Ladi6

{{Use New Zealand English|date=November 2012}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2023}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Ladi6 | honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=NZL|MNZM|size=100%}} | image = Ladi 6tc.jpg | caption = Ladi6 at the Summerset Music Festival 2007 | image_size = 215 | birth_name = Karoline Tamati | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1982|11|7}} | birth_place = Christchurch, New Zealand | genre = {{hlist|Hip hop|neo soul|funk|soul|R&B|reggae}} | occupation = {{hlist|Singer-songwriter|rapper}} | years_active = 1999<ref name="SheelahrocAmplifier" />–present | label = Question Music,<ref name="DiscogsTINM"/> BBE,<ref name="BBEPressRelease" /> Eskapaden<ref name="AmazonLiberationGerman" /><ref name="DiscogsLiberation" /> }} '''Karoline Fuarosa Park-Tamati''' {{post-nominals|country=NZL|MNZM|size=85%}} (born 7 November 1982), known professionally as '''Ladi6''', is a New Zealand recording artist of Samoan descent.<ref name="NZMusician2010" /> She spent six months living in Berlin and touring Europe in both 2010<ref name="NZMusician2010">{{cite journal |last=Jenkin |first=Lydia |date=October–November 2010 |title=Ladi6 – Liberation and the Berlin Effect |journal=NZ Musician |volume=15 |issue=9 |accessdate=15 November 2011 |url=http://www.nzmusician.co.nz/index.php/pi_pageid/8/pi_articleid/2108 |ref=NZMusician2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140429045548/http://www.nzmusician.co.nz/index.php/pi_pageid/8/pi_articleid/2108 |archive-date=29 April 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and 2011.<ref name="ThePressOct11">{{cite news |title=Triumphant homecoming for Ladi6 |first=Vicki |last=Anderson |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/entertainment/christchurch-music/5867103/Triumphant-homecoming-for-Ladi6 |work=The Press |location=Christchurch, New Zealand |date=28 October 2011 |ref=ThePressOct11}}</ref> Her debut album ''Time Is Not Much'' debuted at number 4 on the New Zealand Top 40 Album chart.<ref name="MuzicTINM" /> and her second album ''The Liberation Of...'' debuted at number 6<ref name="MuzicLiberation" /> and was certified gold.<ref name="TaranakiDailyNewsOct11" /><ref name="RadioscopeAlbums" /> Her single "Like Water" was certified platinum in June 2011.<ref name="RadioscopeSingles" /> She has won many awards, including Best Female Solo Artist and Best Urban Hip Hop Album at the 2011 New Zealand Music Awards, the 2011 Taite Music Prize, and Best Urban/Hip Hop Album at the 2009 New Zealand Music Awards. The current line-up of the wider Ladi6 group is Ladi6, her partner Parks (a.k.a. Brent Park) and Julien Dyne.<ref name="ThePressOct11" />

Ladi6 was a spokesperson for the Not Our Future anti-smoking campaign.<ref name="NotOurFuture">{{cite web |url=http://www.notourfuture.co.nz/celebrities.php?id=2656 |title=Ladi 6 |work=Smoking: Not Our Future |publisher=Health Sponsorship Council |accessdate=16 November 2011 |ref=NotOurFuture}}</ref> In the 2021 Queen's Birthday Honours, she was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to music.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://dpmc.govt.nz/publications/queens-birthday-honours-list-2021 |title=Queen's Birthday honours list 2021 |date=7 June 2021 |publisher=Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet |access-date=7 June 2021}}</ref> In 2023, she received an Arts Foundation of New Zealand Laureate Award.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/arts/300958452/nine-outstanding-nz-artists-honoured-at-arts-foundation-laureate-awards |title=Nine outstanding NZ artists honoured at Arts Foundation Laureate Awards |first=André |last=Chumko |date=1 September 2023 |work=Stuff |access-date=2 September 2023}}</ref>

== Early life, Sheelahroc and Verse Two == Ladi6 was born in Christchurch on 7 November 1982, and raised in that city.<ref name="BBEPressRelease">{{cite web|url=http://www.bbemusic.com/data.pl?release=BBE116ACD |title=Ladi6 – Time Is Not Much |date=19 July 2010 |publisher=BBE |location=London, UK |ref=BBEPressRelease |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111104140158/http://www.bbemusic.com/data.pl?release=BBE116ACD |archivedate= 4 November 2011 }}</ref><ref name="WellingtonianNov10">{{cite news |title=Ladi6 loves her birthday |first=Rebecca |last=Thomson |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/local-papers/the-wellingtonian/4303443/Ladi6-loves-her-birthday |work=The Wellingtonian |location=Wellington, New Zealand |date=3 November 2010 |ref=WellingtonianNov10}}</ref><ref name="TaranakiDailyNewsOct11">{{cite news |title=Ladi6 coming back for summer |first=Jamie |last=Fenton |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/5866762/Ladi6-coming-back-for-summer |work=Taranaki Daily News |location=New Plymouth, New Zealand |date=28 October 2010 |ref=TaranakiDailyNewsOct11}}</ref> She grew up in the eastern suburb of Aranui.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Ladi6 returns home to Aranui |date=2011-12-05 |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/6084623/Ladi6-returns-home-to-Aranui |access-date=2024-10-29 |work=The Press }}</ref> 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.<ref name="CMU">{{cite web |url=http://www.thecmuwebsite.com/article/ssq-ladi6/ |title=Q&A: Ladi6 |work=CMU |publisher=UnLimited |accessdate=15 November 2011 |ref=CMU}}</ref> 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.<ref name="SheelahrocAmplifier">{{cite web |url=http://www.amplifier.co.nz/artist/248/?full=1 |title=Sheelahroc |publisher=Amplifier |location=New Zealand |ref=SheelahrocAmplifier}}</ref><ref name="NZMusician2008">{{cite journal|last=Jenkin |first=Lydia |date=October–November 2008 |title=Ladi6 – Our Leading Ladi |journal=NZ Musician |volume=14 |issue=6 |accessdate=15 November 2011 |url=http://www.nzmusician.co.nz/index.php/ps_pagename/printversion/pi_articleid/1452 |ref=NZMusician2008 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100523214207/http://www.nzmusician.co.nz/index.php/ps_pagename/printversion/pi_articleid/1452 |archivedate=23 May 2010 }}</ref> 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.<ref name="NZMusician2008" /> They released the singles "Danger" and "Gold" (featuring her cousin Scribe and produced by Mu of Fat Freddy's Drop).<ref name="Verse2">{{cite web |url=http://www.amplifier.co.nz/artist/2444/verse-two.html?full=1 |title=Verse Two |publisher=Amplifier.co.nz |accessdate=16 November 2011 |ref=Verse2}}</ref><ref name="Verse2Gold">{{cite web |url=http://www.amplifier.co.nz/track/7070/gold.html |title=Gold |publisher=Amplifier.co.nz |accessdate=16 November 2011 |ref=Verse2Gold |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111024032135/http://www.amplifier.co.nz/track/7070/gold.html |archive-date=24 October 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> "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.<ref name="Verse2Gold" /> "Danger" was re-issued as a bonus track on ''Time Is Not Much''.<ref name="DiscogsTINM">{{cite web |url=http://www.discogs.com/Ladi-6-Time-Is-Not-Much/release/1668372 |title=Ladi 6 – Time Is Not Much (CD, Album) |work=Discogs |date=2 September 2023 |ref=DiscogsTINM}}</ref> and remixed by Manuel Bundy on Solephonics records. Ladi6 was nominated for Best Vocalist/MC at the 2003 bNet Awards<ref name="MuzicLikeWater" /> and Verse 2 won a bNet Award for Best New Act in 2003.<ref name="NZMusician2008" /> Verse Two supported international acts such as The Roots, De La Soul, 50 Cent,<ref name="nzmusicOrgNZ">{{cite web |url=http://nzmusic.org.nz/artists/rb/ladi/ |title=Ladi 6 |work=NZ Artist Directory |publisher=NZ Music Commission |accessdate=16 November 2011 |ref=nzmusicOrgNZ}}</ref> Gil Scott Heron, Erykah Badu, Jhene Aiko and Digable Planets.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ladi6 |url=https://www.soulhasnotempo.com/ladi6 |access-date=2026-02-23 |website=Soul Has No Tempo |language=en-US}}</ref>

The current line-up of the wider Ladi6 group is Ladi6, producer Parks (her partner), producer/keyboardist Brandon Haru, and sound technician Steve Roberts.<ref name="ThePressOct11" /> Ladi6 has been called "New Zealand's answer to Erykah Badu".<ref name="ThePressOct11" />

Ladi6 evolved with dance crew "The Sixxes", a group consisting of Pasifika and Māori women. They create an inclusive and representative female presence on every stage they perform on.

Ladi6 has advocated for many health campaigns and has helped to profile certain issues by speaking out on social media.

She appeared on ''Songs From the Inside'' in 2015 alongside Troy Kingi, MC Scribe and Anika Moa, mentoring incarcerated women in Christchurch Women's Prison in songwriting.<ref>{{Cite web | title=Songs from the Inside - Series Three, Episode One {{!}} Television {{!}} NZ On Screen | url=https://www.nzonscreen.com/title/songs-from-the-inside-series-three-episode-one-2015 | access-date=2025-09-01 | website=www.nzonscreen.com}}</ref>

Also in December 2014 saw the release of her cousin Oscar Kightley's Redbull documentary ''Ladi6 – Return to Africa'', which follows Ladi6 on a journey of musical rediscovery to her origins, revisiting the times and places where she was inspired to become a musician in Tanzania, East Africa. The documentary captures the adventure for Ladi6, her partner and producer Parks, and their son, Philli Park-Tamati.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.redbull.com/nz/en/music/stories/1331695321657/ladi6-return-to-africa-the-documentary | title=Ladi6: Return to Africa – the Documentary | website=Red Bull }}</ref>

== ''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.<ref name="MuzicTINM">{{cite web |url=http://www.muzic.net.nz/charts/s49151/ladi6-time-is-not-much |title=Time Is Not Much – Ladi6 – Top 40 Albums |publisher=Muzic.net.nz |accessdate=15 November 2011 |ref=MuzicTINM}}</ref> The album was mostly produced by Parks and was released throughout Europe by London label BBE Records in July 2010.<ref name="BBEPressRelease" /><ref name="NZMusician2010" />

== ''The Liberation Of...'' == Ladi6's second album, ''The Liberation Of...'', was released in New Zealand independently in November 2010, where it debuted at number six on the NZ Top 40 Album Chart. It spent 34 weeks in the top 40<ref name="MuzicLiberation">{{cite web |url=http://www.muzic.net.nz/charts/s66021/the-liberation-of |title=The Liberation Of – Ladi6 – Top 40 Albums |publisher=Muzic.net.nz |accessdate=15 November 2011 |ref=MuzicLiberation}}</ref> and was certified gold in July 2011.<ref name="TaranakiDailyNewsOct11" /><ref name="RadioscopeAlbums">{{cite web |url=http://www.radioscope.net.nz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=79&Itemid=62 |title=Latest Gold / Platinum Albums |date=24 July 2011 |work=Radioscope |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724195817/http://www.radioscope.net.nz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=79&Itemid=62 |archivedate=24 July 2011 |url-status=dead |accessdate=16 November 2011 |ref=RadioscopeAlbums}}</ref> The single "Like Water" from this album peaked at number 9 on the NZ Top 40 Singles Chart, spent 22 weeks on the charts<ref name="MuzicLikeWater">{{cite web |url=http://www.muzic.net.nz/charts/s63113/ladi6-like-water |title=Like Water – Ladi6 – Top 40 Singles |publisher=Muzic.net.nz |accessdate=15 November 2011 |ref=MuzicLikeWater}}</ref> and was certified platinum in June 2011.<ref name="RadioscopeSingles">{{cite web |url=http://www.radioscope.net.nz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=77&Itemid=61 |title=Latest Gold / Platinum singles |date=24 July 2011 |work=Radioscope |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724195845/http://www.radioscope.net.nz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=77&Itemid=61 |archivedate=24 July 2011 |url-status=dead |accessdate=16 November 2011 |ref=RadioscopeSingles}}</ref> In 2011 it earned Ladi6 the second-ever Taite Music Prize.<ref>{{cite web |title=Hip hop and Soul sister Ladi6’s The Liberation Of… wins the 2011 Taite Music Prize |url=https://creativenz.govt.nz/news-and-blog/2022/06/15/02/24/42/hip-hop-and-soul-sister-ladi6s-the-liberation-of%E2%80%A6-wins-the-2011-taite-music-prize |website=Creative NZ |access-date=12 March 2026 |date=19 April 2011}}</ref>

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.<ref name="ThePressOct11" /><ref name="NZMusician2010" /><ref name="ThePressNov10">{{cite news |title=Talking to Ladi6 |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/entertainment/christchurch-music/4337612/Talking-to-Ladi6 |work=The Press |location=Christchurch, New Zealand |date=15 November 2010 |ref=ThePressNov10}}</ref>

''The Liberation of...'' was released in Europe on German label Eskapaden Records in May 2011.<ref name="AmazonLiberationGerman">{{cite web |url=https://www.amazon.de/Liberation-Ladi6/dp/B004U7LAC6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1303897632&sr=8-1 |title=The Liberation of...: Ladi6 |work=amazon.de |language=German |accessdate=15 November 2011 |ref=AmazonLiberationGerman}}</ref><ref name="DiscogsLiberation">{{cite web |url=http://www.discogs.com/Ladi-6-The-Liberation-Of/release/2946195 |title=Ladi 6 – The Liberation Of... (Vinyl, LP, Album) |work=Discogs |date=27 May 2011 |ref=DiscogsLiberation}}</ref> 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".<ref name="ThePressOct11" />

== ''Automatic'' == Ladi6's third album, ''Automatic'', was released in 2013. Ladi6 and Parks travelled to the U.S. to work with music producer Waajeed. The album was done at Studio A recording studios in Detroit, with Grammy award-winning engineer Todd Fairall. They also did some recording in New Zealand at Revolver Studios in Waiuku.

''Automatic'' was produced by Parks and Waajeed and features Ladi6 band members Julien Dyne and B.Haru. The album has guest vocal appearances by Scribe, Parks and Tyra Hammond, and Detroit MC Invincible.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ladi6.com/About |title=About |website=Ladi6.com |date= |accessdate=6 December 2015}}</ref>

''Automatic'' debuted at number 3 on the New Zealand national charts and featured on many end-of-year (2013) 'best of' lists.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.undertheradar.co.nz/news/8264/Ladi6-Announces-Nationwide-Tour-With-Team-Dynamite.utr#ixzz3pqvuxpFc |title=Ladi6 Announces Nationwide Tour With Team Dynamite – Music News at Undertheradar |website=Undertheradar.co.nz |date=29 May 2014 |accessdate=6 December 2015}}</ref>

== ''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.<ref>{{Cite web | title=Ladi6, Noah Slee and Kings among winners at the 2018 Pacific Music Awards {{!}} RNZ | url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/programmes/dateline-extras/audio/2018646347/ladi6-noah-slee-and-kings-among-winners-at-the-2018-pacific-music-awards | access-date=2025-09-01 | website=www.rnz.co.nz}}</ref>

== 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.<ref name="ThePressNov10" />

She is the cousin of other prominent Samoan New Zealand musicians Scribe and Tyra Hammond of Opensouls,<ref name="NZMusician2008" /> and director-actor Oscar Kightley.

== Discography == === Albums === {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" |- ! rowspan="2" | Year ! rowspan="2" | Title ! rowspan="2" | Details ! Peak chart<br>positions |- ! NZ<ref name=charts>{{cite web|title=Ladi6|url=https://charts.nz/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Ladi6|publisher=charts.nz|accessdate=11 November 2012}}</ref> |- | 2008 | ''Time Is Not Much'' | * Released: 27 October 2008 * Formats: CD, digital download * Label: Question Music | align=center | 4 |- |2010 | ''The Liberation Of...'' | * Released: 1 October 2010 * Formats: LP, CD, digital download * Label: Question Music |align=center | 6 |- |2013 | ''Automatic'' | * Released: 16 August 2013 * Formats: LP, CD, digital download * Label: Question Music |align=center | 3 |- |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 | |- | style="text-align:center;" colspan="4"| <small>"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that country.</small> |}

=== Charted singles === {| class="wikitable" |- ! rowspan=2 | Year ! rowspan=2 | Single !Peak chart<br>positions ! rowspan=2 | Album |- ! NZ<ref name=charts /> |- | 2011 | "Like Water" | style="text-align:center;"| 9 | ''The Liberation Of...'' |}

== Awards ==

{| class="wikitable" |- ! Year ! Nominated work ! Award ! Result |- | 2003 | Verse Two | bNet Music Awards — Most Promising New Act | {{won}} |- | rowspan=6 | 2009 | ''Time Is Not Much'' | Pacific Music Awards — Best Pacific Female Artist | {{won}} |- | ''Time Is Not Much'' | Pacific Music Awards — Best Pacific Urban Artist | {{nom}} |- | "Walk Right Up" | Pacific Music Awards — APRA Best Pacific Song | {{nom}} |- | ''Time Is Not Much'' | Pacific Music Awards/New Zealand Music Awards — Best Pacific Music Album | {{nom}} |- | Ladi6 | New Zealand Music Awards — Best Female Solo Artist | {{nom}} |- | ''Time Is Not Much'' | New Zealand Music Awards — Best Urban / Hip Hop Album | {{won}} |- | rowspan=8 | 2011 | ''The Liberation Of...'' | Pacific Music Awards/New Zealand Music Awards — Best Pacific Music Album | {{nom}} |- | ''The Liberation Of...'' | Pacific Music Awards — Best Pacific Female Artist | {{won}} |- | ''The Liberation Of...'' | Pacific Music Awards — Best Pacific Urban Artist | {{won}} |- | ''The Liberation Of...'' | New Zealand Music Awards — Album of the Year | {{nom}} |- | Like Water | New Zealand Music Awards — Single of the Year | {{nom}} |- | ''The Liberation Of...'' | New Zealand Music Awards — Best Female Solo Artist | {{won}} |- | ''The Liberation Of...'' | New Zealand Music Awards — Best Urban / Hip Hop Album | {{won}} |- | ''The Liberation Of...'' | Taite Music Prize | {{won}} |- | rowspan=5 | 2014 | ''Automatic'' | Pacific Music Awards — Trillian Trust Best Pacific Female Artist | {{nom}} |- |''Automatic'' | Pacific Music Awards — Niu FM Best Pacific Urban Artist | {{nom}} |- | ''Ikarus'' | Pacific Music Awards — NZ On Air Best Pacific Music Video | {{nom}} |- | ''Ikarus'' | Pacific Music Awards — APRA Best Pacific Song | {{nom}} |- | ''Automatic'' | Pacific Music Awards — Auckland Council Best Pacific Music Album | {{nom}} |- | rowspan=3 | 2018 |''Royal Blue 3000'' |New Zealand Music Awards — Best Female Artist | {{won}} |- |''Royal Blue 3000'' |New Zealand Music Awards — Best Album | {{won}} |- |''Royal Blue 3000'' |New Zealand Music Awards — Best Producer | {{won}} |}

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links==

*[https://www.youtube.com/user/theladi6#p/c/C824CEB2E10DAD0D Ladi6 music videos on YouTube] *[http://samoanbios.com/ladi6/ Samoan Bios: Ladi6] *https://www.instagram.com/ladiwho/?hl=en *https://www.audioculture.co.nz/profile/ladi6

{{Arts Foundation Laureate Award}} {{authority control}} Category:1982 births Category:Living people Category:21st-century New Zealand women singers Category:Funk musicians Category:Māori-language singers Category:Members of the New Zealand Order of Merit Category:Musicians from Christchurch Category:Neo soul singers Category:New Zealand contemporary R&B singers Category:New Zealand women rappers Category:New Zealand people of Samoan descent Category:New Zealand reggae musicians Category:Soul singers Category:The Adults members Category:Taite Music Prize winners