Kabba (singer) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids KABBA
KABBA in 2020
Background information
Birth name	Aminata Kabba
Also known as	A*M*E
Born	(1994-12-13) 13 December 1994 (age 30) Freetown, Sierra Leone
Origin	London, England
Genres	R&B pop hip hop soul dance
Occupation(s)	Singer songwriter
Instruments	Vocals
Years active	2010–present
Labels	Future Universal Epic
Associated acts	Gary Barlow MNEK Duke Dumont

Aminata Kabba, known as KABBA (and before that, A*M*E), is a talented singer and songwriter from Britain. She was born on December 13, 1994.

In 2011, Gary Barlow, a member of the band Take That, discovered A*M*E. He signed her to his record label, Future Records. In December 2012, the BBC announced that A*M*E was nominated for the "Sound of 2013" poll. This poll highlights new artists to watch.

In January 2013, A*M*E joined Epic Records, which is part of Sony Music. This happened after Gary Barlow closed Future Records to focus on his own music. A song called "Need U (100%)" by Duke Dumont, featuring A*M*E and MNEK, became very popular. It reached number one on the UK Singles Chart in April 2013.

KABBA's Early Life and Career Beginnings

Growing Up in Sierra Leone and London

KABBA was born in Freetown, Sierra Leone. When she was eight years old, her family moved to England. Life in Sierra Leone had become too dangerous for them.

She grew up in the Catford area of south-east London. There, she met another young music talent, MNEK. They both loved 1990s pop music. They started working together and quickly created several songs. One of these songs was "City Lights." This song caught the attention of Take That star Gary Barlow. He then signed her to his record label, Future Records.

Starting Her Music Journey as A*M*E

In 2012, A*M*E released a few songs to introduce her music. These included "City Lights" (with Bartoven), "Ride or Die," and "Find a Boy." She wrote "Find a Boy" with singer Emeli Sandé and producer Naughty Boy.

In September 2012, it was announced that A*M*E would release her first official song, "Play The Game Boy." This song was produced by Electric. Critics liked the song, with Digital Spy calling its choruses "addictive." They also noted its "K-pop inspired melodies."

In December 2012, the BBC nominated A*M*E for the "Sound of 2013" poll. Other artists nominated included Angel Haze and The Weeknd.

Her song with Duke Dumont, "Need U (100%)," came out in March 2013. It became a huge hit for both artists. It reached number one and stayed there for two weeks. This song also earned her a nomination for "Best Dance Recording" at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards.

On July 14, 2014, A*M*E released her second official single, "Heartless." This song was produced by Carl Falk and Rami Yacoub. She also sang on songs by other artists. These included Monsieur Adi's "What's Going On?", CamelPhat's "Paradigm," MK's "My Love 4 U," and Tough Love's "Closer to Love." She also featured on Shift K3Y's "Entirety" and M-22's "White Lies."

Becoming KABBA and Releasing Her First EP

On July 8, 2019, A*M*E announced on Instagram that she would now be known as KABBA.

KABBA shared that the first song from her new debut EP would be "Glue." It features Bartoven, who also appeared on her earlier song "City Lights." The song was first shared on COMPLEX on July 24, 2019. In the article, KABBA explained why she changed her name. She said, "KABBA is a Sierra Leonean name and part of my identity that is so precious to me. Now that I'm entering a new phase in my career, I'm free to fully embrace KABBA."

Her first EP, titled KABBA, was released on February 14, 2020.

KABBA's Musical Style and Inspirations

Who Influences KABBA's Music?

KABBA loves K-pop music and it has greatly influenced her style. She mentioned that she uses "fat, solid, six-part melodies" in her music, which are very K-poppy.

KABBA looks up to artists like Beyoncé, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, and the K-pop group Big Bang. She also says that Janet Jackson is a major idol for her.

KABBA's Music Releases

Extended Plays (EPs)

Singles as the Main Artist

Singles Featuring KABBA

Promotional Singles

Music Videos

Awards and Nominations