Essentials: Marsha Ambrosius

British songstress Marsha Ambrosius has built upon accolades throughout her career. While her humble beginnings found her playing gigs in Atlanta bars and cafés as a poet, Ambrosius kick-started her tenure when she founded nu-soul outfit Floetry with Natalie Stewart. Her solo pursuits has seen her providing vocal support on countless hits with The Game, Busta Rhymes, J Dilla, Queen Latifah and Kanye West, alongside mixtape appearances with Alicia Keys, Mario, Jamie Foxx and Wale. Yet Ambrosius’ biggest achievement is writing music for Michael Jackson’s Top 20 hit, “Butterflies.” In 2011, Ambrosius released her first official solo album Late Nights & Early Morning on J Records, a celebrated release which continued to showcase her sensual falsetto. In our latest Essentials, we see a few simple items that keep the songstress grounded. A Chicago Bulls hat to represent her favorite basketball team, Beats by Dre headphones for daily music listening, and a vintage Ralph Lauren denim shirt — a lucky charm which she carries close to her at all times. Her sophomore album, Friends & Lovers arrives July 15 via RCA Records and will feature the single, “Run.”