“I want to be a performer like Usher one day,” she says. “From people not believing in me to now believing, I just want to stay focused and not get thrown off by the bullshit.” Given her past struggles, it’s easy to understand her indifference to being perceived as sexy. We all know the story of her drug-addicted mom, how she grew up in Oakland with foster parents and hung out with Tupac and Suge Knight as a kid, and the way one bad relationship finally led her to pack up and move to L.A. in pursuit of a record deal.
With an amazing voice and remarkable songwriting skills—never mind her round-the-way sex appeal—she has certainly carved out a place for herself. The platinum-selling singer has her own reality show on BET, Keyshia Cole: The Way It Is. And with the cameras rolling, music fans get a chance to witness Cole’s realness, which is ironically a rarity in reality TV. The show’s finale chronicles her visit to see her jailed mom (who’s been clean and sober since she went in a year ago), and promises to be a tearjerker. In the meantime Cole’s in the process of finalizing a label deal with A&M/Interscope Records, where she’ll sign her best friend (an Oakland rapper named Amina). She’s starring in a new advertising campaign for Akademiks and, of course, preparing for her sophomore album. Lastly, she’s looking to invest in an animal hospital and build a foster home. A ride-or-die chick with heart—what’s hotter than that?
To Read The Rest of This Story, Get This Issue At Your Local Newsstand Now! Do you want VIBE delivered to your home or office? CLICK HERE. Also in VIBE's August 2006 issue:
Vibe.com - We got the Internet Going Nuts!: Speak Up, Message Board, Bonus Points, Exclusive and Free Agent.
Behind Closed Doors: The wives of famous rappers may seem to have it all—designer clothes, fabulous rocks, fairy-tale cribs—but they don’t usually talk to reporters about their family dramas of love, scandal, and infidelity. ALIYA S. KING gets past the mansions’ front gates to hear about their raw feelings and the search for meaning in their lives.
NEXT - Cassie, Corrie B, Tami Chynn, and Young Dro.
Forbidden Fruit: Give in to your temptation and take a bite. Photographs by Kelly Bruggema. Styling by Memsor Kamaraké.
Revolutions: Cham, Letoya, N.O.R.E., Rhymefest, Field Mob, and Obie Trice.
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