Ladi6

Early life, Sheelahroc and Verse Two Ladi6 was born in Christchurch on 7 November 1982, and raised in that city. She grew up in the eastern suburb of Aranui. Her family moved to Africa for a year and a half when she was a teenager, where she says she first started to write songs and play guitar. After she returned to Christchurch in the mid-1990s, she started her entertainment career as a break dancer. When she was 16 she formed her all-elements hip-hop crew which evolved into New Zealands first all-female hip-hop music group, Sheelahroc, with Sarah Tamaira (a.k.a. Voodoo Child) and Tyra Hammond in May 1998. Sheelahroc released the hit single "If I Gave U Th' Mic" and won Most Promising New Act at the 2001 bNet Music Awards.

After Sheelahroc broke up, Ladi6 went on to form Verse Two with Parks (Brent Park), Julien Dyne, Markus Vanilau, Elia Gaitau, Vanessa Mcgowan, DJ 4130, Matipi Turua, Redford Grenell, Vanessa Mcgowan, Nick Robertson (Shapeshifter) as well as a variety of guest musicians including MC Scribe. "Gold" went to Number 1 on the NZ Alternative charts in its first week of play on the bNet stations and was the 5th most played song on the bNet stations in 2003. and remixed by Manuel Bundy on Solephonics records. Ladi6 was nominated for Best Vocalist/MC at the 2003 bNet Awards Gil Scott Heron, Erykah Badu, Jhene Aiko and Digable Planets.

Time Is Not Much Ladi6's debut album Time Is Not Much was released independently in New Zealand in November 2008 and debuted at number 4 on the New Zealand Top 40 Album chart, staying in the top 40 albums for 10 weeks. The album was mostly produced by Parks and was released throughout Europe by London label BBE Records in July 2010. and was certified gold in July 2011. The single "Like Water" from this album peaked at number 9 on the NZ Top 40 Singles Chart, spent 22 weeks on the charts and was certified platinum in June 2011. In 2011 it earned Ladi6 the second-ever Taite Music Prize.

It was co-produced by Parks and Sebastian Weiss (a.k.a. DJ Sepalot) of the German hip hop group Blumentopf and features Myele Manzanza of Electric Wire Hustle, Toby Laing of Fat Freddy's Drop and German singer Esther Adams.

The Liberation of... was released in Europe on German label Eskapaden Records in May 2011. In London, Metro Magazine said Ladi6 was "One to Watch". "She knows how to make an impression – including a recent wow-inducing support slot for Gil Scott-Heron at London's Southbank Centre".

Automatic debuted at number 3 on the New Zealand national charts and featured on many end-of-year (2013) 'best of' lists.

Royal Blue 3000 In 2017, she released her fourth album, Royal Blue 3000, which saw her and her producer partner win three New Zealand Music Awards: Best Female Artist, Best Producer, and Best Album.

Collaborations Ladi6 has collaborated with many New Zealand musicians and some International acts and bands, including Fat Freddy's Drop, Scribe, Shapeshifter, Jon Toogood, The Adults, Solaa, 4 Corners, The Opensouls, 50 Hz, Sepalot, Eva Be, Julien Dyne, and Christoph El Truento.

Personal life As well as producing most of Ladi6's music, her partner Brent Park (Parks) also provides backing vocals for many of her tracks. In 2004, Ladi6 and Parks had their first son. He is their only child. 2008 Time Is Not Much Released: 27 October 2008 Formats: CD, digital download Label: Question Music

2010 The Liberation Of... Released: 1 October 2010 Formats: LP, CD, digital download Label: Question Music

2013 Automatic Released: 16 August 2013 Formats: LP, CD, digital download Label: Question Music

2017 Royal Blue Released: 2 June 2017 Formats: LP, CD, cassette tape, digital download Label: Question Music 2025 Le Vā Released: 1 June 2025 Formats: LP, digital download Label: Question Music "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that country.

Charted singles Year SinglePeak chartpositions Album NZ 2011 "Like Water" 9 The Liberation Of...

Awards

Year Nominated work Award Result 2003 Verse Two bNet Music Awards — Most Promising New Act 2009 Time Is Not Much Pacific Music Awards — Best Pacific Female Artist Time Is Not Much Pacific Music Awards — Best Pacific Urban Artist "Walk Right Up" Pacific Music Awards — APRA Best Pacific Song Time Is Not Much Pacific Music Awards/New Zealand Music Awards — Best Pacific Music Album Ladi6 New Zealand Music Awards — Best Female Solo Artist Time Is Not Much New Zealand Music Awards — Best Urban / Hip Hop Album 2011 The Liberation Of... Pacific Music Awards/New Zealand Music Awards — Best Pacific Music Album The Liberation Of... Pacific Music Awards — Best Pacific Female Artist The Liberation Of... Pacific Music Awards — Best Pacific Urban Artist The Liberation Of... New Zealand Music Awards — Album of the Year Like Water New Zealand Music Awards — Single of the Year The Liberation Of... New Zealand Music Awards — Best Female Solo Artist The Liberation Of... New Zealand Music Awards — Best Urban / Hip Hop Album The Liberation Of... Taite Music Prize 2014 Automatic Pacific Music Awards — Trillian Trust Best Pacific Female Artist Automatic Pacific Music Awards — Niu FM Best Pacific Urban Artist Ikarus Pacific Music Awards — NZ On Air Best Pacific Music Video Ikarus Pacific Music Awards — APRA Best Pacific Song Automatic Pacific Music Awards — Auckland Council Best Pacific Music Album 2018 Royal Blue 3000New Zealand Music Awards — Best Female Artist Royal Blue 3000New Zealand Music Awards — Best Album Royal Blue 3000New Zealand Music Awards — Best Producer