Nicole Wray partnered with Missy Elliott and Timbaland to deliver some of the most cutting-edge pop of the late 20th century, and has enjoyed a second act working closely with vintage soul specialist Leon Michels. As a teenager, under her first name, Wray scored a Top Ten hit in 1998 with "Make It Hot." Despite the breakthrough, Wray encountered various roadblocks as she continued to record solo material and contribute to the output of other artists. Over time, her voice became richer and a little grittier, ideal for retro-contemporary R&B. Beside Terri Walker and in collaboration with long-term producer Michels, she re-emerged as one-half of Lady, whose self-titled 2013 album has been followed by the Lady Wray LPs Queen Alone and Piece of Me, issued respectively in 2016 and 2022.