Normani Kordei Hamilton, professionally known as Normani, was born on May 31, 1996, in Atlanta, Georgia. Raised in New Orleans, Louisiana, she later moved to Houston, Texas, after Hurricane Katrina. Normani's musical journey began early, participating in dance competitions and beauty pageants. Her big break came when she auditioned for "The X Factor" in 2012, where she became part of the girl group Fifth Harmony. The group achieved significant success with hits like "Worth It" and "Work from Home" before going on hiatus in 2018 to allow members to pursue solo careers.
Fifth Harmony was formed on the second season of The X Factor in 2012. The group consisted of Ally Brooke, Normani Kordei, Dinah Jane, Lauren Jauregui, and Camila Cabello. Despite finishing third in the competition, Fifth Harmony quickly gained popularity and signed a joint record deal with Syco Music and Epic Records. The group's discography includes three studio albums, six extended plays (EPs), and numerous singles and promotional singles.
Their debut album, Reflection, was released in 2015 and peaked at number five on the Billboard 200. The album's lead single, "Boss," achieved Platinum status in the United States. Their second album, 7/27 (2016), named after the date the group was formed, featured the hit single "Work from Home," which became their highest-charting single in the U.S., peaking at number four on the Billboard Hot 100. The song's music video has amassed over two billion views on YouTube.
Their self-titled third album, Fifth Harmony, was released in 2017 following Camila Cabello's departure in December 2016. The album debuted at number four on the Billboard 200 and included singles like "Down" featuring Gucci Mane, which reached number 42 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Fifth Harmony garnered numerous awards throughout their career, including four MTV Video Music Awards, three iHeartRadio Music Awards, and recognition from the Japan Gold Disc Award and MTV Europe Music Awards. They also set a Guinness World Record for the most Twitter engagements (average retweets) for a female group and for having the most viewed music video on YouTube by a female group.
In addition to her music career, Normani competed on the 24th season of Dancing With the Stars in 2017. Partnered with professional dancer Valentin Chmerkovskiy, she consistently impressed the judges and audience with her performances. Normani and Chmerkovskiy finished in third place, earning high scores throughout the competition and showcasing her versatility and talent beyond singing and dancing within a group context.
Normani's solo career began to flourish with her 2018 collaboration with Khalid, "Love Lies," which became a top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. She followed this with several successful singles, including "Dancing with a Stranger" with Sam Smith and "Waves" with 6LACK. In 2019, she released "Motivation," a single that showcased her dynamic performance skills and received widespread acclaim.
Normani released her highly anticipated debut solo album, Dopamine, on June 14, 2024, under RCA Records. The album marks a significant milestone in her career, reflecting years of personal and professional growth. Dopamine is a 13-track collection featuring collaborations with artists like Cardi B, James Blake, and Gunna, with production contributions from Starrah, Victoria Monét, and Brandy, among others.
Dopamine blends pop and R&B with influences from Normani's Southern roots, delivering a confident and bold sound. The album opens with "Big Boy," a braggadocious track featuring Starrah, highlighting Normani's Southern heritage with references to OutKast and Pimp C. Other standout tracks include "Still," a love letter to Houston built around a sample of Mike Jones' "Still Tippin'," and "Candy Paint," which incorporates New Orleans bounce elements.
The album received generally favorable reviews, praised for its intricate production and Normani's vocal performance. Critics highlighted tracks like "Take My Time," a disco-funk number, and "Wild Side," featuring Cardi B, as standout moments. Dopamine was described as a confident and euphoric journey, showcasing Normani's versatility and growth as an artist.
Upon its release, Dopamine debuted at number 91 on the Billboard 200 and topped the R&B Albums chart, marking it as the highest-charting new R&B album of the week. The album also debuted at number 30 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and number 46 on the Top Current Album Sales charts, selling 12,000 equivalent units in its first week.
Normani's journey to her debut album was not without challenges. Both of her parents were diagnosed with cancer during the album's creation, causing her to pause her musical releases and focus on her family. This period of personal hardship deeply influenced her music, adding layers of emotional depth and authenticity to her work.
Normani received support from her former Fifth Harmony bandmates following the release of Dopamine. Camila Cabello and Lauren Jauregui publicly congratulated her on social media, highlighting the camaraderie that still exists among the group members despite past tensions.
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