Niia
Encyclopedia
Niia Bertino better known simply by her stage name Niia is an American
singer, pianist
, and songwriter
. As a singer, Niia was recognized at a young age by the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts
as one of the top jazz singers in the United States.
She is best known for her feature on the 2007 hit single "Sweetest Girl (Dollar Bill)
," with Wyclef, Akon
, and Lil' Wayne, which was certified Platinum by the RIAA and peaked at #10 on the Billboard Hot 100
.
During and after the release of the single, Niia was developed by producer Jerry Wonda and Wyclef at Platinum Sound in New York City. Additionally, she toured with Wyclef in support of the song and his album Carnival Vol. II: Memoirs of an Immigrant
, appearing on The David Letterman Show, Jimmy Kimmel
, and MTV New Year's Eve among others.
In 2009, Niia split from Wyclef's camp to pursue her solo career. Niia is currently working on her debut album, which is slated for release in late 2011.
. Trained by her mother in classical piano, Niia began singing and performing at the age of 13. She performed at many venues around Boston, and was invited to attend the Berklee College of Music
summer program at age fourteen. While in high school, she was recognized as the National Jazz Voice winner in the Arts Recognition and Talent Search by the National Foundation for Advancement for the Arts (NFAA). After high school, Niia went to New York City where she briefly attended New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music as a Jazz vocal major.
who was impressed with her voice and musical skills. After working with Wyclef and producer Jerry Wonda, Niia was a featured artist on his 2007 hit single, "Sweetest Girl (Dollar Bill)
," which also featured Lil' Wayne and Akon
. The song peaked at number ten on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100
after fifteen weeks on the chart and was RIAA certified Platinum.
Niia toured around the world and performed with Wyclef most notably on VH1
Soul Stage, The David Letterman Show, Jimmy Kimmel
, The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, the BET
awards and MTV New Year's Eve in Times Square. Niia also starred in the four part short-film "Americlef", which was created by and broadcast on MTV
.
In 2009, Niia split from Wyclef's camp to pursue her solo career. Niia is currently working on music for her first album, which is slated for release in late 2011 and is rumored to be working with New York City producer Sterling Fox.
Arts Recognition and Talent Search.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
singer, pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
, and songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
. As a singer, Niia was recognized at a young age by the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts
National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts
The National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts honors the most talented high school seniors, or, more specifically, American students in the 17-18 year-old age bracket, in the performing, visual and literary arts through the YoungArts program...
as one of the top jazz singers in the United States.
She is best known for her feature on the 2007 hit single "Sweetest Girl (Dollar Bill)
Sweetest Girl (Dollar Bill)
"Sweetest Girl " is the lead single from American rapper Wyclef Jean's sixth studio album, Carnival Vol. II: Memoirs of an Immigrant. The song features vocals from Niia and Akon, as well as rapper Lil Wayne...
," with Wyclef, Akon
Akon
Aliaune Damala Badara Thiam, better known as simply Akon , is a Senegalese American R&B recording artist and songwriter.According to Forbes, Akon grossed $21 million in 2010, $20 million in 2009 and $12 million in 2008. He rose to prominence in 2004 following the release of "Locked Up", the first...
, and Lil' Wayne, which was certified Platinum by the RIAA and peaked at #10 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
.
During and after the release of the single, Niia was developed by producer Jerry Wonda and Wyclef at Platinum Sound in New York City. Additionally, she toured with Wyclef in support of the song and his album Carnival Vol. II: Memoirs of an Immigrant
Carnival Vol. II: Memoirs of an Immigrant
-References:...
, appearing on The David Letterman Show, Jimmy Kimmel
Jimmy Kimmel
James Christian "Jimmy" Kimmel is an American television host and comedian. He is the host of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, a late-night talk show that airs on ABC. Prior to that, Kimmel was best known as the co-host of Comedy Central's The Man Show and Win Ben Stein's Money...
, and MTV New Year's Eve among others.
In 2009, Niia split from Wyclef's camp to pursue her solo career. Niia is currently working on her debut album, which is slated for release in late 2011.
Early life
Niia was born and raised in Needham, MassachusettsNeedham, Massachusetts
Needham is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. A suburb of Boston, its population was 28,886 at the 2010 census.- History :...
. Trained by her mother in classical piano, Niia began singing and performing at the age of 13. She performed at many venues around Boston, and was invited to attend the Berklee College of Music
Berklee College of Music
Berklee College of Music, located in Boston, Massachusetts, is the largest independent college of contemporary music in the world. Known primarily as a school for jazz, rock and popular music, it also offers college-level courses in a wide range of contemporary and historic styles, including hip...
summer program at age fourteen. While in high school, she was recognized as the National Jazz Voice winner in the Arts Recognition and Talent Search by the National Foundation for Advancement for the Arts (NFAA). After high school, Niia went to New York City where she briefly attended New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music as a Jazz vocal major.
Musical career
After her move to New York City, Niia met singer, songwriter and producer Wyclef JeanWyclef Jean
Wyclef Jean is a Haitian musician, record producer, and politician. At age nine, Jean moved to the United States with his family and has spent much of his life in the country...
who was impressed with her voice and musical skills. After working with Wyclef and producer Jerry Wonda, Niia was a featured artist on his 2007 hit single, "Sweetest Girl (Dollar Bill)
Sweetest Girl (Dollar Bill)
"Sweetest Girl " is the lead single from American rapper Wyclef Jean's sixth studio album, Carnival Vol. II: Memoirs of an Immigrant. The song features vocals from Niia and Akon, as well as rapper Lil Wayne...
," which also featured Lil' Wayne and Akon
Akon
Aliaune Damala Badara Thiam, better known as simply Akon , is a Senegalese American R&B recording artist and songwriter.According to Forbes, Akon grossed $21 million in 2010, $20 million in 2009 and $12 million in 2008. He rose to prominence in 2004 following the release of "Locked Up", the first...
. The song peaked at number ten on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
after fifteen weeks on the chart and was RIAA certified Platinum.
Niia toured around the world and performed with Wyclef most notably on VH1
VH1
VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
Soul Stage, The David Letterman Show, Jimmy Kimmel
Jimmy Kimmel
James Christian "Jimmy" Kimmel is an American television host and comedian. He is the host of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, a late-night talk show that airs on ABC. Prior to that, Kimmel was best known as the co-host of Comedy Central's The Man Show and Win Ben Stein's Money...
, The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, the BET
Bet
Bet or BET may refer to:* A wager in gambling* Basic Economics Test * Bet , the second letter in many Semitic alphabets, including Aramaic, Hebrew, Phoenician and Syriac* Brunauer-Emmett-Teller isotherm. See BET_theory...
awards and MTV New Year's Eve in Times Square. Niia also starred in the four part short-film "Americlef", which was created by and broadcast on MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
.
In 2009, Niia split from Wyclef's camp to pursue her solo career. Niia is currently working on music for her first album, which is slated for release in late 2011 and is rumored to be working with New York City producer Sterling Fox.
Awards
In 2005 Niia was selected by the National Foundation for the Advancement of the Arts as one of the top 100 singers in the country, and the national winner in the jazz voice category National Foundation for Advancement in the ArtsNational Foundation for Advancement in the Arts
The National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts honors the most talented high school seniors, or, more specifically, American students in the 17-18 year-old age bracket, in the performing, visual and literary arts through the YoungArts program...
Arts Recognition and Talent Search.
Studio albums
| Year | Album details | Peak chart positions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US] | UK | ||
| 2011 | Untitled Full Length Album
|
||
Featured singles
| Year | Title | Chart positions | Album | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Hot 100 Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
U.S. Pop 100 Pop 100 The Pop 100 was a songs chart that debuted in February 2005 and was released weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States until its discontinuation in 2009... |
UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
CAN Hot 100 Canadian Hot 100 The Canadian Hot 100 is a music singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine which ranks songs in Canada. The chart debuted in the Billboard issue dated June 16, 2007 and was made available for the first time via their online services on June 7, 2007... |
|||
| 2007 | "Sweetest Girl (Dollar Bill) Sweetest Girl (Dollar Bill) "Sweetest Girl " is the lead single from American rapper Wyclef Jean's sixth studio album, Carnival Vol. II: Memoirs of an Immigrant. The song features vocals from Niia and Akon, as well as rapper Lil Wayne... " (Wyclef Jean Wyclef Jean Wyclef Jean is a Haitian musician, record producer, and politician. At age nine, Jean moved to the United States with his family and has spent much of his life in the country... featuring Akon Akon Aliaune Damala Badara Thiam, better known as simply Akon , is a Senegalese American R&B recording artist and songwriter.According to Forbes, Akon grossed $21 million in 2010, $20 million in 2009 and $12 million in 2008. He rose to prominence in 2004 following the release of "Locked Up", the first... , Lil Wayne Lil Wayne Dwayne Michael Carter, Jr. , better known by his stage name Lil Wayne, is an American rapper. At the age of nine, Lil Wayne joined Cash Money Records as the youngest member of the label, and half of the duo, The B.G.'z, with B.G.. In 1997, Lil Wayne joined the group Hot Boys, which also included... and Niia) |
12 | 10 | 66 | 14 | Carnival Vol. II: Memoirs of an Immigrant Carnival Vol. II: Memoirs of an Immigrant -References:... |
Featured video appearances
| Year | Album | Title | Director |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Carnival Vol. II: Memoirs of an Immigrant Carnival Vol. II: Memoirs of an Immigrant -References:... |
"Sweetest Girl (Dollar Bill) Sweetest Girl (Dollar Bill) "Sweetest Girl " is the lead single from American rapper Wyclef Jean's sixth studio album, Carnival Vol. II: Memoirs of an Immigrant. The song features vocals from Niia and Akon, as well as rapper Lil Wayne... " Wyclef Jean Wyclef Jean Wyclef Jean is a Haitian musician, record producer, and politician. At age nine, Jean moved to the United States with his family and has spent much of his life in the country... feat. Akon Akon Aliaune Damala Badara Thiam, better known as simply Akon , is a Senegalese American R&B recording artist and songwriter.According to Forbes, Akon grossed $21 million in 2010, $20 million in 2009 and $12 million in 2008. He rose to prominence in 2004 following the release of "Locked Up", the first... , Lil Wayne Lil Wayne Dwayne Michael Carter, Jr. , better known by his stage name Lil Wayne, is an American rapper. At the age of nine, Lil Wayne joined Cash Money Records as the youngest member of the label, and half of the duo, The B.G.'z, with B.G.. In 1997, Lil Wayne joined the group Hot Boys, which also included... and Niia |
Chris Robinson Chris Robinson (director) Chris Robinson is an American film director working mostly with music videos and commercials. He has directed commercials for brands such as iPod, Coca Cola and Verizon and music videos for songs like "Fallin'" and "You Don't Know My Name" by Alicia Keys, "Roc Boys" by Jay-Z, the grammy nominated... |