Chrisette Michele
Chrisette Michele Payne (born December 8, 1982) is an American R&B and soul singer. She won a Grammy Award for Best Urban/Alternative Performance in 2009 for her song "Be OK" (featuring will.i.am).
Chrisette Michele
Chrisette Michele Payne
December 8, 1982
Central Islip, New York, U.S.
Patchogue, New York City, U.S.
- Singer
- songwriter
2006–present
She was previously signed to Motown Records, Capitol Records, and Caroline Distribution but was dropped from her label in 2017.[1][2][3] In the same year, Michele announced plans to release new music independently through her own label, Rich Hipster.
Early life[edit]
Michele was born in Central Islip, New York, and grew up in Patchogue.[4] Her father was a sociologist and her mother a psychologist. 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 the first cousin of soul singer Raheem DeVaughn.
Music career[edit]
2006–2008: Musical beginnings and I Am[edit]
Michele has been featured on several hip hop albums, such as The Game's LAX, on the song "Let Us Live". On Jay-Z's Kingdom Come, she appears on the second single, "Lost One", while on Nas' Hip Hop Is Dead, she is 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". She also appeared on the bonus track "Slow Down" from Ghostface Killah's The Big Doe Rehab.
Michele's debut album, I Am, was released on June 18, 2007.[5] 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 24 on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.[6] "Best of Me" charted on the US Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks at number 21.[6] In December 2007, "Be OK" was released as the third single, charting at number 64 on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. In 2008, "Love Is You" was released as the album's fourth and final single; it reached number 90 on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.[6]
Controversy[edit]
In January 2017, media outlets reported that Michele would perform at the inauguration of Donald Trump. This was met with backlash on social media,[14] prompting Michele to respond via an open letter on Twitter, stating that she had intended her performance to serve as a bridge between Trump supporters and opponents.[15] Author Aliya S. King published a response to the singer's letter on BET, expressing disappointment with Michele's choice to perform and felt like her letter was a "cop-out".[16] Michele was initially supposed to perform at the Make America Great Again! Welcome Celebration held the day prior to the inauguration, but did not perform and instead played at one of the inaugural balls the following day.[15][17] In response to her performing, Spike Lee removed Michele's song "Black Girl Magic" from his upcoming Netflix series She's Gotta Have It.[18] Subsequent to the performance, Michele announced the release of her poetry album No Political Genius.[19]
Personal life[edit]
Michele was inducted as an honorary member of Zeta Phi Beta sorority on September 19, 2023. [20]
Headlining
Supporting act