Nicole Wray
Encyclopedia
Nicole Monique Wray, also known as simply Nicole, is an American R&B
and hip hop
singer. Her 1998 debut single, "Make It Hot
"—written and produced by Timbaland
and co-written by and featuring Missy Elliott
—was certified gold.
, California
on May 2, 1981, and raised in Portsmouth
, Virginia
. After being introduced to Missy Elliott
, Wray was featured on Missy's platinum certified debut Supa Dupa Fly
. When Elliott started her own label, The Goldmind
, the then 17-year-old Wray was the first artist signed.
In 1998, her debut album Make It Hot
was released. Heavily criticized for Elliott's heavy-handed involvement (she produced, wrote, and performed on much of the album) the first single, "Make It Hot
", peaked at number five on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and was certified gold. Her second single, "I Can't See", reached #36 on the Rhythmic Top 40 chart. Make It Hot peaked at number nineteen on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
chart (number 42 on The Billboard 200) and dropped off by the end of the year.
The third single, "Eyes Better Not Wander", peaked at #71 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
chart. Later that year, Wray would sing the hook to "All n My Grill
" on Missy Elliott's platinum certified second album, Da Real World
.
In July 2001, Nicole released "I'm Lookin, the first single from her planned second album Elektric Blue. "I'm Lookin peaked at number 66 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, but the album would never see the light of day.
After amicably parting with The Goldmind, Wray was sought after to feature vocals on various albums & soundtracks. She would go on to sign a new album deal & under the guidance of Damon Dash
was featured on Cam'ron
's gold certified 2004 release, Purple Haze
. Later that year she released the single, "If I Was Your Girlfriend" from her scheduled Roc-A-Fella Records
debut & second sophomore studio set LoveChild. Though garnering some buzz, there ultimately was not enough push to release the album. After the temporary halt of Roc-A-Fella, LoveChild would suffer the same fate as its predecessor.
Wray would be shuffled through the Dame Dash Music Group & then Channel 7 Records with nothing to show but several guest vocal appearances.
Still maintaining her work relationship with Damon Dash, Wray would join The Black Keys
rock/hip-hop collective Blakroc and be a major vocal contributor to the group's self-titled November 2009 debut. Wray was then enlisted to lend her background vocals on The Black Keys
' 7th studio LP, Brothers
, released May 2010.
In 2010 she appeared on Kid Cudi
's second album Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager
on the song "The End" alongside Chip tha Ripper and GLC
.
Contemporary R&B
Contemporary R&B is a music genre that combines elements of hip hop, soul, R&B and funk.Although the abbreviation “R&B” originates from traditional rhythm and blues music, today the term R&B is most often used to describe a style of African American music originating after the demise of disco in...
and hip hop
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
singer. Her 1998 debut single, "Make It Hot
Make It Hot (song)
"Make It Hot" is the first single off Nicole Wray's album, Make It Hot. The single was released August 25, 1998. The single was written by Missy Elliott, Tim Mosley, and A. Richards, and was produced by Timbaland. The song features Mocha and Missy Elliott and uncredited lead and background vocals...
"—written and produced by Timbaland
Timbaland
Timothy Zachery Mosley , better known by his stage name Timbaland, is an American record producer, songwriter and rapper....
and co-written by and featuring Missy Elliott
Missy Elliott
Melissa Arnette "Missy" Elliott , is an American rapper, singer-songwriter, record producer, and actressA five-time Grammy Award winner, Elliott, with record sales of over seven million in the United States, is the only female rapper to have five albums certified platinum by the RIAA, including one...
—was certified gold.
Musical career
Wray was born in SalinasSalinas, California
Salinas is the county seat and the largest municipality of Monterey County, California. Salinas is located east-southeast of the mouth of the Salinas River, at an elevation of about 52 feet above sea level. The population was 150,441 at the 2010 census...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
on May 2, 1981, and raised in Portsmouth
Portsmouth, Virginia
Portsmouth is located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of the U.S. Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2010, the city had a total population of 95,535.The Norfolk Naval Shipyard, often called the Norfolk Navy Yard, is a historic and active U.S...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
. After being introduced to Missy Elliott
Missy Elliott
Melissa Arnette "Missy" Elliott , is an American rapper, singer-songwriter, record producer, and actressA five-time Grammy Award winner, Elliott, with record sales of over seven million in the United States, is the only female rapper to have five albums certified platinum by the RIAA, including one...
, Wray was featured on Missy's platinum certified debut Supa Dupa Fly
Supa Dupa Fly
Upon its release, Supa Dupa Fly received critical acclaim among music critics. Writers lauded record producer Timbaland's production as unique and revolutionary, whose "lean, digital grooves are packed with unpredictable arrangements and stuttering rhythms"...
. When Elliott started her own label, The Goldmind
The Goldmind Inc.
The Goldmind, Inc. is an American record label founded by hip hop artist Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott. Elliott was once distributed through Elektra Entertainment Group, and more recently by Atlantic Records before starting her own label. The Goldmind, Inc...
, the then 17-year-old Wray was the first artist signed.
In 1998, her debut album Make It Hot
Make It Hot
Make It Hot is the 1998 debut album by R&B singer Nicole. The album was released in August 1998 through Missy Elliott's Elektra-distributed vanity label, The Goldmind. The album was produced by Missy Elliott and Timbaland.- Track listing :...
was released. Heavily criticized for Elliott's heavy-handed involvement (she produced, wrote, and performed on much of the album) the first single, "Make It Hot
Make It Hot (song)
"Make It Hot" is the first single off Nicole Wray's album, Make It Hot. The single was released August 25, 1998. The single was written by Missy Elliott, Tim Mosley, and A. Richards, and was produced by Timbaland. The song features Mocha and Missy Elliott and uncredited lead and background vocals...
", peaked at number five on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and was certified gold. Her second single, "I Can't See", reached #36 on the Rhythmic Top 40 chart. Make It Hot peaked at number nineteen on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums is a chart published by Billboard magazine that ranks R&B and hip hop albums based on sales compiled by Nielsen SoundScan. The name of the chart was changed from Top R&B Albums in 1999...
chart (number 42 on The Billboard 200) and dropped off by the end of the year.
The third single, "Eyes Better Not Wander", peaked at #71 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,...
chart. Later that year, Wray would sing the hook to "All n My Grill
All n My Grill
"All n My Grill" is the second single from Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott's 1999 album, Da Real World. The song featured Big Boi of Outkast and vocal ad-libs from her former protege, Nicole Wray. The song had more success than the first single, "She's a Bitch".-Music video:The video was directed by...
" on Missy Elliott's platinum certified second album, Da Real World
Da Real World
Da Real World is the second studio album by American rapper by Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott. The album is noted for adding a raunchier and darker style to Missy's music, as well as the repetitive usage of "bitch" in a majority of her songs...
.
In July 2001, Nicole released "I'm Lookin, the first single from her planned second album Elektric Blue. "I'm Lookin peaked at number 66 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, but the album would never see the light of day.
After amicably parting with The Goldmind, Wray was sought after to feature vocals on various albums & soundtracks. She would go on to sign a new album deal & under the guidance of Damon Dash
Damon Dash
__NOINDEX__...
was featured on Cam'ron
Cam'ron
Cameron Giles , better known by his stage name Cam'ron or "Killa Cam", is a Grammy-nominated American actor. He is the founder of the hip-hop group The Diplomats , and also of The U.N. group....
's gold certified 2004 release, Purple Haze
Purple Haze (album)
Purple Haze is the fourth studio album by Harlem rapper Cam'ron. It was released on December 7, 2004. The release of this album was delayed several times from November 2003, the first single "Get Em Girls" was released a year prior to the actual album release...
. Later that year she released the single, "If I Was Your Girlfriend" from her scheduled Roc-A-Fella Records
Roc-A-Fella Records
Roc-A-Fella Records is a record label founded by Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter, Damon "Dame" Dash, and Kareem "Biggs" Burke. Today it operates as a subsidiary of Universal Music Group, and is distributed by Island Def Jam Motown Music Group.-Formation and Early Years:...
debut & second sophomore studio set LoveChild. Though garnering some buzz, there ultimately was not enough push to release the album. After the temporary halt of Roc-A-Fella, LoveChild would suffer the same fate as its predecessor.
Wray would be shuffled through the Dame Dash Music Group & then Channel 7 Records with nothing to show but several guest vocal appearances.
Still maintaining her work relationship with Damon Dash, Wray would join The Black Keys
The Black Keys
The Black Keys are an American rock duo consisting of vocalist/guitarist Dan Auerbach and drummer/producer Patrick Carney. The band was formed in Akron, Ohio, in 2001. As of October 2011, the band has sold over 2 million albums in the U.S....
rock/hip-hop collective Blakroc and be a major vocal contributor to the group's self-titled November 2009 debut. Wray was then enlisted to lend her background vocals on The Black Keys
The Black Keys
The Black Keys are an American rock duo consisting of vocalist/guitarist Dan Auerbach and drummer/producer Patrick Carney. The band was formed in Akron, Ohio, in 2001. As of October 2011, the band has sold over 2 million albums in the U.S....
' 7th studio LP, Brothers
Brothers (The Black Keys album)
Brothers is the sixth album and Grammy Award-winner of Best Alternative Music Album by American blues-rock duo, The Black Keys. The album was announced on March 2, 2010 by Pitchfork Media and became the band's third release from Nonesuch Records on May 18, 2010...
, released May 2010.
In 2010 she appeared on Kid Cudi
Kid Cudi
Scott Ramon Seguro Mescudi , better known by his stage name Kid Cudi , sometimes stylized KiD CuDi, is an American rapper, singer and actor. He first gained major attention after the release of his debut mixtape A Kid Named Cudi. In 2009, his single "Day 'n' Nite" reached the top five of the...
's second album Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager
Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager
Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager is the second studio album by American recording artist Kid Cudi. The album was formerly known as Cudder: The Revolution of Evolution, before being renamed. The album was released November 9, 2010 by GOOD Music and Universal Motown.Man on the Moon II: The...
on the song "The End" alongside Chip tha Ripper and GLC
GLC (rapper)
Leonard D. Harris is an American rapper from Chicago.-Early life:Leonard D. Harris found poetry and hip-hop at an early age and used both to cope with the passing of his parents. “As long as you’re talking about the negativity, you’re only attracting more negativity into your life. Stay positive. I...
.