{{short description|American singer-songwriter}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Nikkole | image = File:Nikkole Live in Concert.jpg | alt = Nikkole Live in Concert at The Live The Dream Tour Gala Concert | caption = Nikkole Live in Concert at The Live The Dream Tour Gala Concert | birth_name = Nikkole Hall | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1980|7|12}} | birth_place = Ahoskie, NC, United States | origin = Los Angeles, California, United States | genre = {{hlist|R&B|Pop|Dance}} | occupation = Singer, songwriter }}
'''Nikkole Hall''' (born July 12, 1980), better known by her stage name '''Nikkole''', is a Creole-American singer and songwriter. She is known for her ''Billboard'' charting hit songs "Zero" and "Gonna Get It Right" from her 4th studio album ''Hallucinations'' (2014).<ref name=Hallucinations_AMG>{{cite web|title=Nikkole - Hallucinations|last= | first= |date= | url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/hallucinations-mw0002698890|publisher=AllMusic|accessdate=20 February 2015}}</ref> The songs have peaked on the Dance Club Songs chart at #7 and #20 respectively.<ref name=Nikkole_Billboard>{{cite web|title=Nikkole - Billboard Charts|last= | first= |date= | url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/6159292/nikkole/chart|publisher=Billboard|accessdate=20 February 2015}}</ref> She is a featured artist on the song "You Keep Lifting Me Higher" from Norman Brown's album ''Stay With Me'' (2007)<ref name=StayWithMe_AMG>{{cite web|title=Norman Brown - Stay With Me|last= | first= |date= | url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/stay-with-me-mw0000447945|publisher=AllMusic|accessdate=20 February 2015}}</ref> that has reached #1 on the Billboard Heatseeker Albums, Jazz Albums charts and also peaked at #11 on the Billboard Top R&B/ Hip-Hop Albums Chart and at #107 on the Billboard 200.<ref name=NormanBrown_Billboard>{{cite web|title=Norman Brown - Billboard Charts|last= | first= |date= | url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/312420/norman-brown/chart|publisher=Billboard|accessdate=20 February 2015}}</ref> Nikkole has also been featured in the top 10 of Cosmopolitan Magazine's search for the Next Female Rock Star in 2008.<ref name=Nikkole_Cosmo>{{cite web|title=Cosmopolitan Magazine - Next Female Rock Star|last= | first= |date= | url=http://www.redorbit.com/news/entertainment/1591228/cosmopolitan_magazine_narrows_field_to_10_semifinalists_in_starlaunchtm_search/|publisher=Cosmopolitan Magazine |accessdate=20 February 2015}}</ref> In 2022, Nikkole signed on as co-host of The Vantage Point, a radio talkshow on Soul Cafe Radio of the NorthStar Radio Group.<ref>{{Citation |title=Vantage Point With Chris Clay and Nikkole Hall |url=https://soundcloud.com/soul-cafe-radio/vantage-point-with-chris-clay-and-nikkole-hall |language=en |access-date=2023-02-19}}</ref>
==Music career== Nikkole's debut album ''Appearances'' was released on January 9, 2001.<ref name=Appearances_AMG>{{cite web|title=Nikkole - Appearances|last= | first= |date= | url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/appearances-mw0000042193|publisher=AllMusic|accessdate=23 February 2015}}</ref> The album was funded in part by her career as a model at the time and background vocal stints for various artists.<ref name=Nikkole_BlueSteelMagazine>{{cite web|title=The Genie of Soul - An Interview with Songstress Nikkole|last= | first= |date= 12 October 2011| url=https://blustil.wordpress.com/the-genie-of-soul-blue-steel-magazine-interviews-songstress-nikkole/|publisher= Blue Steel Magazine |accessdate=23 February 2015}}</ref> This was followed up with ''A Girl Like Me'' on October 11, 2005.<ref name=AGirlLikeMe_AMG>{{cite web|title=Nikkole - A Girl Like Me|last= | first= |date= | url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/a-girl-like-me-mw0001026610|publisher=AllMusic|accessdate=23 February 2015}}</ref> In 2007 Nikkole was a featured vocalist and co-writer on the song “You Keep Lifting Me Higher” from Norman Brown’s album ''Stay With Me''.<ref name=StayWithMe_AMG/> The album reached #1 on the Billboard Heatseeker Albums, Jazz Albums charts and also peaked at #11 on the Billboard Top R&B/ Hip-Hop Albums Chart and at #107 on the Billboard 200.<ref name=NormanBrown_Billboard/> On August 12, 2008 Nikkole released her third album ''Creolepatra''.<ref name=Creolepatra_AMG>{{cite web|title=Nikkole - Creolepatra|last= | first= |date= | url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/creolepatra-mw0000792490|publisher=AllMusic|accessdate=23 February 2015}}</ref> She was chosen as one of the semi-finalists of America’s Top 10 Fearless Female Rockstars by Cosmopolitan Magazine in a StarLaunch Search in 2008.<ref name=Nikkole_Cosmo/> The title was eventually won by Mieka Pauley. She also collaborated with Arturo Sandoval on a single entitled "Amazing" in 2011.
After having spent over a decade toiling in relative obscurity, Nikkole's breakthrough came with her fourth album ''Hallucinations'' released on July 15, 2014.<ref name=Hallucinations_AMG/> The first two singles, "Zero" and "Gonna Get It Right" reached #7 and #20 respectively on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart.<ref name=Nikkole_Billboard/> The songs were accompanied by music videos, both of which were directed by Ethan Lader.<ref name=Nikkole_IshTalk>{{cite web|title=Meet Nikkole: Pop Music's New Diva of Dance|last= | first= |date= November 2014 | url=http://www.ishtalk.com/home/nikkole|publisher= IshTalk |accessdate=23 February 2015}}</ref> The album was produced by British producer Derek Bramble and had a more pop influenced sound compared to her previous releases that were more R&B influenced.<ref name=Nikkole_NewsWhistle>{{cite web|title=Q&A With Recording Artist Nikkole |last= | first= |date= June 2014 | url=http://newswhistle.com/archives/6102|publisher= NewsWhistle |accessdate=23 February 2015}}</ref> In 2015, the music was nominated for 4 International Music and Entertainment Association (IMEA) Awards,<ref name=IMEA_2015>{{cite web|title=2015 IMEA Award Nominees|last= | first= |date= | url=http://www.imeaawards.com/nominees/2015-nominees/|publisher=IMEA Awards| accessdate=26 August 2015}}</ref> and went on to win 2 of the Awards for Pop Artist of the Year and Pop Song of the Year.<ref name=IMEA_2015_Win>{{cite web|title=2015 IMEA Award Winners|last= | first= |date= | url=http://www.imeaawards.com/winners/2015-winners/|publisher=IMEA Awards| accessdate=16 November 2015}}</ref> In the same year, the music was also nominated for 2 Awards at the Hollywood Music in Media Awards (HMMA).<ref name=HMMA_2015_VisualMedia>{{cite web|title=2015 HMMA Award Nominees for Music in Visual Media|last= | first= |date= 2 November 2015| url=http://www.hmmawards.com/2015-music-in-visual-media-nominees/|publisher=HMMA Awards| accessdate=16 November 2015}}</ref><ref name=HMMA_2015_MusicGenre>{{cite web|title=2015 HMMA Award Nominees for Music Genre|last= | first= |date= | url=http://www.hmmawards.com/2015-september-music-genre-nominees/|publisher=HMMA Awards| accessdate=16 November 2015}}</ref> In 2016, Nikkole was nominated for an award at the 16th Annual Native American Music Awards (NAMA).<ref name=NAMA_2016>{{cite web|title=16th Annual Native American Music Awards Nominees |last= | first= |date= | url=http://www.nativeamericanmusicawards.com/vote-on-nama-16|publisher=NAMA| accessdate=20 August 2016}}</ref>
In 2019, Legendary Producer Leon Sylvers III started producing and writing with Nikkole on her fifth album, "Vulnerable", which was released on November 5, 2021.<ref>{{cite web|first1=|title= Music: Pop Star Nikkole Charts Soulful Path with R&B Royalty|url=https://www.hollywoodpost.com/2019/12/nikkole-studio-2020-11116|website=hollywoodpost.com|publisher=Hollywood Post|accessdate=2019-12-18}}</ref>
The album, "Vulnerable" by Nikkole was selected as the #1 R&B album of 2022 by Goldmine Magazine's Top 10 Soul and R&B albums of the year.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Goldmine - Music Collector's Magazine |url=https://www.goldminemag.com/columns/2022-top-10-soul-and-r-b-albums-of-the-year#gid=ci02b2ebdb900026b1&pid=r-22108840-1644676705-8958 |website=Goldmine| date=27 December 2022 }}</ref>
Nikkole has cited Aretha Franklin, Natalie Cole, Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston as her early influences growing up.<ref name="Nikkole_IshTalk" />
== Awards == {| class="wikitable" width="75%" |- ! Year ! Recipient ! Nominated work ! Award ! Result ! width:"5%" |Ref. |- | style="text-align:center;" | 2015 | Nikkole | NA | IMEA Award for Pop Entertainer of the Year | {{nom}} |<ref name=IMEA_2015/> |- | style="text-align:center;" | 2015 | Nikkole | NA | IMEA Award for Pop Artist of the Year | {{won}} |<ref name=IMEA_2015_Win/> |- | style="text-align:center;" | 2015 | Ethan Lader | rowspan="4" | Nikkole - Zero | IMEA Award for Music Video of the Year | {{nom}} |<ref name=IMEA_2015/> |- | style="text-align:center;" | 2015 | Derek Bramble / Jeanette Olsson / Nikkole Hall | IMEA Award for Pop Song of the Year | {{won}} |<ref name=IMEA_2015_Win/> |- | style="text-align:center;" | 2015 | Ethan Lader | HMMA Award for Independent Music Video | {{nom}} |<ref name=HMMA_2015_VisualMedia/> |- | style="text-align:center;" | 2015 | Nikkole | HMMA Award for Music Genre (Pop) | {{nom}} |<ref name=HMMA_2015_MusicGenre/> |- | style="text-align:center;" | 2016 | Nikkole | Nikkole - Hallucinations | NAMA Award for Best Pop Recording | {{nom}} |<ref name=NAMA_2016/> |- | style="text-align:center;" | 2022 |Nikkole |Nikkole - All Mine |HMMA Award for Best Original Recording | {{nom}} |<ref name="HMMA 2022 MusicGenre">{{cite web |title=HMMA Awards |url=https://www.hmmawards.com/2022-music-genre-nominees/ |website=hmmawards.com}}</ref> |- | style="text-align:center;" | 2022 |Nikkole feat. Leon Sylvers IV |Nikkole feat. Leon Sylvers IV - We Can Make It If We Try |HMMA Award for Best Music Video | {{nom}} |<ref name="HMMA 2022 MusicVideo">{{cite web |title=2022 HMMA Nominations |url=https://www.hmmawards.com/2022-hmma-nominations/ |website=HMMAwards.com |access-date=2023-02-19 |archive-date=2023-01-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230111194844/https://www.hmmawards.com/2022-hmma-nominations/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> |- | style="text-align:center;" | 2023 |Nikkole |NA |People's Choice Award - Soul Cafe Radio | {{nom}} |<ref name="2023 SoulCafeRadio">{{cite web |title=Soul Cafe Radio |url=https://www.soulcaferadio.com/indie-soul-awards-2021 |website=soulcaferadio.com}}</ref> |- |}
==Discography== ===Notable singles=== * "Gonna Get It Right" (2014) * "Zero" (2014)
===Studio albums=== {| class="wikitable" width="75%" |- !Title !Album details !Role !Release date !Label |- |rowspan="1"|Appearances<ref name="Appearances_AMG"/> |align="center" valign="top"|Solo |align="center" valign="top"|Primary Artist |align="center" valign="top"|January 9, 2001 |align="center" valign="top"|SE Entertainment Records |- |rowspan="1"|A Girl Like Me<ref name="AGirlLikeMe_AMG"/> |align="center" valign="top"|Solo |align="center" valign="top"|Primary Artist |align="center" valign="top"|October 11, 2005 |align="center" valign="top"|SE Entertainment Records |- |rowspan="1"|Creolepatra<ref name="Creolepatra_AMG"/> |align="center" valign="top"|Solo |align="center" valign="top"|Primary Artist |align="center" valign="top"|August 12, 2008 |align="center" valign="top"|SE Entertainment Records |- |rowspan="1"|Hallucinations<ref name="Hallucinations_AMG"/> |align="center" valign="top"|Solo |align="center" valign="top"|Primary Artist |align="center" valign="top"|July 15, 2014 |align="center" valign="top"|Global Infinity Records |- |rowspan="1"|Vulnerable<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nikkole - Vulnerable |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/vulnerable-mw0003690211 |access-date=24 August 2022 |website=AllMusic.com |publisher=AllMusic}}</ref> |align="center" valign="top"|Solo |align="center" valign="top"|Primary Artist |align="center" valign="top"|November 5, 2021 |align="center" valign="top"|LA International Records |- |}
==References== {{reflist|2}}
==External links== * [http://www.nikkole.com Official website] * {{AllMusic|class=artist|id=nikkole-mn0000870525|label=Nikkole}}
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Category:1980 births Category:Living people Category:American women pop singers Category:American women singer-songwriters Category:Singer-songwriters from North Carolina Category:Singers from Los Angeles Category:Singer-songwriters from California Category:21st-century American women singers Category:21st-century American singer-songwriters