Neneh Cherry launched her solo career in 1982 with the protest song Stop the War, reacting to the Falklands conflict. Born Neneh Mariann Karlsson in 1964, she moved from Stockholm to London as a teenager, immersing herself in the local punk scene and performing across various groups before achieving international prominence through her influential fusion of rap, pop, and dance.
Early London Years
Arriving in London during the late 1970s, Cherry quickly integrated into the vibrant post-punk landscape. She joined the band the Cherries and later contributed to the Slits, Rip Rig + Panic, and Float Up CP. Alongside her performance work, she operated as a disc jockey for the Dread Broadcasting Corporation, focusing on early rap music. During this period, she lived in a Battersea squat with Ari Up and refined her vocal style by singing along to recordings by Poly Styrene of X-Ray Spex.
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Cherry achieved significant commercial reach with her debut solo album, 1989's Raw Like Sushi, which peaked at number two on the UK Albums Chart. The project was co-written with Cameron McVey and featured contributions from Massive Attack members Robert Del Naja and Andrew Vowles. The single Buffalo Stance became a global success, topping the US Dance chart and reaching number three on the UK Singles Chart and the US Billboard Hot 100. In 1990, she secured two BRIT Awards for International Breakthrough Act and International Solo Artist.
Collaborative Projects and Subsequent Albums
Following her debut, Cherry released Homebrew in 1992, which featured guest vocals from Michael Stipe on the track Trout. She continued to experiment with diverse collaborations, including sessions with The Notorious B.I.G. and Lenny Kravitz. Her later work included the 1996 album Man, featuring the single Woman. In the 21st century, she expanded her output by forming the band CirKus in 2006 and releasing The Cherry Thing in 2012 with the group the Thing. Her discography continued to grow with the 2014 release Blank Project and the 2022 album The Versions.
Fast facts
- Born: 1964, Stockholm
- Citizenship: Sweden
- Debut Solo Single: Stop the War (1982)
- Debut Studio Album: Raw Like Sushi (1989)
- Brit Awards Won: 2 (1990)
- MTV Europe Music Award Year: 1994
- Former Band Memberships: The Slits, Rip Rig + Panic, CirKus
- Languages: English, Swedish
Questions readers ask
Which major awards has Neneh Cherry received?
She won two Brit Awards in 1990 for International Breakthrough Act and International Solo Artist, as well as an MTV Europe Music Award for Best Song in 1994.
Who were some of her early collaborators?
She worked with members of the Slits, Massive Attack, and later collaborated with Michael Stipe, The Notorious B.I.G., and Lenny Kravitz.
Achievements
- Brit Award for International Solo Artist — 1990
- BRIT Award for International Breakthrough Act — 1990
- Instruments: voice
- Genres: pop music, trip hop and alternative hip-hop
