Michel'le (R&B)
Biography
One of the more interesting urban contemporary vocalists of the late '80s and early '90s, the Los Angeles-based Michel'le was known for having a squeaky, high-pitched speaking voice and an aggressive, full-bodied style of singing. Some people jokingly called her the Betty Boop of urban contemporary, although the Boop comparisons had more to do with her speaking voice than her singing (which could be quite gritty at times). Michel'le, who is best-known for her smash hit "No More Lies," favored a very hip-hop-minded approach to R&B, and that isn't the least bit surprising when you take into consideration the company that she kept. The members of N.W.A. -- especially Dr. Dre and the late Eric "Eazy-E" Wright -- were partly responsible for the success of Michel'le, who pronounces her name "meesh-a-lay." And her manager was music industry veteran Jerry Heller, who was also managing N.W.A. back then.
Arguably, the singer was ahead of her time. Before Mary J. Blige was exalted as the "Queen of Hip-Hop Soul" -- and before the rise of Faith Evans and Lauryn Hill -- Michel'le was a young neo-soulstress who had strong ties to the hip-hop world. It was in 1989 that Michel'le signed with Eazy-E's Ruthless Records, which was the home of N.W.A. as well as Dallas native the D.O.C. and the female pop-rap group J.J. Fad (of "Supersonic" fame). Ruthless was distributed by different labels, depending on the artist. N.W.A. (one of the most important and influential groups in the history of gangsta rap) went through Priority, while the D.O.C., J.J. Fad, and Michel'le were signed to Ruthless/Atlantic. Although Ruthless was primarily a rap label, Dre and Eazy wanted to branch out into urban contemporary singing; and Michel'le, although quite hip-hop-influenced, was very much an urban contemporary singer. In 1989, Dre produced Michel'le's self-titled debut album; Eazy served as executive producer, while the mixing was handled by Dre and DJ Yella (another N.W.A. agitator). But, despite the participation of all those N.W.A. members, Michel'le's album didn't sound anything at all like that group's controversial and disturbing gangsta rap; and unlike N.W.A.'s Straight Outta Compton, it enjoyed a great deal of exposure on urban radio. The funky "No More Lies," Michel'le's debut single, was a major hit on the same R&B stations that went out of their way to avoid Straight Outta Compton; it was also a big pop hit and reached the Top Ten on Billboard's pop singles chart. The equally funky "Nicety," which was released as a single in 1990, was another major hit, and "Keep Watchin'" (the album's third single) also fared well.
In 1991, Michel'le became the victim of some East Coast/West Coast rivalry; that year, Bronx rapper Tim Dog (formerly of the Ultramagnetic MC's) said some insulting things about Michel'le and Dre on his angry, West Coast-bashing single "F**k Compton." Unlike the infamous, well-publicized feud that L.A.'s Death Row Records/Suge Knight clique and New York's Puff Daddy/Bad Boy Entertainment/the Notorious B.I.G. clique had several years later, Tim Dog's war of words with the members of N.W.A. didn't turn deadly; nonetheless, Michel'le was said to be furious over the things that Tim Dog said about her on "F**k Compton." But, as much attention as Michel'le received in 1989 and in the early '90s, her popularity didn't last long. In 1996, the Southern Californian had a cameo on the Dogg Pound's single "Let's Play House," but her second album, Hung Jury (a Priority release), didn't come out until 1998 -- nine years after her self-titled debut -- and it wasn't nearly the smash that Michel'le's previous album had been. ~ Alex Henderson, All Music Guide
Selected Discography

Michel'le
1989
Let it speak for itself. She was an original hip-hop queen. But sho' nuff sang the heck out this song. R&B and Hip-Hop classic
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Love the album, still part of my collection!! !
According to wikipedia, the son that died was 20 yrs old between Dr. Dre and another girlfriend on 08/2008 by an overdose of heroin & morphine. It didn't reference the death of the son she & Dr. Dre have together. To read more, go to www.wikipedi a . c o m search by Dr. Dre |
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I have loved this song for years.(Somet h i n g in my Heart) And yet, it's still stops me in my tracks. She's an awesome singer.
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she has a son by dr.dre who recently died at the age of 20, 21, or 22 this year
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doesn't she have a kid by dr. dre? well, if so, that "kid" would probably be close to 20 by now. i did like her voice-- her singing voice. her speaking voice was pretty bizarre.
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I THINK HER TIES BACK THEN HURT HER TODAY AS A ARTIST. SHE WAS TRUELY BEFORE HER TIME AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN A WAY BIGGER SUCCESS
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I LIKED HER THEN AND I STILL PLAY HER MUSIC TODAY SO IF SHE'S COMING OUT WITH ANY NEW MUSIC YOU HAVE TO COME STRONG & REAL 4 YOUR FANS LOVE. I WISH YOU WELL AND GOOD LUCK IN THE NEAR FUTURE WITH ANY NEW UP COMING ALBUMS!!!
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Always appreciated her beautiful voice; I think that she never really had the right writer write for her. Only three songs that I really showcased her style and range. But definitely a songstress.
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loved Nicety that was my jam! Sad how great artists just seem to fade to black..
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WONDERFUL ARTIST!!!!!! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! A L L OF HER SONGS ARE THE BOMB!!!!!!!! ! !
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Ahead of her time just like they said. Great voice. Listening to her reminds me of my teenage years.
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she really could sing, this lady. i wonder what happen to michel'le she was one of my favorite artist back in the day. who would'a thought that a girl with a voice like a cartoon character, could sing so wonderfully.
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when this song was out it was a very good time in my life. when people had respect for each other. And love was really love.
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She is a great talent and I wish she would have hung in there.
Very good singer and all the singles that came out were good. Love it! |
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This song is one of the best love songs of our times. I remember I was stationed at the Marine Air Station Cherry Point when this song came out and needless to say, life was good. When I hear a great song like this, it takes me back to a more pleasant time in my life. Love, hey that's what it's all about.
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I LOVE THIS LADY SHE IS THE BEST I REALLY LOVE HER SINGING STYLE
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Where is she. Michel'le is one of the geat singer who didnt get her time to shine
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