Nikki Jean
Nikki Jean |
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Nikki Jean (born Nicholle Jean Leary on August 25, 1983 in St. Paul, Minnesota) is an American singer-songwriter, musician and occasional actress. She was apart of the band Nouveau Riche, an indie/hip-hop band based out of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. She is also featured on Lupe Fiasco's second album, The Cool, as a lyricist and vocalist. As an actress, she performed in the award winning independent film On the Outs. From April 16, 2008 to August 6, 2008, Nikki Jean was part of the Glow in the Dark Tour with Kanye West, Lupe Fiasco, Rihanna and N.E.R.D..
Life and Career
Born Nichole Jean Leary in St. Paul, Minnesota, the rising young singer-songwriter-performer Nikki Jean had a profound musical epiphany at the age of 5 (or 6) when she first watched the all-star tribute to Irving Berlin celebrating the master songsmith's 100th birthday. "The whole to-do was about a songwriter," she marvels. "It wasn't about a singer, it was about the songs. He's 100 years old but these songs are brand-new. I fell in love with the songs. It was like I understood him and he understood me and I was just a kid."
And so, at an early age, the switch went off in Nikki Jean's heart, mind and soul that she wanted to learn everything she could about how songs were written. From the experiences, sensations and perceptions that inspire songs through the alchemical wizardry of a well-crafted hook, Nikki Jean has both studied and lived the art of songwriting and its sister muses singing and performing.
Moving to Philadelphia, Nikki Jean hooked up musically with established and emerging Philly legends including The Roots, Jill Scott and others. "I worked with Nona Hendryx, who sang on the original 'Lady Marmalade,'" says Nikki Jean. "She's my mentor. She's the first person who told me, 'You are a songwriter. That's who you are.'"
While working on her own music, Nikki Jean contributed lyrics and an unforgettable vocal to "Hip Hop Saved My Life," a 2008 smash hit (and successful viral video) from Lupe Fiasco's The Cool, a #1 rap album that peaked at #14 on the Billboard 200. From April through August 2008, Nikki Jean performed on the Glow In The Dark Tour which included Kanye West, Lupe Fiasco, Rihanna and N.E.R.D.
Nikki Jean has been reaching out to her fans through the internet via her MySpace page (where she's enjoyed more than 700,000 profile views) and her YouTube channel, the Nikki Jean Project, which has garnered more than 2.7 million total video views. Since launching her channel, Nikki Jean has been YouTube's Most Viewed Musician of the Day, Most Viewed Musician of the Week, and a Most Viewed Musician of the Month.
Discography
Guest appearances
- DJ Deckstream — "Five Alarm"
- DJ Deckstream — "Exit Sign"
- Lupe Fiasco — "Hip Hop Saved My Life"
- Lupe Fiasco — "Little Weapon"
- Muja Messiah — "So Far So Good"
- Sylk130 — "Fallen Angel"
- Tu Phace — "Say Yes"
- Oddisee — "Tell The Truth"
- Traphik — "Favorite Song"