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Chrisette Michele
Photo by Jalylah Burrell
Background information
Born	December 8, 1982 (1982-12-08) (age 25)
Origin	Long Island, N.Y.[1]
Genre(s)	Contemporary R&B, soul, jazz, pop, neo soul, alternative
Occupation(s)	Singer, songwriter
Instrument(s)	Vocals, Piano
Years active	2006-present
Label(s)	Def Soul
Associated acts	Nas, Jay-Z, The Roots, Jennifer Hudson, Raheem DeVaughn, Solange
Website	Chrisette Michele

Chrisette Michele Payne (born December 8, 1982), known professionally as Chrisette Michele, is a Grammy-nominated American R&B singer on the Def Jam Recordings record label.^[2]

Contents 1 Biography 2 Career 3 Awards/Nominations 4 Discography 4.1 Albums 4.2 Singles 4.3 References 5 External links

Biography

Chrisette Michele was born in Central Islip, New York to parents who worked as deacons to their church. This connection inspired her to reflect on childhood memories in her own Def Jam debut album. She sings in a jazz style reminiscent of past singers such as Macy Gray, Jill Scott and Erykah Badu.

She is of Native American and southern African American descent. The daughter of a deacon father and choir director mother, she led gospel choirs in high school and college.^[3]

Career

She has been featured on several popular hip hop albums. Most recently she was featured on the The Game's album, L.A.X. on "Let Us Live". She was also featured on the The Roots' on the single "Rising Up." On Jay-Z's Kingdom Come she was featured on the second single "Lost One", while on Nas' Hip Hop Is Dead, she was featured three times: on the album's second single "Can't Forget About You", the Kanye West-produced "Still Dreaming" and the final track "Hope". Recently she also appeared on the bonus track "Slow Down", from Ghostface Killah's The Big Doe Rehab. In 2008 she appeared on "Rising Up" from The Roots' album, Rising Down. Michele guest starred on an episode (What's Black-A-Lackin'?") of Girlfriends as herself on Monday, February 11 on The CW. She also wrote a song for Tyler Perry's House of Payne entitled "I've Gotta Love Jones". The video premiered in 2008 on television.

Michele's single "Your Joy" was released on iTunes as a free single of the week.

Michele's debut album I Am is currently in stores now.^[4]

She is working^when? with Michael Jackson on his forthcoming album 7even.^{citation needed} She is also working^when? on Jennifer Hudson's debut album.^{citation needed}

She is currently^when? on tour co-headlining the "Art of Love Tour" with Raheem DeVaughn and opening act Solange Knowles.^{citation needed}

She will be featured on Quan (rapper)'s debut album Until My Death

Awards/Nominations

• BET Awards
  • 2008, Best New Artist ( Nominated )

• Grammy Awards
  • 2008, Best Female R&B Vocal Performance: "If I Have My Way" (Nominated)

• Image Awards
  • 2008, Outstanding New Artist (Nominated)

• Vibe Music Awards
  • 2007, Breakthrough Artist of the Year (Nominated)

Discography

Albums

Album information
I Am Released: June 19, 2007 U.S. Sales: 500,000[5] Billboard Top 200: #29 US Certifiction: Gold (RIAA)

Singles

Year	Title	Album	Chart positions
			U.S.	U.S. R&B	Hot Adult R&B	U.S. AC
2006	"Lost One" (Jay-Z featuring Chrisette Michele)	Kingdom Come	58	19	—	—
2007	"Can't Forget about You" (Nas featuring Chrisette Michele)	Hip Hop Is Dead	—	46	40	—
	"If I Have My Way"	I Am	113	24	4	—
	"Best of Me"		—	—	—	21
	"Be OK" (featuring Will.i.am)		—	61	21	—
2008	"Love Is You"		—	96	20	—
	"Iz U" (Yung D. featuring Chrisette Michele)	A Yung Like D.	—	—	—	—
	"Let us live" (The Game featuring Chrisette Michele)	L.A.X.	—	—	—	—

References

Specific references

Other sources

• Chrisette Michele Partners With TBS for ‘House Of Payne’ Campaign, Singersroom.

External links

• Chrisette at DefJam.com
• Chrisette's Official Myspace Page