Khia
Encyclopedia
Khia Shamone Chambers better known just as Khia, is an American
rapper
, songwriter
, singer, and record producer
.
neighborhood, and she moved to Tampa, Florida
when she was 11. Khia attended Dowdell Middle School and Hillsborough High School. She was expelled from Hillsborough during ninth grade and attended an alternative school afterwards. Khia dropped out of high school in 10th grade after becoming pregnant, and she moved in with the baby's father, who was in the U.S. military. In 1991, Khia had her first child, a daughter also named Khia. In 1992, she moved to Hawaii
when the father was stationed there and had her second child with him, a son named Rashawn. Before becoming a rapper, she worked as a bartender at Club XS in Tampa, Florida
. Her mother Carol Belinda Chambers, who was a data entry specialist, died in 2001.
in 2002 on Dirty Down/Artemis Records as a re-release from the original version by Divine Records. Thug Misses entered the American Billboard 200
chart at #175 but later topped the Billboard Independent Albums
chart and peaked at #33 on the Billboard 200 and #13 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
chart. During its first week, Thug Misses sold 4,000 copies. The lead single "My Neck, My Back (Lick It)
" became a breakthrough hit, charting at #42 on the Hot 100
chart and #12 on the Hot Rap Tracks
chart. MTV News reported that she wrote "My Neck, My Back" in 15 minutes. The single was also featured on the soundtrack of Fox
's TV series Dark Angel
. The second single, "You My Girl", was a dedication to her mother. The emotional track paying homage to her mother was not well received by radio and was panned by critics. Khia also performed this song on Miss Rap Supreme during a freestyle battle.
and Tampa Tony called "Jump On It" from Trick's album Thug Matrimony: Married to the Streets
.
Khia's second album was supposed to be released in 2003 by the title "Street Preacher". The album was complete by mid 2003, and was set for released by the end of 2003, but the album got shelved for unknown reasons. In 2006 Khia recorded another album to be her second album, Gangstress.
Khia's second album, Gangstress
, was released in July 2006 on Phase One Communications. It debuted at #67 on the Billboard R&B chart. Later in 2006, Khia also collaborated with Janet Jackson
on her hit "So Excited
", which peaked at #90 on the Hot 100 and #1 on the Hot Dance Club Play
chart.
In Fall 2006, Khia released a mixtape, All Hail the Queen: Hit 'Em Up Mixtape, after the release of the album. The mixtape, like her career, fell into obscurity.
, and still with her own label Thug Misses Entertainment, Khia finished working on her third studio album, Nasti Muzik, released on July 22, 2008. "What They Do" was the first promotional single on the album, which featured Atlanta rapper Gucci Mane
. The first single, "Be Your Lady", was produced by Tampa's Push-a-Key Productions. Nasti Muzik premiered at #66 on the R&B chart selling a little over 1,400 copies in its first week. Khia promoted the up-and-coming album by releasing a mixtape entitled The Boss Lady, which was hosted by DJ Scream.
Khia participated in the VH1
reality show Miss Rap Supreme in 2008. Khia was eliminated from the competition for rapping a song recorded prior to the show, Respect Me.
Khia recently released "Fix Your Face", a song from her forthcoming mixtape (intended to be a iBeyonce diss) "Damage Control" (featuring iBeyonce) and 2 singles digitally on iTunes, "So Addicted" & "Spend It On Me."
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
rapper
Rapping
Rapping refers to "spoken or chanted rhyming lyrics". The art form can be broken down into different components, as in the book How to Rap where it is separated into “content”, “flow” , and “delivery”...
, songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
, singer, and record producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
.
Early life
Khia was born on November 8, 1977 in Philadelphia and was raised in its GermantownGermantown, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Germantown is a neighborhood in the northwest section of the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, about 7–8 miles northwest from the center of the city...
neighborhood, and she moved to Tampa, Florida
Tampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
when she was 11. Khia attended Dowdell Middle School and Hillsborough High School. She was expelled from Hillsborough during ninth grade and attended an alternative school afterwards. Khia dropped out of high school in 10th grade after becoming pregnant, and she moved in with the baby's father, who was in the U.S. military. In 1991, Khia had her first child, a daughter also named Khia. In 1992, she moved to Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
when the father was stationed there and had her second child with him, a son named Rashawn. Before becoming a rapper, she worked as a bartender at Club XS in Tampa, Florida
Tampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
. Her mother Carol Belinda Chambers, who was a data entry specialist, died in 2001.
2002: Thug Misses
Khia released her debut album, Thug MissesThug Misses
Thug Misses is the debut album by American rapper Khia. The album was released on October 30, 2001 in the United States on Divine Records. The album spawned the hit single "My Neck, My Back ", peaking at #33 on the US Billboard 200 and certified Gold by the RIAA in September 2002...
in 2002 on Dirty Down/Artemis Records as a re-release from the original version by Divine Records. Thug Misses entered the American Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
chart at #175 but later topped the Billboard Independent Albums
Independent Albums
The Billboard Independent Albums is a chart of the highest-selling independent music albums and extended plays in the United States, compiled by Nielsen SoundScan and published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is used to list artists who are not signed to major labels...
chart and peaked at #33 on the Billboard 200 and #13 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums is a chart published by Billboard magazine that ranks R&B and hip hop albums based on sales compiled by Nielsen SoundScan. The name of the chart was changed from Top R&B Albums in 1999...
chart. During its first week, Thug Misses sold 4,000 copies. The lead single "My Neck, My Back (Lick It)
My Neck, My Back (Lick It)
"My Neck, My Back " is the the title of a song written and recorded by American rapper Khia. It was released in March 2002 as the lead single from her debut album, Thug Misses. The song reached number 42 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. It also reached the top five in the United Kingdom...
" became a breakthrough hit, charting at #42 on the Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
chart and #12 on the Hot Rap Tracks
Hot Rap Tracks
Rap Songs is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States. It lists the 25 most popular hip-hop/rap songs, calculated weekly by airplay on rhythmic and urban radio stations and sales in hip hop-focused or exclusive markets. From 1989 through 2001, it was based on how much the single...
chart. MTV News reported that she wrote "My Neck, My Back" in 15 minutes. The single was also featured on the soundtrack of Fox
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
's TV series Dark Angel
Dark Angel (TV series)
Dark Angel is an American biopunk/cyberpunk science fiction television series created by James Cameron and Charles H. Eglee. The show premiered in the United States on the Fox network on October 3, 2000, and was canceled after two seasons...
. The second single, "You My Girl", was a dedication to her mother. The emotional track paying homage to her mother was not well received by radio and was panned by critics. Khia also performed this song on Miss Rap Supreme during a freestyle battle.
2003–2006: Gangstress"
In 2004, Khia appeared on a track with Trick DaddyTrick Daddy
Maurice Young , better known by his stage name Trick Daddy, is a certified platinum American rapper and producer from Miami, Florida.-Music career:...
and Tampa Tony called "Jump On It" from Trick's album Thug Matrimony: Married to the Streets
Thug Matrimony: Married to the Streets
Thug Matrimony: Married to the Streets is the sixth studio album by Miami rapper Trick Daddy. The album debuted at #2 on the Billboard 200 with 145,000 copies sold in the first week released....
.
Khia's second album was supposed to be released in 2003 by the title "Street Preacher". The album was complete by mid 2003, and was set for released by the end of 2003, but the album got shelved for unknown reasons. In 2006 Khia recorded another album to be her second album, Gangstress.
Khia's second album, Gangstress
Gangstress
Gangstress is the second studio album by American rapper Khia. The album was released by Thug Misses Entertainment and Warlock Records on July 11, 2006 in the United States. The album was fully produced by Khia....
, was released in July 2006 on Phase One Communications. It debuted at #67 on the Billboard R&B chart. Later in 2006, Khia also collaborated with Janet Jackson
Janet Jackson
Janet Damita Jo Jackson is an American recording artist and actress. Known for a series of sonically innovative, socially conscious and sexually provocative records, as well as elaborate stage shows, television and film roles, she has been a prominent figure in popular culture for over 25 years...
on her hit "So Excited
So Excited
"So Excited" is a song by American R&B and pop singer-songwriter Janet Jackson, featuring rapper Khia. Released on August 28, 2006 as the second single from Jackson's ninth studio album, 20 Y.O. , it peaked at number ninety on the Billboard Hot 100, but managed to become Jackson's seventeenth...
", which peaked at #90 on the Hot 100 and #1 on the Hot Dance Club Play
Hot Dance Club Play
The Hot Dance Club Songs chart is a weekly national survey of the songs that are most popular in U.S. dance clubs...
chart.
In Fall 2006, Khia released a mixtape, All Hail the Queen: Hit 'Em Up Mixtape, after the release of the album. The mixtape, like her career, fell into obscurity.
2007–2008: Nasti Muzik, Boss Lady Mixtape
After signing to Big Cat RecordsBig Cat Records (U.S. record label)
Big Cat Records is an Atlanta-based hip-hop record label distributed by Tommy Boy Entertainment. The label was founded in 1999 by two Melvin "Mel-Man" Breeden and Marlon Rowe. Big Cat Records is best known for the success of Khia, whose records on the label have sold over 2,000,000 units. Other...
, and still with her own label Thug Misses Entertainment, Khia finished working on her third studio album, Nasti Muzik, released on July 22, 2008. "What They Do" was the first promotional single on the album, which featured Atlanta rapper Gucci Mane
Gucci Mane
Radric Davis , better known by his stage name Gucci Mane, is an American rapper. He debuted in 2005 with Trap House and followed with albums such as Hard to Kill in 2006, Trap-A-Thon and Back to the Trap House in 2007. In 2009, his second studio album The State vs. Radric Davis was released...
. The first single, "Be Your Lady", was produced by Tampa's Push-a-Key Productions. Nasti Muzik premiered at #66 on the R&B chart selling a little over 1,400 copies in its first week. Khia promoted the up-and-coming album by releasing a mixtape entitled The Boss Lady, which was hosted by DJ Scream.
Khia participated in the VH1
VH1
VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
reality show Miss Rap Supreme in 2008. Khia was eliminated from the competition for rapping a song recorded prior to the show, Respect Me.
2009–2011: Motor Mouf/Khia Shamone/Pocket Monster
In 2010, she told the website HipHopDX that she would launch a singing career with her upcoming double album Motor Mouf/Khia Shamone, which will be released in 2011. The first single is "Been A Bad Girl". The video was directed in New York by Clifton Bell. It shows a different, more sensitive and feminine side of the rapper. The singer promoted the song on ABC News."So Addicted" will be the second song promoting the smooth R&B disc, Khia Shamone. The first single off Motor Mouf (a follow up to her previous dirty south albums) - "4real" is a rap song, and was released on December 3, 2010. The second single from Motor Mouf will be "Where's The Money".Khia recently released "Fix Your Face", a song from her forthcoming mixtape (intended to be a iBeyonce diss) "Damage Control" (featuring iBeyonce) and 2 singles digitally on iTunes, "So Addicted" & "Spend It On Me."
Discography
- Thug MissesThug MissesThug Misses is the debut album by American rapper Khia. The album was released on October 30, 2001 in the United States on Divine Records. The album spawned the hit single "My Neck, My Back ", peaking at #33 on the US Billboard 200 and certified Gold by the RIAA in September 2002...
(2002) - GangstressGangstressGangstress is the second studio album by American rapper Khia. The album was released by Thug Misses Entertainment and Warlock Records on July 11, 2006 in the United States. The album was fully produced by Khia....
(2006) - Nasti Muzik (2008)
- Motor Mouf a.k.a. Khia Shamone (2011)