Keyshia Cole is a singer, songwriter, entrepreneur, and television personality from the United States. Cole, who has been nominated for four Grammy Awards, has always loved music and did some recording with MC Hammer, a Bay Area resident, when she was just 12 years old. When she sung on Messy Marv’s ‘Nubian Queen’ remix in the early 2000s, her music career took off. Her voice was commended for possessing a wide spectrum of R&B tones, as well as a husky texture and soulfulness, according to critics. With sheer tenacity and hard effort, the R&B singer worked her way up the music industry ladder. Her songs mainly deal with themes such as empowerment, love, and heartbreak. Her albums have largely been well-received both critically and commercially. She had dabbled in reality television in addition to her singing career, but as her music career grew, her television career took a backseat. Keyshia is also a successful businesswoman who is well-known for her fashion sense. With a modest demeanor, she claims that success will never change her as a person, and that if it does, she would prefer to leave the music profession.
Childhood and Adolescence
Keyshia Cole was born in Oakland, California, on October 15, 1981, to Francine Lons and Virgil Hunter, a boxing trainer. Her father was missing from her life, and her mother was incarcerated as a result of her drug addiction. When she was two years old, family friends Leon and Yvonne Cole adopted her and changed her last name to Cole.
After a paternity test verified their kinship, Cole saw her biological father for the first time in 2016. Her biological mother continues to struggle with drug addiction.Keyshia entered the music profession when she was 12 years old, where she met hip-hop recording artist MC Hammer.
Tupac Shakur, a rapper and actor, became a friend of hers and vowed to assist her in starting a singing career. Regrettably, he died soon after being shot.
She moved to Los Angeles at the age of 18 to pursue a career in music. Messy Marv and D’Wayne Wiggings, both from the Bay Area, were among the artists with whom she cooperated.
Keyshia Cole was introduced to Ron Fair, an A&R executive, in 2002. He signed her after hearing her unfinished tune ‘Love,’ which went on to become her first platinum single. He began mentoring her as well.
Her first single, ‘Never,’ was released on March 23, 2004 as a promotional song for the film ‘Barbershop 2: Back in Business,’ and featured Eve. The single, however, did not chart in the United States. ‘The Way It Is,’ her debut album, eventually included it.
‘I Changed My Mind,’ the first single from her album ‘The Way It Is,’ was released on November 9, 2004. It was a radio remix that charted at No. 71 in the United States. ‘I Just Want It To Be Over,’ the album’s second single, was released on April 5, 2005, and went to No. 1 on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100.
In June 2005, she released a mixtape with DJ Green Lantern called “Team Invasion Presents Keyshia Cole,” which featured remixes of hip-hop instrumentals and samples from her debut album.On June 21, 2005, she released her debut studio album, ‘The Way It Is.’ The album had five singles, including ‘Love,’ ‘Never,’ ‘I Just Want It To Be Over,’ ‘I Changed My Mind,’ and ‘I Should Have Cheated,’ which opened at No. 6 on the US Billboard 200 and sold 89,000 units in its first week. Over 1.6 million copies were finally sold. She then appeared on Diddy’s hit “Last Night” off his album “Press Play.”
She also dabbled in reality television in addition to her music career. From 2006 through 2008, she starred in the reality/documentary series ‘Keyshia Cole: The Way It Is,’ which aired on BET. It highlighted her professional and personal life, as well as her biological mother and sister. The show drew in a record-breaking number of viewers.
‘Just Like You,’ her second studio album, was released on September 25, 2007. The RIAA awarded it platinum status two months later. It went on to sell over 1.7 million copies, making it her best-selling album to date.
Jahiem’s tune ‘I’ve Changed,’ from his album ‘The Makings of a Man,’ also included her. In early 2008, she made multiple guest appearances on songs such as rapper Trina’s “I Got a Thang for You” and C-“Boyfriend/Girlfriend.” Side’s She also appeared in the film ‘Game’s Pain.’
Her third studio album, ‘A Different Me,’ was released on December 16, 2008. The album opened at No. 2 on the Billboard 200, selling 322,000 copies in its first week. The RIAA awarded it platinum certification.
‘Calling All Hearts,’ her fourth studio album, was released on December 21, 2010. It reached No. 9 on the Billboard 200 chart after selling 129,000 copies in its first week. In the next two years, it sold 400,000 copies in the United States.
‘Keyshia & Daniel: Family First,’ her second reality show, premiered on October 9, 2012. Cole and her husband, Daniel, were the focus of the show, as was her job as a vocalist. Her fifth studio album, ‘Woman to Woman,’ was released on November 19, 2012.
Meek Mill, Lil Wayne, Ashanti, Robin Thicke, and Elijah Blake were among the guest singers. The album received favorable reviews from critics, who praised Cole’s vocal performance. The album opened at No. 10 on the Billboard 200 list in the United States, selling 96,000 copies in its first week.
‘Point of No Return,’ Keyshia’s sixth studio album, was released on October 7, 2014, and featured contributions from Tim Kelley, DJ Mustard, WillieDonut, Mike Will Made It, Amadeus, and Stargate, among others. Juicy J, Gavyn Rhone, Wale, August Alsina, Faith Evans, and Future all made cameo appearances. However, the album was a commercial failure, selling only 45,000 copies, making it her lowest-selling record to date.
Keyshia Cole: All In’ premiered on February 24, 2015, and was her third reality show. It was about her ‘Point of No Return Tour,’ during which she dealt with her broken marriage, as well as troubles with her mother and sister.
She has created her own shoe line with fashion designer Steve Madden, which includes wedges, high heels, and boots.
Major Projects of Cole
Her debut album, ‘The Way It Is,’ and her second studio album, ‘Just Like You,’ were both certified platinum and critically acclaimed. In fact, her second album is still her best-selling to date.
‘Calling All Hearts,’ her fourth studio album, is another big work of hers that finally sold 400,000 copies in the United States. Her vocal performance on the album ‘Woman to Woman’ was also lauded.
Achievements & Awards
Keyshia Cole got the Vibe Award in 2005. For the song “Love,” she won an ASCAP award in 2007. For ‘Let it go,’ she won the BMI Urban Award the following year. ‘Heaven Sent,’ a track from the album ‘Just like You,’ earned her an Early Entertainment Award in 2008. Keyshia has received four Grammy Awards nominations.
Personal History and Legacy
Keyshia Cole began dating ex-NBA player Daniel Gibson in May 2009, and the couple welcomed their first child, Daniel Hiram Gibson, Jr., on March 2, 2010. On May 21, 2011, they tied the knot. In 2017, the couple divorced.
She is being sued for $4 million for allegedly assaulting a woman at Birdman’s House.
Estimated Net Worth