Ms Dynamite's explosive debut notches Mercury Music Prize

	Review by Jack Foley

RAPPER Ms Dynamite won the coveted Mercury Music Prize 2002 at a glittering ceremony at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel on Tuesday night (September 17, 2002), beating off strong competition from the likes of David Bowie, Doves and The Electric Soft Parade.

The 21-year-old musician, who grew up around the crime-ridden estates of north London, said she was shocked to have won the £20,000 award, but immediately confessed that she would give it away to a more worthwhile cause.

Ms Dynamite, whose real name is Niomi Mclean-Daley, received her prize from jazz player Courtney Pine and was initially speechless.

The artist, whose debut album, A Little Deeper, has already spawned the hit singles, It Takes More and Dy-na-mi-tee, was not among the favourites to win, but eventually said she was honoured.

One of 11 children, Ms Dynamite has become the first solo black female artist to win the prize, and readily confesses that her rise to stardom has been both meteoric and surprising.

At the age of 13, her mother, a primary school teacher from north London, developed cancer, and she had to help bring up her younger brother and sister, while juggling her education, but went on achieve nine GCSEs and three A-levels.

She first became involved with music when a man who ran a pirate radio station offered her a weekly MC slot, while her first big break was given to her by south London garage outfit, So Solid Crew, for whom she also MC-ed. Her collaboration with So Solid led to further projects with the likes of Eminem, before she eventually branched out with her acclaimed solo album.

Other contenders for the Prize included The Streets and Gemma Hayes.