Nikki Flores landed a music contract with Epic Records when she was 17 years old in 2005. Her parents—both musicians themselves—encouraged her talent by allowing her to record in the family's home studio and by age 12 she had written her first song ("Cry"). Flores planned to release her debut album "This Girl" in Fall 2005, the first single from This Girl was "Strike", where Flores sings in both English and Spanish. The album was eventually shelved and Flores was dropped from the label. She was then signed to Ryan Tedder's own Patriot Records which is a subsidiary label under Universal Republic. Tedder and Flores parted ways when the label dissolved in 2012.
Flores collaborated with producer Brian Kennedy (Rihanna, Chris Brown, Ciara) in 2009 to create her biggest (and most personal) song to date, "Let It Slide", with over 18,000,000 viral views. She claims to be most proud of this song because of how relatable it is to her audience. "I was only writing about something that was so true for me in my life at that time. I released it on a whim and the response I got was overwhelming." she says. "The messages I receive from girls all over the world, telling me that my song saved them from going back to an abusive relationship, or gave them the strength they needed to move on, is exactly why I do what I do. Music reaches so many people, and I'm so proud to spread a positive message".
In 2012, Flores co-wrote and featured on "Roses" by Nas for his eleventh studio album Life is Good. Life Is Good appeared on several critics' year-end top albums lists. It was named the best album of 2012 by The Source and Okayplayer. The album was also ranked number 18 by Rolling Stone, number 12 by Complex, number 16 by James Montgomery of MTV, number six by Martin Caballero of The Boston Globe, and number seven by Jon Caramanica of The New York Times. Life Is Good received a Grammy Award nomination in the category of Best Rap Album for the 2013 Grammy Awards. It was also nominated for Album of the Year at the 2013 BET Hip Hop Awards.
In 2015, Flores was a part of writing on many critically acclaimed records, with Namie Amuro selling over 500k and going #1 in Japan with her album Genic, Måns Zelmerlöw record Perfectly Damaged #1 in Sweden, Jake Miller releasing two EPs, Lion Heart and Rumors - EP, both going #1 on iTunes in the US, and III (pronounced Tringle), a triple single extended play by American recording artist JoJo featuring song "Save My Soul" written by Flores and praised by media outlets such as Billboard, Rap Up and Idolator.
10 years after being signed for the first time, Nikki Flores is currently pursuing a full-time career as a songwriter under the direction of BMG Publishing and manager India Allen, and is in the studio with Swedish writing/production team The Family (Linnea Deb, Joy Deb, Anton Malmberg Hård af Segerstad) and producer/guitarist Blake Stranathan writing her debut independent solo project.
