The story behind the speech
From 0121
To the world.
Before the millions of views, the awards, the television appearances and the international stages, there was a young girl from the Birmingham area writing bars, learning the craft and finding her voice.
This is the route that became Lady Leshurr.
Start the journey ›
01 · Origin
Kingshurst / Birmingham
0121
Melesha Katrina O'Garro grew up in Kingshurst, in the Birmingham area. Music was already part of the world around her, and she began experimenting with poetry and writing from childhood.
0121 is Birmingham's dialling code — and the number she still carries into every verse.
It started here 02 · Age 6
Words first
By six, words had already become part of how she expressed herself.
She was writing her own lyrics from the age of six.
Words from the beginning 03 · Age 14
First mixtape
Before algorithms, she was already finding ways to get heard — handing CDs to strangers and leaving them on buses and park benches.
Her first mixtape was made at 14.
04 · The youth club
Rap / DJ / Production
Mixing · Mastering
The craft was built locally. She didn't just learn how to rap. She learned how records were made.
Rapping, DJing, producing, mixing and mastering — all learned at a local youth club.
05 · 2009
From music to screen
Lady Leshurr appeared in the 2009 British film 1 Day.
1 Day was a Birmingham-set British film released in 2009.
06 · 2011 – 2014
The mixtape years
Building the lane before the world saw it.
Friggin L 2011
2000 and L 2012
L Yeah! 2013
Mona Leshurr 2013
Lil Bit of Leshurr 2014
07 · 2015
One camera changed everything.
Queen's Speech
The concept was deceptively simple: a camera, the streets, rapid-fire bars and Lady Leshurr's personality. The result became her international calling card.
Queen's Speech Ep.4 was released on 31 July 2015.
08 · 2016
The world listened.
MOBO · Best Female Act 2016
Queen's Speech pushed Lady Leshurr to a global audience, with sold-out shows from Britain to New York.
09 · 2017
Mode
Juice · Y R U Lying? · Queen's Speech 7
Queen's Speech opened the door. Lady Leshurr kept expanding the room.
Mode was released as an EP in 2017.
10 · 2019
World stages
Birmingham · Manchester
Special guest on Nicki Minaj's The Nicki Wrld Tour.
She joined the tour's Birmingham and Manchester dates as a special guest.
11 · 2020
Purpose. Platform. Impact.
Her BEM recognised services to music and charity.
Quarantine Speech Released during lockdown, proceeds donated to the NHS.
BEM For services to music and charity.
BBC Radio 1Xtra Joined as a presenter.
Olay Fronted a landmark representation campaign.
12 · 2021
Entertainer
The personality behind the bars.
Dancing on Ice Semi-finalist
The Celebrity Circle Winner (Stand Up To Cancer)
Broadcaster Radio and television
13 · 2025
Another test
Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins.
She was announced in the Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins line-up.
The speeches · The archive
Queen's Speech 1 
Queen's Speech 2 
Queen's Speech 3 
Queen's Speech 4 
Queen's Speech 5 
Queen's Speech 6 
Queen's Speech 7 14 · 2026
10 years of the Queen's Speech
Lady Leshurr — Black Panther Lady Leshurr — OMW
Next destination
United States
2027
The speech continues.
What began with a young artist finding her voice in the Birmingham area became mixtapes, millions of views, awards, television, radio and stages around the world. Now Queen's Speech crosses the Atlantic.
- New York
- Philadelphia
- Charlotte
- Atlanta
- Los Angeles
Lady Leshurr in numbers
1M+
YouTube subscribers
2016
MOBO Best Female Act
BEM
Music + Charity
7
Queen's Speech chapters
0121
Where the story started
What built Lady Leshurr?
Lyricism
Sharp bars, real stories, unmistakable flow.
Humour
Turning everyday moments into quotable cultural moments.
Independence
Mixtapes, creative control and a distinct identity.
Birmingham
Making 0121 a recognised part of British rap.
Performance
From the booth to global stages, always herself.
Birmingham spoke.
The world listened.
Now America gets the speech.
Queen's Speech — Stateside · Jan / Feb 2027