Keyshia Myeshia Cole 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 ultimately signing with A&M Records, under whom she released her debut studio album, The Way It Is, in 2005. The record was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and earned two nominations at the 2006 Soul Train Music Awards. Riding on the album's success, Cole would begin filming a reality television series for BET documenting her career, family and personal life called 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.
The Way It Is is the debut studio album by American singer Keyshia Cole, released on June 21, 2005, through A&M Records and Interscope Records. The album features guest appearances from Jadakiss, Chink Santana, Metro City and Eve. Cole co-wrote every song on the album, and also worked with a number of producers and writers, including Ron Fair, Sean Garrett, Kerry "Krucial" Brothers, Polow da Don, John Legend, Alicia Keys and Kanye West. The Way It Is is an R&B album, with some tracks having hip hop and hip hop soul sensibilities. Lyrically, the album speaks of romantic relationships.
"(I Just Want It) To Be Over" is a song by American singer Keyshia Cole. It was written by the singer along with Alicia Keys, Taniesha Smith, and Kerry "Krucial" Brothers for her debut album, The Way It Is (2005). Production on the song was helmed by the latter. Released on April 5, 2005 as the album's second single, "(I Just Want It) To Be Over" became a moderate success on the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, peaking at number 30. It also reached number one on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart, which acts as an extension to the Hot 100.
"I Love You" is a 1995 single by American singer-songwriter Mary J. Blige, taken from her second album My Life.
"Love" is a song by American singer Keyshia Cole, written alongside producer Greg Curtis for her debut studio album The Way It Is (2005). The song was released on January 6 as the album's fourth and final single and emerged as the most successful single from the album. It peaked at number 19 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number three on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, going on to become her breakthrough record after a string of modestly successful singles, eventually being certified platinum by the RIAA.
"I Changed My Mind" is a song by American R&B recording artist Keyshia Cole, recorded for her debut album, The Way It Is (2005). It was written by the singer along with John Legend and Kanye West, while production on the track was helmed by the latter. Released on November 9, 2004 as the lead single from the album, it was mildly successful commercially, peaking at number 71 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 23 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts.
"I Should Have Cheated" is a song by American recording artist Keyshia Cole. It was written by 112 members Daron Jones and Quinnes "Q" Parker for her debut album, The Way It Is (2005), while production was helmed by Jones along with Ron Fair. The song was released on August 3, 2005 as the album's third single, following "I Changed My Mind" and "(I Just Want It) To Be Over." It rose to number four on US Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and number 30 on the US Billboard Hot 100. Its music video made it to the top five on 106 and Park and remained there for 46 days.
"Never" is the debut solo single by American singer Keyshia Cole. Co-written by Cole and rapper Eve, it was produced by Errol "E-Poppi" McCalla, Jr. and Ron Fair. The uptempo track samples from the 1981 hit "Never Too Much" by American singer Luther Vandross. Due to the inclusion of the sample, Vandross is also credited as a songwriter. "Never" was first featured on the soundtrack to Kevin Rodney Sullivan's comedy film Barbershop 2: Back in Business (2004) and was later also included on Cole's debut album The Way It Is (2005).
"Last Night" is a song by American rapper P. Diddy that is a single featured on his fourth studio album, Press Play (2006). The song features American singer-songwriter Keyshia Cole. The radio edit version of the song is featured on Cole's second studio album, Just like You (2007).
"Let It Go" is a song by American R&B singer Keyshia Cole featuring American rappers Missy Elliott and Lil' Kim. It was written by Cole, Jack Knight, Cainon Lamb, Lil' Kim, and Missy Elliott for her second album Just Like You (2007) and samples "Juicy Fruit" by Mtume, and "Don't Stop the Music" by Yarbrough and Peoples, while also interpolating "Juicy" by The Notorious B.I.G., who also sampled "Juicy Fruit." An uptempo song written by all three artists with Jack Knight, Cainon Lamb and James Mtume and produced by Lamb and Elliott, it marked the first collaboration between any of the three artists with one another.
"Shoulda Let You Go" is a song by American R&B singer Keyshia Cole. It was written by Cole and Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins for her second studio album Just like You (2007), while production was helmed by Jerkins. The song features additional vocals by rapper Amina. "Shoulda Let You Go" premiered on August 25, 2007, on V103, an Atlanta-based radio station, and was later released as the album's second single. It reached number 40 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and peaked at number six on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.
Still Da Baddest is the fourth studio album by American rapper Trina. It was released on April 1, 2008, by Slip-n-Slide, EMI and DP Entertainment. The album was preceded by the lead single, "Single Again" on November 6, 2007. Following the poor chart performance, "I Got a Thang for You" featuring Keyshia Cole, was released as the album's second single. The album's third and final single "Look Back at Me" featuring Killer Mike, which was produced by Hard Hat Productions, became a regional hit club record and accompanied by a music video.
Heaven Sent is a song recorded by American singer Keyshia Cole. It was written by Cole, Jason Farmer, Alex Francis, and Lamont Wilson for her second studio album Just like You (2007), while production was overseen by Francis and Farmer with additional credit by Ron Fair. The ballad was released as the album's fourth and final single in March 2008. "Heaven Sent" became cole's third chart topper on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and earned two Grammy Award nominations for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance and Best R&B Song. An accompanying music video was shot in Hawaii and is based on the poem "Footprints."
"Playa Cardz Right" is a song by American R&B recording artist Keyshia Cole. The song features late rapper 2Pac and was originally included on his sixth posthumously released album Pac's Life (2006), with most of his vocals initially recorded for his fourth studio album All Eyez on Me (1996). Cole's reworked version, produced by Ron Fair and Carvin & Ivan for Karma Productions, was released as the lead single from her third album A Different Me (2008).
A Different Me is the third studio album by American singer Keyshia Cole. It was released by Geffen Records in association with Imani Entertainment and Interscope Records on December 16, 2008 in the United States. Cole reteamed with producers Toxic, Ron Fair and The Runners to work on A Different Me, but also worked with a variety of additional collaborators on new material, including Polow da Don, The Outsyders, Kwamé, Carvin & Ivan, Tank, Theron Feemster, and Poke & Tone. Guest appearances include Amina, Nas, Monica and 2Pac.
"Trust" is a song by American singer Keyshia Cole. It was written by Cole and Frederick Taylor and co-produced by Donald "Toxic" Alford and Ron Fair for her third studio album, A Different Me (2008). It is a re-recording of the iTunes pre-order bonus song from Cole's previous album Just like You.
American singer Keyshia Cole has released seven studio albums, one extended play, two mixtapes, 24 singles and 31 music videos. Cole's debut single, "Never", peaked at number 71 on the United States Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and became Cole's first entry on a national record chart. She was later featured on "Let's Get Blown", a 2004 single by American West Coast hip hop rapper Snoop Dogg – it peaked at number 54 on the US Billboard Hot 100. Cole released her debut album The Way It Is on June 21, 2005, through A&M Records. The album debuted at number six on the US Billboard 200, with first-week sales of 89,000 copies. The Way It Is was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). It produced the four singles "I Changed My Mind", "(I Just Want It) To Be Over", "I Should Have Cheated", and "Love", of two of which reached the top ten of the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.
"I Ain't Thru" is a song by American singer Keyshia Cole. It features Nicki Minaj rapping the second verse of the song. Written by Cole, Minaj and Russell Gonzalez, the up-tempo hip hop/R&B song is the lead single taken from Cole's fourth studio album Calling All Hearts (2010). The song's lyrics revolve around Cole trying to do her own thing well while maintaining ignorance toward people who are against her. It was produced by The ARE and Ron Fair as Cole's 'statement record'.
Woman to Woman is the fifth studio album by American singer-songwriter Keyshia Cole. It was released on November 19, 2012, through Geffen Records and Interscope Records. Recording sessions took place between early 2011 and mid-late 2012. Cole enlisted a variety of producers, such as Darhyl Camper, Harmony Samuels, Rodney Jerkins, T-Minus, Vidal, and Wonda. Musically, the album is an R&B and pop record, that features guest appearances from Lil Wayne, Meek Mill, Ashanti, Elijah Blake, and Robin Thicke.
"Enough of No Love" is a song recorded by American R&B singer-songwriter Keyshia Cole. It serves as the lead single from her fifth studio album, Woman to Woman. It features American hip hop recording artist Lil Wayne. It was released for digital download in the United States on July 2, 2012. It is her first single to reach the top 10 on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart since 2009's "Trust". It debuted at number 94 on the Billboard Hot 100 and peaked at 84. As of July 10, 2013 it sold over 70,000 copies in the US.
