NoLay
{{Short description|English rapper}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2013}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2013}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = NoLay
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| birth_name = Natalie Athanasiou{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/artist/286486-No-Lay|title=No Lay|website=Discogs.com|access-date=3 May 2017|archive-date=7 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170907034339/https://www.discogs.com/artist/286486-No-Lay|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.ascap.com/repertory#/ace/search/workID/917478882 |title=ALL I THINK ABOUT |website=ASCAP |publisher=American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers |access-date=May 1, 2023}}
| alias = {{flatlist|
- Isabella
- Bella Gotti
}}
| birth_date =
| origin = Croydon & Wellington , London, England
| genre = {{flatlist|
}}
| occupation = {{flatlist|
- Rapper
- songwriter
- Actress
- Business woman
}}
| years_active = 2003–present
| label =
| associated_acts = Plan B, Palina Rojinski, Casisdead, Tricky, Mobb Deep
| website = {{URL|https://www.Nolay.world}}
}}
Natalie Athanasiou, known professionally as NoLay, Isabella, and Bella Gotti, is an English rapper of Greek-Cypriot and Caribbean background.{{cite web|title=theguardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2008/jul/16/urban.hattiecollins|website=Theguardian.com|date=16 July 2008|access-date=15 December 2016|archive-date=23 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170623094014/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2008/jul/16/urban.hattiecollins|url-status=live}}
Career
NoLay first contributed as a member of a grime music collective called Unorthodox. Unorthodox released "No Help or Handouts" in 2004,{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Unorthodox-No-Help-Or-Handouts/release/2497142|title=Unorthodox (4) - No Help Or Handouts|website=Discogs.com|access-date=12 June 2017|archive-date=7 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170907033206/https://www.discogs.com/Unorthodox-No-Help-Or-Handouts/release/2497142|url-status=live}} which grabbed the attention of major labels, leading to NoLay's first solo release, "Unorthodox Daughter".{{cite web|title=GRM Daily|url=http://grmdaily.com/artist/no-lay/|website=GRM Daily|date=30 November 2020|access-date=6 December 2014|archive-date=6 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150206031928/http://grmdaily.com/artist/no-lay/|url-status=live}} The track was included on Warner imprint label 679 Recordings' Run the Road compilation (2005) showcasing UK grime and featuring Dizzee Rascal, Wiley, Kano and others. The label also released a vinyl to record shops with just Plan B and Nolay on it to promote the release. Run the Road's success led 679 to release a second volume in 2006 on which Nolay features again with her track "Unorthodox Chick".{{cite web|title=Nolay unorthodox|url=http://www.iamnolay.com/bio/|website=Iamnolay.com|access-date=15 November 2014|archive-date=21 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220221085100/http://www.iamnolay.com/bio/|url-status=live}}
NoLay has opened for Mobb Deep and the Infamous Mobb.{{cite web|url=http://grimedisciple.com/2014/04/26/bella-gotti-aka-nolay-interview/ |title=Bella Gotti aka Nolay Interview | Following and showcasing the best in Grime music |website=grimedisciple.com |access-date=17 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150128111414/http://grimedisciple.com/2014/04/26/bella-gotti-aka-nolay-interview/ |archive-date=28 January 2015 |url-status=dead}} She toured Europe with Australian electronic rock group The Bumblebeez and featured on their 2006 track "Fuck Disco".{{cite web|url=http://www.45cat.com/record/modvl049|title=Bumblebeez - Black Dirt|website=45cat.com|access-date=12 June 2017|archive-date=2 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171202084038/http://www.45cat.com/record/modvl049|url-status=live}} In 2009 NoLay guested on Mongrel's Better Than Heavy album. She also featured on Tricky's 2014 album Adrian Thaws, and toured Europe with him.
In 2013, she appeared in a drama on Channel 4 called Top Boy, playing the character Mandy. Mandy was the girlfriend of leading character Dris and the mother of his child.{{cite web |url=http://bellagotti.com/biography/ |title=Biography — Bella Gotti |website=bellagotti.com |access-date=17 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140805124520/http://bellagotti.com/biography/ |archive-date=5 August 2014 |url-status=dead}}{{cite web |url=http://www.mobo.com/news-blogs/septembers-biggest-underground-releases-lady-leshurrnolayizzy-bizujoel-baker |title=SEPTEMBer's BIGGEST UNDERGROUND RELEASES: Lady Leshurr, NoLay, Izzy Bizu, Joel Baker | MOBO Awards |website=www.mobo.com |access-date=17 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130929225622/http://www.mobo.com/news-blogs/septembers-biggest-underground-releases-lady-leshurrnolayizzy-bizujoel-baker |archive-date=29 September 2013 |url-status=dead}}
After a dozen EP and mixtape releases over the course of a decade, NoLay released the album This Woman in 2017, previewed by a video for track "Dancing With The Devil", which focused on domestic violence.{{cite web|url=http://www.factmag.com/2017/02/14/nolay-confronts-domestic-violence-in-powerful-new-video-dancing-with-the-devil/|title=South London MC NoLay confronts domestic violence in powerful new video 'Dancing with the Devil'|date=14 February 2017|website=Factmag.com|access-date=12 June 2017|archive-date=7 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170907033435/http://www.factmag.com/2017/02/14/nolay-confronts-domestic-violence-in-powerful-new-video-dancing-with-the-devil/|url-status=live}} Nolay also released a video in July 2017 for the track "Marching", also lifted from her March 2017 release This Woman.
In 2021, NOW Entertainment Magazine reported that Nolay had released a new song, "Gang Shit," from her seven-track hip-hop/rap album titled Kalas.{{cite web|url=https://www.nowentertainment.net/nolay-drops-new-fire-music-gang-shit|title=NoLay Drops New Fire Music "Gang Sh*t"|website=NOW Entertainment|date=January 24, 2021|access-date=21 February 2022|archive-date=10 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220210162545/https://www.nowentertainment.net/nolay-drops-new-fire-music-gang-shit|url-status=live}}
Explaining her name, NoLay says: "It comes from the times when I was younger. It's like you know referring to not procrastinating and wasting time. Just get to it and also take nothing lying down. Where I come from back then and even now people say No lay lay which means no hesitation. So one day a friend of mine from Peckham said I should call myself No lay."{{cite web |url=http://www.britishblackmusic.com/index.php?option=com_resource&controller=article&article=354&category_id=9&Itemid=27 |title=BritishBlackMusic |website=www.britishblackmusic.com |access-date=17 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150206031109/http://www.britishblackmusic.com/index.php?option=com_resource&controller=article&article=354&category_id=9&Itemid=27 |archive-date=6 February 2015 |url-status=dead}} In 2014 NoLay changed her name to Bella Gotti,{{cite web|title=Nolay changes her name|url=http://sbtv.co.uk/2014/06/bella-gotti-sbtv-interview/|website=Sbtv.com|access-date=15 November 2014|archive-date=6 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141206030812/http://sbtv.co.uk/2014/06/bella-gotti-sbtv-interview/|url-status=live}} but then changed her name back, to stay true to her original fanbase. She has explained in interviews that her alias is an alter ego, similar to Eminem's Marshall Mathers and Slim Shady, or Jay Z's Jigga and Jay Hova.{{cn|date=November 2024}}
Style
NoLay is known for her gritty rhymes and wordplay that have garnered comparisons to MC Ghetts, with whom she has collaborated, but to whom she doesn't believe herself to be similar: "I used to be described as 'the female version of Ghetts'; how do you know Ghetts isn't the male version of me?"{{cite web|url=http://www.thefader.com/2017/04/17/nolay-interview-this-woman|title=How Nolay Found The Strength To Speak Up For Women Everywhere|website=Thefader.com|access-date=3 May 2017|archive-date=20 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170420031441/http://www.thefader.com/2017/04/17/nolay-interview-this-woman|url-status=live}}{{Cite web | url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/riannaturner/2021/02/03/uk-rapper-nolay-returns-to-music-with-kalas-ep/?sh=6e4990718bfe | title=UK Rapper NoLay Returns To Music With 'Kalas' EP | website=Forbes | language=en | accessdate=2022-05-11 | archive-date=11 May 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220511070052/https://www.forbes.com/sites/riannaturner/2021/02/03/uk-rapper-nolay-returns-to-music-with-kalas-ep/?sh=6e4990718bfe | url-status=live }}
Personal life
On 24 April 2016, NoLay was involved in a car accident that saw her hospitalized.{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/article/36127164/grime-mc-nolay-in-critical-condition-after-car-accident|title=Grime MC NoLay in 'critical condition' after car accident - BBC Newsbeat|first=Amelia|last=Butterly|date=25 April 2016|website=Bbc.co.uk|access-date=12 June 2016|archive-date=1 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160501212622/http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/article/36127164/grime-mc-nolay-in-critical-condition-after-car-accident|url-status=live}}
Discography
;Singles
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
!Year !Song !References |
| rowspan="3" | 2005
| "Unorthodox Daughter" | - |
| "Unorthodox Chick"
| - |
| "Angels & Fly" [High Contrast ft. Nolay]
| - |
| 2007
| "Things Could Get Ugly" | - |
| 2008
| "Bars of Truth" | - |
| rowspan="3" | 2012
| "Anarchy" (engineered at That SP Studios) | {{Cite web|date=25 May 2022|title=NoLay Anarchy|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdqYSFkLXYw|url-status=live|website=YouTube|access-date=25 May 2022|archive-date=25 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220525101246/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdqYSFkLXYw}}{{Cite web|date=25 Mar 2022|title=NoLay Anarchy|url=https://www.shojon.cool/engineer-credits|url-status=live|website=Shojon|access-date=25 May 2022|archive-date=29 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220829172747/https://www.shojon.cool/engineer-credits}} |
| "The War"
| - |
| "Off With Ya Head"
| - |
| rowspan="3" | 2013
| "Because I Like It" | - |
| "Talking Money"
| - |
| "The Jungle (ft. Ghetts)"
| - |
| rowspan="4" | 2014
| "Floating" | - |
| "Ya Done Know"
| - |
| "Don't Stop" (ft. P Money & Blacks)
| - |
| "Holy Sinners" (Dot Rotten)
| - |
| rowspan="5" | 2015
| "Legendary" | - |
| "Netflix and Pills" |
| "Van Gogh"
| - |
| "Bloodstream"
| - |
| "Everybody Die"
| - |
| rowspan="2" | 2016
| "Gotta Love It" (w/ Kid D) |
| "Have You Forgotten" |
| 2020
| "Corn" | - |
| 2021
| "Gang Sh*t" | - |
| 2023
| "Rent Free" | - |
| 2023
| "Shade" | - |
;Mixtapes and albums
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
! Year ! Title ! References |
| 2007
| The New Chapter (hosted by SK Vibemaker) | - |
| 2008
| No Comparisons | - |
| 2009
| Big Trouble in Little London (hosted by SK Vibemaker) | - |
| 2011
| I am Legend (hosted by DJ Limelight) | - |
| 2012
| I am Legend II (hosted by DJ Limelight) | - |
| 2013
| Cuts & Salt | - |
| 2014
| Holy Sinners | - |
| 2017
| This Woman | - |
;EPs
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
! Year ! Title ! References |
| 2011
| He Said, She Said: I Am Bad | - |
| 2011
| Drop Me Out | - |
| 2012
| Flowcaine | - |
| 2012
| Rebellion | - |
| 2014
| Holy Sinners | - |
| 2016
| Grime, Guts & Glory (with Kid D) | - |
| 2017
| This Woman | - |
| 2021
| Kalas | - |
;Guest appearances
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
! Year ! Title ! References |
| 2006
| "Black Dirt"/"Fuck Disco" (ft. NoLay) single by The Bumblebeez, 1 track | - |
| 2008
| Low Deep - Star (ft. NoLay) album, Unsung, 1 track | - |
| 2009
| Better Than Heavy album, Mongrel, 2 tracks | - |
| 2014
| Adrian Thaws album, Tricky, 2 tracks | - |
| 2020
| Brave album, JOYRYDE, 1 track | - |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.bet.com/article/depf8e/uk-hip-hop-maven-nolay-s-new-album-is-a-brilliant-testament BET interview, 2017]
- [https://www.vice.com/en/article/nolay-interview-2017-activism-this-woman/ Vice interview, 2017]
- [http://www.thefader.com/2017/04/17/nolay-interview-this-woman Fader interview, 2017]
{{Authority control}}
Category:Rappers from the London Borough of Croydon
Category:English women rappers
Category:Black British women rappers