Blending old school soul and modern hip-hop influences, Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Chrisette Michele is one of the strongest female voices in contemporary R&B. With the release of Better in 2013, Michele landed her fourth consecutive Top 10 album on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, earning praise for her constantly-evolving sound and silky, confident vocal delivery. The diversity of material on the album is nowhere more apparent than on its singles, which juxtapose the smooth R&B of “A Couple of Forevers” with the minimal hip-hop glitch of 2-Chainz featured “Charades.” After leading gospel choirs in high school, Michele went on to earn a vocal performance degree before releasing her debut album I am in 2007. Supported by four singles, I Am peaked at No. 5 on the R&B chart and earned Michele a Best Urban/Alternative Performance Grammy for hit single “Be OK.” Her 2009 sophomore album Epiphany would prove even more successful, peaking at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and paving the way for a series of appearances on tracks by artists including The Game, Jay-Z, and Nas. On tour with Jaheim in 2013, Michele has treated ticket buyers to her characteristically understated swagger, earning rave reviews for her soulful live concerts.
