Unlike the blurb I wrote earlier this week about LisaRaye's interview in Monarch magazine, I've decided not to do the same regarding Keysia's interview in Vibe magazine, because after I read the complete article I realized she basically repeated what most folks already know about her (i.e. her love for Oakland; going through the pain of never knowing her father, being placed in a foster home because when her drug-addicted mama wasn't taking up residence at a random trap house, she was taking up residence in the big house--jail, the men who raped her sister Neffy, meeting Tupac right his death; auditioning for MC Hammer, her relationship with Young Jeezy which she still refuses to talk about; yada, yada, yada and whatnot). So instead, I'll just post a few excerpts from the article.
KEYSHIA COLE ON OBTAINING & MAINTAINING FINANCIAL SECURITY IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY: When Keyshia claims that she's in the music business for the money, it's clear she really means for the security and steadiness. She's very conscious of her professional worth, and like a lot of people raised with next to nothing, ultra-conscious of what she has and where it is. Keyshia proudly proclaims without a bit of hesitation, 'I get $6,000 for a track, period. I get more than $50,000 for a show, so at this point in my life, I'm not hurting for money. It's like...what you gonna do? With your artistry? Are you gonna grow? As an entertainer? What you gonna do? I own my house. And we're going to stay doing this reality show--I own that. I own my car. And that's just from the first time around.'
KEYSHIA ON WHY SHE CHOSE TO PUT HER PERSONAL BUSINESS OUT IN THE OPEN VIA HER REALITY SHOW: I'm in this [business] because I care. I'm open with my life because people learn from that. And because I've been through a lot--it feels like...overcoming...because even though you didn't ask to be in this world, you gotta do something about it. I don't know how to be fake. What I feel like is what I feel like. I don't talk this way for nothing. I am who I am for a reason. My mother was a crack addict and I've been in a crackhouse, but all that created who's before you. Who am I to hide facts? People know now. Who I've become is who I want to be.'
KEYSHIA COLE ON OBTAINING & MAINTAINING FINANCIAL SECURITY IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY: When Keyshia claims that she's in the music business for the money, it's clear she really means for the security and steadiness. She's very conscious of her professional worth, and like a lot of people raised with next to nothing, ultra-conscious of what she has and where it is. Keyshia proudly proclaims without a bit of hesitation, 'I get $6,000 for a track, period. I get more than $50,000 for a show, so at this point in my life, I'm not hurting for money. It's like...what you gonna do? With your artistry? Are you gonna grow? As an entertainer? What you gonna do? I own my house. And we're going to stay doing this reality show--I own that. I own my car. And that's just from the first time around.'
KEYSHIA ON WHY SHE CHOSE TO PUT HER PERSONAL BUSINESS OUT IN THE OPEN VIA HER REALITY SHOW: I'm in this [business] because I care. I'm open with my life because people learn from that. And because I've been through a lot--it feels like...overcoming...because even though you didn't ask to be in this world, you gotta do something about it. I don't know how to be fake. What I feel like is what I feel like. I don't talk this way for nothing. I am who I am for a reason. My mother was a crack addict and I've been in a crackhouse, but all that created who's before you. Who am I to hide facts? People know now. Who I've become is who I want to be.'
MORE PICS & EXCERPTS OF KEYSHIA IN VIBE MAGAZINE AFTER THE JUMP!
KEYSHIA COLE ON MOVING HER FAMILY TO ATLANTA: 'When I first say the house, I was like, This is it right here. I didn't know if I could afford it, but I was like, 'I'm buying this house.' Keyshia says she's pleased with herself for having purchased the six-bedroom mini-mansion with a rehearsal studio. 'I'm being responsible. Investing, buying things I'm supposed to buy.' As for security, Keyshia admits, 'Don't trust police. We don't need help, we got guns in the house and they're registered. We got guns because it's all women in the house. Who knows what men are going to do?' When Keyshia voiced her plans on placing security bars on the windows of her suburban estate, she said 'one-time' (a.k.a. the police) looked at her like, 'Huh?'
KEYSHIA'S ON HER FAVORITE TRACK FROM HER NEW ALBUM: 'Got to Get My Heart Back.' Cole says, 'Everyone who has ever loved or lost love can understand where I'm coming from. Once you feel that pain, you're like, 'Damn man, I ain't going through that no more.'
SEAN 'DIDDY' COMBS ON THE SIMILARITIES & DIFFERENCES BETWEEN KEYSHIA & MARY J. BLIGE: Having worked with Mary J. at the beginning of her career, Combs voiced his thoughts on the ways Cole and Blige are alike--and different. 'Vocally, it's two different styles. Maybe because I worked with both of them so closely, I can see it, hear it. They have different approaches, and the textures of their voices is different. Mary's voice is definitely deeper than Keyshia's. But there's a similarity between them as far as...pain. Most vocalist can't really translate pain through their voices. And they both come from the hip hop generation. They both know how to ride beats like a rap artist.'
KEYSHIA'S ON HER FAVORITE TRACK FROM HER NEW ALBUM: 'Got to Get My Heart Back.' Cole says, 'Everyone who has ever loved or lost love can understand where I'm coming from. Once you feel that pain, you're like, 'Damn man, I ain't going through that no more.'
SEAN 'DIDDY' COMBS ON THE SIMILARITIES & DIFFERENCES BETWEEN KEYSHIA & MARY J. BLIGE: Having worked with Mary J. at the beginning of her career, Combs voiced his thoughts on the ways Cole and Blige are alike--and different. 'Vocally, it's two different styles. Maybe because I worked with both of them so closely, I can see it, hear it. They have different approaches, and the textures of their voices is different. Mary's voice is definitely deeper than Keyshia's. But there's a similarity between them as far as...pain. Most vocalist can't really translate pain through their voices. And they both come from the hip hop generation. They both know how to ride beats like a rap artist.'
