Make It Hot is the debut studio album by American singer Nicole Wray. The album was released in August 1998 through Missy Elliott's Elektra-distributed vanity label, The Goldmind. The album was produced by Missy Elliott and Timbaland. Some editions of the release credit Nicole as Nicole Ray, a name she only used here and on her single "I Can't See".

Critical reception

Michael Gallucci from AllMusic wrote that Make It Hot "is virtually a textbook primer on Elliott's stylistic touch and influence on end-of-the-millennium hip-hop (she raps on, writes songs for, produces, and executive produces Make It Hot – and it's on her custom label). Along with pal Timbaland, Elliott transforms young Nicole's somewhat standard bow into a stuttering slab of post-rap R&B that's as sleekly modern as it is customarily cold." Entertainment Weekly journalist Rob Brunner gave the album a B rating and concluded: "Even if the distinctive Missy-Timbaland sound is getting a little old, Hot proves the formula hasn’t gone cold just yet."

Chart performance

Make It Hot reached number forty-two on the US Billboard 200 and number nineteen on the R&B album chart. The first single, "Make It Hot", reached number five on the Hot 100 chart, number two on the R&B singles chart, and was certified gold. The second single, "I Can't See", reached number thirty-six on the Rhythmic Top 40 chart. In 1999, the third and final single from the album, "Eyes Better Not Wander", reached number seventy-one on the R&B singles chart.

Track listing

Limited Edition bonus disc

1 Denotes demo version

Personnel

Credits are taken from the album's liner notes.

Charts

Release history