Ericka Streets

Ericka Ilizabeth Streets (2nd July, 1985-c. 9th November, 2010) was a Kuboian television personality, singer-songwriter, rapper and actress. She began her career at the age of fourteen, when she became a part-time presenter for Nickelodeon Kuboia, before later expanding her career and releasing music. At the peak of her career, Streets was one the most high-profile individuals in the country of Kuboia, and continues to be one of the most celebrated people from the country.

Early life
Ericka Ilizabeth Streets was born on 2nd July, 1985 in Reichetto, Dominion of Kuboia (now a part of East Kuboia). Her Scottish-Swedish father Henry Streets (b. 1952) is a retired retail manager, whilst her Dutch-New Zealander mother Ashleigh Smith (b. 1954) is a retired university teacher. She also had an older brother, Hugh Streets (b. 1983).

Growing up whilst Kuboia was transitioning into an independent country, Streets' family struggled both financially and mentally. Her parents separated when she was three years old, with her mother taking Streets and her brother to live with her mother's family. As a young child, Streets was taught early education through a private tutor, before being moved into a mainstream school at the age of nine. At the age of twelve, Streets' school was shut down due to its poor conditions and reports that some of the teachers were physically and sexually abusing the children. Neither she nor her brother attended education afterwards.

As a thirteen year-old, Streets suffered from loneliness and had almost no sleeping routine. She mentioned in an interview that "all [she] was doing was playing computer games until three or four [a.m.] and then sleeping in until the afternoon. There was nothing better to do." Later, at the age of fourteen, Streets' mother encouraged her to apply for a presenting role on Nickelodeon Kuboia as she thought it would be a good job for her.

Mental health
Having been diagnosed with autism at a young age, her agent Dominic Halls hired a professional social worker to "observe" and "monitor" Streets, who would often watch in the background when Streets was working. At the age of seventeen, Streets moved out of her mother's into a special sheltered accommodation. In order for Streets to maximise her privacy, she would often get driven to her house in multiple different cars so the paparazzi could not recognise any recurring vehicle.

Streets stuggled with the consequences of being famous and, according to her friends and family, suffered from emotional abuse from Halls, with Streets often crying after encounters with him and his associates. In 2021, Streets' mother claimed that Halls used loopholes to ensure that Streets kept working for him despite her wanting to quit and live a private life.

Shortly before her death, Streets had been diagnosed with obsessive compulsive disorder and bipolar disorder.

Relationships and sexual orientation
In 2002, Streets met Spy Fandel whilst doing work for Nickelodeon Kuboia and KT. The two had an on-off relationship until early 2010, with the two regularly going back and forth between being friends and in a romantic relationship. Fandel mentioned in a 2018 interview that being in a relationship with Streets was "hard", and how she had difficulty moving on after he called off their relationship for good. However, he also said "I have a lot of good memories with Ericka, some of which are some of the best moments of my life." Streets was expecting a child with Fandel in 2007, but ended up suffering a miscarriage. According to Streets' family and friends, she was "never the same person" afterwards.

Outside of Fandel, Streets struggled to find a romantic partner, though had close friendships with other men that were reported within the media.

During her lifetime, several sources speculated that Streets may be bisexual, noting that in some of her songs, Streets appears to be singing about another woman. She never publicly disclosed her sexual orientation, though Streets' brother Hugh claimed in a 2020 interview that she did seem to be attracted to other women.

Death
In the early hours of 10th November, 2010, Streets was found dead in her home by her brother Hugh at the age of 25. Her death was revealed in a Vision News headline at around 6:00a.m. later that day. No cause of death was immediately given other than the fact that she had been "struggling" for some time. On the day, Vision One abruptly changed its schedule, delaying several programmes in favour of solely running news and archived programming. Several of Streets' closest friends and associates had also cancelled upcoming public appearances.

On 13th November, TVVC reported that Streets had committed suicide by hanging. She had allegedly had arguments with several of her closest friends and family in the weeks leading up to her death, including her brother Hugh and ex-boyfriend Spy Fandel. According to Streets' mother, her mentor Dominic Halls had sent Streets threatening messages, warning her that he would get his lawyers on her if she stopped working for him. Halls had also told Streets not to discuss matters surrounding their relationship to any of her friends and family. Rapper Kool Teazer, who had collaborated with and been close friends with Streets, noted that "something was not right" when seeing her shortly before her death.

A private funeral for Streets was held in an undisclosed location on 1st December, which was attended by people that were close to her. Her body was cremated shortly afterwards. Streets is the second person to work for TVVC in the 2000s to commit suicide after Aourine Esthers. Several sources showed concern that TVVC may be a "toxic work culture" that normalises and downplays mental health issues.

Musical style and influence
Streets marketed her music towards children and young people, with material releasd by her often being under the dance-pop, bubblegum pop and novelty music genres. She also incorporated hip-hop elements in several of her songs, including some with prominently featured her rapping. Because of this, Streets was referred to as a lipstick rapper by several media outlets, with Streets also citing herself as one on multiple occasions.

Streets took inspiration from music popular amongst children, including from British pop group S Club 7, Danish pop group Aqua, Belgian-Dutch girl group K3 and Australian children's group Hi-5. She also took inspiration from Britney Spears, Billie Piper and Antonia Morales.

Kool Teazer noted that Streets liked to write a lot of her music herself and did not like hiring ghostwriters. He also noted that she often liked to divide her lyrics up into sections, with many of her songs featuring a pre-chorus, bridge and middle-eights in addition to the verses and chorus, as well as several ad-libs and background vocals present through her main vocals. Streets preferred to not use autotune in her songs unless it fit the song theme. Teazer also acknowledged that she liked to "overtake" on songs she featured on, stating "if you let Ericka be on your song, it wasn't your song anymore".

Streets had strict rules about making music that was "appropiate", and refused to allow profanity or references to violence on any of her songs. When collaborating with Meiling Chen for "Bring It Back", Chen had to change some of her lyrics after Streets refused to feature on the song due to the original lyrics containing profanity.

Album themes
Streets released three studio albums during her lifetime. Her first album, Y2K, was mostly bubblegum pop and trance-orientated. For her second album, Make Way, Streets wanted to incorporate a more "grown-up" image. She did this by incorporating hip-hop into her songs and featured guest appearances. For her final album, Teemage Superstar, Streets took inspiration from American pop and rock music at the time whilst still maintaining her Kuboianised pop imagery.

Streets explained in 2007 that she sees the three albums as her growing as a person citing "Y2K was made when I was just a teenager and it was my first album so it wasn't as polished. Make Way kind of reflects me maturing as a person and Teenage Superstar has me trying something new by featuring a more American sound. That wasn't me selling out, I just don't want people thinking I make the same songs all the time."

Fashion
Streets normally wore her hair in two pigtail bunches. She was also known for wearing a lot of accessories, such as thick bracelets around her wrists, a necklace around her neck and a shoulder bag or bumbag which she allegedly rarely carried things in.

From the age of sixteen, Streets had almost all of her clothes manufactured and custom-made exclusively for her.

Studio albums

 * Y2K (2001)
 * Make Way (2003)
 * Teenage Superstar (2006)

Compilation albums

 * Queen of Kuboia (2011)
 * Greatest Hits (2020)

From Y2K

 * 2000: "I'm Me"
 * 2001: "So Good"
 * 2001: "Dizzy"
 * 2001: "The Mambo Craze/The Music Gal"

From Make Way

 * 2002: "Here We Go" (feat. Kool Teazer)
 * 2002: "Step To..." (feat. Spy Fandel)
 * 2003: "Without You"
 * 2003: "Before I Go" (feat. RockRhyme)
 * 2003: "Why?" (feat. ZD)

Other singles

 * 2003: "Don't Be Shy"
 * 2004: "Stay with Me"
 * 2005: "If I Could" (feat. Mina van Trease, Missy Robins and Charline Polister)

As featured artist

 * 2003: "Seven Days" (Northern Project feat. Ericka Streets)
 * 2003: "Bring It Back" (Meiling Chen feat. Ericka Streets)
 * 2004: "Move Your Hips" (X-Treme feat. Ericka Streets)
 * 2004: "By Your Side" (Kool Teazer feat. Ericka Streets)
 * 2004: "One Plus One" (Cyan River feat. Ericka Streets)
 * 2006: "Drag Me Down" (Tirade feat. Ericka Streets)
 * 2006: "Askin' Me" (ZD feat. Ericka Streets)