[1] She worked as a backing vocalist for singer Mariah Carey, before rising to greater prominence after making uncredited guest appearances on singles by rappers The Notorious B.I.G., and Mase.

It debuted and peaked at number 15 on the US Billboard 200 and spawned the R&B number-one hit single "Friend of Mine."

In 1999, Soul of a Woman was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA),[2] and by 2003, it had sold 1.13 million copies in the United States.

Her first top ten album, it debuted and peaked at number five on the Billboard 200 with first week sales of 157,000 copies.

Released in 2003, it debuted at number ten on the Billboard 200 with first week sales of 69,000 copies, but was commercially less successful than her previous albums.