Nikki Jean | |
|---|---|
 Jean in 2019 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Nicolle Jean Leary |
| Born | August 25, 1983 Saint Paul, Minnesota, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) |
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| Years active | 2005–present |
| Labels | |
| Formerly of | Nouveau Riche |
Nicolle Jean Leary (born August 25, 1983), better known as Nikki Jean, is an American singer-songwriter. Born in Saint Paul, Minnesota, Jean started out as a lead singer of a short-lived Philadelphia band called Nouveau Riche. She was introduced to rapper Lupe Fiasco when he was working on his 2007 album Lupe Fiasco's The Cool and achieved initial success as the featuring artist on his single "Hip Hop Saved My Life". She continues to collaborate frequently with him.
After two years of co-writing songs with many different songwriters for her debut album, including Bob Dylan and Carole King, Jean released Pennies in a Jar in 2011. The album received positive reviews but commercially underperformed. Her solo career continued with three extended plays: the X-Mas EP (2013), the Champagne Water EP (2014), and Beautiful Prison (2019).