Keyshia cole
R&B singer-songwriter
Birthday October 15, 1981
Origin Oakland, California
label :: GOOD Music

keyshia cole Biography :

Keyshia Cole is the real deal. Like many young people raised in a tough neighborhood, the 21-year-old songstress endured a tumultuous childhood in Oakland, California, and has fought all her life to keep her dream of a music career alive. Now she’s realizing that dream on her own terms with her first album for the A&M label, The Way It Is. It’s been a long road for Keyshia, but it’s her powerful voice— a bell-like instrument whose soaring clarity is topped off with a tantalizing touch of soulful grit — that’s carried her through, not to mention the diminutive singer’s personal combination of sugar, spice, sass and sex appeal, along with a solid-steel spine.

"Being young, you have to be really dedicated to doing it for yourself," says Keyshia, who co-wrote most of the songs on her new CD and cites artists like Mary J. Blige and Brandy as inspirations. "There’s a lot of trials and tribulations you have to go through to get what you want, especially if you feel like it belongs to you."

Keyshia’s talent, personality, and faith have won her fans and supporters within the notoriously picky entertainment industry since she was a young girl. While still a pre-teen she convinced then-superstar MC Hammer that he should put her on, and she even got a chance to do some recording with the rap star before she was 12 years old. She also scored sessions singing hooks with other Bay Area artists, including Messy Marv’s "Nubian Queen" remix, which was a regional hit for the rapper, and with Tony Toni Tone’s Dwayne Wiggins, who featured her on his soundtrack for the indie film Me & Mrs. Jones.

Within minutes of catching her boyfriend cheating, Keyshia was in her car driving to Los Angeles in the middle of the night to start a brand-new life. It only took the determined singer a few months of making connections to snag an introduction to A&M Records President Ron Fair, who immediately signed her to her first solo recording deal. For her first album, Keyshia has garnered the support of none other than reigning hip-hop star Kanye West ; producer and songwriter DaRon of R&B group 112 ; rapper Chink Santana, whose gruff stylings have graced hits by Ashanti and The Inc. ; and popular producer E-Poppi. She also got a chance this past Spring to collaborate with Eve for her debut single, "Never," on the Barbershop 2 soundtrack.

So what’s everybody raving about ? Check Keyshia’s first single with West, "I Changed My Mind." The tune is a perfect fit for Keyshia’s longing soprano and her distinct stance as a performer : Like many young women, she’s looking for love, but she’s not so desirous of romance that she’ll sacrifice her own needs. Having been devoted to her man, she quickly realized that he is devoted to himself. What’s a girl to do ? She simply changes her mind about being involved and walks away.

Keyshia easily admits that the song reflects her romantic philosophy. "That song was actually about being focused and dedicated to what you want and what you’re trying to be. It’s about the things you’re trying to accomplish in life and dealing with somebody, a significant other, who comes in between that, especially with their ways. I want to be an example for young girls in following your goals and dreams and making it happen and checking him out later if you have to."

A twist on that philosophy is on display in "I Should’ve Cheated," which was crafted by DuRon, a producer whose songs Keyshia admired so much she chased him down in Atlanta to work with him. On the track, Keyshia sings of being a devoted girlfriend who is constantly accused of cheating by her man. It seems that two can play that game, and Keyshia has no trouble letting Mr. Suspicious know what’s up. "That song has a lot of emotion, because I feel every girl and every guy can relate to that," she says. "If somebody is doing you wrong or saying that you’re doing something and you’re being the best that you can be in the relationship, then you get home and they’re like ’Where you been ?’ "Well, where I could have been is ...’ Don’t start ! It could get real ugly."

At the same time, Keyshia’s songcraft reveals that the plucky artist isn’t afraid to let a man know she’s interested. On the flowing "We Could Be," she fearlessly lays out all a former friendship could blossom into. On the mid-tempo "Down N Dirty," she has no trouble expressing what she’d like to do, while on the spare, deep groove "Talk To Me," co-written by singer Mya, Keyshia lets a guy know that his seeming disinterest is just a front. And Chink Santana lends his gritty rhyming skills to "Situations," another love song with a twist.

On the feel-good, old-school-styled ballad "Love," Keyshia’s powerful vocal intensifies a straight-ahead plea to the object of her affection, who’s involved with someone else. It was a real-life situation that compelled Keyshia, who admits ballads are not her favorite style, to come up with the lyrics to "Love" in five minutes flat. At a Malibu restaurant, she spied the same guy who years earlier had told her he wasn’t interested in a committed relationship with her dining with his girlfriend. "So I was looking at the girl and I was like, ’What is it about her ? You know, like seriously, what are you thinking ?’" Keyshia remembers. "And I just wrote about it, it came out really quick." She immediately headed into the studio with producer Greg Curtis : "After I wrote the song, I went to the studio about 4 in the morning, and by 5 or 6 I was done with the song and that’s what you hear."

Ms. Cole even applies her keep-it-real aesthetic to the tune "You’ve Changed," in which she takes on none other than Jay-Z for the lyrics to his tune "Song Cry." The tune is from the point of view of a neglected wife who’s had enough.

The realities surrounding where she was raised and the hurdles she overcame are never far from her mind. She says she recorded the tune "Streets Is A Mothafucka" because the lyrics reflected some true-to-life scenarios, including crime, drugs, and the hustles that come with survival. "It’s just different things that we see in the ’hood that we never see in Hollywood. I liked the contents of the song, because I felt like no girls talked about it," she says.

A self-described "hard worker" who can sometimes be "goofy" and "fun" yet says she would never kiss a guy she doesn’t know for a video, Keyshia is passionate about providing inspiration to young girls, and young people in general, who come from troubled backgrounds. "I want to be an example for young people, especially growing up in the ’hood, because it’s already hard enough to not be focused, not to be trying, to be doing something," she says, adding that hope and faith and holding on to a dream can carry anyone far. The tattoo on her right shoulder — a cross, a heart, and a star— truly reflects her belief that goals can be realized, despite the circumstances. "It’s really possible," she says with a grin. And those are her thoughts — just the way it is.

keyshia cole discography :

keyshia cole Albums :

Keyshia Cole The Way It Is
June 21, 2005

Keyshia Cole Just Like You
May 29, 2007

Keyshia Cole singles :

2007
"Last Night" (with Diddy)
"I Need a Soldier"
2006 "Love"
"Give It Up to Me" (with Sean Paul)
2005
"(I Just Want It) to Be Over"
"I Should Have Cheated"
2004
"I Changed My Mind" (featuring Kanye West)

 

related articles :
Keyshia Cole official site

Keyshia Cole photos & wallpapers :

No profanity, or inaproppriate remarks.

Keyshia cole, by Tanikque [2009-08-18 23:41:45]

keysha cole you are my best femal artis to the world.yuh look good mi gal.

Keyshia cole, by Loverboy [2009-06-11 15:42:50]

I know she got some good pussy !

Keyshia cole, by ivon [2009-04-30 03:24:37]

you are all ways going to be in my heart till i find you

Keyshia cole, by Dimmitri [2009-04-28 07:05:14]

Bonjour cole je suis un jeune camerounais o non de dimmitri qui ne r ??ve que de toi pendant le somielle j’espere q’un jour on se vera

Keyshia cole, by Ant aka Stewie Im SPLASHY [2009-03-18 13:12:27]

Keyshia im currently workin on my album Brand New Sound and I wanted to say you are the sexiest woman to ever walk this earth and I LOVE YOU

Keyshia cole, by aysa scoggins [2009-01-21 17:41:07]

hi my name is aysa and i feel the same way you do on your show !! the family need to stop and understand this is 09 and anything is possible i wish i can meet you !! people are dying at early age so people need to learn to love one another !!! people say i look like you but dont sound but i think i do !!! well i hope if you do read this youll hit me back up !!!

Keyshia cole, by PARIS [2008-07-15 16:41:45]

KEYSHIA YOUR PERFOMANCE AT THA BET AWARDS WAS THA WORST OF THA NIGHT WERE U NERVOUS LOVE YA. :BLASIAN DOLL :.

Keyshia cole, by Virginie Titena Gachette [2008-07-14 08:05:49]

Keyshia Cole I love how your voice and vocals are. You are my inspiration to sing, and I learned to sing all of your songs the same exact way as you. I would show you but, I can’t. But just know you’ll always be number 1 to me from the top to the bottom.

Keyshia cole, by SARAH <33 [2008-06-27 12:21:20]

I LOVE DA SONG HEAVEN SENT ITS REALLY PRETTY IT GOE WIF U !!!! I LOVE U MY LIFE IS SORDA LIKE UR EVERYTHING U BEEN THREW I HAVE BEEN THREW UR MY ROLE MODLE

Keyshia cole, by chris [2008-06-15 11:31:07]

keyshia cole tou are the best sanger in the world and I AM YOUR BIGGEST FAN IN THE WORLD

Keyshia cole, by Heaven Sent [2008-06-02 01:58:08]

I wish u sooo much success luv you’re beautiful inside & out

Keyshia cole, by saeed [2008-04-30 10:15:45]

whats good boo

Keyshia cole, by Jeve [2008-04-02 19:46:56]

I love the way you song.

Keyshia cole, by fernella lionel [2008-03-28 10:32:30]

i jus love all ur struggles temtations u r a role modle 2 me.i cant miss nothing like ur song.wen u in pain am also in pain.much love 2 u n manny.u gonna make and family.can i get ur e mail add plzzzzzzzzzzzz

Keyshia cole, by Courteney Hall [2008-03-27 16:55:35]

keyshia cole this is from my heart....You are my role model.I love ALL your songs and reality shows.I am your BEST BIGGEST FAN !!!!You are like a PLAY god mama to me. I hope you can come back to St.Louis again because I was on Christmas break on Sunday when you came to St.Louis and my mom said I couldn’t go to the R.Kelly Concert because no one went with me and I would come home TOO late ! I hope you read this comment !!GOD BLESS YOU !!!

Keyshia cole, by chris [2008-03-17 16:06:17]

check out the remix to her song "i just want it to be over" featuring papi storz. it’s on youtube and www.dailymotion.com. it’s off the hook.

Keyshia cole, by Jeve [2008-03-16 22:18:39]

I AMMMMMM YOUR BIGGEST FANNNNNNNNNNN IN THE WORLD.

Keyshia cole, by mz.taylor [2008-01-30 15:57:49]

u are my biggest fan and i love your show the way it is girl yes i do have a boyfriend and i really love hi hiz name is brandon taylor and i loe him 4-life !!! it is really love just like you song

Keyshia cole, by ALEXIS [2008-01-02 19:36:19]

I AM YOUR BIGGEST FANNNNNNNNNNNNNN

Keyshia cole, by THE GAME [2007-12-05 05:18:34]

I WOUL HIT DAT PINK PUSSY ALL NIGHT

Keyshia cole, by lametria mcknight [2007-11-12 23:21:34]

Keyshia cole, by Nate’ Jones [2007-10-30 23:34:55]

i am a hair stylist in atlanta and i would love 2 close my shop and do your hair free so that i can show u my work your hair should flow just like your lyrics check out my website www.salonaniyah.com

Keyshia cole, by keshia [2007-10-03 19:25:23]

i love your songs you are one of my rolemodels keep up the gud work !!!

Keyshia cole, by marie [2007-08-07 15:56:01]

yo luv your music keep it up stay strong

Keyshia cole, by MILLION DOLLAR MAN [2007-06-14 18:14:30]

Keyshia if you hear me !!im from all the way from england giving you a shout out. For being an young artist you are rated top on my list...when i saw the ’last night’ video it seriously shook me on how much heart you put into that track, its amazing i watch it over and over again just on the way you sang the lyrics not alot of artists dosent do that.

your like a young mary j blige/mariah carey...But we will see, if you are ??

THIS GIRL IS BRILLIANT, I CANT REALLY STOP SAYING THAT ENOUGH... YOU PEOPLE WATCH THE VIDEO ’LAST NIGHT’ & ’DREAMIN’ VIDEO...N SEE HOW SHE SANG THE LYRICS...KEEP WATCHIN UNTIL U FEEL WHAT SEE SAYING,TRUTHLY AMAZING

EVERYONES GOT A DIFFERENT STYLE AND SOUND...JUST LOOK AT AMERIE AND BEYONCE..& NOW LOOK AT KEYSHIA COLE VERY POWERFUL

HAHAHA OKAY ENOUGH I BLESSED YOU TO MUCH

PEACE X

Keyshia cole, by dalhat [2007-04-26 07:42:14]

she is the hottest hip hop artist.pls dos any1 hv her email ?

Keyshia cole, by camill [2007-04-24 20:06:01]

wat tha hell took yall so long to come to her website thats a dame shame ant’t that a bitch she should be yall girl. wat tha hell is wrong u foks.

Keyshia cole, by sponge bob’s [2007-04-20 14:58:47]

keyshia cole girl i love your music keep doing your thing o i wish i was on one of your video’s u can sing and dance but i want u to com to my birthday party it’s june 12th im in riverhead new york k i holla at u later girl ???