Background
Wray was born in Salinas, California on May 2, 1981, and raised in Portsmouth, Virginia.
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Nicole Wray
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Her 1998 debut single "Make lieutenant Hot" was certified gold. 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 lieutenant 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 lieutenant Hot", peaked at number five on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and was certified gold. Her second single, "I Can"t See", reached number 36 on the Rhythmic Top 40 chart.
Make lieutenant Hot peaked at number nineteen on the Top Rhythm & Blues/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 number 71 on the Billboard Hot Rhythm & Blues/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 Rhythm & Blues/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 and soundtracks.
She would go on to sign a new album deal and 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 and 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. Wray moved through the Dame Dash Music Group, and also Channel 7 Records, with nothing to show but several guest vocal appearances.
Still maintaining her work relationship with Damon Dash, Wray joined The Black Keys rock/hip-hop collective Blakroc, and was a major vocal contributor to the group"s self-titled November 2009 debut.
Wray was then enlisted to add her background vocals on The Black Keys" seventh studio LP, Brothers, which was released in May 2010. In 2010, she appeared on Kid Cudi"s second album Manitoba on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager on the song "The End", alongside Chip tha Ripper and Greater London Council. In 2012, Nicole teamed up with fellow soulstress Terri Walker to form retro-soul duo Lady.
They were signed to Truth and Soul Records and their self-titled debut album was released on March 5, 2013.
