This is Michael Mixerr. Today I will review the R&B album Nicole Wray - Make It Hot (Sampler).
The Make It Hot (Sampler) was released on cassette to promote the debut album of Nicole Wray - Make It Hot which was sent to radio stations across the United States in early 1998. This sampler was an album sampler for Nicole Wray - Make It Hot.
Timbaland produced 25% of Make It Hot. Suga Mike produced 10%. Dent produced a chunck of songs for Make It Hot too. Playa (Smokey & Static Major) produced a significant portion of Make It Hot even though the Timbaland sound is more present and prevalent. Missy did the rest herself of course. She was responsible for promoting Nicole Wray during her career at Goldmind and Elektra. Most of Make It Hot was filled with love ballads and love songs. The album is filled with sultry love songs written by a handful of songwriters.
For those who don't know who Nicole Wray is, she was the first artist to sign to Missy Elliott's Goldmind Inc. in 1996 other than Missy herself and Timbaland's production team/duo Timbaland and Magoo. She had a record deal with Goldmind Inc., EastWest, and Elektra Records from 1996 to 2001 where she released her two albums Make It Hot and Elektric Blue. She and Missy were from Portsmouth, Virginia.
The Time Is Now (Intro) is Missy Elliott explaining why this album is hot and off the chain. Missy herself explains the album is “blazing hot”. She performs her usual ad-lib raps and funky noises with her mouth. Nicole sings riffs in the background chorus. Nicole’s presence is not as huge as Missy’s despite this intro being on her debut album. Missy takes most of the spotlight as she herself is all over the intro for this album sampler
The Time Is Now (Intro) was produced by Dent in California in 1998. Although Dent, a producer from California, is credited as the producer for The Time Is Now (Intro) in the liner notes, Missy Elliott takes most of the spotlight as she herself is all over the intro for this album sampler.
Seventeen was written and produced by Missy Elliott as she herself is all over the song. Nicole sings and raps on Seventeen. The song called Seventeen samples Call Me by Skyy. Yes the band Skyy. Nicole and Missy often take credit for Seventeen.
Seventeen should have had a music video to accompany the song. Seventeen should have been chosen as a single instead of Eyes Better Not Wander because the song was more upbeat and Missy Elliott was all over it. With Missy Elliott being all over the song, it would have been a smart business move to further both her career and Nicole's. Missy Elliott was the Ariana Grande of her day. Make It Hot would been a further overnight success if Elektra chose Seventeen to be chosen as a buzz single for her debut album. Seventeen would have been a guaranteed success if Timbaland produced it.
The song I Can’t See was produced by Timbaland and of course Missy Elliott. I Can’t See hit #7 on the BillBoard for a hot minute there in 1999! The song of course is another love song written by a handful of skilled songwriters. Missy, rapper Mocha, and Nicole Wray are all over I Can’t See. This song is sultry in nature. Mocha with her wack raps don’t really help make the song stand out and prosper the most, but Missy and Nicole do.
The prelude to I Can't See should have been incorporated into the regular song instead being separated from the original I Can't See song as a separate track. Without You from the Why Do Fools Fall In Love soundtrack should have replaced the prelude to I Can't See.
Interestingly enough, Timbaland was not all over I Can’t See as he was on the song Make It Hot. His vocal presence is missing on I Can’t See. His voice should have been included as the male background chorus and background vocals as well.
Her song Eyes Better Not Wander was a memorable favorite among Nicole Wray fans. Despite that, Eyes Better Not Wander did not do as well because it was a slow jam with no fast paced beats by Timbaland. That song was produced by Smokey of Playa. Smokey produced hot steamy love songs such as this one, Raise Your Frown, and Testing Our Love (Suga).
Eyes Better Not Wander is a mellow, loopy, and sultry slow jam notable for its slow vibe. The slow vibe follow the beats perfectly. The beats alone are consistent in terms of following the song. Echoes gives this song a slow feel.
Eyes Better Not Wander did not Nicole justice in terms of charting. Eyes Better Not Wander charted at #69 which eventually fell of the charts quickly. By 1999, the general public was tired of sultry slow jams and wanted more glamorous upbeat pop songs and raunchy R&B songs. That can be attributed to why Eyes Better Not Wander fell off the charts quickly. Eyes Better Not Wander should have been saved for Elektric Blue instead of Make It Hot.
Pressure was an interesting interlude/skit that producer Dent and Nicole were all over. The song is 1 minute and 11 seconds long with the duration time being 1:11. Slow and sultry are words to describe. Pressure should have been made into a full song. There is no reason why should not have been a short song instead.
In fact, Pressure sounds like an unreleased Nicole Wray song even if it is a minute an 11 seconds long. Nicole Wray fans can vouch for me here on this one.
Listen to the lyrics in the background.:
Tonight
In da street
Baby
Don't worry
I'll be there
Tonight
In da street
Baby
Cause that ain't fair
Tonight
In da street
Baby
Don't worry
I'll be there
Tonight
In da street
Don't worry
I'll be there
Baby
Tonight
In da street
Don't worry
I'll be there
Make It Hot was the jam that had everyone dancing bobbing their heads to back in 1998! Make It Hot was the jam back in 1998! Nicole had a blazing hot song called Make It Hot which hit #7 on the BillBoard in 1998 for a hot minute there.
Timbaland produced Make It Hot. The beats were both upbeat and crazy as Timbaland's beats had everyone going nuts back in the day. Missy Elliott made it both spicy and sassy with her ad lib raps as she was all over the place at the very end even though former female rapper Mocha took most of the spotlight at the very beginning of Make It Hot. Kelly Price harmonized the vocals with her angelic singing.
I rate this album, Make It Hot (Sampler), 5/5*****!!
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