Cleo. (English musician)
| Cleo. | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Cleopatra Humphrey |
| Born |
4 November 1988 Bow, London, England |
| Genres | Grime, electronic, UK funky |
| Occupation(s) | Rapper, MC, Singer |
| Years active | 2006–present |
| Labels | All Around The World/ Atlantic Records/A-List Music/Sony |
| Associated acts | A-List, Wiley, Skepta, Chipmunk, Tinie Tempah, Ed Sheeran, Shola Ama, Sadie Ama, Dot Rotten, Griminal, Gracious K, Wizzy Wow, Roses Garbour, Bruza, Terrah Danjah, Jo Ci Elare |
Cleopatra Humphrey formerly known by her stage name Mz. Bratt and currently known as Cleo., is an English Neo-soul grime musician.[1]
History
Humphrey was born in Bow, London. Later, she moved to Hainault and started producing her music. Her talent impressed the urban producer Terror Danjah who took her under their wing after hearing her at local MC battles and seeing her Myspace profile. Mz. Bratt was selected to be part of the T4 entertainment show the Musicool, in which she was the lead female, at one point reducing guest judge Jamelia to tears with her exceptional talent and vocal ability. Following this, Mz. Bratt embarked on a US and European tour with The Count & Sinden, which included shows at the Glastonbury Festival and at Bestival.
Humphrey has a mixed race ethnic background.[2][3][4]
Music career
Mz. Bratt's first single, "Who Do You Think You Are?", was released on All Around the World Productions on 27 July 2009, and received plays on BBC Radio 1 and BBC Radio 1Xtra. The second single, "I Like You", followed in November, and was also played by Radio 1Xtra.
In February 2010, Mz. Bratt joined a new collective group formed by Wiley called A-List.[5]
She released her third single, "Selecta", in mid-2010, under A-List Music Ltd, produced by Redlight. She is expected to release her first album at the American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida, in February 2012 alongside the likes of Usher and Nicole Scherzinger.
I describe my music and sound as "fun, cheeky, endorsing female empowerment".
Mz. Bratt, Female First[6]
Mz. Bratt has also appeared on remixes and records with other artists including Wiley, Taio Cruz, Sadie Ama, Dionne Bromfield and Jazmine Sullivan. A remix of Tinchy Stryder's "Game Over" was promoted online in November 2010 under the name "Female Takeover Remix", with the female MCs Ruff Diamondz, Envy, Lioness, Cherri V, Baby Blue, A.Dot, Lady Leshurr, RoXXXan and Mz. Bratt.
Mz. Bratt and Wiley also appeared in Fugative's song "Go Hard".
She recently took part in the MOBO tour and supported Roll Deep on their tour. She is currently supporting Bruno Mars on the UK leg of his tour.
Mz. Bratt supported Example on his winter 2011 tour. Other support came from Fenech-Soler.
In 2015, Bratt announced her professional name would be Cleo. [7]
2012 and album
Mz. Bratt started 2012 positively, dropping the official video for her upcoming single "Falling Down", on 16 April 2012 on YouTube.[8] The single is officially released on iTunes on 6 May 2012.[9] Bratt has confirmed that she is recording songs for her first studio album, but won't release the album until there's a demand for it and people want the album, and not just put it out for the sake of it.[10] She has so far recorded about 50 tracks, but she only wants 5 tracks to be used on her album.[11] She has also confirmed that she wants features on her songs, but only after she has recorded all of her songs.[10] Mz Bratt has also stated in various interviews that she would love to work with Chris Martin from Coldplay,[12] Labrinth[10][13] and Wretch 32[13] on her new album. That album was expected to be released in 2013, but never released.[10]
Personal life
Cleo's father was MC Scallywag from the early 1990s acid house sound system Spiral Tribe.
Discography
EPs
- 2015: Beauty For Ashes
Mixtapes
- 2007: Give It To Em, Vol. 1
- 2009: Give It To Em, Vol. 2
- 2011: Elements
Singles
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK |
UK Urban Chart | |||
| "I Like You" (featuring Sadie Ama) |
2009 | – | — | Give It to Em Vol 1 |
| "Who Do You Think You Are?" | – | — | ||
| "Selecta" | 2010 | – | — | Non-album singles |
| "Get Dark" | 2011 | – | — | |
| "Speeding" (featuring Dot Rotten) |
– | — | ||
| "Tear It All Down" | – | — | ||
| "Falling Down" (featuring Khalaeliah) |
2012 | – | — | TBA |
As featured artist
| Single | Year | Peak chart positions | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK | |||
| "Woman's World" (Selah featuring Sadie Ama and Mz Bratt) |
2010 | — | Non-album single |
| "Go Hard" (Fugative featuring Mz Bratt and Wiley) |
— | No Goin' Home | |
| "Game Over – Female Takeover" (Tinchy Stryder featuring Ruff Diamondz, Amplify Dot, Envy, CherriV, BabyBlue, RoxXxan, Lioness, Mz Bratt and Lady Leshurr) |
— | Non-album single | |
| "Teardrop" (as part of The Collective) |
2011 | 24 | Charity release |
| "Battle" (Danny Byrd) |
2013 | Golden Ticket |
Soundtrack appearances
| Song | Year | Artist(s) | Movie | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Ouch" | 2011 | Dionne Bromfield (featuring Mz Bratt) | Demons Never Die | [14] |
Filmography
- 2011 Anuvahood (as Shay)
References
- ↑ Guardian
- ↑ Munday, Matt (23 November 2011). "The grime of their lives | Latest News | Latest Breaking News". Daily Star. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
- ↑ "CLEO. on Twitter: Sometimes people ask me where did I get the slight tan from its confusing I'm mixed race I was born like this lol :s". Twitter.com. 12 December 2010. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
- ↑ "CLEO. on Twitter: @skitzbeatz I'm mixed race Aidz of course my hairs water proof lol, i have sheep hair". Twitter.com. 5 May 2011. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
- ↑ "Westwood – Wiley introducing the A-List (Radio 1)". YouTube. 4 March 2010.
- ↑ "Mz. Bratt Interview". femalefirst.co.uk. 23 July 2009. Retrieved 1 June 2011.
- ↑ http://uk.complex.com/music/2015/03/cleo-mz-bratt-beauty-for-ashes-ep
- ↑ "Mz Bratt – Falling Down Ft. Khalealiah". YouTube. 6 May 2012.
- ↑ "Mz Bratt – Falling Down (feat. Khalealiah) EP". iTunes. 6 May 2012.
- 1 2 3 4 "TaleTela Interview: Mz Bratt On Breaking The Industry". YouTube. 6 May 2012.
- ↑ "Mz Bratt – "Tracks For Album, Future Ambitions & Critiquing Her Music" Amaru Don TV". YouTube. 6 May 2012.
- ↑ "Mz Bratt interview with Marcus Bronzy (Part 2 of 2)". YouTube. 6 May 2012.
- 1 2 "The Sunday Show TV – Mz Bratt Interview". YouTube. 6 May 2012.
- ↑ "News: Stars Hit The Red Carpet For Demons Never Die Premiere". 4Music. 11 October 2011. Retrieved 1 November 2011.