Chrisette Michele Payne (born December 8, 1982), known professionally as Chrisette Michele, is an American Grammy Award-winning contemporary R&B and soul singer-songwriter. She is signed to the Island Def Jam Music Group and won a Grammy Award for Best Urban/Alternative Performance in 2009 for her song «Be OK».
Michele was born in Central Islip, New York, and grew up in Patchogue. Her father was a deacon and her mother a choir director. Michele led gospel choirs in high school. She attended Five Towns College in Dix Hills, New York, and graduated with a vocal performance degree
Michele has been featured on several hip hop albums. She is on The Game’s album LAX on «Let Us Live». On Jay-Z’s Kingdom Come she was featured on the second single «Lost One», while on Nas’ Hip Hop Is Dead, she was 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. 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 four on US Billboard’s Hot Adult R&B Airplay and number twenty-four on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. «Best of Me» charted on the Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks at number twenty-one. In December 2007, «Be OK» was released as the third single, charting at number sixty-four on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and number twenty-one on the Hot Adult R&B Airplay. In 2008, «Love Is You» was released as the album’s fourth and final single; it reached number ninety on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and number twenty on the Hot Adult R&B Airplay.
In 2008, Michele appeared on the track «Rising Up» from The Roots’ album Rising Down. Michele guest starred as herself in The CW’s Girlfriends, in the episode entitled «What’s Black-a-Lackin’?», which originally aired on February 11, 2008. She also wrote a song for Tyler Perry’s House of Payne entitled «I’ve Gotta Love Jones». From May to July 2008 Michele embarked on a nationwide co-headlining tour with fellow soul singer Raheem DeVaughn called the Art of Love Tour; Solange Knowles served as the opening act.In September 2008, Michele performed twice at the Evening of Stars: A Tribute to Patti Labelle.
In mid-2008, Michele began recording for her second album, Epiphany. In January 2009, the album’s title track was released as the lead single.Released on May 5, 2009, the album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 selling 83,000 copies in its opening week.[6]
Michele has worked with rapper Rick Ross and Canadian rapper/singer Drake on the fourth single of Ross’s album Teflon Don called «Aston Martin Music». The song was released on October 5, 2010
Michele released her third studio album, Let Freedom Reign, in 2010. The album includes the singles, «I’m a Star» and «Goodbye Game». The album features Michele performing hip-hop, R&B, as well as the dance-pop influenced «So Cool». The album debuted at number 25 on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart, selling 42,000 copies in its first week.
Grammy Award winner Chrisette Michele returned to the recording studio, and is gearing up for the release of her fourth album entitled, Better.
«I need every record to be dynamic and exactly what I’m going through and experiencing right now,» said Chrisette.
The album was released on June 11, 2013 through Motown Records.[8] The album debuted at number 12 on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart, selling 27,000 copies in its first week.
