Kina (musician)
Encyclopedia
Kina is an American
musician, best known for her work with Grammy Award
-nominated group Brownstone
, and her 2000 solo single "Girl from the Gutter." She is currently working on new music.
, Smokey Robinson
, Rolling Stones and Aretha Franklin
.
Her first taste of stardom came when she was picked as a replacement member for the Grammy-nominated band Brownstone
in 1995. In 1997, as the group failed to match its previous successes, Kina decided to leave the band to pursue a solo career.
She then met producer London Jones who helped her begin writing material for her solo release. She soon had a record deal with DreamWorks Records
. After a performance at the Mint Club in Los Angeles
Benny Medina came on board as her manager.
Kina has also done some acting. In 1993 she appeared in Poetic Justice
in a minor role. In 2002 she portrayed Sweet in one episode of the TV show Robbery Homicide Division
. Later that year she starred alongside DJ Qualls and Eliza Dushku
in the film The New Guy
.
"Girl from the Gutter" was followed by the single "Me," which peaked at #3 on the same chart. "Have a Cry" was released to radio but never charted.
To date this is Kina's only released album. Kina parted ways with Dreamworks Records
shortly after the final single release.
A few years after their release, Kina's songs began popping up in various TV shows. In fall 2005 "Give & Take" and "I Love You" both appeared in an episode of the UPN sitcom Girlfriends
. Kina's song "Sincerely" was also featured in the major motion picture Beauty Shop
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
musician, best known for her work with Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
-nominated group Brownstone
Brownstone (group)
Brownstone is an American female contemporary R&B group that was popular during the mid-1990s. They are best known for their 1995 hit single "If You Love Me," which was nominated for a Best R&B Performance Grammy Award...
, and her 2000 solo single "Girl from the Gutter." She is currently working on new music.
Early life and career beginnings
Kina grew up listening to Lenny KravitzLenny Kravitz
Leonard Albert "Lenny" Kravitz is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and arranger, whose "retro" style incorporates elements of rock, soul, R&B, funk, reggae, hard rock, psychedelic, folk and ballads...
, Smokey Robinson
Smokey Robinson
William "Smokey" Robinson, Jr. is an American R&B singer-songwriter, record producer, and former record executive. Robinson is one of the primary figures associated with Motown, second only to the company's founder, Berry Gordy...
, Rolling Stones and Aretha Franklin
Aretha Franklin
Aretha Louise Franklin is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. Although known for her soul recordings and referred to as The Queen of Soul, Franklin is also adept at jazz, blues, R&B, gospel music, and rock. Rolling Stone magazine ranked her atop its list of The Greatest Singers of All...
.
Her first taste of stardom came when she was picked as a replacement member for the Grammy-nominated band Brownstone
Brownstone (group)
Brownstone is an American female contemporary R&B group that was popular during the mid-1990s. They are best known for their 1995 hit single "If You Love Me," which was nominated for a Best R&B Performance Grammy Award...
in 1995. In 1997, as the group failed to match its previous successes, Kina decided to leave the band to pursue a solo career.
She then met producer London Jones who helped her begin writing material for her solo release. She soon had a record deal with DreamWorks Records
DreamWorks Records
DreamWorks Records was an American record label. Founded in 1996 by David Geffen, Steven Spielberg and Jeffrey Katzenberg as a subsidiary of DreamWorks SKG, the label operated until 2005 when it was shut down...
. After a performance at the Mint Club in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
Benny Medina came on board as her manager.
Kina has also done some acting. In 1993 she appeared in Poetic Justice
Poetic Justice
Poetic Justice is a 1993 drama/romance film starring Janet Jackson, Tupac Shakur, Regina King and Joe Torry. It was written and directed by John Singleton....
in a minor role. In 2002 she portrayed Sweet in one episode of the TV show Robbery Homicide Division
Robbery Homicide Division
Robbery Homicide Division was an American police procedural television series on CBS, created by Barry Schindel with executive producer Michael Mann.-Premise:...
. Later that year she starred alongside DJ Qualls and Eliza Dushku
Eliza Dushku
Eliza Patricia Dushku is an American actress known for her television roles, including recurring appearances as Faith on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and its spinoff series Angel. She starred in two Fox series, Tru Calling and Dollhouse...
in the film The New Guy
The New Guy
The New Guy is a 2002 American teen comedy directed by Ed Decter. The film tells the story of high school loser Dizzy Gillespie Harrison. Dizzy is an unpopular, high school band geek going through a hellish senior year...
.
Solo career
Kina soon found success with her single "Girl from the Gutter," which received strong airplay and peaked at #21 on the Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart. She then released her self-titled debut album on July 18, 2000. Kina peaked at #14 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart."Girl from the Gutter" was followed by the single "Me," which peaked at #3 on the same chart. "Have a Cry" was released to radio but never charted.
To date this is Kina's only released album. Kina parted ways with Dreamworks Records
DreamWorks Records
DreamWorks Records was an American record label. Founded in 1996 by David Geffen, Steven Spielberg and Jeffrey Katzenberg as a subsidiary of DreamWorks SKG, the label operated until 2005 when it was shut down...
shortly after the final single release.
A few years after their release, Kina's songs began popping up in various TV shows. In fall 2005 "Give & Take" and "I Love You" both appeared in an episode of the UPN sitcom Girlfriends
Girlfriends
Girlfriends is an American comedy-drama sitcom that premiered on September 11, 2000, on UPN and aired on UPN's successor network, The CW, before being cancelled in 2008...
. Kina's song "Sincerely" was also featured in the major motion picture Beauty Shop
Beauty Shop
Beauty Shop is a 2005 American comedy film, directed by Bille Woodruff. The film is a spin-off of the Barbershop film franchise, and stars Queen Latifah as Gina, a character which was first introduced in the 2004 film Barbershop 2: Back in Business...
.
External links
- VH1.com Artist page
- [ Allmusic Kina page]