Keyshia Cole
Keyshia Cole |
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Keyshia Cole (born October 24 1983) is an American R&B singer-songwriter.
Biography
Early years
Cole grew up in Oakland, California she lived a life of crime and was a foster child adopted by Yvonne Cole. She has said that her brother, Sean Cole, and Tupac Shakur were close friends and that he was like an older brother to her.
Cole's first recordings were with MC Hammer at the age of twelve. In the early 2000s, she appeared on tracks by San Francisco Bay Area artists including Tony! Toni! Toné!'s D'Wayne Wiggins and San Francisco rapper Messy Marv. To further pursue her career, Cole left the Bay Area and moved to Los Angeles, California where she was discovered and signed by the president of A&M Records, Ron Fair. In 2004, Cole made her first solo appearance on the track "Never", taken from the Barbershop 2: Back in Business soundtrack with rapper Eve.
The Way It Is (2005)
Cole released her debut album, The Way It Is, on June 21, 2005 under Interscope/A&M Records. The album received a positive reception from music critics and debuted at number-six on the U.S. Billboard 200 albums charts, eventualy receiving a platinum cerification. As of June 2006, the album has sold 1.7 million copies in the U.S.
At the outset of her album's release (with lead single "I Changed My Mind"), Cole found little success, except at radio in New York City and her native Bay Area. With the failure of her debut single, the label decided to push back the album and release a second single (I Just Want It) To Be Over, produced by Krucial Keys. The track also failed to affect major radio stations. Cole's label continued to see promising album sales, so they pushed forward a third single I Should Have Cheated. It was with this single that Keyshia experienced some success. The song peaked at #4 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart and became one of the biggest female R&B hits of the year. The fourth single, "Love", was also a success, reaching #3 on the R&B chart and #19 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming her biggest hit to date. The video featured singer and actor Tyrese Gibson. A video for the fifth and final single, "You've Changed", was shot recently, but will not be released due to Cole working on her sophomore album.
Cole is currently working on her second album, titled Tears From A Soldier's Heart, with producers Kanye West and Cool and Dre.
Career activities
- Cole served as the inspiration for her mother and cousin, Cali Castillo, who also writes under the pseudonym Charli Cole, to establish the Cole Talent Agency in November 2005. It is based in the Central Valley of California and represents those with musical and literary gifts.
- In Fall 2005, Cole released the mixtape Team Invasion Presents Keyshia Cole, mixed by DJ Green Lantern. The tape featured highlights from The Way It Is and a number of new tracks, including guest appearances by Remy Ma, Ghostface Killah and Fat Joe.
- In February 2006, Cole signed a deal with friend and frequent collaborator Kanye West to be included on the roster for his GOOD Music imprint.
- As of May 2006, Keyshia Cole was named the new face of Akademiks Ladies for the Fall 2006 Advertising Campaign, with the collection to be available in stores in August.
- Cole is currently starring in her reality show Keyshia Cole: The Way It Is, which premiered on BET on July 12 2006.
- In the near future, Keyshia Cole will have her own record label, and will sign her best friend from Oakland, rapper Amina.
Discography
Albums
- The Way It Is (2005) #6 US (2X Platinum)
- Tears From a Soldier's Heart (TBR)
Singles
| Year | Title | Chart positions | Album | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Hot 100 | U.S. R&B/Hip-Hop | U.S. Dance | UK Singles | |||
| 2004 | "I Changed My Mind" | #71 | #23 | - | #48 1 | The Way It Is |
| 2005 | "(I Just Want It) To Be Over" | - | #30 | - | - | The Way It Is |
| 2005 | "I Should Have Cheated" | #30 | #4 | #11 | #48 1 | The Way It Is |
| 2006 | "Love" | #19 | #3 | - | - | The Way It Is |
| 2006 | "Give It Up To Me" (Sean Paul featuring Keyshia Cole) | #16 | #21 | - | - | The Trinity |
| 2006 | "You've Changed" | - | - | - | - | The Way It Is |
| Notes 1 "I Changed My Mind" and "I Should Have Cheated" were released as a double A-side in the United Kingdom. | ||||||
Featured appearances
- 2006: "What's Going On" (with Remy Ma, There's Something about Remy: Based on a True Story)
- 2006: "Impossible" (with Kanye West and Twista, from Mission: Impossible III OST)
- 2006: "Give It Up To Me" (remix) (with Sean Paul, from The Trinity & ''Step Up'')
- 2006: "Be Somebody" (with Dre, from The Trunk)
- TBR: "I Have This Dream" (with various artists, written and produced by Michael Jackson)
- TBR: "The Prophet" (with Fat Joe, Lil Wayne, and Dr. Dre, produced by DJ Khaled)
- TBR: "Last Night" (with Diddy, from Press Play).
Awards and nominations
- In November 2005, Cole tied with rapper Young Jeezy to win the "Next Award" at the 2005 VIBE Awards.
- She was nominated for two 2006 BET Awards, Best Female R&B Artist and Viewer's Choice.
- She was nominated for two 2006 Soul Train Awards, Best Female R&B/Soul Single (for "I Should Have Cheated") and Best Female R&B/Soul Album (for "The Way It Is")