Solange Piaget Knowles (born June 24, 1986) is an American singer, songwriter, and model. Knowles was born in Houston, Texas to Mathew and Tina Knowles, Expressing an interest in music from an early age, Knowles had several temporary stints in Destiny's Child, before signing with her father's Music World Entertainment label.
2001–03: Early career and Solo Star
Solange's music is heavily influenced by Motown girl groups and says that her first passion is songwriting.
At the age of 14, Solange Knowles started working on her debut album Solo Star, which involved American producers such as Jermaine Dupri, The Neptunes, Linda Perry and Timbaland among others. By the time she turned 16 the album was ready and so Knowles went on to released her first studio album Solo Star.
Solange was managed by her father Mathew, Knowles' music business in 2001 as the lead singer, backed with Destiny's Child, on the title theme song for the animated television series The Proud Family.
In 2001 she also appeared as Lil' Bow Wow's date in the music video for his single "Puppy Love". She also made an appearance on the Master of Disguise soundtrack and made cameos in Play's video for M.A.S.T.E.R. (Part II) featuring Lil' Fizz.
She also was a featured performer on "Hey Goldmember" for the soundtrack to the 2002 film Austin Powers in Goldmember, as well as a backup singer on the track "Little Drummer Boy" on her sister's group's 2001 holiday album 8 Days of Christmas.
In 2002, she was featured on Lil Romeo's second studio album Game Time, singing portions of Luther Vandross-penned "So Amazing" on the single "True Love", and on Rowland's debut solo album Simply Deep, for which she also wrote the title track and "Alone".
In 2002, she lent her voice for the character Chanel, the cousin of the protagonist Penny Proud, in the episode "Behind Family Lines" to the animated television series The Proud Family.
In 2004, Knowles married Daniel Smith, eventually giving birth to their son Daniel Julez J. Smith Jr., which prompted a move to Idaho. In 2004, while pregnant with son Daniel, she made a cameo appearance in Destiny's Child's music video for "Soldier".
While she was married, her family moved to Idaho, and while staying there, resumed writing songs including the singles "Get Me Bodied" and "Upgrade U" for her sister's second solo album, B'Day.
Solange earned the R&B and Hip-Hop Song accolade for "Get Me Bodied" at the 2008 ASCAP Awards. She had also written songs for Destiny's Child, and members Rowland and Michelle Williams.
Between 2005 and 2007, Knowles had several minor acting roles, including the direct-to-video Bring It On: All or Nothing (2006) and continued writing music for Beyoncé and ex-Destiny Child band members Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams.
In 2007, Knowles divorced Smith and moved to Los Angeles, California, beginning to write and record music again. Her second studio album Sol-Angel and the Hadley St. Dreams (2008) deviated from the pop-oriented music of her debut to the Motown Sound of the 1960s and 70s.
Solange finished working on her second studio album in 2008 and titled the project Sol-Angel and the Hadley St. Dreams. It includes production by Cee-Lo Green, Soulshock & Karlin and Mark Ronson as well as an appearance by Bilal.
A collection of 1960s- and 1970s-influenced songs. It is seen as a departure from her pop-oriented debut, with what Billboard magazine called "more of a modern twist on hip-hop and R&B flecked with tinges of blues and jazz".
The album was released on August 26, 2008 in the United States which had sold over 114,000 copies according to Nielsen Soundscan. The album was positively received by critics, some of whom considered it far better than her debut.
The album is primarily uptempo R&B, although Knowles said there are pop, rock, reggae and hip hop influences. Knowles co-wrote and co-produced some of the 15 tracks in the album, including its lead single, "Feelin' You (Part II)".
The album's lead single, "I Decided", was released in April 2008, and reached the top of the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play; Rolling Stone magazine labelled it her breakthrough single. In support of the album, Solange began the Solange Presents Sol-Angel and the Hadley St. Dreams Tour in Britain in November 2008. It peaked at number 9 on the Billboard 200 and received positive reviews from critics.
2004–08: Films and Sol-Angel and the Hadley St. Dreams
After the release of her debut album, Knowles started acting in films followed by a career break.
In 2004, she guest starred in the episode "The Catch" in the sitcom One on One. Knowles appeared as a nubile teenager in the 2004 comedy film Johnson Family Vacation, starring alongside American actors Cedric the Entertainer, Vanessa Williams and Bow Wow.
She provided a song for its soundtrack—"Freedom", a collaboration with the Houston-based funk-jazz band Drop Trio. Solange Knowles earned praise from Variety magazine: "Solange is as dazzling as big sister Beyoncé and does little more than smile winningly in her first big screen outing."
In 2006, she starred as a cheerleading captain in the film Bring It On: All or Nothing, the third installment of the Bring it On series, alongside American actress and singer Hayden Panettiere.
Solange uses her full name for her acting, rather than just the first name she uses when singing; for Bring It On and All or Nothing.
Solange announced via her blog HadleyStreetJournal.com, that she will be releasing a series of mixtapes, to coincide with the album. The first mixtape, "I Can't Get Clearance...", includes the leaked track "flip the Industry (Signed Sincerely)". On this record, Knowles expresses her views on the current state of the music industry.
The lyrics to the song name check some major artists such as Mary J. Blige, Ashanti, Keyshia Cole, and Beyoncé, although she made a point of stating that it does not have "a negative light to any of them". The mixtape was never released, but
Solange released "flip the Industry (Signed Sincerely)" as a single in 2010.
She followed this up with the 1980s pop/R&B-inspired extended play True (2012) and intends to release her third studio album in 2014, on her own label Saint Records.
She has been recognised as a fashion icon. Her other ventures include an endorsement deal with Rimmel London and a line of hip-hop-oriented merchandise for young children, which was inspired by her son.
