Nicole Wray Magazine Covers

King Magazine

Essence Magazine

Nicole Wray Website

The website has recently been updated with an online store. Now you get the albums, mixtapes, singles, ringtones, posters, and dvds are now available. Check out the website (http://nicolewray.webs.com) and official fanpage on myspace (http://www.myspace.com/nicolewrayfanpage). The fanpage have new demo songs uploaded by Nicole Wray. These are best websites for updates and information on Nicole Wray. Check em out and stay tuned for exclusive information from the Nicole Wray blogspot.

Ashanti - Crime

Another leftover from Ashanti's "The Declaration" album.

Crime

http://www.zshare.net/audio/51916869faacc177/

Nicole Wray - Time To Party Mixtape

This is the best mixtape yet. I love how these songs are mixed with the flow of the other songs. But this mixtape is called "Time To Party". The mixtape also contains a live version of Sunshine.
http://www.zshare.net/download/5179716025bfde40/

My Rating of Free's - Free At Last

1. Caught Up (one of the best songs of her album)
2. 4U (good song)
3. 2 Shy 2 Do It (good song)
4. I Love You (one of the best songs of her album)
5. Call Me (amazing track)
6. Gotta Go, Gotta Leave (it's alright)
7. Ghetto Love (I love this track)

8. Dilemma (feat. Faith Evans)

9. Uh Huh
So far these are what I heard. It's a great put together of songs. My top favorites are "Caught Up", "Call Me", and "I Love You". They are the best songs of the album. "Call Me" and "Gotta Go, Gotta Leave" have been on her first mixtape "Free's World" which was hosted by "DJ Enuff" and "Kast One".

My Rating of Kierra Sheard's - Bold Right Life

1. Won't Hold Back (great song)
2. Wave Your Banner (its great if you listened to it more than once)
3. My Boyfriend (i give it 1.5 out of 5)
4. Invisible (i give it 1 out of 5)
5. Love Like Crazy (I like this track. This is something to jam to)
6. Like David (amazing song)
7. Praise Him Now (good song, I have heard this song on the gospel radio a loooooooooooottttttttttttttttttttttttttt)
8. Oh Lord (its alright)
9. If It Had Not Been (great song, something also to jam to)
10. One (its alright)
11. Jesus (its alright)
My favorite tracks are "Love Like Crazy" and "If It Had Not Been". I also like "Won't Hold Back" which is really a good track from the album. Lately, "Praise Him Now" has been played on gospel radio a lot and it has been like the no. 1 gospel song on radio. "Like David" has been the third single from her album and has recently on radio. There were other track I believed that were on the album as a bonus and leftover track.

My Rating of J.L. Perry's - Inspiration, The Art of Gospel

1. Get Right (Nice spoken word track)
2. Inspiration (TBD if it really is the best song of the album)
3. Force of Love (emm.. well if alright probably a 3 out of 5)
4. Breathing (Your Love) (love it, this could be the next single)
5. Healer (one of the best tracks of the album)
6. Thank You (likes how it's sung, also like the beat)
7. Interlude/"Savior" (true be told on this spoken word of Inspiration)
8. Purpose (great track, with a powerful message)
9. Reign Down On Me (it's alright)
10. Sessions (sad song but true to its words)
11. Lift Him Up Intro (introducing of the next track)
12. Lift Him Up (definitely something you would hear in a church)
13. Reprise/"Dance On Sunday" (introducing the next track)
14. Dance On Sunday (nice jam about dancing in the church on sunday)
15. Price of Life (iTunes Bonus Track) (only heard a snippett but it sounds good to me. this song is also true to its word)
He may be young, but he really has some inspirational here! Amazing to hear in a interview that he wrote the whole album and it to be that great of an album. I like the lead single "Inspiration" as well as the previous version of it. The next single should "Sessions" and then followed up with "Price of Life" or "Healer". Its great that he had the time to talk about what he is singing on the intro and interlude. Because most singers don't do that or bother to talk about the next song and its great too see that again, sometimes you don't know what going on in album. I can't wait for the Part two of the next album.

My Rating of Mary Mary's - The Sound

1. Intro (Nice introduction)
2. The Sound (this should be the next single after "God In Me")
3. Get Up (great inspirational track)
4. Superfriend (its alright)
5. God In Me (too bad it didn't get to be the 2nd single because I love this track)
6. Boom (one of the best songs on the album)
7. I'm Running (this is a really really good song)
8. Forgive Me (its alright)
9. Dirt (nice beat and great lyrics)
10. Seattle (great song, amazing understandable meaning)
11. I Worship You (the second single, however there were better songs. But it speaks a good message)
12. It Will All Be Worth It (it's alright)
They have great album with a message. I like the lead single "Get Up" as well as the songs "The Sound", "God In Me", and "I'm Running". "God In Me" should have been the 2nd single of the album instead of "I Worship You". "The Sound" or "I'm Running" should then follow up its success. They also announced a deluxe edition coming soon. The album will feature more songs from when they performed on "Front Row Live".

Conya Doss - Still

Tracklist:01. Common Ground 03:52

02. Can't Stop 04:17

03. Something 2Nite 03:16

04. What I'd Do 04:18

05. It's Over 04:41

06. Right On Time 03:44

07. How About Us 03:21

08. I Miss You 05:18

09. Emotions 03:47

10. Turn It Up 04:16

11. Come Over 03:41

12. Let Me Love You 04:39

13. Message 03:55

14. Ride 04:26

http://rapidshare.com/files/104379065/cd-sti.rar

Of course my favorite track is the first single, What I'd Do!

Nicole Wray Interview With The Longers

This is old from the days of Lovechild, however you will get some new songs like the remix of If I Was Your Girlfriend and official version of Regrets (Radio Edit). She talked a lot about what she had been doing since Elektric Blue to Lovechild.

www.promotioncity.co.uk/audio/nicolewray

New Nicole Wray Single Covers

Lately, I have been adding new single covers to right column. So check what's new!

Nicole Wray - Stand Up (Promo Single)

Promo CD Single

1. Main

http://www.zshare.net/audio/106004560742f74c/

2. Remix (feat. Juxx Diamonds)

http://www.zshare.net/audio/9758429f789e52/

3. Friend

http://www.zshare.net/audio/106003318243ad84/

Nicole Wray - Da Remixes

The remixes will be back up, so be on the look out for the post coming soon.
1.Make It Hot (Goldmind Remix)
2.I Can't See (Underground Funk Remix) (feat. Cam'ron)
3.Bangin' (Amended Version) (feat. Missy Elliott)
4.I'm Lookin' (Extended Version)
5.If I Was Your Girlfriend (Masi and Maso Remix) (feat. Peedi Crakk and N.O.R.E.)
6.Regrets (Remix) (feat. Jay-Z)
7.Can't Get Out Of The Game (RDB Remix) (feat. Beanie Sigel)
8.Cloud Nine (Funk Mix)
9.Saturday Love (R&B Remix)
10.Thug Style (Def Jam Remix)
11.Kiss of Death (Freestyle)
12.Destination (Move On Up Remix)
13.Back Up Against The Wall (Murder Mafia Mix)
14.Still Tippin' (A Man's World Remix) (with Mike Jones)
15.I'll Take Your Man (F.O.E. Remix)
16.I Can't See (Alternate Version) (feat. Mocha)
17.If I Was Your Girlfriend (Remix) (feat. 50 Cent)
18.Dice Roll (No Rap)
19.Stand Up (Remix) (feat. Juxx Diamond)

Nicole Wray - Lovechild Interview No. 4

Artists come and go all the time. Some we miss, some we forget, some we're glad to see the back of and some we wish would just Fanta Orange (figure it out). Then there are others; significantly special others who disappear with no reason whatsoever. We desperately want to see and hear them again but we just dun no was'goin on? Nicole Wray stands on top of the mystery file entitled ‘missing superstars’. She came, she saw, she dazzled and she vanished. Seriously - wagwaan? Did she beef with Missy?I still have no idea what happened there! I was in the middle of recording my 2nd album (‘Electric Blue’ – the LP we heard so much about and anticipated, badly, over 2 years ago, to no avail) and one day Missy rang me saying she was gonna shop the album somewhere else.Evidently, she didn’t…
Exactly, I never heard from her again, I mean there’s no beef, if she walked into the room right now, I’d give her a big hug and all would be fine but that whole situation got me mad confused...But everything happens for a reason...Oh for real! It was hard after that, real hard, it was like I started my career all over again but it’s made me stronger and now I couldn’t be happier!How’d you hook up with the Roc anyway? Damon seems to be signing everyone but his mother these days…
(Laughs) I know! But it’s great…I’m actually signed to ‘Roc music’ which is the R&B and pop element of the Roc. Do you miss Missy?Yea I do but we all gotta move on with life and now I’m concentrating on the new album and a new career, one day I’ll meet with her and all will be fine again I’m sure. So, what’s your new album like?HOT! It’s called ‘Fantasia Love Child’ and it’s about a lot of things, it’s actually very personal too, touching on love, life, relationships and stuff like that. First single?That’s called ‘Regrets’, it’s my version of Jay Z’s ‘Regrets’
Oh, will it be part of Jay’s tribute album ‘Beyond Reasonable Doubt’ then?That’s right! We’ve all contributed to the album covering different Jay Z tracks and this is one of them – how’d you know about it?Our boys SAS and Eurogang are on the album and informed RWD months ago – late Nicole!Ha ha! I actually did a song with Eurogang too! They my boys! Source link: http://www.rwdmag.com/music_articles/future_artists/4492/nicole_wray/

Another Nicole Wray Lovechild Interview

Fame! Is it really all that some make it out to be? Ask that question to many of today’s artists, and chances are high that they will all answer in unison with "NO"! While it can truly be the best thing that ever happens in the life of an up-and-coming artist, it can also kick you down and keep you there! As evidenced by many of the artists we’ve seen over the years, fame and success comes and goes as the wind changes, and sometimes quicker than that! It’s so hard time come by, yet once you reach it, it’s even easier to lose! Take for example, new Dash Music Group recording artist Nicole Wray! For those who may have followed this Virginia-bred R&B siren over the years, you know that she’s no newcomer to the game! Hell, she had one of the biggest hits in urban music back in the summer months of 1998, thanks to the guidance of Missy Elliott and Timbaland! Nicole was the first artist signed to Missy’s then newly formed Goldmind Records, which would be distributed through Elektra! Success was almost inevitable for Wray, who at the time was only 17-years old! After all, Missy had only recently stormed the industry with her ground-breaking and trendsetting debut, "Supa Dupa Fly"! Naturally, it would be a big advantage for Nicole to be working with Missy! Then came the idea that she would be produced by Timbaland, who had already created success for a string of other artists including Aaliyah, Total, SWV, & Ginuwine! Despite their proven track record with everyone else, they wouldn’t have the same effects with Wray! After a couple of successful singles ("Make It Hot" & "Eyes Better Not Wander"), Nicole seemed to vanish in thin air!

We would later hear her one last time via Missy’s "All N My Grill", only to vanish yet again! Then in the year 2000, there had then been talk of Nicole working on her second album, "Electric Blue". That album, as you very well know, was never released, although it did spawn the single "I’m Lookin". While this track definitely showed a bit of growth from her debut in 1998, it failed to build a buzz for anything else! Nicole speaks very candidly about what happened back then when she was on the verge of blowing up big time! "Well, my label was Elektra and Goldmind, Missy’s label through Elektra, and we put "Make It Hot" out! I went across the world and learned a lot from Missy & Timbaland. The thing about it was I was young. I had a young start and I was moving a little bit, kinda before my time, and it just didn’t turn out good. The situation at Elektra folded and Missy wanted to do other things! I had already had another album [Electric Blue] written and recorded. It was, but it never released! So, what happened was Missy gave me a call, and wanted to take me somewhere else, because I guess the situation going on at Elektra wasn’t right, but it just took long! Days became months and months became years. I can’t just sit around and wait. This is my career, and if I don’t take charge then I’m just going to be on the back burner. I really didn’t want that for my career! So, I gave her a call, and basically thanked her for everything that she had done for me, and let her know that I had to move on! And she was cool about it! It wasn’t no love lost, and that’s what she said! "Go ahead and do your thing"! I just didn’t think it would be another long ongoing process, you know, waiting years and just waiting! But in the process, I really got my writing game up. I was this artist that came out underneath some really heavy hitters, and I had almost a house-hold name, I do believe." Being on top of the game one minute, and at the bottom the next, could easily cause an artist to throw in the towel, as Nicole almost came close to doing! "At that time, I had a lot of people with me, and I had a crazy management team! You know, I was under Missy and Timbaland! I was under the best, and then one day, it’s just gone!

So I stayed in the studio, and really started seeing life for what it was. I started finding out about who Nicole Wray was1 Everything was moving so fast, and being an artist you just get drowned out! It’s just work work work! Shows, Interviews, whatever! I needed a break to be me, and everything else seemed so far away that I started to feel like a grudge, or a little feeling against certain people! Like, why do I have to go through this, but now, seeing my life now, I know everything happens for a reason and I’m not mad at anybody! It made me stronger and I’m a better writer."
So how does one recover from such an abrupt ending! There really is no direct answer! Sometimes, it never happens, and then in other cases, an artist gets a second chance at fame, which rarely every happens! While Nicole agrees that’s it can be nearly impossible to come back, she has a different outlook on why she’s still here! "I will never fall off because it’s a gift that GOD has given me! Some people use your talent, but you have to be able to be in control of your own talent. Good music is good music! If you keep doing it, you’re going to get somewhere. If you let up off the gas, the car is going to stop, but if you keep your foot on the gas it’s going to keep on moving. I’ve been through so many situatuations! I was with Missy and that folded! Then I was with Rocafella, and it’s always ROC for life, but I got into a whole new situation, but if you check it out, the music is still moving. I’m more focused on getting my face out theren now, because it’s like out of sight out of mind! So now, I want people to see me and know what they are hearing and the person I am! I look at a lot of magazines and you really get to know what you’re seeing and hearing. For me, I would like that to be more expressed this time around, because I really didn’t have that last time. It was just music! People didn’t know who I was. They never heard nothing I said, what type of food I like, what makes me happy……they just heard the music! So I would like people to get to know who I am because it makes them feel more at home! Like Mary J. Blige, everybody knows who she is inside and out because she invited them into her world. I’m not ashamed or afraid to invite people into the life of Nicole Wray because I’m a regular person!" And a regular person Nicole wants to remain! During our interview, I really got a chance to listen to Nicole speak more on her life outside of the industry! So often, we hear from artists, and it’s only about the music, who’s working on the albums, and so forth! Having to readjust to the simple life after leaving Goldmind, Nicole makes it clear that her life is not based on the industry! "I like to cook! I just cooked some chicken and rice today!

I’m a home body! I like just relaxing and enjoying life! If I feel like doing a hot song, you know, it just happens. I don’t like to be forced to do anything! I don’t like anybody trying to force anything on me! I like to just relax and let it come! I like buying stuff for my house and being around my two nieces! They make me happy! They’re like my two A&Rs! They help me decide on good music! They say the kids are the future, and I’m always around kids so they make me happy! I don’t have no kids, but I have two bad nieces that’s always at my house. We cook and we watch movies. We go in the studio! I have a studio upstairs in my house and we just record! I might make some cookies and we just, you know, regular life. We might go shopping, and I live right around the corner from Outback! I’m a family person! It’s not about all the craziness in life, because that’s where stress comes in at! I want to be relaxed, and I’m still on my grind! Don’t take that from me, I’m still grind, but I can grind and relax too!" She enjoys doing just the regular things, like shopping, chilling, and so forth! "The other day, I went and bought like 40 pairs of socks! The little stuff makes me happy! I like to relax in the studio, and like I said, I have a studio in my house so I be in a zone! I’ll put my pajamas on, I’m walking around and chillin!

Then I’m into producing now! I did like three songs, and I played it for 7 and he loves the direction I’m going in so I feel good about that! He’s one of the hottest to ever do it, so for him to tell me he like’s what I’m doing, I’m good!" So here we are, just over six years after her debut album, and Nicole is ready to hit us with her second LP, sort like her rechristening into the game! She signed a deal nearly a year prior with Roc-A-Fella Records after a chance move to New York! "I had done so many songs, and I had a manger in New York! I called her and just said I need to come to New York! I went by myself! I didn’t have no money! I just went with the songs that I had, and went in ther studio and grinded it out! Allen Iverson had his label going on, and I was going to be the first girl on the label, through his A&R. I met a girl through him who knew an A&R at Roc-a-Fella. I went in the office with the music and played it for Kenny Byrnes, and we went right in the studio like a week later! I did the Welcome Home record for Dirtt McGirtt (Rest In Peace). That kinda took off in New York, and from there, Dame started being there and they started hearing the music I had, and from there we got in the studio and started working on the Nicole Wray project! Most of the recording was at Dame’s house. Everybody came over, and we just got into a vibe! We recently made changes over at the label, and it’s now Dame Music Group, which he has a lot of artists he’s giving deals to! I’m still working on my album, which is titled "Love Child", and I’m kinda excited about it! I get a chance to be creative and they love what I do. I’m in the studio now with 7 Aurelius, so we’re cooking up some stuff. I just left Miami, doing some stuff with Scott Storch, and I got a lot of up-and-coming producers on the album! First and foremost, I wanted to work with them because they came to me at a time when I felt like nobody was on Nicole Wray’s radar. They was hungry like I was, and we grinded it out! It’s not that I don’t like working with established producers, but it’s just something about the new ones!" Her first musical offering on the label, a sort of "welcome back tribute" to the then recently free Dirtt McGirtt, came early in 2004! The track began to sizzle among the streets of New York, reaffirming the fact that Wray was built for this music thing! She later hit us with the heatseeker, "If I Was Your Girlfriend:, which undoubtedly shows a more provocative Wray, and is also a major contrast from how we saw her years ago! "Actually, it’s really a gift that was given to me, before I was even born! I just had to figure out how to use my talent, and not let people use my talent for me, you feel me! And I feel like that’s what was happening in my younger years! I was letting other people use my talent for me, and I never got a chance to use my own talent. It’s just that I dig deep into my gift, and I express my life the way it is! I’m a regular person and I see everyday for what it is!

I don’t come from a wealthy family; I come from the streets! I struggled and my family struggled. In some ways, we’re still struggling, but you have to realize where you see your life being, and I see my life being happy! When I heard that record, I just heard the beat and thought this is what I want people to feel! I started writing about what I wanted to feel, even if I was having a bad day! That doesn’t mean my music has to be bad! I’ll write about partying and having a good time! Cause a lot of times, I’m not feeling good. I really don’t want to talk to noone and I just want to be quiet but can’t express that on the song! Sometimes I can, but other times, I just want to zone out from that!"
The last time we heard an album out of her, she was still a teenager. Her music was far from kiddie or bubble-gum, however, she clearly was not at the level she is now! So what’s new about Nicole now? What has really changed, and what does she have to offer us? "Experience", she later says! "My voice has grown a lot since I got started. I knew I had range, but like I said, I let most people use my talent, if you understand what I’m getting at! My voice is really powerful, and now, I understand where I’m going! I see clearly, and experience, you know, coming from off the road and going back to the regular life. I now have something to write about and it’s true! I’m grown, and I’ve experienced it! I had a chance to work with some of the best people in the industry like Terry Lewis, Pharrell, Missy, Timbaland, and now I’m under Damon Dash and 7 Aurelius, and I’m working with some of the up-and-coming producers who are going to be the next big thing! I don’t want to just do music for radio. I want to be happy with my music! I want to feel like this is me, and not somebody else forcing something on me! When I lay down, I have to live with this! I have to live with this album! I have to live with the way my album cover looks, and I want to feel happy! I don’t feel any pressure. They used to ask me if I felt pressure because I was the first artist on Missy’s label, and although I would say now, I really was feeling pressure! I was but I don’t know it! I don’t deal with that now because that’s negative! My album is titled "Love Child". It’s titled that for a reason! Before the whole Rocafella situation and the whole Dash Music Group situation, I was just sitting at home doing nothing. I was just a regular girl, still doing music, but everything had died down! I felt like giving up, and I felt people had betrayed me! It was really becoming a problem with music for me! I took that problem out on music, and it became a good thing. Now, I describe it as love, and my music is love! My album is all love because I had a negative feeling about music before.

I felt like people don’t understand me, and they just want to do what they want to do to me and I can never feel what I feel! Now it’s all love, and I’m not going to go through the pressure. Music is something that comes natural to me, so why should I feel pressure about something that comes natural? That’s just me. I don’t even talk about if things don’t happen because I will always do music, but I only see the positive outlook! I do good music, and I do it…..I don’t know! It’s just easy! I don’t like all the other negative stuff!" So the questions still remains whether she will be able to hold our interest with her new album? What direction does she take and what is she singing about now? "It’s a lot of interesting things on the album, talking about my life, you know, from day one like when I first started! Love, relationships, trust, and all the things I’ve been through that have made me a stronger woman. I feel like I want to be able to have experience with what I’m singing about. At one point, I felt like I was struggling. I was sleeping on the floor and I ain’t really have no money. It was like I woke up and it was over. Sometimes, I don’t even feel like I came out with an album! It’s that weird to me, but now I really feel like an artist. I really feel like Nicole Wray because I had a chance to go back and re-live a regular life. Some people don’t get a chance to do that! I have balance in my life now, and I appreciate every moment of the struggle because it helped me to be a better person. The music really can stand out, and people can feel at home and really feel the pain because I’ve experienced that as a young female artist!"

Clearly, Wray has arrived at that place she needs to be mentally in order to make her career work! Unlike many artists, she had the opportunity to go back to a life of being virtually unknown and doing things regular folks do, and then she was able to bounce back into her love of music! Some would look at her disappearance as a major stumble, and in cases for other artists it has been, however, she was able to turn her negative experience into a positive! She compares her situation to the likes of D’Angelo, Lauryn Hill, and Erykah Badu! "Those artists….there’s no time limit on them, you feel what I’m saying! They can come out whenever they feel like it! [They] can come back and do whatever the hell they want to and it will be like they never went anywhere. They learned how to use their talent for what it is!" Indeed, Nicole now knows how to use her own talent and benefit from it! She simply equates her strength and success to balance! "Exactly, it’s balance! And I definitely would not love myself if I was one of those artists that always thought it was just about me, I don’t know nothing about regular life, I don’t know nothing about the streets, and I’m just doing music. You got these artists that think they’re the shit, and they couldn’t even take care of a house! It’s balance for me, and I’m not dissin anybody or saying anything bad about anybody, but I’m thankful that GOD put me in that situation so that now I can respect it and understand what’s going on! I understand life, and not think that it’s a hand-out!"

Listening to her speak now, it’s evident she has a true respect for her craft, and with the lessons that she has learned over the years, she definitely won’t be letting anyone stop her! She’s back on the fast-track, and she shows no sign of a slow down! There’s definitely a higher level of maturity in her swagger, and it ain’t just in the music, but also in the person! She has always had the inner-makings of a star, and now, she’s ready to let that star shine bright! Look for her Dash Music Group debut in Summer 2005

Erykah Badu Pregnant Again!!!!

It would appear that Ms. Badu is pregnant again. Yes that's right, Ms. Badu is having her third child and her other children, Seven and Puma, will have a sister or brother.

Ashanti Update

Ms. Ashanti is back again with new music. But it was confirmed that "Struggle" will be the third single from album which is following up the success of The Declaration. She also released another album "The Vault", which features leftover tracks from "Ashanti" and "Chapter II".

Mary Mary - The Sound Was Heard

It appears that Mary Mary's new album "The Sound" did extremely well within it's first week of sales. The duo stated that there will be a deluxe edition released soon featuring the leftover tracks like "In Light Of", "Because of Him", "His Rhythm", "The Melody", and more tracks. So be on the look out for more information.

Nicole Wray featured discography

Soundtrack Appearances
1998:Without You
From the soundtrack: Why Do Fools Fall In Love
2002:Don't Have To (with Pam & Dodi)
From the soundtrack: Two Can Play That Game
2003:I Wanna Kiss You
From the soundtrack: Love Don't Cost A Thing
2005:Still Tippin'(It's A Mans World Remix) (Mike Jones feat. Nicole Wray)
From the soundtrack: Hustle & Flow
2005:Lollipop (feat. 7 Aurelius)
From the soundtrack: State Property 2
2006:Love My Life (Cam'ron feat. Nicole Wray)
From the soundtrack: Killa Season
2008:I'm Lookin'
From the soundtrack: Katy's 50 Birthday

Album Appearances
1997:Gettaway (Missy Elliott feat. Nicole Wray and Space)
From the album: Supa Dupa Fly
1999:All N My Grill (Missy Elliott feat. Nicole Wray and Big Boi)
From the album: Da Real World
1999:I Like Control (Dj Clue feat. Mocha, Nicole Wray, and Missy Elliott)
From the album: The Professional
2002:Don't Have To (with Pam & Dodi)
From the album: Pam & Dodi
2002:Mama Don't Cry (54th Platoon feat. Nicole Wray)
From the album: All or Nothin'
2003:Welcome Home (with Dirt McGirt)
From the album: A Tribute To Dirt McGirt
2003:No More Heartaches (Kenny Wray feat. Nicole Wray)
From the album: Kenny Wray
2004:I Wanna Be Your Lady (Nicole Wray feat. The Diplomats)
From the album: Diplomatic Immunity Vol. 2
2004:Family Ties (Cam'ron feat. Nicole Wray)
From the album: Purple Haze
2005:Tell Me Why (N.O.R.E. feat. Nicole Wray)
From the album: Norminacal The Underbelly
2005:Rich Girlz (Lil' Nikki feat. Nicole Wray and Mocha)
From the album: The Preliminaries
2006:Do Your Thing (Cam'ron feat. Nicole Wray)
From the album: Killa Season
2006:Love My Life (Cam'ron feat. Nicole Wray)
From the album: Killa Season
2006:Love Don't Live Here (S.A.S. feat. Nicole Wray)
From the album: Streets All Salute
2006:Xtacy (J.R. Writer feat. Nicole Wray)
From the album: History In The Making
2006:Good Is Bad (Fortunado feat. Nicole Wray)
From the album: Hats Off
2007:Drums (7 Aurelius)
From the album: Channel 7
2007:Getting Money (Hurricane Chris feat. Nicole Wray)
From the album: 51/50 Ratchet
2007:Momma (Hurricane Chris feat. Nicole Wray)
From the album: 51/50 Ratchet
2007:Time (Ransom feat. Nicole Wray)
From the album: Cormega
2007:Role Model (Diamond feat. Nicole Wray)
From the album: Bitch Muzik
2008:No Mirror (Gucci Mane feat. Nicole Wray)
From the album: So Icey

Nicole Wray Vibe Interview

Songstress Nicole Wray has been there done that. "There" being in music videos, "that" being a rising star in the music industry. In 1998, with the help of Missy Elliott, Wray carved a niche for herself as the premier teen diva, pre-Ashanti. But then, unexpected, Wray’s career went nowhere. Her album Make It Hot, even after going No. 2 on the Billboard R&B charts, quickly tanked and soon Wray’s buttery soprano was missing on her mentor’s hits as well.

Now, seven years later, the Wray has relocated from her Virginia home to New York, aligning herself with another urban music powerhouse named Damon Dash and his new venture. In a sit down with Vibe.com, Wray discusses how she went from singing at sold-out shows to singing for congregations, as well as the conversation she might have one day with her former mentor.It’s been over seven years since people last heard from you. Do you feel like you’ve been given a second chance?

I feel great being that I’ve been gone for a couple of years and I came to New York from Virginia. I’ve always been one of those hungry artists, grinding, and it paid off, because I was trying to get a deal after the whole Missy Elliott situation.

Explain what that was about. Most people remember you were the background vocalist on a couple of her hits, and you were one of the first artists to release an album (Make It Hot) under her Goldmind Record label. All that said, what happened?

We just parted ways.

Well, do you have any ill feelings towards her?

I actually talked to Missy recently. She called me out of the blue and asked me how I was doing. It was cool. We never talked about music. Some things are better left alone. If you’re doing good, leave it the way it is. She’s like my sister, she will always be that, but it’s just a conversation me and her have to have. We’ll have to get some drinks or get something to eat, have a one on one, and talk about what happened. That’s going to happen one day, but I don’t rush anything, I’m just going to be easy.

Don’t you find it ironic that she has a new show where she is picking one artist to groom and help blow up? I mean, that used to be you.

I think it’s good because nobody can ever come out and do what this woman has done. I’m glad to see her reinventing herself.

Well to the winner, whoever it may be, or to whomever else told you, "I have a shot to work with Missy Elliott," what would you say to them?

Do it. Holler at her. I caught my break with her and she believed in me. That girl is a beast, a professional. So please go with Missy, please. You need the help. Some of these artists think they’re doing it and they’re not really doing it and I learned a lot from her.

After your situation with Missy didn’t work out, what did you do? Where did you go? I went back to Virginia to my mom and her ex-husband. I was staying with them after the whole deal fell through. I didn’t have any money.Was that a difficult adjustment for you? What was your relationship with your parents like? Me and my mom’s ex-husband didn’t get along. He didn’t like me; he didn’t like the relationship I had with my mother. He said he had cursed my career and said that I wasn’t going to go anywhere.What about your friends and people you grew up with? People in the street were saying, ‘Nicole ain’t going to do this, Nicole ain’t going to do that.’
So when no one believed in you and you were home in Virginia, what kept you positive?I joined the church and the choir. I was in Bible Study every Wednesday night. I had a raggedy BMW, it was an ’85 I think. But I was going to get where I wanted to go. If I didn’t have that, I’d go c-r-a-z-y. God is number one. If I didn’t go to church, I probably would’ve destroyed myself.Do you still go to church?I’ve been so busy, so that’s why I pray at home and read my Bible at home. I keep God close to me. Just because I can’t get to church doesn’t mean I can’t get to God.Well I know it’s probably difficult with your new deal on Roc-A-Fella Music team. How did this new deal come about?

I came to New York from Virginia with about 50 something songs I wrote. I met this young lady who was a friend of a friend and she knew one of the A&R’s at Roc-A-Fella. So, I went to the label with my backpack full of songs and played them for Lenny S, whose no longer there. At the time, Kenny Burns was doing the Roc Music division and he walked by the room and told me to play some music for him, so I came back two days later, sat down with him, and he came up with an idea. Right after that, we got into the studio with Dirt McGirt and did the "Welcome Home" record, which you know did pretty good. Then, right after that we started working on my project. They went and told Dame, this girl is amazing, she’s writing, she’s doing her thing.

And all that hard work is surfacing with your new music. We have your single "If I Was Your Girlfriend" and your new album coming out called Lovechild.When we recorded "If I was Your Girlfriend," it was in one night. Mula, an up-and-coming producer from the Roc family, threw on the record and I just came up with melody.And the whole album, how is that different from what you were doing with Missy in 1998?

Well, I still think if Make It Hot came out right now, it would still be hot. See, a lot of people are playing catch up to what Missy and Pharrell were doing then. They were way before their time. But on this album there’s a lot of soul, a lot of my life, things I’ve been through over the years, the growth from all the relationships I’ve been in over the years.What does the title mean?

I called it Lovechild because when I was back in Virginia, I had been through a lot, I had this career that was high, everyone knew who I was, I was on TV, and then one day it was just snatched from under me and I didn’t know why. But after a while I saw that everybody was still like in love with Nicole Wray. That’s when I started feeling good about me, and good about my music, so I entitled the album Lovechild.

Well your story is an unusual one because you’ve already had the album, the videos, and working with big names, and now here you are again with the same set of circumstances. For everyone who has accomplished those things, what advice would you give to maintaining it?

It’s a gift from God. It’s what I feel. I love music so I stay working. Even if I don’t ever come out, I still have to have music. I’m not going to work at Burger King or something like that. At the end of the day, I’m going to use my gift the best way I can.

Michelle Williams - Easy Success Comes Unexpected

Michelle's new cd is bangin. Songs like "Stop This Car", "Til the End of the World", "Thank U", "Unexpected Intro", and "We Break The Dawn" are the best songs of the album in my opinion. The album soon became a success

Nicole Wray - Changes (Album Rating)

1. Dice Roll (featuring Young Fell) (2.5/5)
2. Changes (5/5)
3. Lord Knows (4/5)
4. Why (5/5)
5. Boss Bitch (5/5)
6. Not Now (5/5)
7. See You Tonight (2/5)
8. I Ain't Ready (3/5)
9. Action (5/5)
10. Sarah (2.5/5)
11. Calling (4.5/5)
12. Dice Roll (wo/rap) (4/5)
13. Stand Up (5/5)
14. Attached (4.5/5)
15. Too Much (4.5/5)
16. Sunshine (5/5)
17. Dear Father (4/5)
18. He Can Look (5/5)
19. Goin' Goodbye (5/5)
20. Friend (5/5)
21. I'm Not Sure (3/5)
22. I'm Gonna Love You (5/5)
23. Dream Love (4/5)
24. I Am The One (1/5)
25. Metro P.C.s (5/5)
26. Pandora's Box (5/5)
27. Slow Motion (5/5)

Kierra Sheard - Bold Right Life

I don't know about this cd. It seems to have more party tracks than gospel tracks.

Tracklisting
1. Won't Hold Back
2. Wave Your Banner.
3. My Boyfriend
4. Invisible
5. Love Like Crazy
6. Like David
7. Praise Him Now
8. Oh Lord
9. If It Had Not Been
10. One
11. Jesus
12. I Want Back (iTunes bonus track)

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=LLLL113C

I can't wait til Ms. Wray releases the album, Changes. The album is crazy with a lot of emotion in it and it's simply amazing. I love Friend, Why, Action, and Boss Bitch. I haven't had time to upload the full versions of these songs yet but I will when I have the chance. Currently I have the full version of See U Tonite, Attached, Too Much (Live Wire), I Ain't Ready, I'm Not Sure, Sunshine, Why, Action, and Boss Bitch. These songs are great
Changes
Friend
Sunshine
Metro PCs
Too Much
Attached
Ms. America
Pandora's Box
Stand Up
Not Now
I'm Not Sure
Why
Action
Boss Bitch (feat. Shane)
Calling
I Ain't Ready
Dice Roll (feat. Young Fell)