Who is So Solid Crew’s Lisa Maffia?
LISA Maffia shot to fame in the noughties with the hit single 21 seconds.
She recently opened up about the long process of her hair transplant after the 90s pigtails ruined her hairline.
Who is Lisa Maffia?
Lisa, 42, is an English singer, rapper and model who was born on June 26, 1979.
She got her career break when she lent her vocals to the So Solid Crew song Oh No.
But it was the band's 2001 hit 21 Seconds that propelled her to fame when it reached number one in the UK.
The crew went on to win the best British Video award at the 2002 BRIT Awards as well as two Mobos, with their debut album going platinum.
On October 29, 2020 Lisa said she had been diagnosed with cervical cancer.
However, she later told fans she had actually been diagnosed as having abnormal cells - and did not have cervical cancer.
She said: "Oh my god guys now I feel so sorry for not checking I've had so many messages saying their mums are going through it.
"I just want to apologise, I think where I was emotional with my mum I just wasn't thinking.
"I don't have cervical cancer I had abnormal cells that needed to be burned away that could have turned cancerous."
Her scare came just a year after her mum's battle with the disease.
She revealed the news as she went to a Colposcopy appointment at hospital.
Lisa told fans she had never missed a smear test and urged fans to make sure they keep up with their screening appointments.
Earlier on, prior to her diagnosis, she said: "I never miss a smear.
"This is just a reminder to anyone that maybe has forgotten to get tested!
"It's not a game."
What happened to So Solid Crew?
So Solid Crew consisted of a rather large number of members, with the most notable ones being Lisa Maffia, MC Harvey and Romeo.
In October, 2001, the UK act released their first album titled They Don't Know, which performed moderately well on the UK charts, but it was their breakout single 21 Seconds that would carry the band's major success throughout the year.
The song went platinum within weeks, and it seemed like everything was looking up for the new group.
Their debut album ended up peaking at number 6.
In 2002, So Solid Crew would go on to helm their own Channel 4 documentary called This Is So Solid, which only helped to boost their popularity with the British public.
But by the time that their second album 2nd Verse hit the market on 29 September, 2003, it appeared as if everything came crashing down for them.
The record underperformed immensely, landing its highest position at number 70 on the UK album chart and failing to produce any hit singles.
It wasn't long before members such as Lisa Maffia would attempt to start a solo career away from the group, consequently causing the group to disband.
What did Lisa Maffia do after she left So Solid Crew?
Lisa released her debut single All Over - which reached number two in the charts - after parting ways with So Solid Crew in 2003.
She later released her debut solo album, First Lady, which featured stars Christina Aguilera, Ja Rule and Blue.
But the album failed to equal the success of her previous singles.
Lisa took a break from her musical career and focused on television and modelling opportunities.
She has appeared in the pages of numerous magazines including Vogue and Elle.
The star has also always been a lads' mag fave - having graced the list of FHM's 100 Sexiest Women as well as Loaded's 100 Babes.
In 2006 she resumed her focus on her musical career, setting up her own label Maffia Recordz and releasing her single Bad Girl the following year.
In 2017 she released her single The Knack.
Lisa also owns a production company called Maffia Media which produced UK film Little Lighty, she also owns a beauty salon in Margate, Kent.
In December 2021, Maffia announced via Instagram her debut autobiography would be released on June 16, 2022 followed by the release of a new EP to be released in July 2022.
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What TV shows has Lisa Maffia been on?
Lisa has taken part in multiple TV shows - in January 2019 she teamed up with Sugababes star Mutya Buena for Celebrity Coach Trip.
In 2005, she competed in The Games and came second to Kirsty Gallacher when she earned a silver medal.
And in 2008 she won ITV2's CelebAir - which saw celebrities working as air hostesses.
Through her musical career she has also performed on Top Of The Pops, The Jonathan Ross Show, Never Mind The Buzzcocks, Celebrity Juice and Popworld to name a few.