Make It Hot

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.

Limited Edition bonus disc
1 Denotes demo version
 * 1) Clipse - "We Get Money (Got Caught, Pt. 2)"
 * 2) Flipmode Squad - "Everything"
 * 3) Yo Yo - "Do You Wanna Ride?"
 * 4) Missy Elliott - "Get Contact" 1
 * 5) Coko - "He Be Back" 1
 * 6) En Vogue - "No Fool No More"

Personnel
Credits are taken from the album's liner notes.


 * Instruments and performances


 * Davis Barnett – viola
 * Larry Gold – cello
 * Donald "Lenny" Holmes – bass, guitar
 * Emma Kummrow – violin


 * Brian Morgan – keyboard
 * Nat The Great – beatbox
 * Igor Sewic – violin


 * Technical and production
 * Executive producers: Missy Elliott, Merlin Bobb, Sylvia Rhone
 * Producers: Big Baby, Merlin Bobb, Missy Elliott, Kevin Hicks, Donald Holmes, Brian Alexander Morgan, Tim Mosley, Sylvia Rhone, Smokey, Suga Mike, Timbaland
 * Vocal producer: Nicole Wray
 * Vocal assistance: Missy Elliott
 * Engineers: Claude "Swifty" Achille, Jimmy Douglas, Paul Falcone, Nat Foster, Eddie Hudson, Ted Reiger, Jon Smeltz, Stevie Sola
 * Assistant engineers: Chuck Bailey, Steve Macauley, Rob Murphy, Jason Rea
 * Mixing: Claude "Swifty" Achille, Kevin Davis, Jimmy Douglas, Paul Falcone, Nat Foster, Senator Jimmy D
 * Programming: Timbaland
 * Mastering: Herb Powers
 * Arranger: Missy Elliott, Nat Foster, Larry Gold, Brian Morgan,