Nicole Wray

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Nicole Wray

Background information
Birth name Nicole Monique Wray
Also known as Nikki Wray, Nicole Ray, Lady Dipset, The First Lady of Roc
Born July, 1981
Origin Portsmouth, Virginia
Genre(s) R&B,
Occupation(s) Singer-songwriter, Model, Actress, Dancer, Rapper
Years active 1997-present
Label(s) The Goldmind Inc.
(1997-2001)
Elektra
(1997-2001)
Def Jam
(2003-2006)
Roc-A-Fella Records
(2003-2005)
Dame Dash Music Group
(2005-2006)
Dream Factory
(2005-2006)
Family Over Everything Entertainment
(2006-Present)
The Inc.
(2007-Present)
Associated
acts		 Tyrese, Cam'ron, Missy Elliott, Mocha, Jay-Z, Lil Mo, Mary J. Blige
Website [1]

Nicole Monique Wray (born July 1981) is a talented African-American R&B singer, songwriter, actress, dancer, rapper and model. Wray first rose to fame when she sang for the rapper Missy Elliott. As a solo artist, Wray sold has sold more than five million albums worldwide.

After being in the studio with Brian Morgan, Aleesha Rivers (Mocha), Missy Elliott, Suga Mike, and other producers, Wray released her debut album Make It Hot in 1998. The album. The album became one of the biggest selling albums of the year, topping the albums charts in the U.S. and the UK. It also contained the singles "Make It Hot" , "I Can't See", "Eyes Better Not Wander", and the promo single "Bollowed Time".

Contents

Wray is the second oldest of three children to Kenneth and Debra Wray. Nicole was born in California and raised in Portsmouth, Virginia. She is older sister of sister Myrtis Wray, and younger sister of her brother Kenny Wray.

By the age of seventeen, she met the rapper Missy Elliott. She sang for Missy and invited Nicole to join her in the music business. In 1997, Nicole got a chance to become a singer and a rapper.

Wray became close friends with Missy Elliott and Aleesha Rivers. In 1997, Nicole appeared on Elliott's first album "Supa Dupa Fly". After appearing on the track "Gettaway", Nicole got in the studio with famous producers "Missy Elliott, Brian Morgan, and Suga Mike" to began working on her first album .

During the autumn of 1998, Nicole release her first album Make It Hot. The album entered the Billboard 200 at the top-ten list. It was certified Platinum after nine months later on August 25,1998. Its first single "Make It Hot" was sixth track off of her debut album and features rap artists "Mocha and Missy Elliott". It became No.5 on the U.S charts. Nicole second single "I Can't See [Alternate Version]" hit the Rhythmic Top 40 at No.36. Later that year, Nicole released her new song "Without You" which appeared in the soundtrack "Why Do Fools Fall In Love".

In 1999, Nicole released third single off of her debut album "Eyes Better Not Wander". The debut single went on No. 71 on the U.S R&B charts. Nicole made another appearance on Missy Elliott's album. Nicole appeared in the debut single "All N My Grill" on Elliott's sophomore album "Da Real World".

In 1999, Nicole announced that she would be getting back into the studio to do her second studio album. In 2000, Nicole finished working and writing her new album Elektric Blue but, it was push back to 2001. In 2001, Nicole released the first single "I'm Lookin'" off of sophomore album.

In the spring of 2001, Nicole got a call from Missy Elliott saying that she is moving the album elsewhere. Nicole quotes from interview "Days became weeks, weeks became months. This is my career going by, so I gave Missy a call, thanking her for all that she has done". So in late 2001, Nicole left Elektra Records without releasing her new album "Elektric Blue". Shortly after Nicole's departure from Elektra Records and The Goldmind Inc., Nicole and Missy ended their business relationship on good terms.

In 2002, Nicole laid low for a while and kept a low profile. But in 2003, Nicole released her new track "I Wanna Kiss You" which appeared on the soundtrack "Love Don't Cost A Thing".

In 2004, Nicole came back with her new single "If I Was Your Girlfriend". Nicole signed to "Roc-A-Fella Records". Nicole was placed with the Dame Dash Music Group. Since mid-2004 to early-2005, Nicole has been working on her album Lovechild. Her album featured three new singles "If I Was Your Girlfriend", "Can't Get Out of the Game", and "Regrets".

In 2005, Nicole left the Dame Dash Group without releasing her third album Lovechild. In late 2005, Lovechild got leaked to internet. In mid-2005, the producers of the Lovechild album got together with Nicole and released her first mixtape Fantasia Lovechild.

Wray has been working on her fourth studio album since 2006. In 2007, It was confirmed by her myspace that she signed to a new record company called "Family Over Everything". It was also confirmed that Nicole promised her fans that she would be releasing her new album "Young, Talented and Beautiful".

Originally self-titled Nicole Wray, but eventually changed to Young, Talented and Beautiful, the album is now going to be released in the Spring of 2007 as confirmed by her new record company "Family Over Everything" and "The Inc". Nicole has just finish writting a new track called "Dear Father" and remade Mary J Blige's "If I Don't Love You". It was also confirmed that Nicole will be releasing her new mixtape Nicole Wray Starring in InDepenDance Day; Vol.1 The Takeover.

Nicole has been making appearances on t.v shows and movies. Nicole appeared in t.v series Family Matters as one of Missy Elliott's background dancers. She also appeared in the show The Wayan Bros. Nicole performed "Make It Hot" in 1998. And in 2005, Nicole appeared in State Property 2. Nicole was performing her song "Lollipop" in background.

  • Nicole appeared at the singer Ashanti's birthday party.
  • Nicole performed the Nation Anthem at the Living Legends Foundation.
  • Nicole was one of writers for Lil' Nikki's song "Rich Girlz".

Further information: Nicole Wray discography

Year Cover Album Chart positions Notes
US US R&B HS UK
1998
Make It Hot
 22 19 Certifications: Platinum (US)
Sales: 700,000 copies
2001
Elektric Blue
 Certifications:
Sales:
2005
Lovechild
 Certifications:
Sales:
2007
Young, Talented and Beautiful
  • fourth studio album
  • Released: 2007
  • Singles: "I'll Take Your Man", "Dear Father"
  • Formats: CD
 TBA TBA TBA TBA Certifications:
Sales:

Year Cover Album Chart positions Notes
US US R&B HS UK
2005
Fantasia Lovechild Mixtape (mixtape)
  • First studio mixtape
  • Released: 2005
  • Formats: mixtape
 49 33 Certifications:
2005
Dress Shirt Mafia :: Grown & Sexy - Dame Dash & Brucie B mixtape
  • Second studio mixtape
  • Released: 2005
  • Formats: mixtape
 Certifications:
Sales:
2007
Nicole Wray Starring in InDepenDance Day; Vol.1 The Takeover
 TBA TBA TBA TBA Certifications:
Sales:

Year Singles Chart Positions Album
US CAN US R&B Hot Dance Top 40 Top 40 Top 40 UK
1998 "Make It Hot" (featuring Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott & Mocha) 5 4 2 - 6 34 40 - Make It Hot
1998 "I Can't See" (featuring Mocha) - - 20 - 36 - - - Make It Hot
1999 "Eyes Better Not Wander" - - 71 - - - - - Make It Hot
1999 "Bollowed Time 16 - 7 - 11 22 - - Make It Hot
1999 "All N My Grill" (Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott featuring Big Boi of Outkast & Nicole) 64 - 16 - 29 - - - Da Real World
2000 "Bangin' (Don't Lie)" (featuring Prodigy of Mobb Deep) - - - - - - - - Elektric Blue (Unreleased)
2001 "I'm Lookin'" 4 - 6 - - - - - Elektric Blue (Unreleased)
2002 "Don't Have To" 2 - 36 - - - - - Elektric Blue (Unreleased)
2004 "If I Was Your Girlfriend" 5 19 27 8 - - - - Lovechild (Unreleased)
2004 "Regrets" (feat. Jay-Z) - - - - - - - - Lovechild (Unreleased)
2005 "Can't Get Out of the Game" (feat. Beanie Sigel) 6 - 33 19 - - - - Lovechild (Unreleased)
2006 "I'll Take Your Man" 48 - 56 19 - - - - Young, Talented and Beautiful

It has also been said that Nicole has been modeling for t.v commercials. Nicole has been modeling for the company Baby Phat. In 2005, Nicole was seen on the cover Smooth Girls magazine. Late that year, She was spotted modeling of the cover of Vibe Magazine.

  • Nicole has been credited as the "The First Lady of The Roc"
  • Nicole and Cam'ron have been compared to Beyoncé and Jay-Z in duos.
  • Four full-version songs from the "Elektric Blue" album have leaked to the internet; "I'm Lookin'", "Bangin' (Don't Lie)", "No Joke (Mamma Used to Say)", and "Wanna Cruise".
  • Nicole was the first artist to sign with Missy Elliott's The Goldmind Inc. label.
  • Nicole has two unreleased albums.
  • Nicole has also been called "Queen of Dipset".

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org../../../n/i/c/Nicole_Wray_83fe.html"
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