Lemar Obika, born in April 1978 and professionally known by just his first name, gave up an opportunity to study pharmacy at Cardiff University so that he could pursue a career in music. Following his first concert at the Junior Jam at the Temple in Tottenham, supporting Usher, Lemar went on to support artists such as Destiny's Child, Total and Uncle Sam on their UK club tours, and eventually secured a recording contract with BMG. His debut single was "Got Me Saying Ooh" but unfortunately, due to restructuring at BMG his record deal fell through in less than a year, and he had to take a job working as an accounts manager at NatWest in Enfield, north London.

In 2002, Lemar made the finals of the BBC's Fame Academy (a talent quest/reality TV show), singing a version of Al Green’s "Let's Stay Together", and duetting with Lionel Richie on "Easy". He finished 3rd (David Sneddon was the winner) but caught the eye of fellow English soul singer Beverley Knight, who invited him to sing a duet with her during her concert at the Hammersmith Apollo. Following this, Sony Music were impressed with his potential, and signed him to a 5 year record deal.

Second single "Dance (With U)", released in early 2003 reached number 2 on the UK Singles chart, paving the way for debut album “Dedicated”, released later that year, and climbing to number 16 on the UK album chart. Follow up singles "50/50" and "Another Day" both reached the Top 10 (peaking at numbers 5 and 9 respectively) in the singles chart, and Lemar won a 2004 BRIT Award for "Best Urban Act". Sophomore album "Time To Grow", released in 2005, spawned a single of the same name, which reached number 9 in the UK, and also “If There’s Any Justice”, which charted at number 3. The album went to number 8 in the albums chart.

Lemar collected the 2006 BRIT Award for "Best Urban Act", and in the September, the single "It's Not That Easy" became his sixth UK Top 10 hit (reaching number 7). This was from his third album “The Truth About Love”, which includes guest appearances from Styles P from The L.O.X., Mica Paris and Joss Stone, and which made number 3 on the UK Album chart.

Lemar has co-written for other artists, most notably co-writing “Walk On”, from boyband V's debut album “You Stood Up”.