- Solé
Infobox Musical artist
Name = Solé
Img_capt =
Img_size =
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Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = Tonya Michelle Johnston
Alias =
Born = birth date and age|1973|7|17
Died =
Origin =Kansas City ,Missouri ,United States
Instrument =
Voice_type =
Genre = Rap, Hip Hop
Occupation =
Years_active = 1999-present
Label = DreamWorks (1999–2002)
RedZone (2002)cite web |url=http://www.nndb.com/people/946/000047805/ |title=Solé on NNDB |accessdate=2008-08-14 |publisher=Soylent Communications ]
Associated_acts =JT Money ,Ginuwine
URL =
Notable_instruments =Solé (born Tonya Michelle Johnston on
July 17 ,1973 inKansas City, Missouri ) is an American rapper.Biography
Solé was born to to Phyllis Poke and James Johnston, [waybackdate|date=20060717042520|site=http://www.strictlysole.com/strictlysole/info/facts.html|title=Strictly Sole ("Fact 7")] . Her siblings are Sean, Chuck, Siera, and Tamika Johnston [waybackdate|date=20070517045915|site=http://www.strictlysole.com/strictlysole/info/facts.html|title=Strictly Sole ("Siblings and their ages")] .
Solé is half
African-American and halfBlackfoot Native American. She held various job including working forAT&T and as a spa coordinator for a salon [waybackdate|date=20070517045915|site=http://www.strictlysole.com/strictlysole/info/facts.html|title=Strictly Sole ("Fact 8")] . She also attended cosmetology school; and attempted college where she studied Political Science and Psychology [waybackdate|date=20070517045915|site=http://www.strictlysole.com/strictlysole/info/facts.html|title=Strictly Sole ("Fact 9")] .Personal
Solé met
Ginuwine in June 1999waybackdate|date=20070517045915|site=http://www.strictlysole.com/strictlysole/info/facts.html|title=Strictly Sole] and began dating in October 1999 . Solè marriedGinuwine onSeptember 8 2003 in the Caribbean. They live in Georgia and MarylandFact|date=August 2008. They have two daughters together and a total of five children:
*Dream (November 1, 2002) [http://www.s2smagazine.com/content/content.asp?issueid=200306&listid=15 G tells Niki ofSister 2 Sister mag that his 2nd daughter was born on 1 Nov and that he has had avasectomy ]
*Story (March 29, 2001) [ [http://music.yahoo.com/read/news/12062968 Sole/Ginuwine have daughter] ]
*Cypress (January 9, 1994) (Solé's previous relationship)
*Elgin Jr. (1992) (Ginuwine's son from previous relationship)
*De'jan (March 9, 1991) (Solé's previous relationship)Musical career
Solé started her career as a hardcore female
rap /hip-hop artist by attracting attention in the summer of 1999 with her appearance onJ.T. Money 's hit single "Who Dat". "Who Dat" reached #1 on the US Rap chart, #2 on the US R&B chart, and #5 on the US Hot 100. In September 1999 she released her debut album "Skin Deep". It had two moderately successful singles: "4,5,6" (ASCAP 's Female Rap Song of the Year) and "It Wasn't Me" (which features Her HusbandR&B singerGinuwine ). According toNielsen SoundScan , "Skin Deep" sold more than 300,000 copies in the U.S.Solé is in the
Guinness Book of World Records for being the fastest female emcee because she clearly rhymes five 3-letter syllables per secondFact|date=March 2007.She has stated that if she decides to return to the music industry, she will produce music that is glorifying to the Lord. [http://www.myfoxwfld.com/myvoicedc/2008/08/11/todays-voices-episode-11 Ginuwine & Sole on myvoicedc.com]
Currently
Solé has since renounced her raunchy and hardcore image as well as her performing name. Now known as Tonya Lumpkin, her family faithfully attends churchFact|date=August 2008. Every Friday, Solé hosts an age 5-18 Girls Youth GroupFact|date=March 2007. In April 2005, Tonya joined Urban Change, a Christian urban outreach organization in Maryland, where she participated in the nationally recognized stage play "Sexposé: The Remix". She is also a frequent participant in various speaking engagements throughout the MD/DC/VA area, where she uses her testimony to uplift and encourage young women towards sexual purity through a relationship with Jesus Christ.
Solé now occupies her time taking care of her family as well as running her interior-decorating firmFact|date=August 2008.
Discography
Skin Deep
Infobox Album
Name = Skin Deep
Type = studio
Artist = Solé
Released = Start date|1999|9|28
Recorded =
Genre = Rap, Hip hop
Length = 72:51
Label = DreamWorks
Producer = Big Trev
Christopher "Tricky" Stewart
Colin Wolfe
Focus
K.D.
Rashad Smith
Reviews =
*Allmusic Rating|3|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:azfuxqlkldje link]
Last album =
This album = 'Skin Deep'
(1999)
Next album =Chart positions
References
External links
*waybackdate|date=20060717042520|site=http://www.strictlysole.com/|title=Solé's Official Fansite
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wi5PNECtDH8 Part 1: Solé Explains Her New Direction In Life]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msfAZiS6Ags Part 2: Solé Explains Her New Direction In Life]
*11 Aug 8 [http://www.myfoxwfld.com/myvoicedc/2008/08/11/todays-voices-episode-11 Ginuwine & Sole Helping Collect 10,000 for back to school kids]
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