| Diam's is a testament to Hip Hop's boundless cultural | | | | extreme-right politician Jean-Marie Le Pen and his |
| diversity and ability to transcend dialects. A rapper of | | | | daughter Marine Le Pen. In 2004 at the famed Dour |
| both French and Greek Cypriot backgrounds, Melanie | | | | Festival in Belgium, the outspoken rapper was greeted |
| Georgiades was born in Cyprus on July 25 1980, with | | | | with projectiles, which were thrown at her direction as |
| her family moving to the small French town of | | | | she performed on stage. |
| Essones in 1984. | | | | Over the course of the following two years her |
| The 1990s saw not only the continued proliferation of | | | | importance as a songwriter and performer was |
| Hip Hop music on the American charts and within | | | | cemented, winning the honor of 'Rap/hip-hop album of |
| popular culture itself, but also saw its evolution on a | | | | the year' at the Victoires de la Musique awards for |
| global scale, with local scenes in countries such as the | | | | Brut de Femme. Her biggest hit came that same year |
| United Kingdom, Australia, Germany, France and | | | | in the form of her French adaptation of the |
| Greece beginning to truly flourish (more so creatively | | | | English-language smash Ma Philosophie, which was |
| than financially). | | | | originally a massive number one hit for Pop Idol star |
| It was during this climate, in 1998 to be exact, that | | | | Amel Bent. |
| 18-year-old Diam's announced her arrival onto the | | | | Not a stranger to collaborations, Diam's has linked up |
| European music stage, signing a developmental | | | | with several gifted contemporaries over the years. |
| contract with BMG Music Publishing France. As she | | | | She has teamed up with Indonesian singer Anggun on |
| continued to sharpen her writing skills and creativity, | | | | the single Juste Être Une Femme (Just to be a |
| she earned the opportunity of a lifetime, signing with | | | | Woman), collaborated with French dancehall/reggae |
| Universal Records France in 1999. | | | | star Admiral T and R&B songbird Vitaa, and has |
| Later that year Diam's released her debut solo album, | | | | worked extensively with fellow French rapper Sinik |
| Premier Mandat, an 18-track release which | | | | (who she has called her "brother"). |
| experienced moderate success in Europe. Diam's | | | | February 2006 saw the release of her most |
| further boosted her profile with an appearance on the | | | | successful project up to that point, the award-winning |
| 2002 release (The Story Of) Espion, by respected | | | | and number one-selling album Dans Ma Bulle (Inside my |
| French Hip Hop/electro producer DJ Mehdi. It was | | | | Bubble). Maintaining its top position for six consecutive |
| 2003 though that saw her true artistic and commercial | | | | weeks, it eventually reached diamond status, selling |
| breakthrough with the release of the gold-selling Brut | | | | 1,000,000 copies. With a concert DVD, Autour De Ma |
| de Femme, which spawned the top ten single DJ. | | | | Bulle, out now, her upcoming project Confessions |
| Not a stranger to controversy, Diam's is known for | | | | Nocturnes is set to be her biggest release to date. |
| infusing her music with equal doses of | | | | Further proving that music is a universal language |
| dancefloor-friendly material and political commentary; | | | | through her work, Diam's is certainly a force to be |
| she has displayed fierce opposition to Conservative | | | | reckoned with. |
| French President Nicolas Sarkozy, along with | | | | |