I’m down to the little I’m tripping. I’ been seem [Music] um I don’t play any role in it to be honest. I feel like my label made a statement and there’s not really much to much else to say about it to be honest. She stood on stage humming melodies that made millions fall in love. But for years, nobody knew her face.

Born on November 3rd, 1994 in London, England, Ella May Howell turned rejection into a $6 million empire and a Grammy award. But here’s the twist that had the internet spiraling. In August 2024, while everyone was watching her career explode, she was secretly carrying NBA champion Jason Tatum’s baby. Yeah. This is the story of how a girl who got rejected on national television, became R&B royalty, sparked one of the messiest controversies in music history, dated an NBA superstar in complete secrecy, and became a mother without anyone knowing

she was pregnant. And trust me, the drama is just getting started. In 2014, Ella May auditioned for the XFactor UK as part of a girl group trio called Arise. Simon Cow, the man who made or broke Koreas with a single sentence, looked at them and said no. They didn’t even make it past the initial rounds. The cameras captured Ella’s disappointment.

 And then they moved on to the next hope flag. Got four yeses. Everyone was so excited. And then we got to the next stage, which the arena stage, and got four nos. And everyone was just like completely changed their mind. Most people would have given up right there. Rejection on national television is brutal. But Ella wasn’t most people.

She enrolled at the British and Irish Modern Music Institute in London, studying music production and vocal performance while everyone from her XFactor audition faded into obscurity. But here’s what makes Ella’s story fascinating. She wasn’t just talented. She was strategic. While her peers were chasing record deals and fame, Ella was building something sustainable.

 She started posting covers and original songs on Instagram and Soundcloud, cultivating a small but dedicated following. Nothing viral, nothing explosive, just consistent quality music. In 2015, at just 21 years old, Ella released her debut EP, Troubled. [Music] Independently, the project got decent streaming numbers in the UK, but it wasn’t changing her life.

 She was still unknown, still working regular jobs, still wondering if music would ever pay the bills. Then in 2015, something happened that would change everything. But it wasn’t a viral moment or a lucky break. It was a DM from a producer who saw potential nobody else recognized yet. DJ Mustard, the West Coast hitmaker behind tracks for YG, Ty Dollar, and Rihanna, was scrolling through Instagram when he discovered Ella’s page.

 He listened to her music and heard something special. A voice that could carry emotion without overs singing. Lyrics that felt genuine and a modern take on ’90s R&B that felt fresh. [Music] Mustard reached out directly. He wanted to sign her to his label 10 Summers Records, which had a distribution deal with Intercope.

 For Ella, this was the moment. a legitimate producer, a major label backing, and a chance to work with someone who understood her sound. In 2016, LMA moved from London to Los Angeles, leaving behind everything familiar to chase a dream that had already rejected her once. She was 22 in the new country, working with a producer who believed in her but had no guarantees of success.

Got in the car, I was on the way to the studio and she sent it to me again like, “You really should check her out.” And I just DM’ her and then that was history. From 2016 to 2018, LMA released three EPs under 10 Summers Records: Change, Ready, and LMA. Each project showcased her growth, her range, and her ability to write songs that felt personal yet universal.

 But still, mainstream success eluded her. The radio wasn’t playing her music. She wasn’t getting major playlist placements. Industry insiders knew her name, but the general public had no idea who LMA was. Then came February 2018 and everything changed in the most unexpected way possible. Booed Up, a song Ella had released months earlier as part of an EP suddenly exploded on social media.

 It wasn’t planned. There was no marketing campaign. People just started discovering the song organically, creating dance videos, relationship content, and couple montages using the track. get over. The song went from a few thousand streams per day to hundreds of thousands, then millions. Radio stations that had ignored LMI for years suddenly couldn’t stop playing Boot Up.

 The song climbed the Billboard Hot 100, eventually peaking at number five and spending weeks in the top 10. What if one day I’m like driving down the road and I hear my song on the radio and then it actually happens and you’re like, “What is going on?” I still get as excited every time as if it’s like if I haven’t heard the song before.

By summer 2018, Booed Up was the song of the year. Wedding receptions, summer cookouts, romantic playlists, everyone was playing LMI. She went from unknown to unavoidable in a matter of months. Major brands wanted partnerships. Award shows wanted performances. Other artists wanted collaborations.

 In October 2018, Ella released her self-titled debut album LMI. The project debuted at number five on the Billboard 200 and was certified platinum. She had arrived. Finally, after years of grinding in obscurity, [Music] but success brought something Ella hadn’t prepared for, drama. and the controversy that followed would define her public image for years.

 In September 2018, R&B singer Jacquis released a remix of Ella’s song Trip without her permission. He called it a Q mix and uploaded it to YouTube and Soundcloud. Within days, Jacquis’s version was getting more streams than Ella’s original. Fans were commenting that his version was better. Radio DJs were playing his remix instead of her song.

I’ been tripping on you. Ella’s team, including DJ Mustard, issued a cease and desist, forcing Jacquis to remove the remix from all platforms. The internet exploded. Fans accused Ella of being jealous, insecure, and petty. Jacquis publicly complained, suggesting Ella was threatened by his talent. Like, I could drop a record today and you could download it and put it on iTunes.

 It’s up to them whether they want to snatch it or not. And you could put Jaquis anything on there, you feel me? and it’ll look like it’s coming from me or anything, you know? I think that was the case. Ella defended herself on Hot 97, explaining that it wasn’t personal, it was business. The song was actively climbing the charts and an unofficial remix was confusing streaming algorithms and radio programmers.

 But the damage was done. The narrative became LMI is jealous of Jacquis. Um, I don’t play any role in it to be honest. I feel like my label made a statement and there’s not really much to much else to say about it to be honest. Even in 2023, five years later, Jacquis claimed Ellis still had him blocked on social media and refused to speak to him.

 The beef became R&B folklore, a cautionary tale about remix culture and artist rights. But while the industry debated who was right, Ellis stayed focused on her music. In February 2019, she attended the 61st annual Grammy Awards and won best R&B song for Booed Up. The dynamic that we have at 10 Summers is not your typical label dynamic. We’re like family.

 Mustard is a great guy. He’s always believed in me. Beating established artists and proving that viral moments could translate to critical acclaim. Just trying to take it all in. I think I’ve dreamt about this moment ever since I was a little girl. So, just to be here and and really be like surrounded by such amazing people and on such an incredible night, I’m really really honored.

She was 24 years old, a Grammy winner, and one of the biggest names in R&B. But there was one part of her life she kept completely private, her love life. In 2019, rumors started circulating that Ella was dating NBA star Jason Tatum of the Boston Celtics. Tatum, born March 3rd, 1998, is one of the league’s brightest stars, a five-time NBA All-Star who would go on to win an NBA championship in 2024 and an Olympic gold medal with Team USA.

 But Ella and Jason never confirmed their relationship publicly. No red carpet appearances, no couple photos on Instagram, no public statements. They kept their romance so private that even their closest industry friends weren’t sure if they were actually together. [Music] In an era where celebrity relationships are constantly documented and monetized, their privacy was almost suspicious.

your home. I’ll be the queen you put your crown on. Then came 2024 and the secret they’d been keeping became impossible to hide. In August 2024, after Team USA men’s basketball won the gold medal at the Paris Olympics, Jason Tatum was photographed celebrating with his family. And in those photos, LMI was holding a newborn baby.

 Their baby, a child nobody knew existed until that moment. The internet went into a frenzy. LMI, one of the most private celebrities in music, had been pregnant for 9 months without anyone knowing. No maternity photos, no pregnancy announcement, no baby shower posts. She carried and delivered a child in complete secrecy.

let me down. Fans were stunned. How did she hide a pregnancy in an industry where every ounce of weight gain get scrutinized? How did no paparazzi catch her with a baby bump? How did she perform, travel, and work without anyone noticing? The answer, LMI values her privacy more than publicity.

 In a world where celebrities announce pregnancies with elaborate photooots and document every moment for engagement, Ella chose silence. And somehow it worked. As of October 2025, Ella still hasn’t publicly discussed her child or confirmed the relationship with Jason Tatum. She continues to move in complete privacy, refusing to turn her personal life into content.

 It’s a power move that’s both admired and criticized, but it’s undeniably effective. [Music] So, where is Lami now? She’s 30 years old with a net worth of $6 million, a Grammy award, a platinum album, and a secret family that she’s protected from public consumption. She’s working on new music with her latest single, Tell Her, teasing a potential sophomore album that fans have been waiting years for.

[Applause] Industry insiders suggest she’s been in the studio with top producers, crafting a follow-up to her debut that will prove Boot Up wasn’t a fluke. But Ella’s moving at her own pace, refusing to rush art for the sake of relevance. In an industry that demands constant content, she’s chosen quality over quantity.

Sometimes I’ll go in and have nothing and just listen to a bunch of beats and like most of the time we’ll start with the hook cuz that’s the easiest thing to build around once you have the hook. Her relationship with Jason Tatum remains private. Though he’s made subtle references to being in a committed relationship during interviews, the two continued to shield their family from media attention.

 prioritizing their child’s privacy over clicks and headlines. But success and privacy haven’t erased the controversies. The Jacquay situation still resurfaces whenever remixes or cover culture gets discussed. Some fans still accuse her of being overly protective of her music. Others defend her right to control her own art.

 The debate continues, but Ella stays unbothered, focused on building a legacy rather than winning popularity contests. myself. She’s also faced criticism for not being more visible or vocal in the industry. Unlike peers who constantly engage with fans on social media, do interviews, and maintain a constant presence, Ella appears when she wants to and disappears when she doesn’t.

 Some call it strategic, others call it disconnected. But the approach has kept her mystique intact. In recent months, Ella’s been spotted at various industry events, looking happy and healthy, occasionally performing select shows, but mostly staying out of the spotlight. She’s not chasing hits or trends.

 She’s building a career designed for longevity, not virality. The mother who once pushed her daughter to keep singing despite rejection. The father who supported her move to another country to chase dreams. The family that believed in her when Simon Cowell didn’t. They’re all part of a story that proves rejection isn’t permanent and overnight success is usually years in the making.

I brought my mom out on stage in London and she started crying. LMI went from XFactor reject to Grammy winner, from unknown songwriter to platinum selling artist, from public figure to fiercely private mother. She did it without compromising her values, without selling her personal life for engagement, and without letting controversy define her narrative.

 Her journey proves that you don’t have to be the loudest person in the room to be the most successful. You don’t have to document every moment to make an impact. And you definitely don’t have to explain yourself to people who wouldn’t understand anyway. The girl who got told no on national television built a $6 million career by trusting her voice, protecting her peace, and refusing to play by anyone’s rules but her own.

 And whether you love her music, respect her privacy, or still think she was wrong about the ji situation, one thing is undeniable. LMI is exactly who she wants to be on her own terms and she’s not apologizing for