Keyshia Cole
Keyshia Myeshia Cole (née Johnson; born October 15, 1981) is an American singer, songwriter, television personality and actress. Born and raised in Oakland, California, she began her career as a backing vocalist for MC Hammer before signing with A&M Records to release her debut studio album, The Way It Is (2005). It received platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), spawned the Billboard Hot 100-top 20 single "Love," and earned two nominations at the 2006 Soul Train Music Awards. Established by the album's success, Cole filmed a reality television series for BET documenting her career, family and personal life titled Keyshia Cole: The Way It Is; the show ran for three seasons, and became one of the most-watched programs in the network's history.
Keyshia Cole
Cole's second album, Just Like You (2007) was supported by the Billboard Hot 100-top ten single "Let It Go" (featuring Missy Elliott and Lil' Kim), as well as the top 40 singles "I Remember" and "Heaven Sent". The album received four Grammy Award nominations, peaked at number two on the Billboard 200, and received platinum certification by the RIAA. Her third album, A Different Me (2008), was met with continued success, also peaking at number two on the Billboard 200 and receiving platinum certification. Cole's fourth and fifth albums, Calling All Hearts (2010) and Woman to Woman (2012) both peaked within the top ten of the chart and saw continued praise; the latter was led by the single "Enough of No Love" (featuring Lil Wayne), the only song of the albums to enter the Billboard Hot 100. Her sixth and seventh albums, Point of No Return (2014) and 11:11 Reset (2017) were released by Interscope and Epic Records, respectively, and both met with critical and commercial declines.
Dubbed by critics as the "Princess of Hip-Hop Soul", Cole is best known for her soulful voice. Her work has earned her several awards and accolades, including an ASCAP Award and a Billboard Music Award. Following the release of Woman to Woman, she starred in the reality series Keyshia & Daniel: Family First. From 2019 to 2020, she hosted the Fox Soul syndicated television talk show, One on One with Keyshia Cole.
Early life[edit]
Keyshia Myeshia Johnson was born in Oakland, California on October 15, 1981.[3] She is the daughter of Francine "Frankie" Lons (1960-2021) and boxing trainer Virgil Hunter.[4] Cole is[5]Her biological mother was addicted to alcohol and crack cocaine.[6][7] She was adopted at the age of two by family friends Leon and Yvonne Cole, changing her last name to Cole.[8][9] Cole has four siblings, including two brothers Sean and Sam, a younger sister Elite Noel and an older sister Neffeteria Pugh.[10] At the age of 12, Cole met and recorded with MC Hammer, after being introduced to him by her brother Sean (also known as Nutt-So).[11]
She later formed a friendship with Tupac Shakur, who promised to help her start her singing career after asking her to write a hook on his then-upcoming project on the night he got shot in a drive-by shooting unexpectedly, which caused his death six days later.[12][13] At the age of 16, she became a participant at the East Oakland Youth Development Center (EOYDC), a local youth organization.[14] Cole attended Fremont High School in Oakland, before later attending and graduating from Tracy High School in Tracy, California.[15][16] Cole moved to Los Angeles at the age of 18 to pursue a music career.[17] During this time, Cole collaborated with artists from her native Bay Area, among them D'Wayne Wiggins of Tony Toni Tone and Messy Marv.[18] In 2002, she was introduced to A&M Records A&R Ron Fair, whom signed her to the label and began mentoring her after listening to an unfinished version of one of her songs.[19][20]
Career[edit]
2004–2006: The Way It Is[edit]
In March 2004, Cole's debut single, "Never", a collaboration with American rapper Eve, was released as the second single from the soundtrack to Kevin Rodney Sullivan's comedy film Barbershop 2: Back in Business (2004).[11][21] In anticipation of her then-upcoming album, Cole and DJ Green Lantern released a mixtape, Team Invasion Presents Keyshia Cole, in February 2005 which features remixes of hip hop instrumentals and snippets.[22][23] Cole released her debut album, The Way It Is, on June 21, 2005, through A&M Records; it debuted at number six on the Billboard 200 and sold 89,000 copies in its first week.[24][25] The album features guest appearances from Jadakiss, Chink Santana, Metro City and Eve; and was produced by Cole, Ron Fair, Sean Garrett, Kerry Brothers Jr., John Legend, Chink Santana and Kanye West, among others.[26] It spawned the singles "I Changed My Mind", "(I Just Want It) To Be Over", "I Should Have Cheated" and "Love". All appeared on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, with "I Should Have Cheated", and "Love" reaching the top-ten.[27] Upon its release, The Way It Is received generally positive reviews from music critics, who praised Cole's vocals and musical themes.[28] It received a platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and earned her several accolades, including a NAACP Image Award nomination and two Soul Train Music Award nominations at both ceremonies in 2006, respectively.[29][30][31] To further promote the album, Cole served as a supporting act on Kanye West's Touch the Sky Tour, which took place from October to December 2005.[32]
In June 2006, Cole was featured on "(When You Gonna) Give It Up to Me" by Sean Paul from the soundtrack of the romantic dance film Step Up (2006).[33][34] It reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100 and became a top 20 hit in several other countries, including Canada, Switzerland and Finland.[27][33] On July 9, 2006, it was reported that Cole had signed with BET for a reality series, Keyshia Cole: The Way It Is.[35] Chronicling her personal life, family dynamics and professional career, the series premiered three days following its announcement.[35][36]
Other ventures[edit]
Reality television[edit]
In July 2006, Cole premiered her six episode docu-series, titled Keyshia Cole: The Way It Is, on BET. With record breaking views, the show viewed Cole's life as an artist, daughter, and sister, performing, visiting her home town, and starting production on her next album.
In mid-July 2011, Cole tweeted that she, her then-husband Daniel, and James DeBose would be launching a new reality TV show, titled Keyshia & Daniel: Family First. Shooting of the show began during the summer of 2011. During the eight episode docu-series, Cole would craft her follow-up to Calling All Hearts. "I just kind of lay out all my emotions then we start from there" says Cole. "I usually work with big name producers and stuff like once all from my heart and soul is out that I need to get out." Aside from a look into the making of her new album, titled Woman to Woman, Cole and her husband, Daniel, re-wed during taping. The first episode of the show aired on BET on October 9, 2012, with 2.9 million viewers. In November 2014, BET confirmed that Cole was back with her third reality TV show Keyshia Cole: All In; which was originally slated to premiere during Fall 2014, but aired on February 24, 2015. In 2019, BET announced that Cole would return with a fourth reality show Keyshia Cole: My New Life, which premiered in November 2019.
In 2023, Cole competed in season ten of The Masked Singer as "Candelabra". She was eliminated during the Group C finals in "Soundtrack of My Life" alongside John Oates as "Anteater".
Shoe line with Steve Madden[edit]
In September 2013, Cole announced that she was teaming up with fashion designer Steve Madden to create her own shoe collection, specifically high heels, wedges, and boots. "I am super excited to collaborate with Steve Madden," stated Cole. "It's something I've wanted to do for a long time. I love his style and I think we came up with an amazing vibrant collection. We have something for every fashion diva!"[105]
Personal life[edit]
In May 2009, Cole began dating former NBA player Daniel Gibson. The couple became engaged on January 1, 2010. They welcomed their first child, a son, on March 2, 2010. Following their wedding on May 21, 2011,[106] the pair renewed their vows in Hawaii in September 2011.[107] "My husband wanted me to have my dream wedding so he flew all of our family members here. He's giving me something I will never forget! Amazing," Cole said. The entire wedding weekend was filmed and aired on their BET reality TV series Keyshia and Daniel: Family First, in October 2012.[108] On March 21, 2014, Cole announced during an interview that she and Gibson had broken up, but had not yet filed for divorce.[109] In May 2016, she met her biological father, Virgil Hunter, after a paternity test confirmed their connection.[110][111][112] In April 2017, Cole announced that she and Gibson were divorcing.[113] On September 3, 2020, Cole announced on Instagram that she and Gibson were officially divorced.[114] On May 3, 2019, Cole announced that she was expecting her second child, a son, with her then boyfriend, Niko Khale.[115] She welcomed her second son on August 1, 2019.[116][117] In October 2020, Cole and Khale ended their relationship.[118] Cole's mother, Frankie Lons died on July 18, 2021. Her cause of death was revealed to have been a drug overdose.[119]
Artistry[edit]
Cole possesses the vocal range of a soprano.[120][121] Her voice has been described as having a "flexible range of R&B, the muscular punch of soul and the hard character of hip hop" and contains a "smoky flavor, and a husky texture."[2] Cole's musical themes and lyrics touch upon the topics of empowerment, reflection, heartache and love.[3] Her fifth studio album "Woman to Woman" (2012) was described by Ben Ratliff of The New York Times as a R&B almanac of shaky romance, with nearly every song a first-person narrative with gnarled details, endlessly recombining data about suspicion, jealousy, pride, punishment, self-respect, the led-up, the aftermath."[122] The album's lyrics revolved around "emotionally painful romantic issues."[123] Betty Wright listed Cole as one of the artists who she believed were "still holding the torch" for R&B music.[124] Cole grew up listening to her mentor Tupac Shakur.[125] She cites Mary J. Blige as one of her greatest musical inspirations, along with Faith Evans, Toni Braxton, Monica, Chanté Moore and Brandy.[126][127][128]
Controversies[edit]
A feud between Cole and Lil' Mo began in August 2005 via the radio series Star and Buc Wild Morning Show. Mo was reported to have dismissed the vocal talent of a new crop of R&B performers, saying that they relied on dancing. Cole took offense and went to Dream Hotel in New York City, where she encountered Lil' Mo's manager Phil Thornton and a stylist, allegedly stating "You all are traitors. [Lil' Mo] is the enemy.".[129] Lil' Mo shrugged off the incident, saying she was told that Cole was intoxicated at the time,[129] which Cole denied.[130]
On March 16, 2012, Cole came at Gucci Mane for the controversial song "Truth", on which Gucci rapped, "I did a song with Keyshia Cole and I know you still miss her. But Puff was f---ing her while you was falling in love with her." implying that, during the time of her rumored relationship with Young Jeezy, Cole was cheating on Jeezy with rap mogul and her "Last Night" collaborator Diddy. Cole stated on the radio, "Putting all ya trust in some of these 'Hood Rappers'... How you gonna be a G, and you spreading lies, to sell mix tapes! Where ya talent at. Dude ain't have to lie though! Could've kept me out of it."[131]
In March 2013, Cole was criticized by urban media outlets for her Twitter critique of Beyoncé's "Bow Down/I Been On".[132][133] This led to Lil' Mo and Cole exchanging hostile tweets over the next few days.[134][135] Despite the exchanges, in May 2013, Mo said there was no beef between her and Cole,[136] which led to the two exchanging hostile messages again via Instagram and Twitter.[137]
Headlining
Supporting