Loretta Lambert

From Urapopstar
Jump to navigationJump to search
Loretta Lambert
Background information
Birth name Loretta Natalie Lambert
Also known as Retta, LL, Lady Elle
Genres R&B, hip-hop, electro, soul, urban pop
Occupation(s) Singer, rapper, producer
Instruments Vocals
Years active 2006 - present
Labels Tigerstar Records (Apr/2006–Jul/2007)
Elite Entertainment (Aug/2007–Apr/2009)
Wired (May/2009–Oct/2011)
Associated acts Birds of Prey
KENYA
INTOXICATED
Syd Wolfe
Jack Stevens

Loretta Lambert is an American singer, songwriter, rapper and producer. Initially known for her moderate R&B-heavy hits, including an Uraps-Award-nominated collaboration with pop group INTOXICATED and the Tango Challenge entry 'Hit The Road', Lambert turned tables around with a revamped image and sound, including a newfound rapping talent, that took her to the top of the charts in the second semester of 2009.

After a string of hit collaborations in 2010, Lambert has faded from the public eye. After a failed first single as member of duo Birds of Prey in late 2011, the star remained recluse until September 2012, when Help A Sista Out was released.

Early Life[edit | edit source]

Loretta Lambert was born in Houston, Texas, to Patricia Lambert (née Williams), a paralegal, and Charles Magnus Lambert III, bass player of great success in the 70s as a tour guitarist for various Motown acts. Loretta has one younger brother, Charlie, who is a music producer.

Lambert's parents split in 1989, which led to her spending a lot of time under the care of her maternal grandmother, Nicole. Ms Williams would take her granddaughter to perform to entertain clients at her hairsalon and that eventually led to Loretta wanting to pursue a career in singing. Despite Patricia's reservations on the matter, Loretta eventually joined a R&B group from the Houston area in 1996, but after three cancelled singles and a shelved album with Elektra Records in 1999, the girls went their separate ways.

After starting a Computer Science major in the University of California (UCLA), Lambert eventually dropped out of college to try to get a deal. She started performing at jazz cafés, soul clubs, parties and appeared as model/dancer on music videos and events but had at one point to work as a waitress to support herself. In 2004, she met Kieran "Derrty Kawboy" Davis, a rapper/producer, who would sign Lambert to a production deal with his small label.

2006-07: All Eyes On Me[edit | edit source]

Davis eventually managed to get Lambert's demo to Jonathan "JR" Rotem, who thought that Lambert had talent but would "be the odd chick out" on his label's all-male Hop-Hop roster, Beluga Heights. Instead, the producer put Lambert and Davis in touch with George of the3stars fame, R&B/pop group which spearheaded the A&R section at Tigerstar. Looking to compete in the street-savvy R&B market of the time, Loretta Lambert was signed to a deal.

Produced by Rotem, All Eyes On Me was chosen as the lead single and the infectious pole-dancing anthem saw Lambert embrace her animal and sexy side on its accompanying video and promotional appearances. Released in April 2006, the song eventually charted at #10 for over 3 weeks in the United Kingdom, however the album of the same name missed the Top 10 spot by a small margin at #11.

Another JR-produced single followed and L.U.S.T. proved another Top 10 hit in the UK at #9 on July. The singer then went on to a small club tour before being approached for another project.

The 5 Naughty Angels[edit | edit source]

After her second single peaked within the Top 10, Lambert's record label promoted the interest of many female labelmates to go on tour together; sparked from that, Lambert, Christine Tyler, Hélène Schneider, Dalisay and Vernie started hanging out as a clique within the industry and were working with each other in different projects, such as Vernie's Music Is My Lover (5 Naughty Angels Remix).

The group headlined a small worldwide tour of great success from October to December 2006. Soon after that, internal tension and label management problems (namely, Christine Tyler's desire to be released and start her own label, Wired Records) led to the girls drifting apart before any official recordings could be released.

All Eyes On Me: Special Edition[edit | edit source]

After the cancelling of single Remember It Hurts on October, Tigerstar opted for a re-release to reignite sales of her debut album. Seizing the opportunity, Loretta applied herself to the 2nd edition of the Tango Challenge in 2007; partnered with wonky pop singer Heather, their single Hit The Road ended up being a critical success for it's jazz-pop-rap fusion. The mix of genres also paid off on the chart, boasting Loretta higher in the Top 10, at #6.

A year after her chart debut, in April 2007, Lambert finally had a taste of Top 3 through her collaboration with girlgroup INTOXICATED, featuring Pop/R&B hit LadyLike and hard-hitting urban stomper from Lambert's debut Pass Us By. The double-A single charted at #3 and it was their apt door-kicking entrance to the "Urapopstar Awards Club" for all involved; Lambert was nominated Best R&B and Best Collab at the 14th ceremony.

In September she re-released Remember It Hurts as a double-A side with fan-favorite For A Lifetime which charted at #7, enraging fellow popstars who thought Lambert did scare promotion and was resting on her laurels too much.

It was during this period that Lambert's career as a producer/DJ took off with many artists requesting her trademark Screwed & Chopped remixes for their songs. Eventually, Loretta started trying her luck at rapping on some recordings before finally

2008-10:nitty grrritty[edit | edit source]

2011-12:Birds of Prey[edit | edit source]

main article: Birds of Prey

Collaborations[edit | edit source]

Personal life[edit | edit source]

Awards and achievements[edit | edit source]

Discography[edit | edit source]

Albums[edit | edit source]

2006: All Eyes On Me --- #11 Platinum
2009: nitty grrritty --- #1 3xPlatinum

Singles[edit | edit source]

2006: All Eyes On Me --- #10
2006: L.U.S.T. --- #9
2007: Hit The Road (with Heather) --- #6
2007: Pass Us By/LadyLike (with INTOXICATED) --- #3
2007: Remember It Hurts/For A Lifetime --- #7
2009: Break It Off --- #1 Platinum
2009: Bark For The Bitch (Woof Woof!) --- #2 Gold

Other appearances[edit | edit source]

2009: Play The Game (Schizophonic's Retro Disco Remix) - SAVE URAPS --- #1
2009: Boyfriend - Syd Wolfe feat. Loretta Lambert --- #6
2009: Hold Fire - SAVE URAPS --- #4
2009: Rock With You - Amy Marshall & Loretta Lambert - from the Michael Jackson tribute record The King of Pop: A Tribute to HIStory
2009: Smash Some Windows (Urban Remix) - Violetta DiNozzo feat. Syd Wolfe & Loretta Lambert --- #3
2009: False Hopes - Esmeralda Dimuzio & Loretta Lambert
2010: Nitty Gritty (Praise You Remix) - DAMNED feat. Saffiyah and Loretta Lambert --- #2
2010: Jack 4 Justice - Jack Stevens feat. Loretta Lambert --- #1
2010: White Bitches (Pat My Weave) - KENYA feat. Loretta Lambert --- #2
2010: Tangoette - Riley Brendan feat. Loretta Lambert
2011: One More Chance (Screwed & Chopped Remix) - Nicholas X feat. Loretta Lambert
2012: Help A Sista Out - Aurora Reed feat. MIDNIGHT and Loretta Lambert --- TBR