Solé facts for kids

Solé, whose real name is Tonya Michelle Johnston, is an American rapper. She was born on July 17, 1973, in Kansas City, Missouri. Besides being a rapper, she is also a songwriter, actress, and a wellness expert.

Early Life and Musical Beginnings

Solé was born in Kansas City, Missouri. Her parents are Phyllis Frazier and James Johnston. She has several siblings. Before becoming a famous rapper, Solé went to cosmetology school. She also studied Political Science and Psychology in college during the early 1990s.

Music was always a big part of Solé's family. Many of her relatives were songwriters, singers, and musicians. Solé started rapping when she was only six years old. In 1986, she formed a music group called Divine with her best friend, Shurhea Mitchell. They performed at local talent shows. In 1990, they won a trip to New Orleans. There, they performed for record label executives. They were offered a record deal, but her father felt it wasn't the right one. So, they decided to go to college instead.

Music Career Highlights

Solé began recording music again in 1997. She worked with artists like Tech N9ne and Don Juan from Kansas City. Her career really took off in 1999. She gained a lot of attention by appearing on J.T. Money's popular song "Who Dat." This song was a huge hit. It reached number one on the US Rap chart and stayed there for eight weeks. It also won "Rap Single of the Year" at the 1999 Billboard Music Awards.

In September 1999, Solé released her first album, Skin Deep. This album was very successful in the United States. It sold enough copies to earn a Gold status. She was also nominated for "Rap Artist of the Year" at the Billboard Music Awards that same year. Solé also won several ASCAP Music awards.

After some time away from the music industry, Solé returned with new music. She wanted to create songs that would inspire and empower people. In 2011, she was featured on a song called "Naal Naachna" by the UK artist Jassi Sidhu. She also appeared on a song called "A New Look" by Focus in 2012. On September 29, 2019, Solé released her second album, Encoded.

Personal Life and Family

Solé met fellow musician Ginuwine in June 1999. They started dating in October 1999 and got engaged in August 2000. They lived in Brandywine, Maryland. Solé and Ginuwine have two daughters together: Story, born in 2001, and Dream Sarae Lumpkin, born in 2002. They got married on September 8, 2003, in Grand Cayman.

Solé has four daughters in total. Her older daughters, De'jan Nicole Lee and Cypress Soleil Lee, are from a previous relationship. De'jan was born in 1992, and Cypress was born in 1995. Solé also has one granddaughter, Sage Lotus Lee, who was born in 2020.

In 2014, Solé filed for divorce from Ginuwine. Their divorce was finalized on July 22, 2015. On August 27, 2017, Solé married Public Enemy band member and rapper Professor Griff. She took his last name, Shah, and legally changed her full name to Aja Shah.