Nicole Wray

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.

Musical career

Wray was born in Salinas, California, and raised in Portsmouth, Virginia. Introduced to Missy Elliott by one of Elliott's cousins, Wray sang on a track on Supa Dupa Fly. When Elliott started her own label, The Goldmind, 17-year-old Wray was the first signing.^[1]

In mid-1998, her debut album, Make It Hot, was released. Although it was 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]

A new song, "Without You," was included on the Timbaland/Missy Elliott-produced soundtrack of Why Do Fools Fall in Love, released in September 1998.

In 1999, Wray released a third single from Make It Hot, "Eyes Better Not Wander," which peaked at #71 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.^[6] Later that year, Wray appeared on Missy Elliott's second album, Da Real World, on the song "All n My Grill."

In July 2001, Wray released a single, "I'm Lookin'", from a planned album called Elektric Blue.^[7] "I'm Lookin'" peaked at number 66 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart,^[8] but the album was never released.

After parting ways with The Goldmind, Wray released "I Wanna Kiss You" on the 2003 soundtrack to the film Love Don't Cost a Thing. Later that year, she signed a record deal with Roc-A-Fella Records and was featured on the Dirt McGirt single, "Welcome Home". In 2004, she released another single, "If I Was Your Girlfriend", and began working on a new album, to be called LoveChild.^[9] She moved from Rock-A-Fella to Dame Dash Music Group but ultimately failed to release an album on either label.

In 2007, Wray appeared on two songs on Hurricane Chris's album 51/50 Ratchet.

Discography

• Make It Hot (1998, The Goldmind/Elektra)

References

External links

• Official Website
• Nicole Wray at MySpace
• Nicole Wray at Allmusic
• Nicole Wray at the Internet Movie Database