Claudette Ortiz

About Claudette Ortiz

Early life and Career Beginnings

Ortiz was born in Willingboro, New Jersey to Puerto Rican parents.

Throughout high school Ortiz dated future City High bandmate Robby Pardlo. After meeting and performing for Wyclef Jean, they were signed to his Booga Basement recording label.

Later, they asked Ryan Toby to join and then became a trio, which completed the City High lineup.

Long after City High had faded from view, Ortiz gave birth to a son, before beginning a separate relationship with bandmate Ryan Toby, eventually marrying him in 2004 and having a second son with him the next year, before ultimately divorcing in 2007. Ortiz has a third child, a daughter, who was born in 2008

2001-2003: City High

The group began as Pardlo signing on as a solo artist. However, soon Pardlo's high school friend Toby, and the producers decided that it should be a two-man group featured in the album. Soon after the two-man group began to work on the album,

The Product G&B became successful. In order to stand out, the producers decided to add a female member. They choose Ortiz, another group member from their high school.During production, all three members did writing on the songs.

The trio focused on trying to make lyrics that told a story, Toby noting that he got some inspiration for writing songs that tell stories from country music. A large amount of the songs are based on real-life experiences the trio has experienced, such as "What Would You Do?".

The group recorded "What Would You Do?" two years prior to the release of album, as it was featured in the Eddie Murphy film Life.However, it was not formally released until 2001. This helped with the sale of the album once it was released, and the album became a hit.

The group disbanded in 2003, failing to release another album, despite their debut's success. In 2003 the group disbanded.

In November 2002, Ortiz appeared on the episode "Jr's Dating Dilemma" on ABC's My Wife and Kids.

2004-2007: Solo Career & Children

In 2006 Ortiz released her first solo single "Can't get enough" featuring Mase the single peaked at 89 on the billboard Hot 100 and 37 on the US R&B chart. She was also featured on Wyclef Jean's track "Dance Like This" on the Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights soundtrack. In 2006 this song was remade by Shakira into the massive global success Hips Don't Lie

Other artists she has worked with include Nas, Ja Rule and Mase.

Ortiz said: "Claudette Ortiz: We are very close friends. We had both of our sons before we got married… we had a good relationship for a long time. Around 2007 it started fading out, we were changing… we’d gotten together pretty young & so we separated.

I started seeing someone else & had my daughter at that time & I don’t know who Malicious Jynx is, that is not my daughter’s father. My daughter’s father is just a normal hard working business man. He’s not even in the industry"

2008-Present: Daughter and Return to Solo Career

In an interview Ortiz spoke on her daughter and how she didn't know the guy reported by the media as her daughters father:"So hold on… you don’t know that guy that is being reported as your daughter’s father?" Claudette Ortiz: "No I don’t know who that is. I saw a rumor on Wikipedia a while back saying I was dating him & had a child by him… I was in the studio with Brian Michael Cox & we laughing about it… I wasn’t even pregnant with my daughter yet… I don’t know that guy & never met him. My daughter's father is just a normal hard working business man. He's not even in the industry."

For her debut album, currently slated for 2011, Claudette is currently working with producers will.i.am, Pharrell, So Klassik, & Noize Trip.

I've been working in between my kids. I was on Interscope but they didn't like the material, after I had Bella they released me. I'd just been waiting for her to get a little bigger & stronger, she'll be 2 in April. So I'm back working...

Anton Marchand is managing me & I'm in talks with an independent label... I'm about to go hard & I'm excited! I feel good, I'm happy, I'm single... I've been in a relationship most of my adult life... I'm not dating, I'm just enjoying delving into myself. Learning more about me & focusing on my kids. I have great people in my life... amazing friends & I just want them to know they are appreciated because I couldn't have made it without them.