Dani Stevenson

Dani Stevenson, an Atlanta-based diva, experienced a swift rise in the R&B sphere orchestrated with precise timing by Universal Records. Her sultry vocals reached mainstream listeners through Nelly, whose party anthem “Hot in Herre” achieved enormous success partly due to her sexy chorus response. Prior to these events, the Georgia native had moved with her family to Harlem during adolescence. Secure in her vocal talent, she rehearsed consistently until invited to perform the national anthem at junior high graduation. Inspired by the occasion, she pursued singing with singular focus, regularly entering area talent contests. By 2001 producer Rhemario Webber had entered her circle, forming a relationship that led to recording sessions at his studio. After assembling a demo, Universal Records signed her, so impressed by her professional demeanor that eight tracks were approved for her debut album with only minor overdubs added. That spring she finished the remaining songs for Is There Another?!, complementing Webber’s blend of traditional R&B, hip-hop beats, and jazzy melodies. Missy Elliot contributed the sassy “Honk Your Horn,” imparting a modern twist to the record’s throwback atmosphere. Before its release, a chance collaboration with Nelly and his producers placed her on “Hot in Herre,” a gigantic dance hit throughout the summer of 2002. Leveraging the exposure for her own advancement, she issued the album soon afterward, selecting Elliot’s track as the first single.