Nouveau R&B singer Chonita “N'Dambi” Gilbert grew up singing gospel in her hometown of Dallas, Texas, the daughter of baptist ministers. She got her first break singing background for fellow Dallasite and friend, Erykah Badu, most notably seen donning an Afro in the impromptu live performance video for November 1997’s “Tyrone.”

She released her first single, “What’s Wrong With You” from her debut solo album, Little Lost Girls Blues, on September 7, 1998—via her own independent label, Cheeky-I Productions. Other notable tracks include “Deep,” “Soul From The Abyss,” and “Lonely Woman,” which features Baduizm collaborator Madukwu Chinwah. She followed this up with the release of an acoustic live album, July 2001’s Tunin' Up & Cosignin', and returned with her third album, November 2008’s A Weird Kinda Wonderful.

Another subsequently released album, October 2009’s Pink Elephant, was released under the reborn Stax label. The project was primarily co-produced and co-written by the legendary Leon Sylvers, III. N'Dambi’s May 2018 effort, the Air Castle EP, is a collaboration with All Cows Eat Grass. N'Dambi has also worked with the likes of The D.O.C., Jessie J, Ariana Grande, Lecrae, Snarky Puppy and more.