Make It Hot is the debut studio album by American singer Nicole Wray. The album was released in August 1998 through Missy Elliott's Elektra-distributed vanity label, The Goldmind. The album was produced by Missy Elliott and Timbaland. Some editions of the release credit Nicole as Nicole Ray, a name she only used here and on her single "I Can't See".
Critical reception
Michael Gallucci from AllMusic wrote that Make It Hot "is virtually a textbook primer on Elliott's stylistic touch and influence on end-of-the-millennium hip-hop (she raps on, writes songs for, produces, and executive produces Make It Hot – and it's on her custom label). Along with pal Timbaland, Elliott transforms young Nicole's somewhat standard bow into a stuttering slab of post-rap R&B that's as sleekly modern as it is customarily cold." Entertainment Weekly journalist Rob Brunner gave the album a B rating and concluded: "Even if the distinctive Missy-Timbaland sound is getting a little old, Hot proves the formula hasn’t gone cold just yet."
Chart performance Make It Hot reached number forty-two on the US Billboard 200 and number nineteen on the R&B album chart.Make It Hot (The Billboard 200 chart), Billboard,[November 7, 1998.Make It Hot (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart), Billboard, December 5, 1998. The first single, "Make It Hot", reached number five on the Hot 100 chart,"Make It Hot" (Hot 100 chart), Billboard, November 28, 1998. number two on the R&B singles chart,"Make It Hot" (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart), Billboard, December 26, 1998. and was certified gold.RIAA database (search "nicole" under "artist") The second single, "I Can't See", reached number thirty-six on the Rhythmic Top 40 chart.[ "I Can't See" (Rhythmic Top 40 chart)], Billboard, November 21, 1998. In 1999, the third and final single from the album, "Eyes Better Not Wander", reached number seventy-one on the R&B singles chart."Eyes Better Not Wander" (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop songs chart), Billboard, June 19, 1999.
Track listing
Limited Edition bonus disc Clipse - "We Get Money (Got Caught, Pt. 2)" Flipmode Squad - "Everything" Yo Yo - "Do You Wanna Ride?" Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott - "Get Contact" 1 Coko - "He Be Back" 1 En Vogue - "No Fool No More" 1 Denotes demo version
Personnel Credits are taken from the album's liner notes.
Instruments and performances
Davis Barnett – viola Larry Gold – cello Donald "Lenny" Holmes – bass, guitar Emma Kummrow – violin
Brian Morgan – keyboard Nat The Great – beatbox Igor Sewic – violin
Technical and production Executive producers: Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott, Merlin Bobb, Sylvia Rhone Producers: Big Baby, Merlin Bobb, Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott, Kevin Hicks, Donald Holmes, Brian Alexander Morgan, Tim Mosley, Sylvia Rhone, Suga Mike, Timbaland Vocal producer: Nicole Wray Vocal assistance: Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott Engineers: Claude "Swifty" Achille, Jimmy Douglas, Paul Falcone, Nat Foster, Eddie Hudson, Ted Reiger, Jon Smeltz, Stevie Sola Assistant engineers: Chuck Bailey, Steve Macauley, Rob Murphy, Jason Rea Mixing: Claude "Swifty" Achille, Kevin Davis, Jimmy Douglas, Paul Falcone, Nat Foster, Senator Jimmy D Programming: Timbaland Mastering: Herb Powers Arranger: Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott, Nat Foster, Larry Gold, Brian Morgan,
Charts Chart (1998) Peakposition
Release history + List of release dates, showing region and label Region Date Label Japan August 20, 1998 United Kingdom August 24, 1998 United States August 25, 1998 Germany September 14, 1998
References