Videos: Marsha Ambrosius

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Late Nights & Early Mornings

Marsha Ambrosius or Marsha is an English singer/songwriter. A former member of the English Soul/R&B duo Floetry, she released her first solo album Late Nights & Early Mornings on March 1, 2011.

Original Floetry members Marsha Ambrosius and Natalie Stewart met through their love of basketball and formed a friendship.[1][2] Both Natalie and Marsha attended the Brit School for Performing Arts & Technology where Marsha studied business and finance and Natalie majored in Performing Arts, Media and Art. For college Ambrosius planned to attend the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, Georgia but could not due to an injury. Stewart attended Middlesex University in London and later transferred to North London University. During these years, both women continued to keep in touch. Stewart was a founding member of the performance poetry group 3 Plus 1 which was rising to critical acclaim throughout London, Birmingham, and Manchester. After inviting Ambrosius to join her on stage to perform at a spoken word night, where they debuted a piece that they had written together called "Fantasize", combining spoken word and singing, it seemed to make sense to combine the two and Floetry was born.[3]
[edit] Group success

In 2000, the duo travelled to the United States to perform on the poetry circuit. After frequenting spoken word/poetry spots in Atlanta, GA such as Yin Yang Poets' Cafe (to rave reviews), they moved on to Philadelphia.[4] There they met Darren 'Limitless' Henson and Keith 'Keshon' Pelzer of DJ Jazzy Jeff's Touch Of Jazz studio and began recording. In 2002, they signed with DreamWorks Records and released their debut album Floetic, which featured the singles "Floetic", "Say Yes", and "Getting Late".[5] The album was also released in the UK with additional tracks, one of which features British singer/songwriter and producer Sebastian Rogers.[6]
[edit] Solo career

Ambrosius has been featured on many songs including Styles P's "I'm Black"; The Game's "Start from Scratch" and "Why You Hate The Game" (also featuring Nas); Busta Rhymes' "Get You Some" and "Cocaina"; Nas' "Hustlers" (also featuring The Game); and Hi-Tek's "Music for Life" and Jamie Foxx's "Freak'in Me". The group has also collaborated with Earth, Wind & Fire on their most recent album, Illumination, on the track "Elevated". She collaborated once again with Nas on his song "If I Ruled The World '09" & has also done a track with Slum Village called "Cloud 9". Recently[when?], she has guested on Wale's "Diary".

Ambrosius was signed to Dr. Dre's record label, Aftermath Entertainment, as a solo musician/song-writer/producer.[7][8] Parting ways with the label in early 2009, Ambrosius pursued her song-writing/production career landing her placements with R&B and hip hop artists ranging from Alicia Keys, Jamie Foxx and Mario to Fabolous, Slum Village and Wale.[9][10] In summer 2009, Ambrosius was approached by numerous record labels offering her a solo deal after a long awaited performance at NYC's SOB's where a sold out crowd gathered to a show accompanied by The Roots and DJ Aktive. In December 2009, Ambrosius signed to J Records and her solo debut Late Nights & Early Mornings was released on March 1, 2011.[11] "Hope She Cheats On You (With A Basketball Player)" was released as the album's first single on August 13, 2010.[12] The song charted on the U.S. BillboardHot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and peaked at number twenty-two. "Far Away" was released as the album's second single on December 7, 2010.[12][13][14]

In an interview with XXL magazine Tech N9ne mentions a possible collaboration with Ambrosius, Lil Wayne, and Eminem on a track titled "This is Hip-hop" for his upcoming solo album All 6's And 7's.[15]
[edit] Discography
[edit] Studio albums
Year Album details Peak chart positions Sales
US
[16] US R&B
[16]
2011 Late Nights & Early Mornings

First studio album
Release date: March 1, 2011
Label: J Records

2 1

US: 259,800[17]

[edit] Singles

For discography of singles as a part of duo Floetry, see Floetry Discography

Year Title Peak
chart
positions Album
US
[18][19][20] US
R&B
[20][21][22]
2010 "Hope She Cheats on You (With a Basketball Player)" 88 22 Late Nights & Early Mornings
" Far Away" 74 3
2011 "Late Nights & Early Mornings" — 100
[edit] Appearances

2001: "Butterflies" (Michael Jackson; Marsha on background vocals) (Invincible)[23]
2002: "Cry Me A River" (Justin Timberlake; Marsha on background vocals) (Justified)[24][25]
2002: "Take You High" (Glenn Lewis; Marsha on background vocals) (World Outside My Window)[26]
2003: "Come Together"; "My Fondest Childhood Memories" (Macy Gray; Marsha on background vocals)(The Trouble With Being Myself)[27]
2004: "Elevated" (Earth, Wind & Fire featuring Floetry) (Illumination)
2004: "Hear Me Cry" (Patti LaBelle featuring Floetry) (Timeless Journey)
2005: "Automatique" (Blackalicious featuring Floetry) (The Craft)
2005: "Im Black" (Styles P featuring Marsha) (Time is Money)[28]
2005: "Start from Scratch" (The Game featuring Marsha) (The Documentary)[29]
2006: "Get You Some" (Busta Rhymes featuring Q-Tip & Marsha) (The Big Bang)[30]
2006: "Cocaina" (Busta Rhymes featuring Marsha) (The Big Bang)[31]
2006: "Music For Life" (Hi-Tek featuring Marsha, Nas, J Dilla, Busta Rhymes & Common) (Hi-Teknology 2)[32]
2006: "Hustlers" (Nas featuring The Game & Marsha) (Hip Hop Is Dead)[33]
2006: "Why You Hate The Game" (The Game featuring Marsha & Nas) (Doctor's Advocate)[34]
2007: "This Can't Be Real" (Freeway featuring Marsha Ambrosius) (Free at Last)[35]
2007: "The Art Of Storytellin' Part 4" (DJ Drama featuring Outkast & Marsha Ambrosius) (Gangsta Grillz: The Album)[36]
2007: "Reunion" (Ya Boy featuring Marsha Ambrosius) (Optimus Rime Mixtape)
2008: "What's Going On" (Marsha Ambrosius featuring The Game) (Single) / (Before L.A.X)
2008: "Wanna Go Back" (Solange featuring Marsha Ambrosius and Q-Tip) (SoL-AngeL and the Hadley St. Dreams)
2008: "The Light '08" (Common featuring Marsha Ambrosius)
2008: "Freak’in Me" Jamie Foxx feat. Marsha Ambrosius (Intuition)[37]
2009: "If I Ruled the World '09" Nas feat. Marsha Ambrosius (Smirnoff: Signature Series)
2009: "Still Hurts" Macy Gray feat. Marsha Ambrosius (The Sellout)
2009: "Stay" Fabolous feat. Marsha Ambrosius (Loso's Way)[38]
2009: "Take Me Away (With You)" Queen Latifah feat. Marsha Ambrosius (Persona)[39]
2009: *Diary Wale Feat Marsha Ambrosius (Attention: Deficit)[40]
2009 “A's & E's" Masta Ace & Ed O.G. Feat. Marsha Ambrosius (Arts & Entertainment)[41]
2010: Be With You David Banner feat. Ludacris & Marsha Ambrosius
2010: All I Got To Give John Regan feat. Marsha Ambrosius (Sorry I'm Late)[42]
2011: It's Alright Saigon feat. Marsha Ambrosius (The Greatest Story Never Told)[43]

Note

All the above written or co-written by Marsha Ambrosius.
[edit] Writing credits

2001: "Butterflies" - Michael Jackson (Invincible)[23]
2002: "Simple Things", "Beautiful Eyes", "Lonely", "This Love", "Take You High" - Glenn Lewis (World Outside My Window)[26]
2004: "My Man" - Angie Stone (Stone Love)[44]
2006: "Circus" - Kelis (Kelis Was Here)
2007: "Go Ahead" - Alicia Keys (As I Am)[45]
2008: "Wanna Go Back" - Solange featuring Marsha Ambrosius and Q-Tip (SoL-AngeL and the Hadley St. Dreams)
2008: "Love Me Or Leave Me" - Raven-Symoné (Raven-Symoné)[46]
2008: "Welcome To The Alesha Show" - Alesha Dixon (The Alesha Show)[47]
2008: "Do About It", "Mirror" - Girlicious (Girlicious)[48]
2008: "Music (All I Need)" - Jazmine Sullivan
2009: "Matter" - Letoya - Lady Love
2009: "25 To Life" - JoJo - All I Want Everything