Based in North London, the hip-hop trio N-Dubz creates impressive sounds and is arguably one of the largest hip-hop bands currently in the UK.
Dappy, the rapper, enjoys remote-controlled helicopters, while Richard ‘Frazer Rawson’ exudes confidence often strolling around without a shirt. Then there’s Tulisa Contostavlos, who manages both boys in the group.
They have become nearly impossible to overlook. With their NW postcode as inspiration, N-Dubz has achieved over 1.5 million record sales within the past year. Their catalog includes top 10 singles like I Need You and We Dance, sold-out tours, platinum albums, and more.
Dappy and Tulisa are cousins, with Frazer being their close friend. They’ve had their share of hotel destruction, drug allegations, and a few criminal records along the way. Tulisa claims to be the good one among them, insisting she keeps Dappy in check. While the group’s indulgences involve cigarettes and alcohol, she has never tried cocaine. It’s amusing that no one inquired about her drug use, which makes her denial puzzling.
However, I must concede that she presents herself as an articulate and warm individual. Grounded and quite sincere.
Having had her fair share of relationships, she asserts that all men are untrustworthy, even at just twenty-two. Tulisa claims she can never place her trust in men. She reportedly counted the condoms next to her boyfriend’s bed, and the numbers simply didn’t match. Well, it’s not as if all guys struggle with arithmetic. Despite her declaration of never falling in love, I can only respond with, ‘Never Say Never’.
Tulisa has been caring for her mother, who suffers from mental health issues. A BBC3 documentary titled Tulisa: My Mum And Me highlighted the difficult journey she faced as a child, caring for her mother who has a schizo-affective disorder, characterized by extreme highs and lows.
Dappy is a father to one child, with his girlfriend Kate expecting their second.
He claims he wishes to remain loyal, but finds it challenging when women throw themselves at him. Standing at just 5 feet 2 inches, he states he would end his relationship if his girlfriend cheated…ah, how charming.
Frazer boasts a diverse music selection on his iPod, featuring Phil Collins, Sting, and Fleetwood Mac, among others.
His dream is to create a song that remains popular even 25 years from now, which seems to be a fair way to measure a song’s success, especially when you’re already hitting that mark. And indeed, they have been quite successful.
Currently, Frazer has purchased a house in West London and is in the process of acquiring another in North London. He predicts that in a few years, he’ll own ten properties.
Having moved on from their troubling history, Frazer and Dappy have left their past behind. With tales of being shot and stabbed, it’s a typical urban experience of London life. However, what’s commendable is their commitment to breaking free from that lifestyle.
It’s fascinating how you can tell when a band has made it—the public’s curiosity peaks when the music alone no longer suffices.
N-Dubz delivers loud, chaotic, and in-your-face music…and honestly, there’s not much more to say than that.
by Wallace McTavish