Frankee

Biography
Frankee was born Nicole Francine Aiello on June 9, 1983, on Staten Island, New York. Growing up with her parents, Matthew and Francine, and her two siblings, elder brother Matthew Jr. and younger sister Monique, Nicole was given the nickname "Frankee," which is derived from her middle name (and is also her grandfather's nickname).

Frankee's humble upbringing in Huguenot, New York, consisted in singing in her church choir while she attended Bernstein Intermediate School and St. Joseph-by-the-Sea High School. Frankee made a name for herself as a local entertainer, performing in clubs and at a random assortment of venues: the Richmond County Fair, St. Joseph Hill Academy, St. John Villa Academy, and Staten Island University Hospital. She also took voice and dance lessons in Manhattan.

frankee says f u right back

After high school, Frankee won a full scholarship to The University of Tampa in Florida, to study insurance brokering. She left after only one year, however, feeling that her musical career should take priority. "It's not a move I'd recommend to everyone," she admitted. Moving back to New York, Frankee began recording demos and making the rounds. While many labels were interested, Frankee decided to go with an independent label, Marro Records, because she feared that the internal politics and red tape of a major label might bog her down.

In early 2004, before Frankee could get her debut in order, she became the subject of character assassination in the new song, "F*** It (I Don't Want You Back)." This came from fellow artist Eamon, whom Frankee knew from Staten Island. "It was a long time ago," is all she'll admit to, even though Eamon's hit single, a lament over a cheating girlfriend, doesn't leave much to the imagination. But Frankee shot back with an equally vituperative hit, the aptly titled "F U Right Back." Although Frankee claimed that her comeback was directed more "to that type of person" than to Eamon specifically, radio stations ate up the dueling "he said, she said" singles.

frankee and the good, the bad, the ugly

The media frenzy gave Frankee's debut CD, The Good, The Bad, The Ugly, extra attention when it was released in April 2004. The Good, The Bad, The Ugly -- so titled "because it explores the full spectrum of relationships" -- garnered positive reviews for its energy and effective arrangement of songs. It didn't hurt that industry heavyweights like producers the Trackmasters and Rich Harrison, as well as songwriters Makeba and Andre Deyo, contributed to the album.

After touring America following her debut's release, Frankee embarked on two UK tours and a German tour in the summer of 2004. Meanwhile, her second single, "How You Do," the polar opposite of the vicious "F U Right Back," was released. "It's about falling in love," the singer explains. "It's totally different from the first single and it's what I want to portray. I don't want it to always be that hard music with cursing. That's not really what I'm all about."