Solé
Tonya Michelle Johnston[1][2][3] (born July 17, 1973), better known by her stage name Solé, is an American rapper from Kansas City, Missouri.[3]
Solé | |
---|---|
Birth name | Tonya Michelle Johnston |
Also known as | Mrssole |
Born | Kansas City, Missouri, U.S. | July 17, 1973
Genres | Hip Hop |
Occupation(s) | Rapper, songwriter, actress |
Years active | 1993–present |
Labels | |
Associated acts | JT Money, 504 Boyz, Kane & Abel, Ginuwine, Tech N9ne |
Website | strictlysole |
Biography
Solé was born in 1973 in Kansas City, Missouri to Phyllis Frazier and James Johnston,[4][5] Her siblings are Sean and Charlie (Chuck) Johnston, Sierra and Tamika Gamble.[6]
Solé has family in General Acha, Argentina. She held various jobs, including working for AT&T and as a spa coordinator for a salon.[7] She also attended cosmetology school; and attempted college where she studied Political Science and Psychology.[8]
Musical career
Solé started her career as a hardcore female hip hop artist by attracting attention in the summer of 1999 with her appearance on J.T. Money's hit single "Who Dat," which reached #1 on the US Rap chart, #2 on the US R&B chart, and #5 on the US Hot 100. In September 1999, she released her debut album Skin Deep, which was an overall success in the United States. On October 25, 2010, she confirmed that she started work on her second album.[9] In February 2012 she featured on a song called "A New Look" by Focus.[10]
In September 2019, Solé released her second album Encoded.[11]
Personal life
Solé has daughters De'jan Nicole Lee (born March 7, 1992) and Cypress Soleil Lee (born January 9, 1995) from a previous relationship. Solé met Ginuwine in June 1999[12] and began dating in October 1999.[12] The two became engaged in August 2000. Solè married Ginuwine on September 8, 2003 in Grand Cayman. They resided in Brandywine, Maryland.[13] They have two daughters together: Story Asaundra (born March 29, 2001)[14] and Dream Sarae Lumpkin (born November 1, 2002).[15]
In November 2014 Ginuwine announced he and Solé had separated.[16] Their divorce was finalized July 22, 2015.[17]
On August 27, 2017, Solé married Public Enemy band member and rapper Professor Griff, referring to each other as "Aja and Kavon Shah".[18]
Discography
Studio albums
Year | Album | Chart Positions | |
---|---|---|---|
US | US Hip-Hop | ||
1999 | Skin Deep | 127 | 27 |
2019 | Encoded | — | — |
Solo
Year | Title | Peak chart positions [19][20][21][22][23][24] |
Album | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Billboard Hot 100 | Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs | Hot Rap Singles | Rhythmic Top 40 | |||
1999 | "4, 5, 6" (featuring JT Money and Kandi) | 21 | 9 | 1 | 24 | Skin Deep |
2000 | "It Wasn't Me" (featuring Ginuwine) | — | 44 | — | 19 | |
2019 | "Encoded" | — | — | — | — | Encoded |
2019 | "Pranayama" | — | — | — | — | |
2019 | "Under the Veil" | — | — | — | — | |
2019 | "The Formula" | — | — | — | — |
As featured performer
Year | Title | Peak chart positions[25][26] | Album | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Billboard Hot 100 | Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs | Hot Rap Singles | |||
1999 | "Baby" (Before Dark feat. Sole) | — | 48 | — | Daydreamin' |
"Who Dat" (JT Money feat. Sole) | 5 | 2 | 1 | Pimpin' on Wax | |
"—" indicates singles that did not chart. |
Guest appearances
Year | Song | Artist(s) | Album |
---|---|---|---|
1999 | "Straight Thuggin'" (also featuring Twista) | Kane & Abel | Rise to Power |
"Clueless" (also featuring Larone Burnette) | Tech N9ne | The Calm Before the Storm | |
"Let Him Go" | Tamar Braxton | Tamar: Just Cuz | |
"Better Than Me" (Mario Winans Remix) | Terry Dexter | Better Than Me (single) | |
2001 | "Get Up On It" | Tyrese | 2000 Watts |
"Contagious (Mercenary Mix)" | The Isley Brothers | Contagious (Remix) | |
2002 | "Costa Nostra" | Don Juan | Mizery Won't Stop |
2003 | "Sex" | Ginuwine | The Senior |
2011 | "Naal Nuchuna" | Jassi Sidhu | Singing Between the Lines |
References
- Garner, Joshua (April 22, 2010). "Genuine home-grown talent". Gazette.net. Post-Newsweek Media, Inc. Retrieved May 18, 2010.
with his wife, Tonya Lumpkin, a former rapper known as Solé
- "Tonya M. Johnston on ASCAP". ASCAP. Retrieved 2009-04-14.
- "Sole-Me.com - Official Sole Website". Archived from the original on 2000-06-20. Retrieved 2009-04-14.
- "Solé on NNDB". Soylent Communications. Retrieved 2008-08-14.
- "Strictly Sole". Archived from the original on February 5, 2005. Retrieved March 30, 2017. (Fact 7)
- "Strictly Sole". Archived from the original on February 5, 2005. Retrieved March 30, 2017. (Siblings and their ages)
- "Strictly Sole". Archived from the original on August 9, 2002. Retrieved March 30, 2017. (Fact 8)
- "Strictly Sole". Archived from the original on February 5, 2005. Retrieved March 30, 2017. (Fact 9)
- Sole' [@MrsSole] (25 October 2010). "Excited about the possibility of putting out a new project. A little nervous but excited none the less. Hmmmm let's see where this goes" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-12-02. Retrieved 2012-06-30.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- "Sole | Solé". Mysite. Retrieved 2020-06-09.
- "Strictly Sole". Archived from the original on February 5, 2005. Retrieved March 30, 2017.
- "Obama Made Voting Cool Even For Ginuwine". Usnews.com. Retrieved 2020-03-31.
- "Sole/Ginuwine have daughter". Archived from the original on December 13, 2006.
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2004-12-22. Retrieved 2008-07-24.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) G tells Niki of Sister 2 Sister mag that his 2nd daughter was born on 1 Nov and that he has had a vasectomy
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2015-02-06. Retrieved 2015-02-05.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- Fitzgerald, Trent. "Ginuwine Is Officially a Bachelor, Finalizes Divorce". The Boombox.
- Porter, Lauren (August 28, 2017). "Solé and Professor Griff Of Public Enemy Are Married". Essence.
- "The Billboard Hot 100 - 4, 5, 6". Billboard.com. 2000-02-12. Archived from the original on March 27, 2014. Retrieved 2008-08-14.
- "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs - 4, 5, 6". Billboard.com. 2000-02-12. Archived from the original on January 12, 2015. Retrieved 2008-08-14.
- "Hot Rap Singles - 4, 5, 6". Billboard.com. 2000-08-05. Retrieved 2008-08-14.
- "Rhythmic Top 40 - 4, 5, 6". Billboard.com. 2000-03-25. Retrieved 2008-08-14.
- "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs - It Wasn't Me". Billboard.com. 2000-06-17. Archived from the original on January 12, 2015. Retrieved 2008-08-14.
- "Rhythmic Top 40 - It Wasn't Me". Billboard.com. 2000-07-01. Retrieved 2008-08-14.
- "Billboard - Singles Chart History (Before Dark)". Retrieved 2009-02-01.
- "Billboard - Singles Chart History (JT Money)". Retrieved 2009-02-01.
External links
- Solé's Official Website
- "Solé's Official Website". Archived from the original on 2000-06-20.
- Solé's Official Fansite
- Solé interview on Youtube