Keyshia Myeshia Cole, originally known as Keyshia Johnson, was born on October 15, 1981, and she’s a renowned American R&B singer. Hailing from Oakland, California, her journey in the music world began as a backing vocalist for the legendary MC Hammer.
However, her big break came when she inked a deal with A&M Records. Under their guidance, Keyshia released her debut studio album, “The Way It Is,” in 2005. This album achieved great success, earning platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). It also garnered two nominations at the 2006 Soul Train Music Awards. The popularity of this record led to a reality television series on BET called “Keyshia Cole: The Way It Is,” where her career, family, and personal life were documented. This show spanned three seasons and made history as one of the most-watched programs on the network.
In 2007, Keyshia Cole released her second studio album, “Just Like You,” which produced three number-one R&B singles: “Let It Go” (featuring Missy Elliott and Lil’ Kim), “I Remember,” and “Heaven Sent.” This album also earned her four Grammy nominations and reached the second spot on the Billboard 200 chart, ultimately receiving platinum certification from the RIAA.
Her third album, “A Different Me,” released in 2008, received positive reviews and debuted at the top of the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, as well as reaching number two on the Billboard 200. Like her previous works, it attained platinum status according to the RIAA.
In 2010, Cole’s fourth album, “Calling All Hearts,” featured notable singles such as “I Ain’t Thru” (featuring Nicki Minaj) and “Take Me Away.” She continued to grace the music scene with her fifth studio album, “Woman to Woman,” in 2012, which reached the 10th spot on the Billboard 200 chart. The single “Enough of No Love” (featuring Lil Wayne) from this album achieved top-ten status on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. In the same year, she ventured into the world of reality television again with the series “Keyshia & Daniel: Family First.” Keyshia Cole later released “Point of No Return” in 2014 under Interscope and “11:11 Reset” in 2017 under Epic, demonstrating her artistic versatility.
Critics often refer to her as the “Princess of Hip-Hop Soul,” owing to her soulful and captivating voice. Keyshia Cole’s contributions to music have earned her numerous awards and accolades, including an ASCAP Award and a Billboard Music Award. From 2019 to 2020, she expanded her horizons by hosting the Fox Soul syndicated television talk show “One on One with Keyshia Cole.”
