Solé — Mediated Wiki

{{short description|American singer-songwriter (born 1973)}} {{About||the name|Solé (surname)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=November 2022}} {{Infobox musical artist  | name = Solé | image = | caption = Solé in 2024 | image_size = | background = solo_singer | birth_name = Tonya Michelle Johnston | alias = Mrssole, Aja Shah | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1973|7|17}} | birth_place = Kansas City, Missouri, U.S. | instrument = | genre = Hip hop | occupation = {{hlist|Rapper|songwriter|actress|wellness practitioner}} | years_active = 1993–present | label = {{hlist|DreamWorks|Interscope|Universal}} | associated_acts = JT Money, 504 Boyz, Kane & Abel, Ginuwine, Tech N9ne | website = {{URL|http://iamsole.com}} | spouse = {{marriage|Ginuwine|2003|2015|end=divorced}} {{marriage|Professor Griff|2017}} }} '''Tonya Michelle Johnston'''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gazette.net/stories/04222010/entepri163708_32549.php |title=Genuine home-grown talent |first=Joshua |last=Garner |date=April 22, 2010 |work=Gazette.net |publisher=Post-Newsweek Media, Inc|access-date=May 18, 2010 |quote=with his wife, Tonya Lumpkin, a former rapper known as Solé }}</ref><ref name="ascap">{{cite web |title=Tonya M. Johnston on ASCAP |url=http://www.ascap.com/ace/search.cfm?requesttimeout=300&mode=results&searchstr=1568662&search_in=c&search_type=exact&search_det=t,s,w,p,b,v&results_pp=10&start=1 |publisher=ASCAP |access-date=2009-04-14 }}</ref><ref name="sole-me">{{cite web |title=Sole-Me.com - Official Sole Website |url=http://www.sole-me.com/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000620180459/http://www.sole-me.com/ |archive-date=2000-06-20 |access-date=2009-04-14 }}</ref> (born July 17, 1973), known professionally as '''Solé''', is an American rapper from Kansas City, Missouri.<ref name="sole-me" />

== Early life and education == Solé was born on July 17, 1973, in Kansas City, to Phyllis Frazier and James Johnston,<ref name='NNDB'>{{cite web |url=http://www.nndb.com/people/946/000047805/ |title=Solé on NNDB |access-date=2008-08-14 |publisher=Soylent Communications }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.strictlysole.com/ |archive-date=February 5, 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050205181648/http://strictlysole.com/main.html |title=Strictly Sole |url-status=usurped |access-date=March 30, 2017}} (''Fact 7'')</ref> Her siblings are Sean and Charles (Chuck) Johnston, Sierra and Tamika Gamble.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.strictlysole.com/ |archive-date=February 5, 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050205181648/http://strictlysole.com/main.html |title=Strictly Sole |url-status=usurped |access-date=March 30, 2017}} (''Siblings and their ages'')</ref> She is of East African, Tamil (South Indian), Native American descent through her mother's side and North African, Eastern European and British descent through her father's side. She attended cosmetology school and college in the early 1990s, where she studied Political Science and Psychology before securing a record deal with DreamWorks Records and RedZone Entertainment.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://strictlysole.com |archive-date=February 5, 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050205181648/http://strictlysole.com/main.html |title=Strictly Sole |url-status=usurped |access-date=March 30, 2017}} (''Fact 9'')</ref>

==Career== {{citation needed|date=July 2022}} Solé descended from a family of musical talent, songwriters, singers and musicians. She began rapping at the age of 6 and formed a group called Divine with her best friend Shurhea Mitchell in 1986. They would perform at local talent shows and in 1990 they won a trip to the BRE (Black Radio Exclusive) in New Orleans, to perform at a showcase in front of record label execs and other artists. They were offered a record deal by JDK Records and flew to New York to record. Her father, who was managing them at the time, didn't feel it was a good deal so they went back home and started college.

She once again began recording in 1997 with Tech N9ne and Don Juan of Kansas City fame and traveled to LA to record.{{citation needed|date=July 2022}} She met Thabiso Nkhereanye who introduced her to Christopher Tricky Stewart of Red Zone Entertainment, who signed her to a production deal.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Redzone Entertainment Discography |url=https://www.discogs.com/label/193021-Redzone-Entertainment |access-date=2025-08-11 |website=Discogs |language=en}}</ref> Her career took off 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 number 1 on the US Rap chart, remaining there for 8 weeks (a record at the time), winning number 2 on the US R&B chart, and number 5 on the US Hot 100. Who Dat won "Rap Single of the Year" at the 1999 Billboard Music Awards as well. {{citation needed|date=July 2022}}

In September 1999, she released her debut album ''Skin Deep'', which was an overall success{{citation needed|date=July 2022}} in the United States attaining Gold status and garnered her a nomination for "Rap Artist of the Year" at the Billboard Music Awards. She also went on to win several ASCAP Music awards that same year.{{citation needed|date=July 2022}}

Her highly anticipated {{citation needed|date=July 2022}} return to music was guided by a desire to offer music that is empowering and inspiring, reflective of the path that she embarked upon when she left the industry.{{citation needed|date=July 2022}}

In 2011 she was featured on “Naal Naachna" by UK based Bhangra artist Jassi Sidhu lead singer of British Indian bhangra band B21.{{citation needed|date=July 2022}}

In February 2012 she featured on a song called "A New Look" by Focus.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://fr.twitter.com/MrsSole/status/169157943105826816 |title=Twitter / MrsSole: @shurhea "A New Look" |access-date=2012-06-30 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121202061227/https://fr.twitter.com/MrsSole/status/169157943105826816 |archive-date=2012-12-02 }}</ref>

In 2017 she was featured on "SocMed Digital Heroin" from Public Enemy 30th-anniversary album "Nothing Is Quick In The Desert". {{citation needed|date=July 2022}}

On September 29, 2019, Solé released her second album ''Encoded.''<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sole {{!}} Solé|url=https://www.iamsole.com/|access-date=2020-06-09|website=Mysite|language=en}}</ref>

==Personal life== Solé met Ginuwine in June 1999<ref name="fansite-facts.html">{{cite web |url=http://strictlysole.com |archive-date=February 5, 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050205181648/http://strictlysole.com/main.html |title=Strictly Sole |url-status=usurped |access-date=March 30, 2017}}</ref> and began dating in October 1999.<ref name="fansite-facts.html" /> The two became engaged in August 2000. They resided in Brandywine, Maryland.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.usnews.com/news/blogs/washington-whispers/2009/06/18/obama-made-voting-cool-even-for-ginuwine|title=Obama Made Voting Cool Even For Ginuwine|website=Usnews.com|access-date=2020-03-31}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Bedard |first=Paul |url=https://www.usnews.com/news/blogs/washington-whispers/2009/06/18/obama-made-voting-cool-even-for-ginuwine |title=Lives In MD Suburbs |publisher=Usnews.com |date=June 18, 2009 |access-date=October 23, 2012}}</ref> They have two daughters together: Story (b. March 29, 2001)<ref>[http://music.yahoo.com/read/news/12062968 Sole/Ginuwine have daughter] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061213234410/http://music.yahoo.com/read/news/12062968 |date=December 13, 2006 }}</ref> and Dream Sarae Lumpkin (b. November 1, 2002).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.s2smagazine.com/content/content.asp?issueid%3D200306%26listid%3D15 |title=Adam's Rib |access-date=July 24, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041222051723/http://www.s2smagazine.com/content/content.asp?issueid=200306&listid=15 |archive-date=December 22, 2004 }} G tells Niki of Sister 2 Sister mag that his second daughter was born on November 1 and that he has had a vasectomy</ref> Solé married Ginuwine on September 8, 2003, in Grand Cayman.

Solé has four daughters in total and one granddaughter. Her daughters De'jan Nicole Lee, born in 1992, and Cypress Soleil Lee, born in 1995, are from a previous relationship. Her granddaughter, Sage Lotus Lee, was born May 17, 2020.

In 2014, Solé filed for divorce; Ginuwine announced their separation in November of that year.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://s2smagazine.com/2014/11/17/ginuwine-addresses-divorce-rumors/ |title=Ginuwine addresses divorce rumors | S2SMagazine.com |access-date=2015-02-05 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150206020217/http://s2smagazine.com/2014/11/17/ginuwine-addresses-divorce-rumors/ |archive-date=2015-02-06 }}</ref> Their divorce was finalized July 22, 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://theboombox.com/ginuwine-divorces-sole/|title=Ginuwine Is Officially a Bachelor, Finalizes Divorce|first=Trent|last=Fitzgerald|website=The Boombox|date=August 5, 2015 }}</ref>

On August 27, 2017, Solé married Public Enemy band member and rapper Professor Griff, taking his last name Shah and legally changing her full name to Aja Shah.

==Discography== ===Studio albums=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" |- ! rowspan="2"| Year ! rowspan="2"| Album ! colspan="2"| Chart Positions |- style="font-size:smaller;" ! width="45"| US ! width="45"| US Hip-Hop |- | 1999 | align="left"| ''Skin Deep'' | 127 | 27 |- |2019 |''Encoded'' |— |— |}

===Singles=== ====Solo==== {| class="wikitable" ! rowspan="2" width="33"|Year ! width="200" rowspan="2"| Title ! colspan="4"| Peak chart positions <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/2000-02-12/hot-100 |title=The Billboard Hot 100 - 4, 5, 6 |access-date=2008-08-14 |date=2000-02-12 |work=Billboard.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140327233047/http://www.billboard.com/charts/2000-02-12/hot-100 |archive-date=March 27, 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/2000-02-12/r-b-hip-hop-songs |title=Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs - 4, 5, 6 |access-date=2008-08-14 |date=2000-02-12 |work=Billboard.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150112023836/http://www.billboard.com/charts/2000-02-12/r-b-hip-hop-songs |archive-date=January 12, 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/2000-08-05/rap-song |title=Hot Rap Singles - 4, 5, 6 |access-date=2008-08-14 |date=2000-08-05 |work=Billboard.com }} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=solé|chart=Rhythmic Top 40}} |title=Rhythmic Top 40 - 4, 5, 6 |access-date=2008-08-14 |date=2000-03-25 |work=Billboard.com }} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/2000-06-17/r-b-hip-hop-songs |title=Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs - It Wasn't Me |access-date=2008-08-14 |date=2000-06-17 |work=Billboard.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150112021210/http://www.billboard.com/charts/2000-06-17/r-b-hip-hop-songs |archive-date=January 12, 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=solé|chart=Rhythmic Top 40}} |title=Rhythmic Top 40 - It Wasn't Me |access-date=2008-08-14 |date=2000-07-01 |work=Billboard.com }} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> ! rowspan="2" width="175"| Album |- !style="width:6em;font-size:75%"|''Billboard'' Hot 100 !style="width:6em;font-size:75%"|Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs !style="width:6em;font-size:75%"|Hot Rap Singles !style="width:6em;font-size:75%"|Rhythmic Top 40 |- |align="center"| 1999 |"4, 5, 6" (featuring JT Money and Kandi) |align="center" | 21 |align="center" | 9 |align="center" | 1 |align="center" | 24 | rowspan="2"|''Skin Deep'' |- |align="center"| 2000 |"It Wasn't Me" (featuring Ginuwine) |align="center" | — |align="center" | 44 |align="center" | — |align="center" | 19 |- | rowspan="5" |2019 |"Encoded" |align="center" | — |align="center" | — |align="center" | — |align="center" | — | rowspan="5"|''Encoded'' |- |"Pranayama" |align="center" | — |align="center" | — |align="center" | — |align="center" | — |- |"Under the Veil" |align="center" | — |align="center" | — |align="center" | — |align="center" | — |- |"The Formula" |align="center" | — |align="center" | — |align="center" | — |align="center" | — |- |"Daughter of The Earth" |align="center" | — |align="center" | — |align="center" | — |align="center" | — |}

====As featured performer==== {| class="wikitable" ! rowspan="2" width="33"|Year ! width="200" rowspan="2"| Title ! colspan="3"| Peak chart positions<ref>{{cite web |url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=before dark|chart=all}} |title=Billboard - Singles Chart History (Before Dark) |access-date=2009-02-01 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=j.t. money|chart=all}} |title=Billboard - Singles Chart History (JT Money) |access-date=2009-02-01 }}</ref> ! rowspan="2" width="175"| Album |- !style="width:6em;font-size:75%"|''Billboard'' Hot 100 !style="width:6em;font-size:75%"|Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs !style="width:6em;font-size:75%"|Hot Rap Singles |- |align="center" rowspan="2"| 1999 |"Baby" (Before Dark feat. Sole) |align="center" | — |align="center" | 48 |align="center" | — |''Daydreamin''' |- |"Who Dat" (JT Money feat. Sole) |align="center" | 5 |align="center" | 2 |align="center" | 1 |''Pimpin' on Wax'' |- | colspan="6" align="center" style="font-size:90%" | "—" indicates singles that did not chart. |}

===Guest appearances=== {| class="wikitable" !Year !style="width:18em"|Song !style="width:13em"|Artist(s) !style="width:13em"|Album |- |rowspan="4"|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)'' |- |rowspan="2"|2001 |"Get Up On It" |Tyrese |''2000 Watts'' |- |"Contagious (Mercenary Mix)" |The Isley Brothers |''Contagious (Remix)'' |- |rowspan=""|2002 |"Costa Nostra" |Don Juan |''Mizery Won't Stop'' |- |rowspan=""|2003 |"Sex" |Ginuwine |''The Senior'' |- |rowspan=""|2011 |"Naal Nuchuna" |Jassi Sidhu |''Singing Between the Lines'' |- |rowspan=""|2012 |"A New Look" |Focus... |-

==References== {{Reflist|2}}

==External links== *[https://www.iamsole.com/ Solé's Official Website] *{{cite web |url=http://www.sole-me.com/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000620180459/http://www.sole-me.com/ |title=Solé's Official Website |archive-date=2000-06-20 |url-status=dead}} *{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20020809051758/http://www.strictlysole.com/ Solé's Official Fansite]}} *[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wi5PNECtDH8 Solé interview on Youtube]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sole}} Category:1973 births Category:Living people Category:Rappers from Kansas City, Missouri Category:DreamWorks Records artists Category:African-American women rappers Category:African-American rappers Category:African-American women singer-songwriters Category:American women singer-songwriters Category:21st-century American women rappers Category:Hardcore hip-hop artists Category:Midwest hip-hop musicians Category:21st-century American rappers Category:21st-century African-American women singers Category:21st-century American women singers Category:Singer-songwriters from Missouri