Keyshia Cole

Keyshia Myeshia Cole is an American singer, songwriter, and television personality. Known for her music rooted in contemporary R&B and hip hop soul, her songs frequently explore relationships and personal experiences. Characterized by a raspy and emotionally expressive soprano vocal range, she was dubbed by music critics as the "Princess of Hip-Hop Soul."

Born Keyshia Myeshia Johnson in Oakland, California, she was adopted at age two by family friends Leon and Yvonne Cole due to her biological mother's addiction struggles and her father's absence. She developed an early interest in music, recording background vocals for MC Hammer at age 12 after being introduced by her brother Sean. She also formed a friendship with rapper Tupac Shakur during her youth. Cole attended Fremont High School in Oakland before graduating from Tracy High School in 2000.

At age 17, Cole relocated to Los Angeles to pursue a professional music career. After collaborating with various Bay Area artists and producer Damon Elliott, she was signed to A&M Records by executive Ron Fair in 2002. Her first official release was the 2004 single "Never" featuring Eve. Cole released her debut studio album, The Way It Is, in June 2005. The album debuted in the top ten of the Billboard 200, earned a platinum certification, and produced successful singles including "I Should Have Cheated" and "Love". Its success inspired the BET reality television series Keyshia Cole: The Way It Is, which premiered in July 2006.

Following the closure of A&M Records, Cole moved to Geffen Records and released her second album, Just like You, in September 2007. It debuted at number two on the Billboard 200, received a platinum certification, and became the best-selling album of her career while earning four Grammy Award nominations. The lead single, "Let It Go" featuring Lil' Kim and Missy Elliott, reached number seven on the Billboard Hot 100. Her third album, A Different Me (2008), also debuted at number two and earned platinum status, supported by her first headlining concert tour in 2009.

Cole released her fourth album, Calling All Hearts, in December 2010 through Geffen Records. Her fifth album, Woman to Woman (2012), featured the Billboard Hot 100-charting single "Enough of No Love" featuring Lil Wayne and coincided with the BET reality show Keyshia & Daniel: Family First. She followed this with her sixth album, Point of No Return (2014), and an accompanying reality series, Keyshia Cole: All In.

In 2017, Cole joined the cast of Love & Hip Hop: Hollywood and released her seventh album, 11:11 Reset, through Epic Records. She hosted the Fox Soul talk show One on One with Keyshia Cole from 2019 to 2020 and subsequently launched her independent record label, Hearts and Stars, with BMG. In June 2023, she starred in and executive produced the Lifetime biographical film Keyshia Cole: This Is My Story. Cole later co-headlined the Love Hard Tour in 2024 and led The Way It Is 20th Anniversary Tour from 2025 to 2026.