Keyshia Cole

Keyshia Cole is an American singer and songwriter from Oakland, California, whose raw, emotionally direct vocal style helped define 2000s R&B. Discovered in part through early connections with 2Pac and MC Hammer, she signed to A&M Records and later achieved mainstream success with her 2005 debut album The Way It Is, powered by the hit single «Love».

Cole's sound blends soulful R&B with hip hop sensibilities, often addressing heartbreak, loyalty and resilience with a confessional honesty that resonated widely. Her collaboration with Kanye West on «I Changed My Mind» and features with artists like Eve on «Never» highlighted her ability to cross into hip hop while staying rooted in R&B songcraft. She followed her debut with several more studio albums, continuing to chart hits such as «Let It Go» and «Heaven Sent».

Beyond music, Cole became a prominent media personality, starring in multiple BET reality series that chronicled her life and family, further expanding her public profile. Her body of work across six studio albums has established her as one of the defining R&B voices to emerge from the Bay Area in the 2000s.