View source for N-Dubz

{{short description|English Hip hop group}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2011}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2024}}
{{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Musicians -->
| name              = N-Dubz
| background        = group_or_band
| image             = NDubzBBC.jpg
| caption           = N-Dubz performing in 2009
| origin            = [[Camden Town]], London, England
| genre             = {{Flat list|
* [[Hip hop music|Hip hop]]<ref name="BBC">{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7045841.stm |title=Talking Shop:N Dubz |publisher=BBC |date=19 October 2007 |access-date=17 November 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101005050410/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7045841.stm |archive-date=5 October 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="allmusic">{{allMusic|artist|mn0001072817/biography|author=Jason Birchmeier|access-date=21 December 2019}}</ref><ref name="Swine flu">[https://www.nme.com/news/various-artists/44417 N-Dubz singer tested for swine flu –] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628221936/http://www.nme.com/news/various-artists/44417 |date=28 June 2011 }}. ''NME''. (2 May 2009). Retrieved 15 January 2020.</ref><ref name="O'Brien"/>
* [[Contemporary R&B|R&B]]<ref name="O'Brien">Jon O'Brien, [{{AllMusic|class=album|id=lovelivelife-r2102256|pure_url=yes}} Review: ''Love.Live.Life'']. [[AllMusic]]. Retrieved 5 January 2020.</ref><ref name=Newkey-Burden>{{cite book |last=Newkey-Burden|first=Chas|title=Tulisa – The Biography|publisher=John Blake|year= 2012|isbn=978-1857826708}}</ref><ref name="Barron">{{cite book|title=Social Theory in Popular Culture|isbn=978-0230284982|page=86|last=Barron|first=Lee|publisher=Palgrave|date=16 November 2012|quote=UK R&B/Grime act N-Dubz.}}</ref>
* [[Grime music|grime]]<ref name="Barron"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vice.com/en_uk/article/rd8mzz/tulisa-cocaine-scandal-the-sun|title=The Tulisa Sting Wasn't Just Classist, It Was Informed by a Racism That Associated Her With Criminality|website=[[Vice (magazine)|Vice]]|date=22 July 2014|access-date=21 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191221125651/https://www.vice.com/en_uk/article/rd8mzz/tulisa-cocaine-scandal-the-sun|archive-date=21 December 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=S07rnffsZi4C&q=tulisa+grime&pg=PP30|title=Tulisa|via=[[Google Books]]|access-date=21 December 2019|author=Sean Smith|date=21 June 2012|publisher=Simon and Schuster |isbn=9781847378736}}</ref>
}}
| instrument        =
| years_active      = 2000–2011<br> 2022– present
| label             = {{hlist}}
*[[Polydor Records|Polydor]] (2007–2008)
*{{Nowrap|[[All Around the World Productions|All Around the World]] (2008–2011)}}
*[[Island Records|Island]] (2009–2011)
*[[EMI Records]] (2023–present)
| associated_acts   = {{hlist|[[Chip (rapper)|Chip]]|[[Skepta]]|[[Tinchy Stryder]]}}
| past_members      =
| website           = {{URL|https://www.n-dubz.com}}
| current_members   = *[[Dappy]]
*[[Tulisa]]
*[[Fazer (rapper)|Fazer]]
}}
'''N-Dubz''' are  an English [[Hip hop music|hip-hop]] [[Trio (music)|trio]] from [[Camden Town]], London, England, consisting of cousins [[Dappy]] and [[Tulisa]], and their friend [[Fazer (rapper)|Fazer]]. After winning a [[MOBO Awards|MOBO Award]] for Best Newcomer in 2007, N-Dubz briefly signed with [[Polydor Records]] before joining [[All Around the World Productions|All Around the World]]. Released the following year, the trio's debut album ''[[Uncle B]]'' was certified double platinum and gave rise to four UK top-40 singles.
In 2009, N-Dubz won Best UK Act at the MOBO Awards and released their second album, ''[[Against All Odds (N-Dubz album)|Against All Odds]]''. It charted at number six and was certified platinum, preceded by their first top-10 single "[[I Need You (N-Dubz song)|I Need You]]". The same year, N-Dubz achieved their first UK chart-topper, as a featured artist on [[Tinchy Stryder]]'s song "[[Number 1 (Tinchy Stryder song)|Number 1]]". The trio's third album, ''[[Love.Live.Life]]'' (2010), charted at number seven and became their third successive platinum-selling album. It included the top-10 singles "[[We Dance On]]" and "[[Best Behaviour (N-Dubz song)|Best Behaviour]]". The group then took an 11-year hiatus to pursue solo careers before announcing re-forming in May 2022, releasing the single [[Charmer (N-Dubz song)|“Charmer”]] and a sold-out UK arena tour in November and December.
==Career==
===2000–2007: Group formation and Polydor Records===
All three members of N-Dubz were born in [[Camden Town]],<ref>{{cite web |last1=Foster |first1=Leonard |title=N-Dubz |url=https://www.flavourmag.co.uk/n-dubz/ |website=FLAVOURMAG |access-date=12 October 2021 |date=29 January 2009}}</ref> north-west London, and one is of [[British Afro-Caribbean community|Afro-Caribbean]] heritage and the remaining two of them are of [[Greek Diaspora|Greek-Cypriot heritage]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=Vernon|first=Polly|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2010/sep/05/n-dubz-interview|title=N-Dubz: 'We were naughty. We used to cause madness!'|date=4 September 2010|work=The Observer|access-date=4 March 2020|language=en-GB|issn=0029-7712|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200304103853/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2010/sep/05/n-dubz-interview|archive-date=4 March 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> They each attended several different schools, meeting together for the first time when they were about 13 at [[Haverstock School]],<ref>{{cite news| via=ROAR Global |title=I stole from Dappy's dad|date=26 March 2010| url=http://www.roarglobal.com/press/N-Dubz/pcutting.php?id=13 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715191547/http://www.roarglobal.com/press/N-Dubz/pcutting.php?id=13 | archive-date=15 July 2011 | url-status=dead |newspaper=The Sun}}</ref> and coming together as a group for the first time at about this age under the management of Dappy's father, [[Byron Contostavlos]] (formerly of [[Mungo Jerry]]), who died on 12 April 2007.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7045841.stm Talking Shop:N Dubz] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101005050410/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7045841.stm |date=5 October 2010 }}. BBC, 19 October 2007.</ref> They had a hard upbringing, living on tough estates and experienced a lot first-hand as teenagers, including violence, depression, [[drug abuse]], extreme financial difficulty, [[bullying]], and gang culture.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/showbiz/news/a210578/n-dubzs-tulisa-i-attempted-suicide.html |title=N-Dubz's Tulisa: "I attempted suicide" – Showbiz News |work=Digital Spy |date=25 March 2010 |access-date=31 December 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110805003538/http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/showbiz/news/a210578/n-dubzs-tulisa-i-attempted-suicide.html |archive-date=5 August 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref>
Performing as the ''Lickle Rinsers Crew'', they released the singles "Bad Man Riddim" and "Life is Getting Sicker by the Day".
After ''Lickle Rinsers Crew'' they called themselves ''NW1''. They had planned to ''[[Hakuna matata#Influence on origin of N-Dubz|use the name Hukuna Matata]]'' ("no worries" in Swahili), but due to copyright conflict with [[Disney]] they chose ''No Worries'' instead. As there was already a group with this name,  they changed briefly to ''NW'', which got confused with [[Compton, California|Compton]]-based rap group [[N.W.A.]] They ended with ''NW1'', their [[postcode]] district and a slight nod to The Lion King, and later changed to ''N-Dubz'' (with "Dubz" slang for "W").<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://eventseeker.com/artist/3653-n-dubz|title=N-Dubz - Artist Profile|website=eventseeker.com|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200304103604/https://eventseeker.com/artist/3653-n-dubz|archive-date=4 March 2020|access-date=4 March 2020}}</ref> After making their first music video in 2005 for the track "Everyday of My Life", which was played on Channel U, recording more demos as NW1 such as "Don't Feel Like Moving", "Girl On Road" and "Livin Broke", their first single to be released was "[[You Better Not Waste My Time]]", which was available for download only until their 2006 self-released single, "[[I Swear (N-Dubz song)|I Swear]]", which gained them their first mainstream notice. It was not until 2007's "[[Feva Las Vegas]]", also self-released, that the group appeared on the UK charts, peaking at No. 57.<ref>[http://acharts.us/song/26065 Feva Las Vegas] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110921013844/http://acharts.us/song/26065 |date=21 September 2011 }}. Acharts.us. Retrieved 17 November 2007.</ref> Each member appeared on the second series of [[Channel 4]]'s ''[[Dubplate Drama]]'', after they began to get noticed as a group.
After winning a [[MOBO Award]] for Best Newcomer<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.com/music/a179933/jls-n-dubz-beyonc-win-two-mobo-awards/|title=JLS, N-Dubz, BeyoncÃ© win two MOBO Awards|first=Mayer|last=Nissim|date=1 October 2009|website=Digital Spy|access-date=10 January 2020}}</ref> the group signed to [[Polydor Records]] and re-released their first single "[[You Better Not Waste My Time]]" on the label, which debuted at No. 26 on the [[UK singles chart]]. In mid-2007, Dappy released "Love for my Slum" with fellow UK artist Baker Trouble. This song was number one on [[Channel AKA|Channel U]] for many weeks and was a big hit with the UK underground rap scene but was heavily criticised by the media for a scene in which Dappy is stood 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..."; they then went on to put "Do scenes like these suggest that music videos are encouraging their viewers to indulge in criminality?".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/music-video-violence-should-grime-clean-up-its-act-403286.html |title=Music video violence: Should grime clean up its act? – Media, News |work=The Independent |location=London |date=24 September 2007 |access-date=4 December 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120202023845/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/music-video-violence-should-grime-clean-up-its-act-403286.html |archive-date=2 February 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Dappy appeared on the television show ''[[Never Mind the Buzzcocks]]'' on 29 November 2007, on Phill Jupitus's 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,  broadcast on 18 November 2009.
===2008–2009: All Around the World records and ''Uncle B''===
In May 2008, a song entitled "[[Ouch (song)|Ouch]]" surfaced along with a music video.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YurZaflJnI N-Dubz – Ouch] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120717202411/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YurZaflJnI |date=17 July 2012 }}, [[YouTube]], 16 August 2008</ref> The video for "Ouch" attracted over 4 million viewers on networking site YouTube in just over a month after release. On 6 August 2008, it was announced that the group had left [[Polydor Records]] and had signed to [[All Around the World (record label)|All Around the World records]]. The label predominantly specialises in dance music; however, they have occasionally released hip hop records such as [[Ice Cube]]'s "[[You Can Do It]]". The press release stated that the label would be releasing "Ouch" as the group's first single on the label in September 2008.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aatw.com/artist.php?id=128252 |title=AATW Artist Profile – N-Dubz |publisher=Aatw.com |date=6 August 2008 |access-date=31 December 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120106210418/http://www.aatw.com/artist.php?id=128252 |archive-date=6 January 2012 }}</ref> The group's first album, ''[[Uncle B]]'', was released on 17 November 2008. The album includes "You Better Not Waste My Time", "I Swear", "Feva Las Vegas", "Love for My Slums", "Ouch", "Defeat You" and "Papa Can You Hear Me?".<ref>{{cite web |last=Acrher |first=Mandy |url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B001HO02GU |title=Uncle B on Amazon |publisher=Amazon.com |access-date=31 December 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151023134834/http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B001HO02GU |archive-date=23 October 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref> "[[Strong Again]]" was touted as the third single to be released from the ''[[Uncle B]]'' album on 16 February 2009 and a music video was made,<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nj1Ck_k53U N-Dubz -Strong Again] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120728225706/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nj1Ck_k53U |date=28 July 2012 }}, [[YouTube]], 26 June 2009</ref> before the physical CD released of the song was cancelled for unknown reasons. The song charted for five weeks in the [[UK Singles Chart]], peaking highest at number 24.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://acharts.us/song/41168 |title=Strong Again – Music Charts |publisher=Acharts.us |access-date=31 December 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120117010034/http://acharts.us/song/41168 |archive-date=17 January 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> Group member Dappy was featured in Tinchy Stryder's 2009 No. 1 single tentatively titled "[[Number 1 (Tinchy Stryder song)|Number 1]]", the video also featured cameo appearances from all N-Dubz's members.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8020009.stm |title=Tinchy Stryder and N-Dubz claim first UK 'number 1' |work=BBC News |date=27 April 2009 |access-date=31 December 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120117011426/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8020009.stm |archive-date=17 January 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> Due to the success of their debut album, the group embarked on their first headlining tour, Uncle B Tour. The tour was originally planned for 16 dates but due to high demand 5 extra dates were added. The tour was supported by [[Stevie Hoang]] and [[Kwasi Danquah III|Tinchy Stryder]] with whom N-Dubz collaborated with on his No. 1 single "Number 1". The tour sold out within days. During one performance, Tulisa fainted on stage. Multiple news sources reported that it was due to suspected [[swine flu]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nme.com/news/various-artists/44417 |title=N-Dubz singer tested for swine flu – |work=NME |location=UK |date=2 May 2009 |access-date=31 December 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628221936/http://www.nme.com/news/various-artists/44417 |archive-date=28 June 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> Jonathan Shalit, the group's manager, stated that Tulisa "was taken ill on the flight out to Greece on Thursday" and that "her bandmates are all very worried about her." The group were due to perform at [[Radio 1's Big Weekend]] on 10 May 2009, but their participation was placed in doubt while Tulisa was hospitalised.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nme.com/news/the-prodigy/44170 |title=The Prodigy to headline Radio 1 Big Weekend  |work=NME |location=UK |date=21 April 2009 |access-date=31 December 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120117201038/http://www.nme.com/news/the-prodigy/44170 |archive-date=17 January 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> It was later confirmed that Tulisa had tested negative for swine flu and the group did perform.<ref>{{cite magazine| title=N-Dubz singer clear after swine flu scare | magazine=NME| date=9 May 2009 | url=http://www.nme.com/news/various-artists/44470 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120214014733/http://www.nme.com/news/various-artists/44470 | archive-date=14 February 2012 | url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8035478.stm | work=BBC News | title=N-Dubz star safe from swine flu | date=6 May 2009 | access-date=19 May 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120117011431/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8035478.stm | archive-date=17 January 2012 | url-status=live }}</ref>
The song "[[Wouldn't You]]" was then announced to be the seventh, and last, single to be released from the ''Uncle B'' debut album.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/a152817/n-dubz-wouldnt-you.html |title=N-Dubz Wouldn't You |work=Digital Spy |date=17 April 2009 |access-date=31 December 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090723032453/http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/a152817/n-dubz-wouldnt-you.html |archive-date=23 July 2009 |url-status=live }}</ref> The song was released digitally on 25 May 2009 and peaked at No. 64 in the UK.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/Happy |title=Further chart information |publisher=[[Official Charts Company]] |date=20 June 2009 |access-date=31 December 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191120225906/https://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/happy/ |archive-date=20 November 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref>
===2009–2010: ''Against All Odds''===
Tulisa and Dappy reprised their roles in the third and final series of the Channel 4 show ''Dubplate Drama''. The story for the third series was mainly set around Laurissa's (Tulisa) relationship with her music manager and lead singer of an R&B group while tackling a drug addiction to [[cocaine]]. ''Dubplate Drama'' finished with Laurissa kicking her addictions and leaving in a taxi for a new life with her child.<ref>{{cite AV media| title=Dubplate Drama 3 - behind the scenes with Dappy & Tulisa | website=Myspace | date=22 June 2009 | url=https://myspace.com/dubplatedrama2/video/dubplate-drama-3-behind-the-scenes-with-dappy-tulisa/59379677}}</ref>{{Primary source inline|date=November 2024}}
N-Dubz appeared with other artists, including [[Kwasi Danquah III|Tinchy Stryder]] and [[Pixie Lott]], to record a charity song for [[War Child (charity)|War Child]]. [[The Noisettes]], [[Chipmunk (rapper)|Chipmunk]], [[MPHO]], [[Ironik]] and [[Kid British]] also signed up for the project under the name The Young Soul Rebels. The music stars released "I Got Soul", a rewritten version of [[The Killers]]' "[[All These Things That I've Done]]", to raise money for marginalised children in war zones.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/a163777/lott-n-dubz-stryder-record-charity-song.html |title=Music – News – Lott, N-Dubz, Stryder record charity song |work=Digital Spy |date=6 July 2009 |access-date=31 December 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091101010738/http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/a163777/lott-n-dubz-stryder-record-charity-song.html |archive-date=1 November 2009 |url-status=live }}</ref> Tulisa admitted she felt privileged to record the charity song. "It's an issue that hasn't been looked at enough. And you know, even until I found out about this event, I didn't really know that much about it, and that's saying something you know. And the fact that I'm only finding out now is not really good enough. So that was every reason for me to get involved." She told BBC ''[[Newsbeat]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/a164182/n-dubz-star-reflects-on-war-child-song.html |title=Music – News – N-Dubz star reflects on War Child song |work=Digital Spy |date=9 July 2009 |access-date=31 December 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090711213014/http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/a164182/n-dubz-star-reflects-on-war-child-song.html |archive-date=11 July 2009 |url-status=live }}</ref>
The group embarked on a Christmas Party Tour beginning on 17 November 2009. They visited 10 cities across the UK performing songs from both albums ''Uncle B'' and  ''Against All Odds'', as confirmed by their official MySpace page.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=62457785&blogID=499335394 |title=N-Dubz – The Christmas Tour – GET YOUR TICKETS NOW! – MySpace-blog &#124; van N-Dubz! – VOTE 4 US @ MOBO.COM |publisher=Blogs.myspace.com |date=9 July 2009 |access-date=31 December 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090207065936/http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view |archive-date=7 February 2009 }}</ref> The tour was originally to be a taster of their new album, but it was announced that the album ''[[Against All Odds (N-Dubz album)|Against All Odds]]'' would be released a day before the tour starts.
The lead single from the group's second album titled "I Need You" was released on 9 November 2009 and charted at No. 5 in the [[UK Singles Chart]]. The album ''[[Against All Odds (N-Dubz album)|Against All Odds]]'', was released on 16 November 2009,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.umtv.co.uk/n-dubz/news.php?item=10 |title=Album release date |publisher=Umtv.co.uk |access-date=31 December 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091013124623/http://www.umtv.co.uk/n-dubz/news.php?item=10 |archive-date=13 October 2009 }}</ref> and charted at No. 6 in the [[UK Album Chart]]. The album went platinum within approximately 2 months of release.<ref name="youtube.com">{{YouTube|XEYpiWuGfaY}}</ref> The second single, "[[Playing with Fire (N-Dubz song)|Playing with Fire]]" features R&B/pop musician, [[Mr Hudson]]. The song reached No. 15 in the UK Charts on album downloads alone; however, when the single was released, it fell to No. 16, reaching a new peak at No. 14 the week after.
The music video for the third single taken from the album, "[[Say It's Over]]", was released on 5 March 2010 on [[Channel AKA]]. It was announced that the single will be released on 25 April, it reached No. 27 on album downloads alone before the single was released. In late 2009, N-Dubz announced that they will tour their current album, ''Against All Odds'' in spring 2010, making it their third tour in two years, starting on 31 March and finishing on 20 April. It included 17 shows with supporting acts [[Skepta]], Talay Riley and Ultra. On 1 April 2010, they released their first book, ''N-Dubz – Against All Odds: From Street Life to Chart Life'', which they described as "the answer to the critics, there is a lot of bad press about N-Dubz at the moment and this is going to put the record straight about who we really are and what we're about!", saying they want to put "everything out there", and Fazer also adding "It's going to surprise you!".<ref>{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/hi/music/newsid_10070000/newsid_10075700/10075784.stm | work=BBC News | title=N-Dubz hit back at critics by launching autobiography | access-date=19 May 2010 | date=1 April 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100425042218/http://news.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/hi/music/newsid_10070000/newsid_10075700/10075784.stm | archive-date=25 April 2010 | url-status=live }}</ref> The book also gives access to a secret N-Dubz website.
===2010–2011: ''Love.Live.Life'', ''Greatest Hits'' and disbandment ===
{{main|Love.Live.Life}}
The group filmed a 6-part documentary, ''[[Being... N-Dubz]]'', which premiered on 21 June 2010 on [[4Music]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ndubz.com/news/being-n-dubz-starts-tonight |title=News |publisher=Ndubz.com |access-date=31 December 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120710204835/http://ndubz.com/news/being-n-dubz-starts-tonight |archive-date=10 July 2012 }}</ref> and was later renewed for a second series in 2011.<ref name="We Bullied">[https://www.theguardian.com/music/2011/sep/19/dappy-ndubz-interview Dappy: 'We bullied our way in'] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170420085254/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2011/sep/19/dappy-ndubz-interview |date=20 April 2017 }} The Guardian. 19 September 2011. Retrieved 20 September 2011</ref> After much speculation, it was confirmed that [[Island Records]] had signed the group. The first release was the album ''[[Love.Live.Life]]'', N-Dubz's third studio album. It was released in the UK on 29 November 2010.
Five singles were released from ''Love.Live.Life''. The first, "[[We Dance On]]", had previously been released in May 2010 from the ''[[StreetDance 3D|StreetDance]]'' soundtrack. On 1 September 2010, N-Dubz announced via Facebook that their first new single from the album would be "[[Best Behaviour (N-Dubz song)|Best Behaviour]]", which was eventually released on 17 October. The music video premiered on [[Channel AKA]] and [[Clubland TV]] on 8 September and was uploaded on YouTube by [[All Around the World Productions|AATW Records]] later that day.<ref>{{YouTube|9n85vK5Ozns|"Best Behaviour" music video}} Retrieved on 9 September 2010.</ref>
The final three singles from ''Love. Life. Live'' were "[[Girls (N-Dubz song)|Girls]]", "[[So Alive (Skepta and N-Dubz song)|So Alive]]" and "[[Morning Star (N-Dubz song)|Morning Star]]".<ref>[http://ndubz.com/news/morning-star-official-music-video MORNING STAR – OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120722095045/http://ndubz.com/news/morning-star-official-music-video |date=22 July 2012 }} ''ndubz.com''. Retrieved 9 February 2011.</ref> ''Love. Life. Live'' became N-Dubz' third platinum selling album.<ref name="We Bullied" />
In August 2011, it emerged that N-Dubz had parted company with Island, stating that they were "Never going to co-operate with them when they decided to change what we are".<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.rte.ie/ten/2011/0813/ndubz.html | title=N-Dubz no longer signed to US record label | date=13 August 2011 | publisher=RTÉ News | access-date=14 August 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120115234140/http://www.rte.ie/ten/2011/0813/ndubz.html | archive-date=15 January 2012 | url-status=live }}</ref> With Tulisa taking up a role as a judge on [[The X Factor (UK series 8)|series 8]] of ''[[The X Factor (UK)|The X Factor]]'' and Dappy releasing his solo single "[[No Regrets (Dappy song)|No Regrets]]", N-Dubz' gig on 18 September 2011 was described as "their final gig for the foreseeable future".<ref name="We Bullied" />
In November, Tulisa confirmed that N-Dubz were undergoing a two-year hiatus as Dappy and herself pursued solo careers. A ''Greatest Hits'' album was released on 28 November 2011. In an interview with [[This Morning (TV programme)|This Morning]] on 24 September 2012, Tulisa said a reunion was in the works for 2013, after hers and Dappy's solo albums had been released.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.4music.com/news/news/6216/Tulisa-confirms-N-Dubz-reunion |title=Tulisa confirms N-Dubz reunion &#124; General  |publisher=4Music |date=26 September 2012 |access-date=9 January 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140109204657/http://www.4music.com/news/news/6216/Tulisa-confirms-N-Dubz-reunion |archive-date=9 January 2014 }}</ref> On 6 October 2012, during an edition of ''[[The X Factor UK|The X Factor]]'', Tulisa once again confirmed that N-Dubz would be reforming. On 13 April 2017, when asked on the prospect of a reunion, Fazer replied, saying "100 per cent, that’s definitely going to come really soonish. Not right now, we’ve all got individual things we’re focusing on at the minute, but obviously it’s all about timing."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/n-dubz-confirm-theyll-reuniting-really-soonish-2049322|title=N Dubz confirm that they'll be reuniting 'really soonish' - NME|date=13 April 2017|work=NME|access-date=15 April 2017|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170414052024/http://www.nme.com/news/music/n-dubz-confirm-theyll-reuniting-really-soonish-2049322|archive-date=14 April 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.ok.co.uk/celebrity-news/1049281/n-dubz-comeback-fazer-reunion-dappy-tulisa-contostavlos-music|title=N-Dubz ARE making a comeback: Fazer exclusively confirms reunion|last=Knight|first=Kathryn|date=13 April 2017|work=OK!|access-date=15 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170416201727/http://www.ok.co.uk/celebrity-news/1049281/n-dubz-comeback-fazer-reunion-dappy-tulisa-contostavlos-music|archive-date=16 April 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>
===2022–present: Reformation and ''Timeless'' ===
On 16 May 2022, following an 11-year hiatus, N-Dubz announced their reformation with new single "[[Charmer (N-Dubz song)|Charmer]]" and their Back to the Future Tour, a UK arena tour scheduled for November 2022.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/n-dubz-confirm-reunion-new-single-and-uk-arena-tour-buy-tickets-3227224|title=N-Dubz announce their reunion, new single and UK arena tour|last=Moore|first=Sam|website=[[NME]]|date=17 May 2022|access-date=17 May 2022}}</ref> The tour sold out within minutes of release. The ''[[I (newspaper)|i]]'' further reported the same month that the band had spent six months working on a new album with [[Chip (rapper)|Chip]], [[Wiley (rapper)|Wiley]] and [[Gary Barlow]].<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=https://inews.co.uk/culture/music/n-dubz-when-form-split-members-reunion-tour-famous-songs-1642231|title=When did N-Dubz form? The band's members, when they split, reunion tour dates and their most famous songs|website=[[I (newspaper)|The I]]|date=21 May 2022|access-date=24 May 2022}}</ref>
In April 2023, the group released "February", which will be the first single off the new album.  The group also announced a summer tour at open air arenas and parks across the UK and Ireland.<ref name=":0" />
On 8 June 2023, N-Dubz announced the title of their fourth studio album called ''[[Timeless (N-Dubz album)|Timeless]]'' and released the second single "Habibti". The album was released on 4 August 2023.
==Controversies==
On 31 January 2009 Dappy and [[Richard Rawson|Fazer]] were escorted from a BA flight from [[Edinburgh]] to London by police after it touched down, after allegedly threatening other passengers. A source told ''The Sun'' "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."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/showbiz/news/a145368/n-dubz-removed-from-plane-by-armed-police.html |title=Showbiz – News – N-Dubz removed from plane by armed police |work=Digital Spy |date=2 February 2009 |access-date=4 December 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100408191427/http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/showbiz/news/a145368/n-dubz-removed-from-plane-by-armed-police.html |archive-date=8 April 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref>
In late 2009, a feud started between Tulisa and [[Elly Jackson]] of [[La Roux]] who stated that all the females that do [[hip hop]] music dress up like prostitutes. Tulisa took offence saying "she shouldn't talk about people's jobs that way... it's just wrong, where was she brought up – in a barn?", calling Jackson a "twat".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/news/a182784/n-dubz-tulisa-la-roux-is-a-twt.html |title=Digital Spy N-Dubz Tulisa: 'La Roux is a tw*t' |work=Digital Spy |date=20 October 2009 |access-date=31 December 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022021220/http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/news/a182784/n-dubz-tulisa-la-roux-is-a-twt.html |archive-date=22 October 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref>
Later that month it surfaced that N-Dubz's DJ Maze had allegedly raped a young fan after a show N-Dubz had done at [[Butlins]] holiday camp in Skegness. They instead had [[BBC Radio 1Xtra]]'s Twin B as their Christmas Party Tour DJ.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2009/nov/18/n-dubz | work=The Guardian | location=London | title=N-Dubz members to assist police after DJ's rape arrest | first=Sean | last=Michaels | date=18 November 2009 | access-date=19 May 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305171709/http://www.theguardian.com/music/2009/nov/18/n-dubz | archive-date=5 March 2016 | url-status=live }}</ref>
On 12 January 2010, N-Dubz appeared on ''[[The Chris Moyles Show]]'' on [[BBC Radio 1]]. The show received a text message from a 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 [sic] gonna die. U sent a very bad msg towards Ndubz on The Chris Moyels [sic] 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 but N-Dubz management later apologised on his behalf and offered free tickets to one of his concerts, although Dappy has not apologised to Moody personally.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8461267.stm |title=N-Dubz star Dappy 'sorry' over text message threats|publisher=BBC  |date=15 January 2010 |access-date=15 January 2010}}</ref> The rapper had appeared with the then-Schools Secretary Ed Balls to launch pop single "RU Cyber Safe" in November 2009, but was dropped from the campaign with Mr Balls saying: "This text message was completely unacceptable and it is right that he has not only apologised, but accepted there was no excuse for his behaviour."<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8461267.stm|title=Dappy 'sorry' over text threats|date=15 January 2010|access-date=10 January 2020|work=BBC News|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190819035552/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8461267.stm|archive-date=19 August 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>
In March 2010, a dispute then started between N-Dubz and [[Lethal Bizzle]], who claimed he had written and produced N-Dubz's hit "[[I Need You (N-Dubz song)|I Need You]]" for them and so should be acknowledged in the credits for it, with Tulisa hitting back on Twitter that "he's jus triena boost his status, ...wat an unbelievable loser!"<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.twitlonger.com/show/eppri |title=TwitLonger — When you talk too much for Twitter |publisher=Twitlonger.com |access-date=3 April 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120308084718/http://www.twitlonger.com/show/eppri |archive-date=8 March 2012 }}</ref> and N-Dubz later posted a video on their official YouTube channel through Twitter with the caption: "THE PROOF WE DIDNT STEAL S**T, WE MAKE OUR OWN HITS!" of when he had sent them the finished song and when they had actually finished the song, implying that their version was over 2 months older than his.<!-- Videos have been removed<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5GldvKb0fw&feature=channel| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190426092148/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5GldvKb0fw| archive-date=26 April 2019 | url-status=dead|title=YouTube|via=YouTube}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMpGLzS9BNU&feature=channel| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190426092139/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMpGLzS9BNU| archive-date=26 April 2019 | url-status=dead|title=YouTube|via=YouTube}}</ref>-->
==Discography==
{{Main|N-Dubz discography}}
* ''[[Uncle B]]'' (2008)
* ''[[Against All Odds (N-Dubz album)|Against All Odds]]'' (2009)
* ''[[Love.Live.Life]]'' (2010)
* ''[[Timeless (N-Dubz album)|Timeless]]'' (2023)
==Tours==
===Headlining===
* ''Uncle B'' Tour {{small|(2009)}}
* [[N-Dubz Christmas Party]] {{small|(2009)}}
* The Against All Odds Tour {{small|(2010)}}
* Love.Live.Life Tour {{small|(2011)}}
* Reformation {{small|(2022)}}
* Summer UK Tour <ref name=":0" /> {{small|(2023)}}
===Supporting act===
*[[Clubland (brand)#Clubland Live 3|Clubland Live]] {{small|(2009)}}
==Bibliography==
* 2010: ''Against All Odds – From Street Life to Chart Life''
==Awards==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Year
!Award
!Category
!Result
|-
|| 2007
|| [[Music of Black Origin Awards|MOBO Awards]]
| Best UK Newcomer
| {{Won}}
|-
|rowspan="2"| 2008
|rowspan="2"|[[Urban Music Awards]]
| Best Group
| {{Nom}}
|-
| Best Music Video ("Ouch")
| {{Nom}}
|-
|rowspan="3"| 2009
| O2 Silver Clef Awards
| The Digital Award
| {{Won}}
|-
|rowspan="2"|[[MOBO Awards 2009|MOBO Awards]]
| Best UK Act
| {{Won}}
|-
| Best Album (''Uncle B'')
| {{Won}}
|-
|rowspan="2"| 2010
|| [[2010 BRIT Awards|BRIT Awards]]
| British Single ("Number 1")
| {{Nom}}
|-
| [[Music of Black Origin Awards|MOBO Awards]]
| Best Song ("Playing with Fire")
| {{Won}}
|-
|| 2023
|| O2 Silver Clef Awards
| Best Group
| {{Won}}
|-
|}
==References==
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}
==External links==
* {{Official website|http://www.ndubz.com}}
{{N-Dubz}}
{{Dappy}}
{{Tulisa Contostavlos}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:English hip hop groups]]
[[Category:English musical trios]]
[[Category:British contemporary R&B musical groups]]
[[Category:Musical groups from the London Borough of Camden]]
[[Category:Musical groups established in 2000]]
[[Category:People educated at Quintin Kynaston School]]
[[Category:2000 establishments in England]]
[[Category:All Around the World Productions artists]]
[[Category:Musical groups disestablished in 2011]]
[[Category:Island Records artists]]
[[Category:Mixed-gender musical trios]]