LoLa Monroe
{{Use American English|date=March 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2023}}
{{Short description|American rapper and actress}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = LoLa Monroe
| birth_name = Fershgenet Melaku
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1986|10|23}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/LolaMonroe/profile|title=Lola Monroe|website=HotNewHipHop|date=January 20, 2012 }}
| birth_place = Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| origin = Washington, D.C., U.S.
| genre = Hip hop
| occupation = Rapper, actress
| years_active = 2005–present
| label = Blue Rose Entertainment, Taylor Gang (former)
| associated_acts = Wiz Khalifa, Trina, Juicy J, Los, Kid Ink, Chevy Woods, Lil Boosie, Mark Battles, Blasco Says
| spouse = King Los
}}
Fershgenet Melaku (born October 23, 1986), better known as LoLa Monroe and previously known as Angel Melaku, is an American rapper and actress.
Early life
Melaku was born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and raised in Washington D.C. She is of Ethiopian descent.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bet.com/article/0i5tng/lola-monroe-welcomes-baby-boy|title=Lola Monroe Welcomes Baby Boy|website=BET.com}}{{cite web|title=HerStory|url=http://theeofficiallolamonroe.ning.com/page/herstory|publisher=TheeOfficialLoLaMonroe|access-date=June 25, 2012|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130110052331/http://theeofficiallolamonroe.ning.com/page/herstory|archive-date=January 10, 2013|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|title=HerStory|url=http://femalerappers.net/lola-monroe-says-she-comes-from-royalty-in-ethiopia/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131031233655/http://femalerappers.net/lola-monroe-says-she-comes-from-royalty-in-ethiopia/|archive-date=October 31, 2013|access-date=April 24, 2015|url-status=live}} She began writing poems and songs at the age of 12.{{cite web |url=http://www.upandcomingmagazine.com/2011/lola-monroe-a-triple-threat-thats-going-to-go-far/ |publisher=Up and Coming Magazine online |title=Lola Monroe: A Triple Threat That is Going to Go Far |access-date=March 25, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120623144612/http://www.upandcomingmagazine.com/2011/lola-monroe-a-triple-threat-thats-going-to-go-far/ |archive-date=June 23, 2012 |url-status=dead }}
Career
Monroe made her acting debut in the Wendy Williams biopic Queen of Media and later acted in Crazy like a Fox. She began modeling and appearing in music videos for various artists such as Kanye West and Trey Songz.{{Cite web|url=https://theboxhouston.com/1483961/hip-hops-top-10-video-vixens-of-the-last-decade-video/|title=Hip-Hop's Top 10 Video Vixens Of The Last Decade|date=August 18, 2010}} She later became LoLa Monroe in 2007; "Monroe" is a reference to the actress, model, film producer and singer Marilyn Monroe.[http://www.dmvlife.com/lolamonroe.html Lola Monroe]. Dmvlife.com. Retrieved on May 21, 2012.
In June 2009, Monroe released her first mixtape, Boss Bitch's World. Her second mixtape, The Lola Monroe Chronicles: The Art of Motivation, was issued in October. She also released her collaboration mixtape Untouchables later the same year.[http://www.datpiff.com/Lola-Monroe-Dj-Fletch-Lola-Monroe-Lil-Boosie-The-Untouchab-mixtape.159567.html Lola Monroe, Lil Boosie – Dj Fletch, Lola Monroe, Lil Boosie – The Untouchables Hosted by Dj Fletch // Free Mixtape @]. Datpiff.com. Retrieved on May 21, 2012.
In September 2010, Monroe released her mixtape's first single, "Overtime". A video for the song was also recorded and premiered on 106 & Park. In December 2010, LoLa released her fourth mixtape, Batteries Not Included.[http://www.datpiff.com/LoLa-Monroe-Batteries-Not-Included-mixtape.176482.html LoLa Monroe – Batteries Not Included Hosted by DJ Holiday // Free Mixtape @]. Datpiff.com. Retrieved on May 21, 2012.
Monroe was nominated for Best Female Hip Hop Artist at the BET Awards of 2011.[http://www.rap-up.com/2011/05/17/and-the-bet-awards-2011-nominees-are/ Chris Brown Leads BET Awards 2011 Nominations]. Rap-Up.com (May 17, 2011). Retrieved on 2012-05-21.
In October 2011, Monroe was announced as Taylor Gang's first lady, and signed to the label. Her first mixtape to be released under the label was Lipstick & Pistols. After many push backs, the mixtape released on October 23, 2013.{{citation needed|date=November 2021}}
On September 4, 2013, she released her debut single "B.B. (Boss Bitch)" featuring Chevy Woods and Juicy J, produced by Sledgren and supposed to be on her debut album. Then on September 19, she along with producer Cardo left Taylor Gang and dismissed their affiliation with the label.{{Cite web|url=https://www.xxlmag.com/news/2013/09/lola-monroe-cardo-longer-affiliated-taylor-gang/|title=LoLa Monroe And Cardo Are No Longer Affiliated With Taylor Gang – XXL|first=Dan|last=Rys|website=XXL Mag|date=September 13, 2013 }} LoLa Monroe later confirmed that she had never signed to the label in the first place.{{Cite web|url=https://www.xxlmag.com/news/2013/10/lola-monroe-confirms-never-signed-taylor-gang/|title=LoLa Monroe Confirms She Was Never Signed To Taylor Gang – XXL|first=B. J.|last=Steiner|website=XXL Mag|date=October 2013 }}
Artists who have influenced her musical style include Jay-Z, MC Lyte, Trina, Salt-n-Pepa, Lauryn Hill and Tupac Shakur.
Personal life
On December 25, 2012, Monroe announced that she and rapper King Los were expecting their first child together.{{cite web | url=http://rapradar.com/2012/12/26/los-lola-monore-expecting-baby/ | title=Los & Lola Monore Expecting Baby | work=Rap Radar | date=December 26, 2012 | access-date=December 26, 2012 | author=Dot, B.}} She gave birth to a boy in March 2013.{{Cite web|url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.23193/title.lola-monroe-los-release-photograph-of-newborn-son-|title=Lola Monroe & Los Release Photograph Of Newborn Son | Get The Latest Hip Hop News, Rap News & Hip Hop Album Sales | HipHop DX|date=March 15, 2013 }}{{Cite web|url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.23193/title.lola-monroe-los-welcome-first-child-a-baby-boy|title=Lola Monroe & Los Release Photograph Of Newborn Son | Get The Latest Hip Hop News, Rap News & Hip Hop Album Sales | HipHop DX}}
Discography
= Mixtapes =
- Boss Bitch's World (2009)
- The Lola Monroe Chronicles: The Art of Motivation (2009)
- Untouchables (with Lil Boosie) (2009)
- Batteries Not Included (2010)
- Lipstick & Pistols (2013)
- Boss Bitch's World 2 (2013)
= Singles =
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+ List of singles, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:20em;" | Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Year ! scope="col" colspan="3" | Peak chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Album |
| style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"|US
!style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"|US !style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"|US |
|---|
| scope="row"|"Diva's Gettin' Money" (featuring Beyoncé) | 2009 | — || — || — |Boss Bitch's World |
| scope="row"|"Overtime" (featuring Trina) | 2010 | — || — || — |Batteries Not Included |
| scope="row"|"Darling" (featuring Wiz Khalifa) |rowspan="3"|2012 | — || — || — |{{n/a}} |
| scope="row"|"Dark Red Lipstick" (featuring Azealia Banks) | — || — || — |rowspan="2"|Lipstick & Pistols |
| scope="row"|"Don't Wake Me"
| — || — || — |
| scope="row"|"B.B. (Boss Bitch)" (featuring Chevy Woods & Juicy J) |rowspan="2"|2013 | — || — || — |{{n/a}} |
| scope="row"|"Band Up"
| — || — || — |Lipstick & Pistols |
| colspan="14" style="font-size:90%"| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. |
= Guest appearances =
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1"
|+ List of non-single guest appearances, with other performing artists, showing year released and album name ! scope="col" style="width:19em;" | Title ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Other artist(s) ! scope="col" | Album |
| scope="row"| "Get Ya Haters Up"
| 2010 | rowspan="3"| King Los | Shooter |
|---|
| scope="row"| "King Los"
| 2011 | The Crown Aint Safe |
| scope="row"| "Balance Is Good"
| 2015 |
| scope="row"| "Shine"
| rowspan="9"| 2012 | rowspan="2"| Gang Land |
| scope="row"| "Transit"
| Chevy Woods |
| scope="row"| "The Code" |
| scope="row"| "Lick It (U Nasty)"
| Kid Ink |
| scope="row"| "Bonnie & Clyde/Louis Gucci Fendi"
| Los | 2010 |
| scope="row"| "Rain"
| Dew Baby | Dew Jack City |
| scope="row"| "Actin Up" (Remix)
| {{n/a}} |
| scope="row"| "Like Mine"
| Berner, Wiz Khalifa | Urban Farmer |
| scope="row"| "Initiation" |
| scope="row"| "All Gold All Girls" (Remix){{Cite web|url=http://rapradar.com/2013/01/24/new-music-cassie-ft-trina-x-lola-monroe-all-gold-all-girls-remix/|title=New Music: Cassie Ft. Trina x Lola Monroe "All Gold All Girls (Remix)"|website=Rap Radar|date=January 24, 2013 }}
| rowspan="1"| 2013 |Cassie, Trina |{{n/a}} |
| scope="row"| "But You Playin"
| 2014 | Los, Mario |
| scope="row"| "Thug Love"
| 2015 | Kevin McCall, Constantine |
Filmography
| class="wikitable" |
| style="text-align:center;"
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Year ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Film ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Role ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Notes |
| 2009
|Mona |
| 2010
|Crazy Like a Fox |Angelique Dubois |
| 2010
|Video Girl |Jessica |Full-length film |
| 2017
| The Platinum Life | Herself | Main cast |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|03701883}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Monroe, Lola}}
Category:Actresses from Washington, D.C.
Category:African-American actresses
Category:Female models from Washington, D.C.
Category:Ethiopian emigrants to the United States
Category:Rappers from Washington, D.C.
Category:21st-century American rappers
Category:African-American women rappers
Category:21st-century African-American women
Category:21st-century African-American musicians
Category:20th-century African-American people