Estelle
Estelle in 2011
Background information
Born	Estelle Fanta Swaray (1980-01-18)18 January 1980 (age 45) London, England
Genres	R&B[1] hip-hop[2] grime reggae dance[3]
Occupations	Rapper singer songwriter actress
Works	Estelle discography
Years active	2000–present
Labels	VP Est. 1980 BMG Warner Atlantic Mama's Boys Music Homeschool V2 Universal
Member of	Black Jays

Estelle Fanta Swaray (born 18 January 1980), also knownmononymously asEstelle, is a British rapper, singer, and songwriter. She is known for her eclectic blending of musical genres includingR&B,soul,reggae,grime,hip-hop, anddance.^[3] She has collaborated with prominent American artists includingChris Brown,Kanye West,will.i.am,Nas,Akon,Tyler, the Creator,Robin Thicke, andRick Ross, among others.^[4][5]

After signing withV2 Records, Estelle released her debut studio albumThe 18th Day (2004). A moderate critical and commercial success, it peaked at number 35 on theUK Albums Chart. She then signed with American singerJohn Legend's Homeschool Records, in a joint venture withAtlantic Records to release her second album,Shine (2008), which effectively tailored to international audiences by entering the USBillboard 200, as well as other worldwide charts. It was preceded by the single "American Boy" (featuring Kanye West), which peaked atop theUK Singles Chart, peaked at number nine on theBillboard Hot 100, and won aGrammy Award for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration. Her third album,All of Me (2012) solely entered American and Australian charts, and was supported by the single "Thank You"—which received a Grammy Award nomination forBest R&B Performance. The album served as her final release on a major label.

Estelle provided both the speaking and singing voice for the characterGarnet in the animated seriesSteven Universe (2013–2019), a role she reprised inSteven Universe: The Movie (2019) andSteven Universe Future (2019–2020).^[6] She also madecameo appearances in the filmsBeyond the Lights (2014) andGirls Trip (2017), and appeared as Linda in theNetflix original filmFatal Affair (2020). Estelle hosts and presentsThe Estelle Show onApple Music,^[7] which has run for over 500 episodes.

Swaray was born and raised inHammersmith, London.^[8] Her mother's family came fromDakar, Senegal, and her father's family comes fromGrenada. She is the eldest of nine children. Swaray's parents were very religious when she was growing up, andsecular music was not allowed in the family's home. Instead, spiritual music—particularly American gospel—and West African music were what Swaray grew up listening to. However, she would sometimes listen to hip hop when not at home.^[9]

She spent her childhood listening to her parents' reggae records and her aunt's soul collection before discovering hip hop. "I got into hip hop from my uncle; he was always playing usKool G Rap andBig Daddy Kane; he was a bad boy and my mum wasn't really happy that I was hanging out with him".^[10] By the time she was in her early 20s, she had decided on a music career. She used to be ananny before she began her music career.

Estelle got her start in London's renowned hip-hop record store Deal Real. Her fellow employees encouraged her to take a chance and get on the mic on-stage; soon she was playing numerous London clubs and appearing with the likes of Manuva andRodney P. Local heroSkitz asked her to appear on his 2001 album,Countryman, and soon she landed on albums by artists such asThe 57th Dynasty andBlak Twang. She made her solo debut in 2003 with the 12" "Excuse Me", released on the label Paradise Isle.^[11]

Her career got a jump-start in the early 2000s when she happened to seeKanye West sitting in a restaurant while on a trip to Los Angeles. Estelle approached Kanye, introduced herself and asked for an introduction toJohn Legend. She eventually got that introduction, and Legend eventually helped produce two songs on her debut album,^[12]The 18th Day, which was released in the UK in October 2004.^[9] Her breakthrough track came when "1980" was released by the V2 label and reached number 14 on theUK Singles Chart. A street-level mixtape series calledDa Heat and further 12"s like "Free" and "Go Gone" helped build a loyal following, and Estelle gave back to the UK hip hop scene by forming her own Stellarents label to sign new artists. The album was a modest success, debuting at No. 35 on the UK albums chart, and generating two top 20 singles. She received aMOBO (Music of Black Origin) Award in the UK for Best Newcomer.^[9][11]

Three years later, US R&B singerJohn Legend announced that Estelle would be the first signee to his HomeSchool label, distributed byAtlantic in the US. Four years afterThe 18th Day's release, Estelle returned with her second album,Shine. Though it was her second album, it was the first to be released in the US and her major-label debut.

Kanye West,Swizz Beatz,Wyclef Jean,Will.i.am,Mark Ronson andCeeLo Green andJack Splash all worked on the album, which was executive produced byJohn Legend. "Her sound is a unique blend of hip hop, R&B, reggae and soul," explains Legend. "She has a special voice, unlike any other voice out there in mainstream music, and she can really write. She writes hip lyrics with unforgettable melodies. I recognised that in her when I first worked with her in 2004." He continues, "I'm excited and honored to have Estelle as the first artist on my label, Homeschool Records. I believe the world is going to fall in love with her album, as I already have. Estelle is an amazing talent, and she's going to do big things."^[13]

The lead single, "Wait a Minute (Just a Touch)", released in November 2007. In 2008, Estelle rose to fame with her collaboration with rapperKanye West, titled "American Boy". This song reached the top 10 in many countries worldwide, including the United States and Canada, as well as achieving number-one status on theUK Singles Chart.^[14][15] and in Belgium^[16] and Israel. The song won many awards worldwide, includingBest Rap/Sung Collaboration at the51st Grammy Awards; it was also nominated forSong of the Year. It is rumored to be inspired byAmerican comedy writer Sam Means after the artist met him near a plane. "American Boy" was Number 7 onRolling Stone's list of the 100 Best Songs of 2008.^[17] The song was nominated for the 2009Brit Award for Best British Single, and Estelle was also nominated for Best British Female Artist.^[18]Shine was released following the single onJohn Legend's HomeSchool label, reaching the albums chart in most countries worldwide, including number 6 in theUK.^[14]Shine sold enough copies to be certified gold by theBritish Phonographic Industry, and was one of the twelve albums shortlisted for the prestigious 2008Mercury Music Prize.Shine was certified Gold in the UK, denoting 100,000 copies sold. The album had sold 233,000 copies in the United States as of January 2012.^[19]Estelle also released a single with American rapperBusta Rhymes called "World Go Round", from his albumBack on My B.S., which was released on 19 May 2009. In February 2009, the song "Star" was released; it is also used forCrystal Light commercials. In 2009, Estelle started working on her upcoming third studio album,All of Me. Estelle made a cameo appearance in the video for new starMr Hudson for his single "Supernova". Estelle made an appearance on 11 August 2009 episode ofThe Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien. She performed the song "Good Girls Go Bad" with Cobra Starship inLeighton Meester's absence. Estelle also appears on the song "Rollacoasta", co-written by her and American singer-songwriterRobin Thicke; the song appears on his album,Sex Therapy.

Estelle confirmed her third album would be titledAll of Me. The album was originally led by the single "Freak", featuringKardinal Offishall and produced byDavid Guetta. The video premiered on her website on 26 February 2010.^[20] The original second single from the album was announced as being "Fall in Love", which featured versions featuringNas andJohn Legend. Due to the underperformance of both "Freak" and "Fall in Love", both songs were ultimately left off the final track listing forAll of Me.^[21] However, "Freak" was featured on both theStep Up 3D soundtrack and the reissue ofDavid Guetta's albumOne Love, titledOne More Love. In 2010, Estelle also modelled atNaomi Campbell's Fashion For Relief runway show for The White Ribbon Alliance to raise funds for mothers in Haiti. She was also featured onReflection Eternal's new album with the song Midnight Hour and last track ofGucci Mane's albumThe Appeal: Georgia's Most Wanted.

In 2011, it was announced that "Break My Heart", featuringRick Ross, would be released as the new lead single fromAll of Me. It was released for download on 26 April 2011 and released to US urban radio stations on 17 May 2011.^[22][23] The song peaked at 33 on the US Hip-Hop/R&B, the week of 2 July 2011.^[24] The following week the song rose to 37.^[25] Dual second singles were released in the US and UK. In the US, the second single was announced as being "Thank You" whereas "Back to Love" was issued in the UK. Estelle subsequently confirmed on Twitter thatAll of Me was released on 28 February 2012 in the US.^[26] In the UK,All of Me was released on 12 March 2012.^[21]

In 2013, Estelle announced the launch of New London Records, an independent label in partnership withBMG, with whom she's worked as a writer since 2003. Estelle will release the second and third volumes of her three-volume EP Love & Happiness on the new label (the first volume, Love Jones, was released in June), taking creative control of her current and future musical endeavours. "This is a new and exciting move for me," Estelle said in a press release. "BMG has been an awesome partner throughout my career, and with New London we plan to continue bridging the gap between soul, R&B, London and New York – uniting them through music." Added BMG executive president Richard Blackstone, "Estelle has been a valued member of the BMG family as a writer for some time now. She is a deeply passionate artist gifted with a tremendous voice and has music running through her veins. We are thrilled that Estelle has expanded our relationship and entered into a new partnership with BMG Label Services to release her upcoming album."^[27] In November 2013, she began voicingGarnet in theCartoon Network animated seriesSteven Universe.

In 2014, Estelle performed live at Amber Lounge, the originalFormula One after-party, in Singapore. She would return for an exclusive performance at Amber Lounge Abu Dhabi in November. In March, she premiered the first single off her fourth albumTrue Romance which was "Make Her Say (Beat It Up)."^[28] The follow-up single "Conqueror" premiered on 15 July 2014.^[29] After numerous delays, the album was released on 17 February 2015 in the US.^[30]

In 2015, Estelle guest starred in the hit Fox TV showEmpire, singing the duet version of her single "Conqueror" withJussie Smollett, refuelling sales of the single (peaking at No. 42 on the Hot 100 and No. 15 on R&B) and making it her biggest US hit since herGrammy-winning "American Boy" withKanye West. In October, Estelle accepted the invitation to be thegrand marshal ofHoward UniversityHomecoming vs.Norfolk State University. She also sang "We'll Be There", the theme song for Cartoon Network'sWe Bare Bears.

In June 2017, she announced she was working on a full-length reggae album due for a late 2017 release, in addition to releasing the album's lead single "Love Like Ours" featuringTarrus Riley.^[31] On 13 July 2018, the title of the album was revealed asLovers Rock. The single "Better" was released along with the pre-order. The album was released on 7 September 2018.^[32] Estelle also hosts a show on Apple Music,The Estelle Show, playing music that "inspires and excites her."^[33] Between 2019 and 2020 she reprised her voice as Garnet inSteven Universe Future and acted as Linda in theNetflix original filmFatal Affair.^[34] As of October 2020The Estelle Show on Apple Music has had over 500 episodes.^[7]

Estelle’s sixth albumStay Alta, was released on May 23, 2025.^[35]

For her ability to rap, sing, act and write songs, Estelle has been praised by musicians such asJohn Legend andRoots Manuva;^[36] Estelle's taste in music encompassesTodd Rundgren,Lauryn Hill,Kanye West,Nas,Jill Scott andJay-Z.

In league with other contemporary British sirens likeAmy Winehouse,Adele andDuffy,^[36] her main musical influences areMary J. Blige andElla Fitzgerald. In an interview, Estelle remarked: "Every three years they are talking about the 'British (musical) invasion.' It's been ongoing. It's been an invasion for the last 10 years. We are here! We crossed over. I'm like one of the first black British artists to come over here and win aGrammy. We are here!"^[9]

Studio albums

• The 18th Day (2004)
• Shine (2008)
• All of Me (2012)
• True Romance (2015)
• Lovers Rock (2018)
• Stay Alta (2025)

Estelle's work has earned her numerous awards and accolades, including threeMOBO Awards, aWorld Music Award, and oneGrammy Award for Best Rap/Song Collaboration for "American Boy".^[39] She has also received twoBrit Award nominations, including one forBest British Female Artist.^[18]

• Media related toEstelle at Wikimedia Commons
• Estelle atAllMusic

• 1980 births
• Living people
• Actors from the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham
• Actresses from London
• Atlantic Records artists
• Black British women rappers
• British women rappers
• British contemporary R&B singers
• British hip-hop singers
• British reggae singers
• English film actresses
• English people of Grenadian descent
• English people of Senegalese descent
• English television actresses
• English video game actresses
• English voice actresses
• English women rappers
• English women songwriters
• Grammy Award winners for rap music
• People from Hammersmith
• People from West Kensington
• Rappers from the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham
• Singers from the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham
• Third British Invasion artists
• World Music Awards winners
• 21st-century Black British women singers
• 21st-century British women singers
• 21st-century English actresses
• 21st-century English singers
• 21st-century English women singers
• 21st-century women rappers

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