Keyshia Cole
Keyshia Myeshia Cole is a popular R&B recording artist, singer, composer, and television personality. With the power of her breathtaking voice and the originality of her lyrics she has made a name for herself.
Artist History
Birth and Family
In Oakland, California, on October 15, 1981, Virgil Hunter, a boxing coach, and Francine Lons welcomed a daughter named Keyshia Cole. Her mother’s drug addiction landed her in jail, and her father was not present in her life. Leon and Yvonne Cole, who were family friends, adopted her when she was two and gave her the last name Cole. 2016 was Cole’s first encounter with her biological father following the results of a paternity test. Her biological mom recently died at 61 on July 18 2021 due to an accidental overdose on her birthday. To public knowledge, Keyshia has five siblings, two brothers and three sisters. Elite Noel (Biological side) ,Oldest sister Neffeteria Pugh (biological side), Sean Cole (adoptive side), Sam Cole (adoptive side) and Angela hunter (biological side, stepsister)
"I want people to understand that it doesn't matter the cards you are dealt in life. What matters is what you do with your cards when you get them. That's what counts." ~ Keyshia Cole
Development
Cole and her brother Sean were both introduced to the music industry at the age of 12 (also known as Nutt-So). Cole became MC Hammer’s supporting vocalist in the beginning of her career. At the age of 18, Cole relocated to Los Angeles to further her musical career. During this time, Cole worked with musicians from her home region of the Bay Area, including Messy Marv and D’Wayne Wiggins of Tony Toni Tone. She encountered A&M Records A&R Ron Fair in 2002, who signed her and started coaching her after hearing an incomplete version of one of her songs.
Professional Career
Early
In 2002, Ron Fair, an A&R executive, was introduced to Keyshia Cole. He signed her after hearing her unfinished tune “Love,” which went on to become her first platinum single.
In 2004, debut single, “Never,” which featured Eve, as a promotion for the movie “Barbershop 2: Back in Business.”
In 2004, released her debut song, “I Changed My Mind,” off the album “The Way It Is”. It was a radio remix, and in the US, it peaked at number 71.
In 2005, ‘I Just Want It To Be Over’, the second single from the album reached No. 1 on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100.
In 2005, she collaborated with DJ Green Lantern to produce the mixtape “Team Invasion Presents Keyshia Cole,” which featured remixes of hip-hop instrumentals and samples from her album.
In 2005, she released “The Way It Is,” her debut studio album. Five singles —including “Love,” “Never,” “I Just Want It To Be Over,” “I Changed My Mind,” and “I Should Have Cheated”— The album opened at No. 6 on the US Billboard 200 and sold 89,000 sales in its first week. The total number of copies sold was above 1.6 million.
Middle
In 2006, she was a featured artist on Diddy’s track “Last Night” from the album “Press Play.”
From 2006 through 2008, she took part in the reality/documentary series “Keyshia Cole: The Way It Is,” which aired on BET. In addition to her birth mother and sister, it included her professional life and family. Viewership of the show broke records.
In 2007, she released her second studio album, “Just Like You.” The RIAA granted it platinum certification two months later. Her highest-selling album to date, it eventually sold over 1.7 million copies.
In 2007, she made an appearance on the Wiggins-produced soundtrack for the independent film Me & Mrs. Jones as well as the remix of Messy Marv’s “Nubian Queen.”
In 2007, she was a part of Jahiem’s tune “I’ve Changed,” which is off of his album “The Makings of a Man.”
In 2008, she made several guest appearances on songs like ‘I Got a Thang for You’ with rapper Trina; and ‘Boyfriend/Girlfriend’ with C-Side, a hip-hop group. She also featured in ‘Game’s Pain’.
In 2008, Her third studio album, “A Different Me,” was released on December 16, 2008. It sold 322,000 copies in the first week and debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200. The RIAA granted platinum certification.
Late
In 2010, her fourth studio album, “Calling All Hearts,” was made available. It sold 129,000 units in the first week, reaching its high at No. 9 on the Billboard 200.
In 2012, ‘Keyshia & Daniel: Family First’, her second reality program, debuted on October 9, 2012.
In 2012, Her fifth studio album, Woman to Woman. Multiple guest where featured on it, such as Meek Mill, Lil Wayne, Ashanti and much more. 96,000 copies of the album were sold in the first week. Becoming No. 10 spot on the US Billboard 200 chart.
In 2014, Point of No Return, Keyshia’s sixth studio album, was released on October 7, 2014, and it included music produced by a variety of artists, including = DJ Mustard, Mike Will Made It, and much more. The following artist featured Gavyn Rhone, Faith Evans, Future and much more. Her lowest-selling record to date, the album did not do so well selling only 45,000 copies
In 2015, Her third reality debuted on February 24, 2015. It was about her “Point of No Return Tour,” during The Way It Is,”
In 2016, it was announced that Cole signed a new record deal with Sony’s Epic Records.
In 2017, 11:11 Reset, Keyshia’s seventh studio album, was made available on October 20, 2017, via Epic Records. At its height, 11:11 Reset was ranked 37 on the US Billboard 200
Contemporaries & Influences
She met Tupac Shakur, also known as her advisor when he asked her to write a hook for his then-upcoming song the night before he was shot dead in a drive-by shooting and passed away six days later. Tupac Shakur promised to assist the start of her singing career.
Tupac Shakur served as Cole’s role model as she grew up. Along with Mary J. Blige, Cole cites R&B singers Faith Evans, Toni Braxton, Monica, Chanté Moore, and Brandy as some of her biggest musical influences.
Awards
In 2005, Keyshia Cole won the Vibe Award.
In 2007, she bagged an ASCAP award for the song ‘Love’.
In 2007, she won BMI Urban Award for ‘Let it go’
In 2008, she won an Early Entertainment Award for ‘Heaven Sent’, a single from the album ‘Just like You’.
In 2008 and 2009 Keyshia has been nominated for the Grammy Awards four times.
In 2009, Keyshia has been nominated for the Soul Train Award
Social Involment
Keyshia Cole: The Way It Is, a 6-episode Cole documentary series, debuted on BET in July 2006. The program, which broke viewing records, followed Cole’s life as an artist, a sister, a daughter, and a performer as she began work on her upcoming album and visited her hometown.
Cole announced via Twitter in the middle of July 2011 that she, her husband Daniel, and James DeBose would be debuting a new reality TV program called Keyshia & Daniel: Family First.
Cole revealed that she would be working with fashion designer Steve Madden to develop her own line of heels, wedges, and boots.
Conclusion
Artist Keyshia Cole is well-known and unique. Many people still adore her R&B soul today. As of right now, there are rumors that Keyshia Cole will release a new album in 2023. Many of her admirers are anticipating what she has in store for them next year she acknowledged this question on Twitter.
Discography
The Way It Is (2005)
Just like You (2007)
A Different Me (2008)
Calling All Hearts (2010)
Woman to Woman (2012)
Point of No Return (2014)
11:11 Reset (2017)
Bibliography
- Menachem, Michael. “Keyshia Cole Featuring Monica: Trust.” Billboard, vol. 121, no. 29, 2009, pp. 45–45.
Bchrome. “Keyshia Cole.” Articlebio, ArticleBio, 17 Feb. 2017, https://articlebio.com/keyshia-cole.
- Horowitz, Steven J. “Spreading ‘Love’: Keyshia Cole Hooks Up with Iheartradio, Connects with New Single.(r&b).” Billboard, vol. 124, no. 26, 2012, p. 27.
- Cole, Keyshia, et al., directors. Keyshia Cole: The Way It Is. Paramount Home Entertainment, 2008.
- “’Keyshia’ Leads the Way for Bet.(Digest)(Black Entertainment Television’s Show, Keyshia Cole: The Way It Is)(Brief Article).” Hollywood Reporter, vol. 402, no. 35, 2007, p. 43.
“Keyshia Cole Albums and Discography.” AllMusic, https://www.allmusic.com/artist/keyshia-cole-mn0000092107/discography.
