Keyshia Cole - WikiHQ

Keyshia Myeshia Cole ( Johnson; born October 15, 1981) is an American singer, songwriter, television personality, and actress. Born and raised in Oakland, California, she emerged in the mid-2000s as a prominent figure in contemporary R&B, known for her emotionally direct vocal style and autobiographical songwriting, with critics often dubbing her the "Princess of Hip-Hop Soul".

Cole began pursuing music professionally in the early 2000s after relocating to Los Angeles, working with Bay Area artists and producers before signing with A&M Records. Her debut studio album, The Way It Is (2005), marked her commercial breakthrough, debuting within the top 10 of the US Billboard 200 and receiving platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA); it spawned the hit song "Love". The album's success led to the creation of the BET reality television series Keyshia Cole: The Way It Is, which chronicled her personal life and career.

Her second album, Just like You (2007), yielded the pinnacle peak of Cole's career, debuting at number two on the Billboard 200 and selling over one million copies in the United States. Three of its singles peaked at number-one on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart: "Let It Go" (featuring Lil' Kim and Missy Elliott), "I Remember", and "Heaven Sent". Four of Cole's subsequent albums—A Different Me (2008), Calling All Hearts (2010), Woman to Woman (2012), and Point of No Return (2014)—debuted within the Billboard 200's top 10.

Alongside her recording career, Cole has maintained a long-running presence in television. She starred in multiple BET reality series, including Keyshia & Daniel: Family First and Keyshia Cole: All In, and joined the main cast of Love & Hip Hop: Hollywood during its fourth season in 2017. That same year, she released her seventh studio album, 11:11 Reset, via Epic Records. In the 2020s, Cole expanded her activities to include hosting the Fox Soul–syndicated talk show One on One with Keyshia Cole, launching her independent imprint Hearts and Stars in partnership with BMG, competing on The Masked Singer, and executive-producing and starring in the Lifetime biographical film Keyshia Cole: This Is My Story (2023).

Early life

Keyshia Myeshia Johnson was born in Oakland, California on October 15, 1981. She is the biological daughter of Francine "Frankie" Lons (1960–2021), who struggled with alcohol and crack cocaine addiction, and boxing trainer Virgil Hunter, who was notably absent from her upbringing. Cole has biological and adopted siblings; including her brothers Sean and Sam, her younger sister Elite Noel, and her older sister Neffeteria "Neffe" Pugh.

At an early age, Cole discovered a passion for music. When she was 12 years old, her brother Sean (also known as Nutt-So), himself involved in local music, introduced her to MC Hammer, with whom she had the opportunity to record background vocals for.

As a child, Cole played tag football, tetherball, and served as a junior lifeguard at Oakland's Fremont Pool. She spent her free time watching music-driven films and was an avid reader. Cole initially attended Fremont High School in Oakland before transferring to and graduating from Tracy High School in Tracy, California, in the class of 2000. Reflecting on her formative years, Cole stated, "My childhood was not easy. I went through a lot of trials and tribulations [...] no matter what their situation is, no matter where [you] come from, no matter where [you] are, no matter who [you] are - with faith, you can always accomplish your goals. I did it and survived, and so can [you]."

Career

1999–2003: Career beginnings

At the age of 17, Cole departed from her foster home in Oakland to live with her then-boyfriend after her adoptive mother rejected her artistic ambitions. After discovering his infidelity, Cole soon moved from Oakland to Los Angeles to pursue a professional music career. Cole began working with Bay Area artists; appearing on the remix of Messy Marv's "Nubian Queen", featured on his third album Still Explosive (2001), and contributing backing vocals to the D'Wayne Wiggins–produced soundtrack for the independent film Me & Mrs. Jones (2002). However, Elliott offered her a solo production contract instead, recognizing her talent. Reflecting on the opportunity, Cole stated, "I'd rather be solo because I do everything in the group anyway. They're just pretty. We were gonna get, like, a $30,000 advance and split it ten/ten/ten; but I figured, 'Why should I give them my $20,000 when I can get it myself?'".

2004–2006: The Way It Is

Cole's first official release was the single "Never", featuring Eve, which appeared on the soundtrack of the Kevin Rodney Sullivan-directed comedy film Barbershop 2: Back in Business (2004); it combined hip-hop beats with her vocals and was released to urban radio formats in March 2004. In anticipation of her debut album, Cole and DJ Green Lantern issued the mixtape, Team Invasion Presents Keyshia Cole in February 2005, featuring remixes of popular hip-hop instrumentals alongside original song snippets.

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. 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. It spawned the singles "I Changed My Mind", "(I Just Want It) To Be Over", "I Should Have Cheated" and "Love". All appeared within the top-40 of the Billboards Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, with "I Should Have Cheated", and "Love" reaching the top-ten. Upon its release, The Way It Is received generally positive reviews from music critics, who praised Cole's vocals and musical themes. It received a platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and earned her several accolades, including an NAACP Image Award nomination and two Soul Train Music Award nominations at both ceremonies in 2006, respectively. 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.

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). It reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100 and became a top-20 hit in several other countries, including Canada, Switzerland and Finland. On July 9, 2006, it was reported that Cole had signed with BET for a reality series, Keyshia Cole: The Way It Is. Chronicling her personal life, family dynamics and professional career, the series premiered three days following its announcement. The first season of the series, which consisted of six episodes, concluded on August 16, 2006.

2007–2009: Just like You and A Different Me

thumb|upright|left|Cole at the [[BET Hip Hop Awards in 2007]]

After A&M Records folded through a merger with Octone Records in early 2007, Cole was drafted by the Universal Music Group and Interscope Records boss Jimmy Iovine to its subsidiary label Geffen Records. A worldwide success, it reached the top-ten in over five countries, including the United States, where it spent 22 consecutive weeks charting on the Billboard Hot 100. At the 2007 BET Awards, "Last Night" received a nomination for Best Collaboration and was performed by the duo alongside Lil' Kim during the award ceremony.

On September 25, 2007, Cole released her second album Just like You, to generally favorable reviews from music critics. For the album, she worked with various producers, including Scott Storch, Rodney Jerkins, Bryan-Michael Cox, Cainon Lamb and The Runners, among others. A commercial success, the album debuted at number two on the US Billboard 200 and number one on the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts, selling 281,000 copies in its first week and was certified platinum in the United States for sales of one million copies. The lead single, "Let It Go" (featuring Missy Elliott and Lil' Kim), marked Cole's first top-ten hit on the US Billboard Hot 100 as a lead artist moreover her first number-one hit on Billboards Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs; eventually receiving a platinum certification in the United States.

Aside from her music success, Cole made her acting debut with a cameo role in the Ian Iqbal Rashid-directed film How She Move, released in January 2008 and grossed $8.6 million worldwide. Throughout early to mid-2008, Cole made several guest appearances on songs including the singles: "I Got a Thang for You" (with rapper Trina), "Boyfriend/Girlfriend" (with hip-hop quartet C-Side), and "Game's Pain" (with rapper The Game), respectively. The third and final season of Keyshia Cole: The Way It Is premiered via BET on November 11, 2008, and marked the highest-rated season premiere for the network, with a total of 1.94 million viewers.

Cole's third album A Different Me was released on December 16, 2008. The album debuted at number two on the US Billboard 200 chart, with 322,000 copies sold in its first-week of sales, and received a platinum certification by the RIAA for selling more than a million copies. Shortly after the tour ended, Cole embarked on her first headlining concert tour, A Different Me Tour, which began on May 13 and concluded on June 21, 2009. Throughout this time, Cole was featured as the cover artist on several magazines such as the January issues of Jet and WordUp!, the March 2009 issue of Vibe, and the summer 2009 final double-cover issue of King. In November 2009, at the Soul Train Music Awards, Cole earned a nomination in the Best Collaboration category for "Trust" (with Monica).

2010–2013: Calling All Hearts and Woman to Woman

On June 27, 2010, Cole returned to the public eye, filling in for Hayley Williams to perform the chorus to B.o.B's "Airplanes (Part II)" featuring Eminem during the 2010 BET Awards. Cole's fourth studio album, Calling All Hearts, was released on December 21, 2010, via Geffen Records. The album featured guest appearances from Nicki Minaj, Tank, Faith Evans, Timbaland, and her adoptive mother Yvonne Cole. The album's lead single, "I Ain't Thru" (featuring Nicki Minaj), premiered on November 23, 2010, with a Benny Boom–directed video shot on location in New York City and documented in behind‑the‑scenes footage by Rap‑Up TV. The follow‑up promotional single, "Long Way Down", was similarly accompanied by a Benny Boom–directed video starring Cole and her then-fiancé Daniel Gibson, which premiered in December 2010. The album's second official single, "Take Me Away", impacted urban contemporary radio in February 2011 and reached number 27 on Billboards Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.

In September 2011, Cole began work on her fifth studio album, with a planned February 2012 release date for the then‑untitled record. That album, Woman to Woman, was released on November 19, 2012. In the United States, the album debuted at number 10 on the Billboard 200 chart, moving 96,000 copies in its first week and securing the number two spot on the Top R&B/Hip‑Hop Albums chart. The lead single from the album, "Enough of No Love" (featuring Lil Wayne), reached number 84 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number seven on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, marking her 12th top-ten entry on that chart. The album's second single, "Trust and Believe", peaked at number 32 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. Woman to Woman showcased a production roster that consisted of Darhyl Camper, Harmony Samuels, Rodney Jerkins, T-Minus, Vidal, and Wonda, while its guest features included recording artists Lil Wayne, Meek Mill, Ashanti, Elijah Blake, and Robin Thicke.

Prior to the album's release, Cole's life and recording process were chronicled in the BET reality television series Keyshia & Daniel: Family First, which ran for eight episodes from October 9 to December 4, 2012, documenting her studio sessions, family dynamics, and relationship with then‑husband Daniel Gibson; the series averaged over one million viewers per episode in its initial run. Cole's second headlining concert tour, the Woman to Woman Tour, began in March 2013, in support of Woman to Woman. In October 2013, Cole released the music video for the album's third and final single, "I Choose You", directed by Ethan Lader.

2014–2018: Point of No Return and 11:11 Reset

In March 2014, Cole debuted the title and first two singles for her sixth studio album Point of No Return, "Rick James", which features American rapper Juicy J, and "Next Time (Won't Give My Heart Away)". On April 2, 2014, Cole and Australian rapper Iggy Azalea released a cover version of Diana Ross' "I'm Coming Out", for The Other Woman movie soundtrack. The second single from Point of No Return, "She", was released on June 24. Cole embarked on the Point of No Return Tour on July 12 in Rochester, New York; the tour included 22 dates that ran through to August 25. Point of No Return was released on October 7, 2014, featuring guest appearances from 2 Chainz, Juicy J, Future, Gavyn Rhone, Wale, and August Alsina. The album became Cole's third number-one R&B album and her sixth consecutive album to debut within the top 10 in the United States. All of the tracks on the album received music videos, which were released separately. The same month of the album's release, American singer K. Michelle announced that she and Cole would reportedly go on a tour together in January 2015.

In February 2015, Cole starred in her third BET reality series, Keyshia Cole: All In. The series followed her professional endeavors, parenthood, and family problems. With Cole serving as an executive producer, the series ran for eight episodes before concluding on April 21, 2015. That same year, Cole made two guest appearances on hip-hop albums. She was featured alongside J. Cole on "Black Heaven", a track from Boosie Badazz's Touch Down 2 Cause Hell (2015), and appeared on "Nothing to Me" with rapper E-40 from G-Eazy's When It's Dark Out (2015).

On January 27, 2017, Cole released the lead single "You" (featuring Remy Ma and French Montana). The song's music video, which was directed by Benny Boom, premiered through VH1 a month later. In July, Cole joined the main cast for the fourth season of Love & Hip Hop: Hollywood. Before departing the show after the season concluded, Cole's plot revolved around her co-parenting arrangement with Gibson and her preparation for the release of her album. On August 25, 2017, Cole released the second single "Incapable", with its Mike He-directed music video premiering on October 6. Cole's seventh album, 11:11 Reset, was released on October 20, 2017, featuring guest appearances from Remy Ma, French Montana, DJ Khaled, Young Thug, Kamaiyah, and Too $hort. Upon its release, the album debuted at number 37 on the US Billboard 200 and number 20 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. In August 2018, Cole performed at the third annual Black Music Honors.

2019–present: Upcoming eighth studio album, Keyshia Cole: This is My Story and touring

On July 22, 2019, Cole announced that she would return with a BET-syndicated biographical documentary Keyshia Cole: My New Life, which premiered on November 18, 2019. The documentary followed Cole's pregnancy with her second child and her relationship with her then-boyfriend and baby's father, Niko Khale. On November 17, 2019, Cole performed a freestyle at the 2019 Soul Train Music Awards cypher. On December 23, 2019, she was featured on singer Kehlani's single "All Me". That same year, she began hosting her own talk show on the digital television network Fox Soul, One on One with Keyshia Cole. Described by Cole as "the show where we all come together and keep it real on everything from social media to social issues" prior to its premiere, the show aired through November 14, 2019 to May 2020.

In June 2020, it was reported that Cole had signed a management deal with talent management company Primary Wave, shortly after revealing that she had reunited with longtime friend and record producer Ron Fair, with whom she worked with for her first four albums. On July 22, 2020, speculations came out about a possible Verzuz battle between Cole and Ashanti after Cole publicly challenged her during the live streamed match between rappers DMX and Snoop Dogg. On December 2, 2020, Cole announced via her Instagram Live, while singing a few of her previous records, that she would soon be competing in a match. Two days later, it was confirmed that the then next Verzuz battle would be between Cole and Ashanti. The in-person competition was expected to take place on December 12, 2020, though it was postponed after Ashanti tested positive for COVID-19 ahead of the event. Nevertheless, the battle took place on January 21, 2021. In March 2021, Cole announced her intention to retire from the music industry after the release of her upcoming eighth studio album. At the Lights On Festival in Concord, California on September 18, 2021, Cole performed live for the first time since the death of her biological mother. On January 11, 2022, Cole signed a global deal with the Creative Artists Agency (CAA). In March 2022, Cole was profiled and interviewed by Tami Roman for her own episode in the TV One documentary series, Uncensored. In support of her Lifetime-original biographical film, Keyshia Cole: This Is My Story, in which she starred in and executive produced, Cole released the standalone single "Forever Is a Thing" on June 23, 2023. Keyshia Cole: This Is My Story, which premiered on June 24, 2024, was inspired by the death of Cole's biological mother, along with other major events in her life and career. On September 12, 2023, Cole performed "Last Night" alongside Diddy during his Global Icon set at the MTV Video Music Awards.

Through late 2023, Cole competed as "Candelabra" in the tenth season of The Masked Singer, finishing fifth place. In December 2023, Cole featured on the soundtrack to the film The Color Purple ("No Love Lost") and on the Gag City Edition of Nicki Minaj's fifth studio album Pink Friday 2 ("Love Me Enough" with Monica). In 2024, Cole headlined The Love Hard Tour; joined by co-headlining act Trey Songz and featured acts Jaheim and K. Michelle. On April 17, 2025, Cole announced The Way It Is 20th Anniversary Tour, which began on July 1, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland and concluded on January 18, 2026 in Hanover, Maryland. The tour's supporting acts included Tink, Wale, Lil' Kim, Fridayy and Jeremih.

Cole possesses the vocal range of a soprano, in which the Los Angeles Times has described her as a "raspy soprano" capable of communicating "pain and anguish" with equal force. Alison Fensterstock of Gambit praised Cole's "thrilling, emotion‑drenched soprano" voice, noting its "urban grit that adds a rough edge to the studio shimmer and acrobatic vocalizing". A Billboard album roundup noted Cole's "command of vocal talent", observing how she "exhibits a growing confidence" through her vocal delivery. Cole has openly acknowledged that she never took formal vocal lessons and she credits her hardships for forging the power and authenticity in her voice. The New York Times Kelefa Sanneh wrote that she "sings love stories that could almost be war stories", highlighting the emotional weight of her songwriting. Her musical approach has been described as a "forthright approach to soul‐rooted R&B". BroadwayWorld commented that Cole delivers her music with "unfiltered storytelling, powerhouse vocals, and signature blend of vulnerability and strength". H&S Magazine dubbed her "a powerhouse in modern R&B", emphasizing how she "plays a pivotal role in bridging the worlds of hip-hop and soul" through her blend of emotional depth and resilience.

In praising her musical evolution, critics also highlighted Cole's distinct vocal delivery across multiple projects. Entertainment Weekly noted that on her debut studio album The Way It Is, "Cole's street‑savvy Oakland upbringing gives her vocals depth and her songs a genuine, lived-in feel", underscoring how her background informed her musical sound. In reviewing her second album Just like You, The Boston Globe described her as "a singer to be reckoned with, particularly in an urban market saturated with imitators", emphasizing her standout presence within the R&B genre. For her third album A Different Me, Ken Capobianco of The Boston Globe wrote that Cole "dares to be different—and pretty great", highlighting her exploration of a "sweeter and supremely sexy side" in her sound, and USA Today confirmed that "the still‑evolving singer just keeps getting better", signaling consistent artistic growth. Celebrating her fifth album Woman to Woman, Entertainment Weeklys Tanner Stransky called it a "time machine to the sweet, soulful R&B of the late '90s", applauding Cole's vocal delivery on standout tracks.

Stage

Cole's live performances have garnered a spectrum of critical responses, reflecting both her strengths and areas for growth as a performer. AllHipHop praised her efforts to revitalize R&B, noting that she was "trying to resurrect" the genre through her intimate venue performances. Similarly, during a 2008 concert at the Oakland Arena, Gabe Meline lauded Cole's performance as "completely goddamn dominating", describing it as a "nonstop firestorm of talent and amazement". The reviewer observed that she had evolved from "all energy and empty hyperactivity" to a performer who "retained the energy and tempered it with elegance and grace". G. Valentino Ball of Bay State Banner described Cole's stage presence as "infectious", with her candid banter resonating authentically with the audience. Ball noted that her interactions felt genuine, suggesting a deep connection with her fans. A review from SoulTracks on one of Cole's shows during her Woman to Woman Tour pointed out that while she delivered a string of hits, her performance was marked by a "perfunctory manner" and an "alarmingly aloof" demeanor, suggesting missed opportunities for deeper audience connection.

Influences

Cole grew up listening to her mentor Tupac Shakur, and in an interview with the Jamaica Observer, she named him as one of the artists that influenced her "soulful" style. In a 2004 interview, she emphasized that vocally she aimed to blend "Mary [J. Blige] mixed with Brandy", and personally looked up to both Monica and Brandy for demonstrating how young women could command respect in music.

Cole addressed the comparisons to Blige in a 2007 appearance on The Tyra Banks Show, saying, "I love Mary, she is so powerful [...] She's a wonderful figure to be like. For people to compare me to her, I definitely think that's strength. But yeah, I don't know if I'm the next Mary." In 2011, Cole covered Blige's version of "I'm Going Down" while opening for R. Kelly during his Love Letter Tour. Other than Blige, Cole has named Brandy as one of her main influences and has indicated that Brandy's success inspired Cole to pursue music, adding, "I thought if she could do it, I definitely could do it."

Other ventures

In June 2005, Cole appeared in a Southpole apparel advertising campaign published in Vibe, modeling pieces from the brand's women's collection. In May 2006, Cole was selected to serve as the face of Akademiks' Ladies Fall/Holiday advertising campaign for the urban wear and accessories brand, appearing in promotional materials for its women's line. In 2008, Cole partnered with Luster Products to endorse their relaunched Pink Brand Smooth Touch hair care line. The campaign featured Cole in advertising, product packaging, and "A Day in the Life" online videos, with promotional efforts spanning radio, print, in-store events, and grassroots marketing to enhance brand visibility.

In October 2012, it became public knowledge that Cole and shoe designer Steve Madden, had collaborated on a three-piece shoe collection that was initially slated to debut one month later. It was also reported that the first pair of shoes are red platform heels with ruffles and a heart-shaped cutout on the wedge, while the second pair of shoes are "funky-patterned" strappy heels. During an appearance with WWPR-FM's The Breakfast Club, she discussed the collection and said: