LADY SOVEREIGN - DRUNK SOVEREIGN NEARLY MISSED DEF JAM CHANCE

DRUNK SOVEREIGN NEARLY MISSED DEF JAM CHANCE

British rapper LADY SOVEREIGN nearly missed out on the big time when she "messed up" her intimate audition with USHER and JAY-Z - because she was drunk. Sovereign - real name LOUISE HARMAN - gave a private performance to president of Def Jam records JAY-Z and singer Usher in 2005 in a bid to win a deal with the prestigious record company, but was so nervous, she had to drink vodka to calm herself down. The rapper tells London's Time Out, "I was anxious because I didn't know what to expect, so I downed some vodka to steady my nerves. "Usher was in there with Jay-Z, who didn't say much. He was just grinning a lot, but he's a really serious guy. He said, 'Are you ready for this?' And I was like, 'Arggh.' "I did a couple of freestyles and some pre-written stuff, but I choked halfway through. I thought I f**ked up, but I obviously didn't because an hour later they called my manager, and that was it." Lady Sovereign will open for pop star GWEN STEFANI on her upcoming tour. The shows kick-off on 27 April (07) in Universal City, California and end on 23 June (07) in Irvine, California.