Tulisa Contostavlos



Tula Paulinea "Tulisa" Contostavlos (Greek:Τούλα Παυλίνα Κοντόσταυλος; born 13 July 1988), sometimes known simply as Tulisa, is an English singer-songwriter. She is best known for being a member of the now defunct Camden-based hip hop group N-Dubz, with her cousin Dappy and their friend Fazer. N-Dubz formed in 2000 and released three studio albums before announcing their indefinite hiatus in 2011.

During 2011 to 2012, she participated as a judge on the The X Factor. She mentored the "Groups" category in her first year, including Little Mix, the first ever group to win the competition. On 16 March 2012,  during a Twitter dispute with Dappy, Contostavlos announced that N-Dubz had split up, and were not taking a break as stated in 2011.[citation needed]  Contostavlos released her debut solo album, The Female Boss, on 26 November 2012 which received negative feedback and poor first-week sales.[1]

Following a sting arranged by the Sun on Sunday newspaper, Contostavlos was arrested on 4 June 2013, along with a 35-year old man called Mike GLC, on suspicion of supplying Class A drugs, after the Metropolitan Police "received information concerning the alleged supply of illegal drugs at a central London location".[2]  On 9 December, she was formally charged and she then appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court on 19 December.[3]  [4]  A further appearance at Southwark Crown Court in January 2014, led to a trial date being fixed for 14 July 2014, the day after her birthday.[5]



Contents
[hide]  *1 Life and career 
 * 1.1 Early life and career beginnings
 * 1.2 2000–11: Career with N-Dubz
 * 1.3 2011–12: The X Factor and The Female Boss
 * 1.4 2013–present: Second studio album
 * 2 Acting career
 * 3 Personal life
 * 3.1 Relationships
 * 3.2 Sex tape
 * 3.3 Drugs
 * 4 Discography
 * 5 Tours
 * 6 Filmography
 * 7 References
 * 8 External links

Early life and career beginnings
Contostavlos was born in Camden Town, North London, to an Irish mother, Anne Byrne (who, with her three sisters, was a member of the 1980s band Jeep)[6]  and a Greek Cypriot father, Steve Contostavlos (part of Mungo Jerry).[citation needed]  When Tulisa was five, her mother, who has bipolar disorder and schizoaffective disorder, was sectioned under the Mental Health Act.[6] Contostavlos's father left the family home when Tulisa was 14 years old.[citation needed]  She said that she was brought up in a 3 bedroom house and experienced a lot as a teenager: violence, depression, drug abuse, alcohol abuse, anorexia nervosa, mental health issues, financial difficulties and bullying.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-digitalspy1_7-0" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[7]

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:13px;">She revealed that she twice tried to kill herself as a teenager and also used to self-harm to try to help her cope with everything she was going through.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-digitalspy1_7-1" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[7]  With support from her uncle, N-Dubz's former manager, Byron Contostavlos, at age 14 she enrolled at Haverstock Secondary School, later attending Quintin Kynaston School<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Mum_6-2" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[6]  in St John's Wood, but she didn't sit herGCSE examinations.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Mum_6-3" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[6]

2000–11: Career with N-Dubz
<p style="line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:13px;">Dappy and Fazer, who had already started rapping together, decided they wanted a female voice in the group, which was called the Lickle Rinsers Crew at the time, and so invited Contostavlos to be part of the group. They started performing together as a group around Camden from as young as twelve years old. For N-Dubz's second album, she did a solo song called "Comfortable". Performing as the Lickle Rinsers Crew, they released the singles "Bad Man Riddim" and "Life Is Getting Sicker by the Day", which became hits on English pirate radio stations.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-8" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[8]  After Lickle Rinsers Crew, they then became NW1, after the area they hail from, making their first music video in 2005 for the track "Everyday Of My Life", which received airplay 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", which gained them their first mainstream notice. It wasn't until 2007's "Feva Las Vegas" (also self-released) that the group appeared on the UK charts, peaking at No. 57.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-9" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[9]  Each member appeared on the second series of Channel 4's Dubplate Drama after they began to get noticed as a group.

N-Dubz performing<p style="line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:13px;">In May 2008, a song entitled "Ouch" surfaced along with a music video.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-10" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[10]  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 records. The label predominantly specializes 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.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-11" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[11]  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?".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-12" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[12]  "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,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-13" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[13]  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.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-14" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[14]  Group member Dappy was featured in Tinchy Stryder's 2009 No. 1 single tentatively titled "Number 1", the video also featured cameo appearances from all N-Dubz's members.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-15" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[15]  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 Tinchy Stryder with whom N-Dubz collaborated with on his No. 1 single "Number 1". The tour sold out within days.<sup class="Template-Fact" style="line-height:1em;white-space:nowrap;">[citation needed]  During one performance, Tulisa fainted on stage. Multiple news sources reported that it was due to suspected swine flu.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-16" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[16] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-17" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[17]  The song "Wouldn't You" was then announced to be the seventh, and last, single to be released from the Uncle Bdebut album.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-18" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[18]  The song was released digitally on 25 May 2009 and peaked at No. 64 in the UK.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-19" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[19]

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:13px;">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, was released on 16 November 2009,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-20" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[20]  and charted at No. 6 in the UK Album Chart. The album went platinum within approximately 2 months of release. The second single, "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 onChannel 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!".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-21" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[21]  The book also gives access to a secret N-Dubz website.

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:13px;">The group filmed a 6 part documentary, Being... N-Dubz, which premiered on 21 June 2010 on 4Music,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-22" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[22]  and was later renewed for a second series in 2011.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-We_Bullied_23-0" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[23]  After much speculation, it was confirmed that US label Def Jam 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. The group began recording the album following the success of Against All Odds.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-24" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[24]  "We Dance On" was released on 20 May 2010, as the album's lead single. It peaked at #5 on the UK Singles Chart. The song was also included on the soundtrack to the film Streetdance 3D. "Best Behaviour" was released on 17 October 2010 as the second single from the album. It peaked at 10 in both the UK and Scotland, and became a top 40 hit in Ireland.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-25" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[25]  The song also appears on Skepta's album Doin' It Again. "Girls" was released as the album's third single on 12 December 2010. It peaked at 19 on the UK Singles Chart.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Girls_26-0" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[26]  A fourth track from the album, "So Alive" was released as single on 6 February 2011. Five singles were released from Love.Live.Life. The first, "We Dance On", had previously been released in May 2010 from the StreetDance soundtrack. On 1 September 2010, N-Dubz announced via Facebook that their first new single from the album would be "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 AATW Records later that day.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-27" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[27]  The final three singles from ''Love. Life. Live were "Girls", "So Alive" and "Morning Star".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-28" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[28]  Love. Life. Live'' became N-Dubz' third platinum selling album.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-We_Bullied_23-1" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[23]

2011–12: The X Factor and The Female Boss
<p style="line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:13px;">In August 2011, it emerged that N-Dubz had parted company with record label Def Jam, stating that they were "Never going to co-operate with them when they decided to change what we are".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-29" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[29]  With Tulisa taking up a role as a judge on eighth series of The X Factor and Dappy releasing his solo single "No Regrets", N-Dubz' gig on 18 September 2011 was described as "their final gig for the foreseeable future".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-We_Bullied_23-2" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[23]

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:13px;">On 30 May 2011, Tulisa was confirmed to replace Cheryl Cole as a judge for the eighth series of The X Factor, alongside original panelist Louis Walsh and fellow new judges Gary Barlow and Kelly Rowland, who replaced Simon Cowelland Dannii Minogue.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-xfactor1_30-0" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[30] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-xfactor2_31-0" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[31]  The first public auditions began on 23 June 2011, with the new judging panel being sighted together for the first time.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-32" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[32]  Contostavlos mentored the Groups category and mentored 2 Shoes, Nu Vibe, The Risk, and Little Mix during the live shows. After three out of four of her acts were eliminated in the first five weeks of the competition, Constostavlos was left with Little Mix. The group then went on to become the most successful girl band inThe X Factor history, having avoided the final showdown every week and winning the show in the process, making them the first group to do so in the show's eight year history.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-33" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[33]

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:13px;">In 2011, Tulisa confirmed that she had started work on a solo album that would be released on 17 September 2012. On 19 April 2012, Contostavlos told Capital FM "You're going to have a track for every mood." I want it to be like a journey so you'll have everything from if you want to party on a night out, to big ballads if you've broken up with a boyfriend to more UK urban music."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-34" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[34]  The first single to be released from the album was "Young". The promo video for "Young" was filmed on 2 March in Miami. On 29 April 2012, "Young" was released as part of a remixes EP, which charted at number five on the Irish Singles Chart and number 1 in the UK. On 16 March 2012 during a Twitter row with her cousin and bandmate Dappy, it was alleged that N-dubz had split after he decided to cut off communications with the group members. But the pair eventually reconciled on 28 June. Contostavlos returned for the ninth series in 2012, alongside Louis Walsh, Gary Barlow and Nicole Scherzinger, who replaced Kelly Rowland and finished as the winning judge with James Arthur.

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:13px;">Contostavlos was named at number 15 in FHM's '100 Sexiest Women in the World list' in the May 2010 issue. She topped the list in 2012.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-35" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[35]

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:13px;">Contostavlos released her second solo single "Live It Up", which features guest vocals from American rapper Tyga.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-36" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[36]  on 9 September 2012 and debuted at number 11 in the UK.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-37" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[37]  On 27 September, Tulisa released "Honest: My Story So Far", the singer's official autobiography, she also revealed she will be releasing a fiction novel.

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:13px;">Contostavlos unveiled her third solo single "Sight of You" was released on 2 December to mostly negative reviews and charted lower than expected at number 18,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-38" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[38]  the following week beginning 3 December her debut album The Female Boss was released to negative reviews and charted poorly with low sales at number 35.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-iTunes_Music_-_The_Female_Boss_1-1" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[1]

2013–present: Second studio album
<p style="line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:13px;">In March 2013, it was reported Tulisa had begun work on a new album, stating: "I'm going to make a few singles soon, and I want to take my sound back to basics."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-39" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[39]

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:13px;">On 22 February 2013, it was reported that Contostavlos was set to be axed from The X Factor judging panel for its tenth series.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-40" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[40]  On 22 April, it was reported that Contostavlos may keep her place on the judging panel.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-41" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[41]  On 21 May, ending months of speculation, Contostavlos confirmed that she would be leaving The X Factor after two series.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-42" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[42]  She was replaced by original judge Sharon Osbourne.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-43" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[43]

Acting career
<p style="line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:13px;">Contostavlos played the role of Laurissa (a cocaine addict who is in R&B group The Fam) in the TV series Dubplate Drama. She will play herself in the upcoming film, Bulla,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-44" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[44]  and is to make her big screen debut in Arjun Rose slasherDemons Never Die.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-45" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[45]

Relationships
<p style="line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:13px;">Starting in 2008 and lasting for around 18 months, Contostavlos dated South London based DJ/rapper/singer, Justin Edwards also known as MC Ultra, whom she also helped in developing his music career.<sup class="Template-Fact" style="line-height:1em;white-space:nowrap;">[citation needed]

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:13px;">In 2010, Contostavlos was on a BBC programme called Tulisa: My Mum And Me describing her life before N-Dubz looking after her mother.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-46" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[46]  She was in a relationship with N-Dubz band-mate Fazer from May 2010 but the relationship ended after an argument on holiday in early February 2012.

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:13px;">In 2012 Tulisa had a brief relationship with Skins actor Jack O'Connell; it was reported they split due to incompatible work schedules.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-47" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[47] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-48" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[48]

Sex tape
<p style="line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:13px;">In March 2012, a sex tape of Contostavlos and her former lover Justin Edwards emerged on the internet.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-mtvsex_49-0" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[49]  Contostavlos was granted an injunction (Contostavlos v Mendahun) that legally blocks the distribution of the tape.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-50" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[50]  The injunction prohibits anyone from using, publishing, communicating or disclosing all or any part of the film to any other person.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-51" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[51] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-52" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[52]

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:13px;">Simon Cowell stated that the scandal would not affect her job on The X Factor. In the aftermath she later recorded a video response in which she clarified the relationship on her YouTube account "Tulisaconto",<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-53" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[53] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-54" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[54]  and stated that she was both heartbroken and devastated by Justin Edwards' release of the video.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-mtvsex_49-1" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[49] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-55" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[55]

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:13px;">In July 2012, she settled a legal action against Edwards, who apologised for releasing the tape.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-56" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[56]  Her lawyer is still pursuing action against Edwards' former manager Chris Herbert, who has had his job as a consultant on The X Factorsuspended.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-57" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[57]

Drugs
<p style="line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:13px;">On 4 June 2013, Contostavlos was arrested by police on suspicion of supplying class A drugs<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-skynews_58-0" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[58]  and bailed to a date in July 2013 and it was revealed that two residential properties had been searched as part of the investigation.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-skynews_58-1" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[58]  She was formally charged on 9 December with suspicion of supplying class A drugs and appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court on December 19 where she denied the charge of being concerned with the supply of 13.9 grams of cocaine. She was granted unconditional bail and then appeared at Southwark Crown Court on 9 January .<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-59" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[59]  Her trial date was then set for 14 July 2014.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-60" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[60]

Discography
Main article: Tulisa Contostavlos discographySee also: N-Dubz discography*The Female Boss (2012)

Tours

 * 2013: Ne-Yo Tour