SIGNORI, UNA SCOPERTA DI ALIEN, ECCEZIONALE PARE ANITA BAKER

Chrisette Michele Payne (born December 8, 1982), known professionally as Chrisette Michele, is an American R&B and soul singer–songwriter on the Island Def Jam Music Group. She won a Grammy Award for Best Urban/Alternative Performance in 2009 for her song “Be OK”.

Michele was born in Central Islip, New York, and grew up in Patchogue. Her father was a deacon and her mother a choir director. Michele led gospel choirs in high school. She attended Five Towns College in Dix Hills, New York, and graduated with a vocal performance degree. She is of African-American and Native American descent.

Michele has been featured on several popular hip hop albums. Most recently she was featured on Rick Ross’ album Teflon Don on the single “Aston Martin Music”. She is also onThe Game’s album LAX on “Let Us Live”. 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. Michele was also featured in the new 2010 single “Aston Martin Music” featuring Rick Ross and Drake .

Michele performing in Brooklyn in August 2007.

Michele’s debut album, I Am, was released on June 18, 2007. The song “Your Joy” was released on iTunes as a free single of the week. The album spawned four singles: “If I Have My Way”, “Best of Me”, “Be OK”, and “Love Is You”. The album’s lead single “If I Have My Way” charted at number four on Billboard’s Hot Adult R&B Airplay and number twenty-four on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. “Best of Me” charted on the Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks at number twenty-one. In December 2007, “Be OK” was released as the third single, charting at number sixty-four on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and number twenty-one on the Hot Adult R&B Airplay. In 2008, “Love Is You” was released as the album’s fourth and final single on the album; it reached number ninety on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and number twenty on the Hot Adult R&B Airplay.

Epiphany (2009)

In 2008, Michele appeared on the track “Rising Up” from The Roots’ album Rising Down. Michele guest starred as herself in The CW’s Girlfriends, in the episode entitled “What’s Black-a-Lackin’?”, which originally aired on February 11, 2008. She also wrote a song for Tyler Perry’s House of Payne entitled “I’ve Gotta Love Jones”. From May to July 2008 Michele embarked on a nationwide co-headlining tour with fellow soul singer Raheem DeVaughn called the Art of Love Tour; Solange Knowles served as the opening act.[4] In September 2008, Michele performed twice at the Evening of Stars: A Tribute to Patti Labelle.

In mid-2008, Michele ,began recording for her second album, Epiphany. In January 2009, the album’s title track was released as the lead single.[5] Released on May 5, 2009, the album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 selling 83,000 copies in its opening week.

Discography

Main article: Chrisette Michele discography

2007: I Am

2009: Epiphany

2010: Let Freedom Reign

(Mixtapes)

2010: Love Thy Brother

[edit]Tours

The Art of Love Tour (with Raheem DeVaughn) (2008)

The Epiphany Tour (2010)

[edit]Awards and nominations

Vibe Music Award

2008, Breakthrough Artist of the Year (Nominated)

Grammy Award

2008, Best Female R&B Vocal Performance: “If I Have My Way” (Nominated)

2009, Best Urban/Alternative Performance: “Be OK” (Won)

BET Award

2010, Centric Award: (Nominated)

2008, Best New Artist: (Nominated)

BET J/Centric

2008, Virtual Awards: Soul Approved: (Won)

2008, Female Artist of the Year: (Nominated)

NAACP Image Awards

2008, Outstanding New Artist: (Nominated)

Soul Train Awards

2009, Best R&B/Soul Female Artist: (Nominated)

Urban Music Awards

2009, Best Female Act: (Nominated)

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