Solé | |
---|---|
Birth name | Tonya Michelle Johnston |
Also known as | Mrssole |
Born | July 17, 1973 |
Origin | Kansas City, Missouri, U.S. |
Genres | Hip Hop |
Occupation(s) | rapper, songwriter, actress |
Years active | 1993–present |
Labels | DreamWorks/Interscope/Universal Records |
Associated acts | JT Money, 504 Boyz, Kane & Abel (group), Ginuwine, Tech N9ne |
Website | strictlysole |
Tonya M. Johnston (born Tonya M. Johnston; July 17, 1973) is an American rapper from Kansas City, Missouri, better known by her stage name, Solé.
Solé was born in 1973 in Kansas City, Missouri to Phyllis Frazier and James Johnston, . Her siblings are Sean and Charlie (Chuck) Johnston, Sierra and Tamika Gamble.
Solé is of Native American (Choctaw), African-American, and European descent. Solé has also stated that she also has family in General Acha, Argentina. She held various jobs, including working for AT&T and as a spa coordinator for a salon. She also attended cosmetology school; and attempted college where she studied Political Science and Psychology.
Solé has daughters De'jan Nicole (born March 7, 1992) and Cypress Soleil Lee (born January 9, 1995) from a previous relationship. Solé met Ginuwine in June 1999 and began dating in October 1999. The two became engaged in August 2000. Solè married Ginuwine on September 8, 2003 in Grand Cayman. They now reside in Brandywine, Maryland. They have two daughters together: Story Asaundra (born March 29, 2001) and Dream Sarae Lumpkin (born November 1, 2002). He has a son Elgin, Jr. (born January 30, 1992) from a previous relationship, as well as three other children by three different women. In February 2009, Ginuwine announced he has eight children.
In November 2014 Ginuwine announced Solé and he had separated.
Solé started her career as a hardcore female rap/hip-hop artist by attracting attention in the summer of 1999 with her appearance on J.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 which was an overall success in the United States. On October 25, 2010, she confirmed that she will start work on her second album. In February 2012 she featured on a song called "A new look" by Focus In April 2012 Solé shot a music video with one of Ginuwine's artist know by the name of PyRo. The song was titled "Make it hot" and the video was released via YouTube on June 30, 2012. The video received many positive reviews from Solé and Ginuwine's fans. On March 1, 2013 she confirmed via her Instagram account that new music was coming soon quoting "To those of you who were waiting new coming soon" ~Solé