LoLa Monroe (born Fershgenet Melaku, October 23, 1986) is an American rapper, model and actress of Ethiopian descent.

Early life

Monroe was born Fershgenet Melaku (Fershgenet meaning "Fruit of Heaven" and Melaku meaning "Angel") in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to Ethiopian parents. She was raised in Garfield Terrace, Washington D.C.. Monroe began writing poems and songs at the age of 12, using music as an escape and a form of expression.

Career

In 2006 she was known as "Angel Lola Luv" when she met photographer Mike Styles and her current manager Michelle Vieyra. She made her acting debut in the Wendy Wiliams biopic "Queen of Media" and later acted in "Crazy like a Fox". She began modeling and appearing in music videos for various artists.

She later became, LoLa Monroe, her name for rapping, the "Monroe" is directly related to the Actress, Model, Film Producer and Singer Marilyn Monroe; due to the fact the two share a similar story. They were both discovered in the same fashion and used modeling as a entry to further their career in the Entertainment Industry. In 2009, Monroe retired from modeling to concentrate on music. She released her first mixtape, Boss Bitch's World, in June 2009. Only four month's later in October she released her second mixtape titled, The Art of Motivation. In the same year she released her collaboration mixtape with Lil Boosie (before he went to prison) titled, Untouchables.

In September 2010 Monroe released the first single, Overtime, from her new mixtape, the single featured Trina. A video was recorded and released on 106 & Park for this single. In December 2010 LoLa released her fourth mixtape, Batteries Not Included.She is the leader of what she calls, "The Bosset Movement." The followers of this movement are called "Bosses" or "Bossets." The "Bosset Movement" was created for the empowerment of women. The women represented by the movement are those working hard towards their goals and striving for success and is meant to motivate and strengthen women regardless of obstacles and adversity.

Monroe has a "personal team" named "Team LoLa Monroe." – the purpose being to promote Monroe via street teams and on the internet. She is also active in humanitarian work and does her part to give back to the community that "built and embraced her".

She is being nominated for Best Female Hip Hop Artist at the BET Awards of 2011.

Influences

Monroe has stated that artists who have influenced her musical style include Jay-Z, 50 Cent, Lil Wayne, Tupac, Eminem, MC Lyte,Salt-n-Pepa, Lil Kim, Trina, Lauryn Hill, and Foxy Brown Lola describes her music as "painting a vivid picture of my experiences, my views and my feelings towards the struggle. The grind, love, money, hate, anything the streets can feel from my perspective".

Videos

For a while LoLa Monroe was a "Video Vixen." She had parts in many different music videos.
Song title, artist Released
GreenLight Special, Boosie March 2011
OverTime, feat. Trina Nov 2010
Louis Gucci Fendi, Swagga Boy Los September 2010
Women Lie, Men Lie September 2010
Never Landing, Swagga Boy Los July 2010
Boss Chick, S. Fresh & Lloyd May 2010
Bedrock Remix, Rasheeda April 2010
You're a Jerk Remix, Summer 2009
Nike Boots, Wale January 2009
Ride Or Die Remix, Ace Hood featuring Trey Songz, Rick Ross & Juelz Santana October 2008
One More Drink, Ludacris ft. T-Pain October 2008
Good Life, Kanye West ft. T-Pain 2007
I Get Money, 50 Cent August 2007
Give It Up, Twista ft. Pharrell 2007
Beat Rock, Tabi Bonney 2007
Wonder Woman, Trey Songz 2007
Corporate Thuggin, Young Jeezy 2006
Bury Me A G, Young Jeezy 2006
I Luv It, Young Jeezy November 2006
I Know You Want Me, Young Buck ft. Jazze Pha August 2006
In the Ghetto, Busta Rhymes 2007
Hands Up, Lloyd Banks August 2006
Cake, Lloyd Banks July 2006

Official mixtapes

* Boss Bitch's World (2009)
* The Lola Monroe Chronicles: The Art of Motivation (2009)
* Untouchables, with Lil Boosie (2009)
* Batteries Not Included (Mixtape) (2010)

Filmography

Year Film Role Notes
2009 Before I Self Destruct Mona Direct-to-video DVD
2010 Crazy Like a Fox Pier Angeli Direct-to-video DVD
2010 Video Girl[15] Jessica Full-Length Film