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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 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.
Nicole 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.
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 second album Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager on the song "The End" alongside Chip tha Ripper and GLC.
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