Nicole Wray
Template:Infobox musical artist 2 Nicole Wray (born 1981) is an American R&B singer and songwriter. She is sometimes credited by her full name, sometimes simply by Nicole, and sometimes by television Nicole Ray. She is a high contralto, capable of singing high Cs.
Born in California and raised in Portsmouth, Virginia, Wray first rose to fame as an artist on Missy Elliott's The Goldmind Inc. label, and made her first professional recordings on Missy's Supa Dupa Fly album. Her debut single was 1998's "Make It Hot" produced by Timbaland. This was a top-ten hit on both the Billboard Hot 100 and on the R&B counterpart. Wray continued to appear on albums Elliott and her associates released for the rest of the decade. By 2001, she had split from the label and returned to her native Virginia.
Shortly after her split from the Goldmind label, Nicole Wray and Missy Elliott terminated their business relationship, however both have confirmed that the deal ended on good terms. In 2003, Nicole kept a low profile. But she had appeared in the soundtrack "Love Don't Cost a Thing". Her song on the track was "I Wanna Kiss You".
In 2004, Nicole came back with her hot single "If I Was Your Girlfriend". But in 2006, She recently dropped her deal with the Dame Dash Music Group. Wray has reportedly signed to Family Over Everything Entertainment. In November 2006, Nicole performed the National Anthem at the Living Legends Foundation. She's been promoting her new mixtape, Nicole Wray Starring in InDepenDance Day, Volume One: the TakeOver and currently working on her official sophomore album Young, Talented and Beautiful, as well. The album has reported to be released by Spring 2007.
Discography
Albums
- 1998: Make It Hot (#42 US) (#19 R&B) US: Gold
- 2001: Elektric Blue (Cancelled)
- 2005: Lovechild (Unreleased)
- 2007: Young, Talented and Beautiful (TBR)
Mixtapes
- 2005: Fantasia Lovechild
- 2005: Roc-A-Fella Mixtape Finest
- 2007: Nicole Wray Starring in InDepenDance Day, Volume One: the TakeOver
Singles
- 1998: "Make It Hot" (featuring Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott and Mocha) (US #5 (Gold) R&B #2 UK #22)
- 1998: "I Can't See [Alternate Version]" (featuring Mocha) (Rhythmic Top 40 #36)
- 1999: "Eyes Better Not Wander" (R&B #71)
- 1999: "All N My Grill" (Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott featuring Big Boi of OutKast and Nicole Wray)
- 2000: "Bangin' (Don't Lie)" (featuring Prodigy of Mobb Deep)
- 2001: "I'm Lookin'" (R&B #66)
- 2001: "No Joke (Mamma Used to Say)" (featuring Redman & Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott)
- 2002: "Don't Have To" (Gospel #2)
- 2004: "Family Ties" (Cam'ron featuring Nicole Wray)
- 2004: "Regrets" (featuring Jay-Z)
- 2004: "If I Was Your Girlfriend"
- 2005: "Can't Get Out of the Game" (featuring Beanie Sigel)
- 2005: "Still Tippin' (It's a Man's World Remix)" (Mike Jones featuring Nicole Wray)
- 2006: "Do Ya Thing" (Cam'ron featuring Nicole Wray)
- 2006: "Love My Life" (Cam'ron featuring Nicole Wray)
- 2006: "Lollipop" (featuring 7 Aurelius)
- 2006: "Xtacy" (JR Writer featuring Nicole Wray)
- 2006: "I'll Take Your Man"
- 2007: "Lost With Guns"(Black Ty featuring Nicole Wray)
- 2007: "The Hustle"(Black Ty featuring Nicole Wray)
T.V.
- "Family Matters" (She was one of Missy Elliott's back up dancers.)
- "The Wayans Bros"
- "State Property 2"
Trivia
- 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".