Tulisa recently stepped back into the spotlight when she appeared on the 2024 series of I’m A Celebrity – but what has become of her bandmates, cousin Dappy and Fazer
There’s no denying that N-Dubz left their mark on British music. With their hip hop sound, urban look, and use of slang, Tula ‘Tulisa’ Contostavlos, Costadinos ‘Dappy’ Contostavlos and Richard ‘Fazer’ Rawson were riding high from 2007 until 2011.
The group took an 11-year hiatus to pursue solo careers before announcing re-forming in May 2022, releasing the single Charmer followed by a sold-out UK arena tour. And Tulisa returned to the spotlight just last year when she took part in the 24th series of I’m A Celebrity.
But what has become of her bandmates in recent years? We take a closer look…
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Dappy
The lead singer of the Camden-based hip hop and grime trio, Dappy was known for his lack of dress sense and his statement headwear, which included a selection of woolly chullos worn with either one or both of the ear-flaps turned up.
It was Dappy who encouraged his cousin Tulisa to join the band, and he was the brainchild behind a lot of their songs, and the main writer in the band.
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After they went on a hiatus in 2011, Dappy embarked on a solo career which saw him enter the charts with his single titled ‘No Regrets’. He told The Sun at the time: “With my solo stuff, I really want to earn the respect of an older audience.
“I don’t think there’s any shame in trying to write music that will be recognised by people I admire.
“Bono. I have big goals. I want to have two number one singles back-to-back as a solo artist.”
In 2014, he entered the Celebrity Big Brother house where he finished in second place behind comedian Jim Davidson.
He went on to release an EP in December 2015 which hit number 150 on the UK charts, and released his most recent album, Fortune, in 2021.
He is still working on his music, and earlier this year released a brand new single, OMF, which he has been promoting on his social media.
It’s not known if Dappy is romantically involved with anyone currently. He was in a long-term relationship with Kaye Vassell with whom he shares two sons – Gino and Milo.
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Fazer
When N-Dubz went on a break in 2011, Fazer continued to work in the music industry but took a step away from the mic, focusing instead on working behind-the-scenes as a producer. His career in this field has seen him work with some big names, including Rihanna, Jessie J, and Rita Ora.
Fazer has also recorded and released his own solo material, which includes his single Tears, which was released in 2022. And it seems he also has his eye on one day working in the film industry.
Speaking to Metro.co.uk, he previously said: “I really want to start looking to venture into doing movie soundtracks. I feel like I could do the next Avatar soundtrack!” He also told the online publication that his goal is to be “the next Hans Zimmer”.
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industry(Image: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)
But Fazer’s true passion is his family. He is very happily loved-up with girlfriend Ashley Havelin with whom he shares four children.
The couple met more than a decade ago through mutual friends, going on to welcome daughter Ava, 11, and more recently twins Zariah and Zaviar, and son Zander.
While Fazer will often share updates on his family life on social media, he recently told the Mail that he’d be keen to share more of his day to day activity with a reality show.
“It would just be bedlam,” he told the publication with a laugh. “I think it would probably be one of the most watched things on TV, because it’s so crazy!… I think we’d give the Osbournes a run for their money.”
Tulisa
Tulisa initially stayed in the spotlight following the band’s hiatus. She went on to join the X-Factor judging panel in 2011, becoming the show’s youngest judge at just 23 years old. She also mentored Little Mix during their rise to fame through the show and enjoyed a solo career of her own, with varying success.
However, subsequent controversies including a sex tape scandal and arrest over drug allegations led to her taking a step back from the showbiz world. In 2014, charges were brought against her after an undercover reporter from The Sun – ‘Fake Sheikh’ Mazher Mahmood – claimed she’d brokered a deal to supply Class A drugs.
The drugs trial collapsed after the reporter was found to have lied in his evidence, and Mahmood received a 15-month prison sentence.
Tulisa continued to keep a low-profile until 2024, when she returned in a major way as a contestant on in the 24th series of I’m A Celebrity.
The star joined the likes of Danny Jones, Rev Richard Coles and Coleen Rooney in the jungle reality show. But her time was short-lived, and she was the third contestant to be booted out. Most recently, she has released a tell-all autobiography , titled Judgement: Love, Trials, and Tribulations.
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