Nicole Wray

Nicole Monique Wray (born May 2, 1981), also known as simply Nicole, is an American R&B, pop, and hip hop singer-songwriter. She has recorded four albums and her 1998 single "Make It Hot" 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.

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), 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. Later that year, Wray released a song, "Without You," which appeared on the soundtrack to the film Why Do Fools Fall in Love. 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.

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. 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 the album Elektric Blue. "I'm Lookin'" peaked at number 66 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, but the album was never released.

After parting ways with The Goldmind, Wray released "I Wanna Kiss You" on the soundtrack to the film Love Don't Cost a Thing. Later that year, she signed a record deal with Roc-A-Fella Records and released a promo single entitled Welcome Home, which featured the rapper Dirt McGirt. In 2004, she released the single "If I Was Your Girlfriend" on Roc-A-Fella Records and began working on a new album, LoveChild.. She was later moved to Dame Dash Music Group, ultimately failing to release an album on either label.

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