Nikki Jean
| Nikki Jean | |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Nicholle Jean Leary |
| Born | St. Paul, Minnesota, United States |
| Genres | Soul, hip hop, pop |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter, pianist, actress |
| Instruments | Vocals, piano, keyboards, guitar |
| Years active | 2004-present |
| Labels | Columbia records, S-Curve Records |
| Associated acts | Ab-Soul, Black Thought, Brother Ali, Lupe Fiasco, Nouveau Riche |
| Website | www |
Nicholle Jean Leary (born August 25, 1983), better known by her stage name Nikki Jean, is an American singer-songwriter and occasional actress from St. Paul, Minnesota. Aside from her solo career, Jean was once a part of the Philadelphia-based music group Nouveau Riche. She first gained major recognition in 2008, when she was featured on Lupe Fiasco's single "Hip Hop Saved My Life", from his second album The Cool. In 2011, she signed as a recording contract with indie record label, S-Curve Records. In 2011, she released the concept album, Pennies in a Jar. The lead single, "Steel and Feathers (Don't Ever)" was co-written by Bob Dylan. As an actress, she performed in the award winning independent film, On the Outs.
Nikki Jean was born on August 25, 1983, in St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. She moved around with her mother spending time in both South Dakota and Minnesota. She ended up attending High School in both St. Paul, Minnesota, United States and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. During her years as a child actor in the Minneapolis theater scene, she spent two years under the musical tutelage of JD and Fred Steele. The Steele family are pillars of the Minneapolis gospel scene and back up singers for Prince, and she credits them with her sense of harmony and vocal arrangement. She attended college early and graduated from Howard University with a degree in Sociology. While at Howard University, she was invited to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and would soon join the band Nouveau Riche as the lead singer.
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