Keyshia Cole

Like many young people raised in a tough neighborhood, the 21-year-old Platinum-selling R&B singer Keyshia Cole, endured a tumultuous childhood in Oakland, California. She fought hard to keep her dream of a music career and has realized that dream on her own terms with her first album for the A&M label, The Way It Is. It's been a long road for Keyshia, but it's her powerful voice a bell-like instrument whose soaring clarity is topped off with a tantalizing touch of soulful grit that's carried her through, not to mention the diminutive singer's personal combination of sugar, spice, sass and sex appeal, along with a solid-steel spine.

While still a pre-teen she convinced then-superstar MC Hammer that he should put her on his tour stage, and she even got a chance to do some recording with the rap star before she was 12 years old. She also scored sessions with other Bay Area artists, including Messy Marv's "Nubian Queen" remix, which was a regional hit for the rapper, and with Tony Toni Tone's Dwayne Wiggins, who featured her on his soundtrack for the indie film ME & MRS. JONES.

When she arrived in Los Angeles, it took the determined singer a few short months of to snag an introduction to A&M Records President Ron Fair, who signed her to her first solo recording deal. For her first album, Keyshia garnered the support of none other than reigning hip-hop star Kanye West; producer and songwriter DaRon of R&B group 112; rapper Chink Santana, whose gruff stylings have graced hits by Ashanti and The Inc.; and popular producer E-Poppi. She also got a chance to collaborate with Eve for her debut single, "Never," on the BARBERSHOP 2 soundtrack.

Keyshia is the star of the hit BET show Keyshia Cole: The Way It Is, which gives viewers insight into what it took for Keyshia to rise up from her troubled past to become a critically acclaimed artist.

Paramount Home Entertainment