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.
Wray was born in Salinas, California, 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.[1]
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)[1] the first single, "Make It
Hot", peaked at number five on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and
was certified gold.[2] Her second single, "I Can't See",
reached #36 on the Rhythmic Top 40 chart.[3] 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.[4][5]
The third single, "Eyes Better Not Wander", peaked at #71
on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.[6] Later that year,
Wray would sing the hook to "All n My Grill" on Missy Elliott's
platinum certified sophomore album, Da Real World.
In July 2001, Nicole released "I'm Lookin'", the first
single from her planned sophomore release Elektric Blue.[7] "I'm
Lookin'" peaked at number 66 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
chart,[8] 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.[9] 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 it's
predecessor.
Nicole would be shuffled through the Dame Dash Music Group & then
Channel 7 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.
By June 2010, Wray released the digital-only mixtape/album Boss
Bitch, via the label home Danizha, Inc. She is currently signed to
a production deal with Atlanta producer, Nitti Beatz through his
production company, Playmaker Music. She also recently made on appearance
on Kid Cudi's sophomore album Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr.
Rager on the song "The End" alongside Chip tha Ripper and
GLC.
Discography
Main article: Nicole Wray discography
* Make It Hot (1998)
* Elecktric Blue (2001) [Shelved][citation needed]
* LoveChild (2004) [Shelved][citation needed]
* Boss Bitch (2010) [Mixtape]