| Solé | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Tonya M. Johnston |
| Born | July 17, 1973 |
| Origin | Kansas City, Missouri, United States |
| Genres | Hip Hop |
| Years active | 1993–present |
| Labels | DreamWorks/Interscope/Universal Records |
| Associated acts | JT Money, Ginuwine, Tech N9ne |
Tonya M. Lumpkin[1][2][3] (born Tonya M. Johnston[2] on July 17, 1973) is an American rapper from Kansas City, Missouri,[3] better known by her stage name, Solé.
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Solé was born in 1973 in Kansas City, Missouri to Phyllis Poke and James Johnston,[4] .[5] Her siblings are Sean, Chuck, Siera, and Tamika Johnston.[6]
Solé is African-American and Choctaw Indian on her mother's side and French, German, Russian,Scottish and Blackfoot Native American from her father's side. She held various jobs, including working for AT&T and as a spa coordinator for a salon.[7] She also attended cosmetology school; and attempted college where she studied Political Science and Psychology.[8]
Solé has daughters De'jan Nicole Lee (9 March 1991) and Cypress Soleil Lee (9 January 1995) from a previous relationship. Solé met Ginuwine in June 1999[9] and began dating in October 1999.[9] The two became engaged in August 2000 and Solè married Ginuwine on 8 September 2003 in the Caribbean. They live in Georgia and Maryland.[10] They have two daughters together: Story Asaundra Lumpkin (29 March 01)[11] and Dream Sarae Lumpkin (1 November 02).[12] He has son Elgin Jr (1992) from a previous relationship, as well as four other children by three different women.[13] In February 2009 Ginuwine announced he has nine children.[14][15]
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.[16]
| Year | Album | Chart Positions | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | US Hip-Hop | |||
| 1999 | Skin Deep | 127 | 27 | |
| Year | Title | Peak chart positions [17][18][19][20][21][22] |
Album | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Billboard Hot 100 | Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs | Hot Rap Singles | Rhythmic Top 40 | |||
| 1999 | "4, 5, 6" (featuring JT Money and Kandi) | 21 | 9 | 1 | 24 | Skin Deep |
| 2000 | "It Wasn't Me" (featuring Ginuwine) | — | 44 | — | 19 | |
| "—" indicates singles that did not chart. | ||||||
| Year | Title | Peak chart positions[23][24] | Album | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Billboard Hot 100 | Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs | Hot Rap Singles | ||||
| 1999 | "Baby" (Before Dark feat. Sole) | — | 48 | — | Daydreamin' | |
| "Who Dat" (JT Money feat. Sole) | 5 | 2 | 1 | Pimpin' on Wax | ||
| "—" indicates singles that did not chart. | ||||||
| Year | Song | Artist(s) | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | "Straight Thuggin'" (also featuring Twista) | Kane & Abel | Rise to Power |
| "Clueless" (also featuring Larone Burnette) | Tech N9ne | The Calm Before the Storm | |
| "Better Than Me (Mario Winans Remix)" | Terry Dexter | Better Than Me (single) | |
| 2001 | "Get Up On It" | Tyrese | 2000 Watts |
| "Contagious (Mercenary Mix)" | The Isley Brothers | Contagious (Remix) | |
| 2002 | "Costa Nostra" | Don Juan | Mizery Won't Stop |
| 2003 | "Sex" | Ginuwine | The Senior |