tour. After a final dispute with Island Records, it was revealed on her official website that she would release the album through her independent record label, Midget Records, and that it was fully written and some songs were already recorded. She also said the album was going to be released in the United States and United Kingdom on 7 April 2009. On Monday, 8 December 2008, Lady Sovereign restated that Jigsaw would be released on 6 April 2009. She also released a free single titled "I Got You Dancing", making it available on her MySpace and official website. During her "Jigsaw" tour she teamed up with DJ Annalyze as her tour DJ.

Television and commercial appearances

Lady Sovereign has appeared on Soccer AM several times. She has appeared in a feature story on Cartoon Network and in an educational movie called X-ED.

In late 2006, "Love Me Or Hate Me" was played in a Verizon Wireless advertisement. It also appears on the soundtrack of the video game Need for Speed: Carbon, and became the theme song for the first season of reality TV show Bad Girls Club. "9 to 5" also appeared on an episode of the aforementioned Bad Girls Club, as well as on the soundtrack of the Xbox 360's version of EA Sports' FIFA World Cup 2006 video game, on the Ugly Betty soundtrack and features in the 2007 film St Trinian's, "Random" appears on the Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition Remix soundtrack, and features on an episode of Malcolm in The Middle, "I Got You Dancing" was featured in Need for Speed: Nitro, "Hoodie" was used for a Mario Party Nintendo DS commercial.

Some of Lady Sovereign's such as "9 to 5" and "So Human" were also used on the BBC 1 show Waterloo Road in 2009/10. Bizarre Creation's Project Gotham Racing 4 video game on the Xbox 360 features the song "Blah Blah" by Lady Sovereign, EA's Fight Night Round 4 video game features Lady Sovereign's "Bang Bang" track, "So Human" appears in season 2 episode 1 of the television series '90210', "Jigsaw" was featured in the second episode of the fifth season of MTV reality show The Hills, called 'Everything Happens For A Reason'.

On 23 October 2006, Sovereign made an appearance on American talk show the Late Show with David Letterman. During her performance of "Love Me Or Hate Me" the lyrics "If you hate me, then fuck you" were changed to "if you hate me, then I hate you". Lady Sovereign served as the host and spokesperson for Adult Swim and Chocolate Industries' Chocolate Swim. In January 2010, Bally Total Fitness selected Lady Sovereign and her song "I Got You Dancing" for the featured artist section on their website, the song is also being used in their television commercials.

On 22 January 2010, Sovereign was due to appear on This Week, a BBC political review show, to discuss the laws regarding self-defence for householders. Early in the programme, she was shown backstage waving to camera in anticipation of her appearance. However, when the segment began, presenter Andrew Neil apologised to viewers and explained the rapper had "done a runner." Neil instead discussed the topic with regular contributors Michael Portillo and Diane Abbott and concluded by joking "Who needs Lady Sovereign? Who is Lady Sovereign?" Abbott laughed and responded "I don't know." In an interview with The Guardian's Rich Pelley on 30 January, Lady Sovereign said of the incident: "I had a panic attack! My hands went stiff and I started hyperventilating. I didn't want to do it hours before but I went anyway, then I just changed my mind at the last minute, I guess."

Lady Sovereign appeared on the British game show Total Wipeout's eighth celebrity special. She made it to the second round by default but failed to advance any further. She was the third evicted housemate from the seventh series of Celebrity Big Brother. She was nominated for both the first and second evictions. Having survived the first double eviction, she was evicted the second time around with 69.5% of the vote.

Controversies

In September 2009, while in Brisbane, Australia for the Parklife Festival, Lady Sovereign was arrested for assault and drunk and disorderly behaviour after spitting on a nightclub bouncer. She had only been in the country seven hours before the assault occurred. She was ordered to pay a fine of $400 AUD, and $200 AUD in compensation to the bouncer.

Lady Sovereign was involved in a feud with fellow British rapper Jentina.

Personal life

In a 2010 interview with Diva magazine, Lady Sovereign said she came out as a lesbian in the house during Celebrity Big Brother but that her declaration did not end up in the broadcast show.

Lady Sovereign has not released any music since 2009. She previously spoke about medical issues halting her career. In 2022, Lady Sovereign confirmed that she had been diagnosed with the rare disorder cyclic vomiting syndrome.

Discography

Lady Sovereign discography

Studio albums	2
EPs	2
Singles	7
Music videos	12

Studio albums

List of studio albums, with selected details and chart positions
Title	Album details	Peak chart positions
Title	Album details	UK	AUS	AUS Urban	US
Public Warning	Released: 31 October 2006 Label: Island Records, Def Jam Formats: CD, digital download	58	97	10	48
Jigsaw	Released: 6 April 2009 Label: Midget Records, EMI Formats: CD, digital download	121	—	11	—
"—" denotes items which were not released in that country or failed to chart.

EPs

List of EPs, with selected details
Title	EP details
Vertically Challenged	Released: 15 November 2005 Format: CD, digital download Label: Chocolate Industries
Blah Blah	Released: 17 April 2006 Format: CD, digital download Label: Chocolate Industries

Mixtapes

List of mixtapes, with selected details
Title	Mixtape details
Chocolate Swim	Released: June 2006 Format: digital download Label: Chocolate Industries
Jig-Raw!	Released: 2009 Format: digital download Label: Independent

Singles

List of singles, with selected chart positions
Title	Year	Peak chart positions										Album
Title	Year	UK	UK D/L	AUS	AUS Urban	DEN	FIN	GER	IRE	US	US Dance	Album
"Random"	2005	73	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	Public Warning
"9 to 5"		33	141	—	—	—	—	—	44	—	—
"Hoodie"		44	—	—	—	—	—	—	46	—	—
"Nine2Five" (vs. The Ordinary Boys)	2006	6	12	—	—	—	—	—	25	—	—	How to Get Everything You Ever Wanted in Ten Easy Steps
"Love Me or Hate Me"	2006	26	—	48	9	17	10	65	—	45	1	Public Warning
"Those Were the Days"	2007	101	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	Public Warning
"So Human"	2009	38	—	36	—	26	—	—	—	—	—	Jigsaw
"I Got You Dancing"	2009	—	—	—	—	38	—	—	—	—	—	Jigsaw
"—" denotes items which were not released in that country or failed to chart.

Promotional singles

List of promotional singles
Title	Year	Album
"Ch Ching (Cheque 1 2)"	2004	Vertically Challenged
"A Little Bit of Shhh"	2005	Public Warning
"Blah Blah"	2006	Public Warning

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External links

v t e Lady Sovereign
Studio albums	Public Warning Jigsaw
EPs	Vertically Challenged Blah Blah
Singles	"Random" "9 to 5" "Hoodie" "Love Me or Hate Me" "Those Were the Days" "So Human"

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