Keyshia Myeshia Cole (née Johnson; born October 15, 1981) is an American singer, songwriter, and television personality. Born and raised in Oakland, California, Cole began pursuing music professionally in the early 2000s after relocating to Los Angeles, working with Bay Area artists and producers before signing with A&M Records. Her debut studio album, The Way It Is (2005), marked her commercial breakthrough, debuting within the top 10 and selling over one million copies in the United States; it spawned the hit singles "I Should Have Cheated" and "Love". The album's success led to the creation of the BET reality television series Keyshia Cole: The Way It Is, which chronicled her personal life and career.
Her second album, Just like You (2007), was released through Geffen Records and Interscope Records following the closure of A&M Records and became the best-selling album of her career, debuting at number two and receiving a platinum certification for selling over one million copies in the US. Its lead single, "Let It Go" (featuring Lil' Kim and Missy Elliott), became Cole's highest-charting single as a lead artist, reaching number seven on the Billboard Hot 100. Her third album, A Different Me (2008), has also sold over one million copies in the US, and was followed by her fourth album, Calling All Hearts, in 2010. Her fifth album, Woman to Woman (2012), featured the Hot 100-charting single "Enough of No Love" (featuring Lil Wayne) and coincided with the BET reality series Keyshia & Daniel: Family First, which chronicled Cole's family life and her work on the album. Her sixth album, Point of No Return (2014), was followed by the BET reality series Keyshia Cole: All In, which chronicled the tour supporting the album.
After departing Interscope, Cole joined the main cast of Love & Hip Hop: Hollywood during its fourth season in 2017. That same year, she released her seventh studio album, 11:11 Reset, via Epic Records. In the 2020s, Cole expanded her activities to include hosting the Fox Soul–syndicated talk show One on One with Keyshia Cole, launching her independent imprint Hearts and Stars in partnership with BMG, competing on The Masked Singer, and executive-producing and starring in the Lifetime biographical film Keyshia Cole: This Is My Story (2023).
Keyshia Myeshia Johnson was born in Oakland, California on October 15, 1981. She is the biological daughter of Francine "Frankie" Lons (1960–2021), who struggled with alcohol and crack cocaine addiction, and boxing trainer Virgil Hunter, who was notably absent from her upbringing. The instability resulting from her mother's addiction, combined with the absence of her biological father, forced an early intervention in Cole's life; as a result, she was adopted at the age of two by family friends Leon and Yvonne Cole, subsequently changing her last name to Cole. Cole has biological and adopted siblings; including her brothers Sean and Sam, her younger sister Elite Noel, and her older sister Neffeteria "Neffe" Pugh.
At an early age, Cole discovered a passion for music. When she was 12 years old, her brother Sean (also known as Nutt-So), himself involved in local music, introduced her to MC Hammer, with whom she had the opportunity to record background vocals for. During this formative period, she also formed a friendship with rapper Tupac Shakur, who promised to support her burgeoning music career. Shakur was fatally shot in a drive-by shooting the same night he asked Cole to write a hook for his upcoming project at the time.
As a child, Cole played tag football, tetherball, and served as a junior lifeguard at Oakland's Fremont Pool. She spent her free time watching music-driven films and was an avid reader. At the age of 16, she became a participant at the East Oakland Youth Development Center (EOYDC), a local nonprofit dedicated to empowering young people through educational and recreational programs. Cole initially attended Fremont High School in Oakland before transferring to and graduating from Tracy High School in Tracy, California, in the class of 2000. Reflecting on her formative years, Cole stated, "My childhood was not easy. I went through a lot of trials and tribulations [...] no matter what their situation is, no matter where [you] come from, no matter where [you] are, no matter who [you] are - with faith, you can always accomplish your goals. I did it and survived, and so can [you]."
1999–2006: Career beginnings and The Way It Is
At the age of 17, Cole departed from her foster home in Oakland to live with her then-boyfriend after her adoptive mother rejected her artistic ambitions. After discovering his infidelity, Cole soon moved from Oakland to Los Angeles to pursue a professional music career. Within weeks of arriving, she secured a day job and moved into one of three apartments owned by her uncle. Cole began working with Bay Area artists; appearing on the remix of Messy Marv's "Nubian Queen", featured on his third album Still Explosive (2001), and contributing backing vocals to the D'Wayne Wiggins–produced soundtrack for the independent film Me & Mrs. Jones (2002). Cole was initially poised to join a short-lived girl group called Grip while working with producer Damon Elliott. However, Elliott offered her a solo production contract instead, recognizing her talent. Reflecting on the opportunity, Cole stated, "I'd rather be solo because I do everything in the group anyway. They're just pretty. We were gonna get, like, a $30,000 advance and split it ten/ten/ten; but I figured, 'Why should I give them my $20,000 when I can get it myself?'". Cole ultimately declined the group deal and went on to record songs with Elliott. In 2002, Cole was introduced to A&M Records' A&R executive Ron Fair, who signed her to the label after hearing an unfinished demo, immediately mentoring her on artist development and studio production techniques.
Cole's first official release was the single "Never", featuring Eve, which appeared on the soundtrack of the Kevin Rodney Sullivan-directed comedy film Barbershop 2: Back in Business (2004); it combined hip-hop beats with her vocals and was released to urban radio formats in March 2004. In anticipation of her debut album, Cole and DJ Green Lantern issued the mixtape, Team Invasion Presents Keyshia Cole in February 2005, featuring remixes of popular hip-hop instrumentals alongside original song snippets.
Cole released her debut album, The Way It Is, on June 21, 2005, through A&M Records; it debuted at number six on the US Billboard 200 and sold 89,000 copies in its first week. The album features guest appearances from Jadakiss, Chink Santana, Metro City and Eve; and was produced by Cole, Ron Fair, Sean Garrett, Kerry Brothers Jr., John Legend, Chink Santana and Kanye West, among others. It spawned the singles "I Changed My Mind", "(I Just Want It) To Be Over", "I Should Have Cheated" and "Love". All appeared within the top-40 of the Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, with "I Should Have Cheated", and "Love" reaching the top-ten. Upon its release, The Way It Is received generally positive reviews from music critics, who praised Cole's vocals and musical themes. It received a platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and earned her several accolades, including an NAACP Image Award nomination and two Soul Train Music Award nominations at both ceremonies in 2006, respectively. To further promote the album, Cole served as a supporting act on Kanye West's Touch the Sky Tour, which took place from October to December 2005.
In June 2006, Cole was featured on "(When You Gonna) Give It Up to Me" by Sean Paul from the soundtrack of the romantic dance film Step Up (2006). It reached number three on the US Billboard Hot 100 and became a top-20 hit in several other countries, including Canada, Switzerland and Finland. On July 9, 2006, it was reported that Cole had signed with BET for a reality series, Keyshia Cole: The Way It Is. Chronicling her personal life, family dynamics and professional career, the series premiered three days following its announcement. The first season of the series, which consisted of six episodes, concluded on August 16, 2006.