Cleo Ice Queen
Cleo Ice Queen | |
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Cleo in 2016 at the Coke Studios in South Africa | |
Born |
Clementina Mulenga June 14, 1989 [1] Lusaka, Zambia |
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Years active | 2011-present |
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Clementina Mulenga (born June 14, 1989), professionally known as Cleo or Cleo Ice Queen[3][4] is a Zambian born hip hop recording artist, Proflight Zambia brand ambassador,[5] Maximum Diva Woman Condom brand ambassador,[6][7] model and Television presenter. She is best known for her role in Big Brother Africa (The chase)[8] in 2013 and 2015 AFRIMMA Best Female in Southern Africa.
Cleo got her moniker “Ice Queen” from her love of jewelry, which in hip hop slang, is known as “ice”.[1] Cleo was also featured in the 2014 March issue of a Nigerian Magazine VL! Magazine as the cover story.[9][10]
Early life and career
Clementina Mulenga was born on June 14, 1989. She is third out a family of 5 with two brothers and two sisters. Celo's love for hip hop began when she was six years old. She began her singing career when she was 11 years old [11] at that age that's where her passion for the entertainment industry really begun. From Cleo's own words she says that she wanted to be behind the microphone from the time she was 4 years old. Cleo used to perform at her own parties starting with her 4th birthday. Cleo had her first studio experience while at Banani International School where the school principle built a recording studio at the school. At the age of 16 Cleo recorded and released her first single Hands Up.
Professional Music
Cleo started her music career in 2011 and the following year she released a single titled Big Dreams which featured JK. Cleo was then featured in Khuli Chana's official ‘Tswa Daar’ song remix which also featured Ice Prince, Maggz, Navio, AKA and Reason.
In 2013, October 25 Cleo visited the inmates of Lusaka Central Prison not only just just sing and dance for the independence day celebrations, but also donated some goods.
Cleo's debut album was released in December, 2016 titled Geminice.[12][13] Which has nine songs and theme of the album is more fun-loving and upbeat, with party anthems like the Urban Hype featured Turn Up , Addicted and Autobahn.
Cleo released another single in December 2016 titled Soldier [14][15] produced by Kekero a melodic side of rap. In the song she talks about the appreciation to the an African man and this was Cleo’s inspiration. All women have that in Soldier in their lives be it father’s, brother’s, spouses, nephew’s and this song is one way or another dedicated to them.
Television
In 2013 Cleo was picked to represent Zambia during the eighth season of the Big Brother Africa reality television series,[16] produced by Endemol for M-Net which began on 26 May 2013, running for 91 days and ending on 25 August 2013. Cleo[13] was in the house for 91 days she came out as the runner-up from Dillish who won 2013's The Chase season.[3]
In 2015 SuperSport Launched a football magazine show called Bola Yapa Zed [13] focusing only on Zambian football and Cleo was chosen to be its presenter.
Coke Studio
— Cleo speaking in an interview.
On 22 September 2016 Cleo was the first Zambian artist to be picked for the Season 2 of Coke Studio[18] a music television series in Africa where artists are given the opportunity to create something new and exciting, Cleo was the only lady of house Bucie other members of the house were Mr Kamera, Les-Ego and Wilson
African Hip Hop Awards
On May 21, 2017 Cleo was picked to host the official launch of the African Hip Hop Awards 1 July [19] at Chez Intemba in Lusaka. [20]
Education
Cleo attended her primary school at Namununga and then did her basic education at Banani International School Rhodes Park School and finished her education at Midrand Graduate Institute in South Africa.
While at Banani International School it's where she love for music and basketball escalated. At the age of 13 she won her first award as the best junior basketball player. Cleo was involved in a number of school teams being picked for the basketball, Netball, football and Volleyball.
At the age of 15 Cleo won a nationwide competition called Back to School with a million[16] a talent show to sing or dance against HIV/AIDS.
Cleo then moved to South Africa[16] to further are education at Midrand Graduate Institution and pursed for a degree in Business Administration, Majoring in Public Relations. In an interview with Slam Dunk Cleo explains that her moved to South Africa was to attend college, which forced her to put music on hold for a while, but in 2011 Cleo decided to pursue music as a career.[11]
Personal life
On November 27, 2016 she confirmed about the rumours [21] of her pregnancy [22] on her Facebook page where she was replying to one of her fan's comment. Cleo went ahead to confirm the bump during the recent performance alongside South Africa’s Nasty C rapper, where she said; “You guys are the first people to perform for with my baby bump as you can see! as well as also sh laughed”.[23] On 20 February 2017[8] she had her second daughter. Cleo is now a mother of two girls.
Awards and nominations
Year | Award | Category | Result |
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2012 | South African Hip Hop Awards | Best Female Rapper | Nominated |
2013 | Born & Bred Awards | Best Female Up coming | Nominated |
2014 | Zambian Music Awards | Best New Artist | Nominated |
2015 | African Muzik Magazine Awards | Best Female Southern Africa | Won [5] |
2016 | African Muzik Magazine Awards | Best Female Southern Africa | Nominated |
2016 | Zambian Music Awards | Best Female | Nominated |
External links
References
- 1 2 "Ice Queen Artist Profiles". Coke Studio. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
- ↑ "UP CLOSE WITH CLEO THE ICE QUEEN". Times of Zambia. Retrieved 3 June 2017.
- 1 2 "Cleo Ice Queen Shows Off Her Adorable Daughter". BBA Fan Club. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
- ↑ "UPDATE: Upcoming female rapper Ice Queen". Lusak Times. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
- 1 2 "Cleo Ice Queen ‘Turns Up’". Lusaka Voice. Retrieved 3 June 2017.
- ↑ "Mwansa Bwale’s Single Moms Club celebrates 1st Anniversary". Lusak Times. Retrieved 3 June 2017.
- ↑ "Meet Our Certified Maximum Diva: Cleo Ice Queen". Smart Choices. Retrieved 3 June 2017.
- 1 2 "Cleo Ice Queen Delivers a Bouncing Baby Girl". Zedhypemag.com. Retrieved 4 June 2017.
- ↑ "Cleo Stuns On The Cover Of VL! Magazine March Issue". Afrika Daily. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
- ↑ "VL! Magazine Exclusive Interview With Big Brother Finalist Cleo". Jaguda. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
- 1 2 "Cleo Ice Queen". Hip Hop African. Retrieved 4 June 2017.
- ↑ "Cleo Ice Queen releases "Geminice" Track-list". Lusaka Times. Retrieved 3 June 2017.
- 1 2 3 "Album Review : Cleo Ice Queen -Geminice". Lusaka Times. Retrieved 3 June 2017.
- ↑ "Cleo Ice Queen – "Soldier" (Prod. Kekero)". Zambian Music Blog. Retrieved 4 June 2017.
- ↑ "Behind the Scenes of Cleo Ice Queen’s new video "Soldier"". Lusaka Times. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
- 1 2 3 "Sheer Publishing rapping sensation joins Big Brother Cast". Cleo Ice Queen Blogspot. Retrieved 4 June 2017.
- ↑ "STARS ROCK TO COKE STUDIO BEAT". Lusaka Times. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
- ↑ "Cleo Ice Queen shooting for Coke Studio season 2". Lusaka Times. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
- ↑ "African Hip Hop Awards To Be Launched In Lusaka". Palesa Mokoena. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
- ↑ "Cleo Ice Queen to host the official launch of the African Hip Hop Awards". Lusaka Times. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
- ↑ "Here're The 5 Photos That Prove "Cleo IceQueen" Is Pregnant". Zambianmusic.net. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
- ↑ "Buns in the Oven: BBA star Cleo is expecting a baby in 12 weeks". Big Brother Africa Talk. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
- ↑ "Exclusive: Cleo Confirms Her Baby Bump!". BB Africa. Retrieved 7 June 2017.