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K. Michelle

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K. Michelle
K. Michelle in 2015
K. Michelle in 2015
Background information
Birth nameKimberly Michelle Pate[1]
BornMemphis, Tennessee, United States
GenresR&B, soul
Occupation(s)singer, songwriter, television personality
InstrumentVocals
Years active2009–present
LabelsAtlantic, Jive, RCA
Websitethekmichelle.com

Kimberly Michelle Pate, better known by her stage name K. Michelle, is an American R&B singer, songwriter, television personality, guitarist[2] and pianist. In 2009, she signed a record deal to Jive Records, and then she released her first R&B-charting single, called "Fakin' It" featuring Missy Elliott,[3] preceded by the release of these three R&B songs —"Fallin'", "I Just Can't Do This", and "How Many Times"— that all of them have attained their spots on the charts, before she left Jive Records. In 2012, Michelle garnered further attention by appearing in VH1's reality series Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta. Following her appearance on the show, landed her a record deal to Atlantic Records, which she later released her long-delayed debut album Rebellious Soul on August 13, 2013. The album saw commercial success, debuting at number 2 on the US Billboard 200, and number one on the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts.[4]

Michelle's The Rebellious Soul Musical, directed by a Golden Globe winner Idris Elba, debuted on VH1 on August 19, 2014.[5] In 2014, Michelle received her own reality TV show K. Michelle: My Life. Michelle then released her second album Anybody Wanna Buy a Heart?, which debuted at number 6 on the US Billboard 200, and number one on the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts. She became the first ever African American to have an endorsement deal with Jack Daniels to begin developing her own drink. On March 25, 2016, she released her third album More Issues Than Vogue, which debuted at number 2 on the US Billboard 200, and number one on the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts.

Early life

Michelle was born Kimberly Michelle Pate. As a child, Kimberly learned to play piano and guitar, and took voice lessons from Bob Westbrook, who also trained pop singers Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears. She graduated from Overton High School in 2000.[6][7] She earned a music scholarship to Florida A&M University (FAMU) by yodeling at her audition. She was crowned the Freshman Attendant of the Homecoming Court in late 2000 at the age of 18.[8] She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta sorority having pledged FAMU's Beta Alpha chapter in the Fall of 2001.[9] She reports that she stopped attending classes for a short time to have a baby boy in September 2004, then returned to finish college. She graduated from FAMU with honors and was accepted into several law schools but decided to forgo law school to pursue music full-time.[10][11][12] The father of her son ended up marrying her sorority sister.[13]

Michelle's age was reported in her college yearbook as 18 in late 2000, which would put her birth year at 1982.[8] Her age was reported as 31 in 2015 by The Source magazine, which would put her birth year at 1984.[14] AllMusic's biography of her gives a birth year of 1986.[15] The editor of "GossipWeLove.com" commented on the discrepancies in reported birth year, registering disbelief that Michelle could have entered college, and won her class's prom beauty contest, at age 14. Michelle formed a college friendship with Basketball Wives actress Royce Reed who was born in 1981.[16]

Career

2009–13: Career beginnings, TV work and debut album

File:Ballasyrkellypic.jpg
Michelle got introduced to R. Kelly, who then became her mentor.

In 2009, Michelle began her music career when she signed a contract deal with Jive Records. After signing a deal, she released the buzz single, titled "Fakin' It". In the same year, the song garnered quite some attention from the public eye. The Missy Elliott-assisted single attained a slight attention, when it peaked at number 100 on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. The song not only charted, but it also captivated the urban audience due to the influx of sexual lyrics in the song. In 2010, following the buzz single's release, Michelle went on to release three follow-up singles: "Fallin'", "I Just Can't Do This" and "How Many Times", which respectively charted at numbers 56, 53, and 53 on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, before she was brought out of her label contract by Jive Records in October 2011.[17] At the time, Michelle was in the process of recording her debut album, originally titled Pain Medicine, which was slated to have features and collaborations from artists such as Trina,[18][19] Gucci Mane, Akon, Usher, Missy Elliott [3] and R. Kelly. The album was scrapped due to her departure from Jive Records.

In 2012, Michelle joined the cast on season one of VH1's reality TV show Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta.[20] During its run, Michelle announced that she would be leaving the show after the second season to move to New York to join Love & Hip Hop: New York for its fourth season, to help boost ratings and focus more on her music career.[21] Following her appearance on the reality series, Michelle signed a deal with Atlantic Records and has since then she confirmed that her debut album would likely be released sometime in 2013.[22] The song, titled "I Just Wanna" was released as a buzz single for the album. On May 20, 2013, she released the lead single, titled "V.S.O.P.". The track was produced by Pop & Oak, and samples "Very Special" performed by Debra Laws, as well as "That's How Long" performed by The Chi-Lites.[23][24] "V.S.O.P." reached at number 89 on the US Hot 100 Singles[25] and number 27 on the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts.[17] The music video (directed by Benny Boom) was released on June 29, 2013.[26][27]

Her debut studio album, Rebellious Soul was released on August 13, 2013, debuting at number 2 on the US Billboard 200 and number one on the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts, with first-week sales of 72,000 copies in the United States.[28] As of December 2014, Rebellious Soul has sold over 260,000 copies.[29] On November 4, 2013, she headlined her first tour, The "Rebellious Soul" Tour presented by BET Music Matters. The 19 city tour kicked off in San Francisco and ended December 3, 2013 in Boston. It included stops in Los Angeles, Houston, Chicago, and Atlanta. Opening acts featured Chris Brown protégé Sevyn Streeter and Tiara Thomas. On January 14, 2014, the album's second single "Can't Raise a Man" was released, which peaked at number 94 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 23 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts.

2014–present: Anybody Wanna Buy a Heart?, More Issues Than Vogue, and returning to Love & Hip Hop Atlanta

Michelle announced that she would be joining Robin Thicke on the North American leg of his Blurred Lines Tour, which began on February 21, 2014, in Atlanta, Georgia. On February 14, 2014, she released a mixtape project titled Still No Fucks Given.[30] On March 5, 2014, VH1 announced that Michelle would star in her own show K. Michelle: My Life chronicles the singer's life after Love & Hip Hop as well as her music career and life with family and friends.[31] It premiered on November 3, 2014.[31][32]

On September 16, 2014, Michelle released "Love 'Em All" on iTunes as the first single from her second album Anybody Wanna Buy a Heart?. Kevin, editor-in-chief of Spin Media website Direct Lyrics, described "Love 'Em All" as a "powerful and gritty" song and a "heartbreaker anthem".[33] On November 17, 2014, Michelle released "How Do You Know?" as her third single from Anybody Wanna Buy a Heart?, and it shot to number one on the iTunes R&B chart. Michelle announced that she would go on a joint tour with Keyshia Cole beginning in January 2015, to promote her VH1 reality show K. Michelle: My Life and sophomore album, as well as Keyshia Cole's album Point of No Return.[34]

On October 29, 2014, Michelle released the teaser trailer for Anybody Wanna Buy a Heart?. The album was released through Atlantic Records on December 9, 2014.[35] The album cover was also released a few hours later on her Twitter and Facebook page.[36][37] The album debuted at number four on the Billboard 200 chart, number one on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop chart and number one on the R&B chart, selling 87,000 copies in the first week of its release.[38] Although Anybody Wanna Buy a Heart? charted lower than Rebellious Soul, it topped Rebellious Soul's first-week sales. In its second week, the album sold 30,000 copies, bringing its sales to around 120,000 copies. As of June 2015, Anybody Wanna Buy a Heart? has sold over 230,000 copies. Rebellious Soul and Anybody Wanna Buy a Heart? have sold 500,000 copies worldwide.[39]

On January 21, 2016, Michelle released her lead single "Not a Little Bit" from her third studio album More Issues Than Vogue on her YouTube channel.[40] The song was released on iTunes January 22, 2016.[41] On February 11, 2016, "Ain't You" was released as the first promo single from the album.[42] More Issues Than Vogue was made available for pre-order on February 12, 2016 and was released on March 25, 2016.[43] On February 12, 2016, Michelle was featured in Billboard, sharing her Top 4 Anti-Valentine Anthems.[44] In the two weeks that followed the release of "Ain't You," two more promo singles ("Mindful" and "Time") were issued prior to the release of More Issues Than Vogue.[45][46] In May 2016, "Ain't You" was released as the album's official second single to Urban radio.

Michelle returned to Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta for its fifth season to promote her music and business ventures.[47][48]

Michelle toured for a month from July 14, 2016, to August 14, 2016 and on September 30, 2016 the singer released "Forward", a track taken from the feature film "Birth of a Nation".

Discography

Main article: K. Michelle discography

Tours

Headlining

Supporting

  • Ladies Make Some Noise Tour (supporting R. Kelly) (2009)
  • Blurred Lines Tour (supporting Robin Thicke) (2014)

Awards and nominations

Main article: List of awards and nominations received by K. Michelle

Filmography

Films

Year Film Role
2014 Rebellious Soul Musical Piper

Television

Year Series Role
2012–13, 2016 Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta Herself
2013–14 Love & Hip Hop: New York
2014–present K. Michelle: My Life
2015 Love & Hip Hop Live: The Wedding
2015 Punk'd
2015 L.A. Hair
2016 Stevie J & Joseline: Go Hollywood

References

  1. ^ "K. Michelle at The Breakfast Club". The Breakfast Club (radio show) (Interview). Interviewed by Charlamagne Tha God, DJ Envy, and Angela Yee. New York City: WWPR. November 20, 2012. {{cite interview}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Unknown parameter |subjectlink= ignored (|subject-link= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: interviewers list (link)
  2. ^ "Interview: K. Michelle Talks "Rebellious Soul", Winning Once She Stopped Caring, Reality TV". New R&B Music, R&B Videos, R&B Interviews, R&B Concert Coverage - YouKnowIGotSoul. Retrieved January 12, 2015.
  3. ^ a b "K. Michelle Chart History (Peak Dates)". Billboard. Retrieved September 15, 2012.
  4. ^ "News: K. Michelle's Rebellious Soul Album Sales Lead To Impressive Debut". Singersroom. Retrieved January 12, 2015.
  5. ^ "K. Michelle To Star In Idris Elba Directed Musical". The Urban Daily. Retrieved January 12, 2015.
  6. ^ "Overton High visited by former student K. Michelle | The Teen Appeal". Theteenappeal.wordpress.com. May 21, 2015. Retrieved July 28, 2016.
  7. ^ Jane Roberts (October 8, 2010). "Entertainers preach gospel of earning an education - The Commercial Appeal". Web.archive.org. Retrieved July 28, 2016.
  8. ^ a b Rattler. Florida A&M University. 2001. Retrieved January 12, 2015.
  9. ^ "K.Michelle talks Delta Sigma Theta, being a role model". S2SMagazine.com. Retrieved January 12, 2015.
  10. ^ http://www.vibe.com/2016/03/k-michelle-endorses-hillary-clinton-for-president/
  11. ^ Shamika Sanders (July 27, 2014). "Who Is K. Michelle's Baby Daddy? "Love & Hip Hop Atlanta"". The Urban Daily. Retrieved July 28, 2016.
  12. ^ "K. Michelle Talks Beef With Keyshia Cole & Working With R-Kelly On Her Debut Album". The Urban Daily. Retrieved July 28, 2016.
  13. ^ "K. Michelle on Beef with Tamar and Not Sexing Chad Ochocinco (Watch)". EURweb.com. Retrieved July 28, 2016.
  14. ^ "Her Source | Our #WCW is the Birthday Girl, K.Michelle!". The Source. Retrieved July 28, 2016.
  15. ^ "K. Michelle | Biography, Albums, & Streaming Radio". AllMusic. March 4, 1986. Retrieved July 28, 2016.
  16. ^ "So... K. Michelle Pulling A "Karlie Redd" Stunt, Lies About Her Real Age? | Gossipwelove | Celebrity Events Gossip News and Lifestyle Magazine". Gossipwelove. March 4, 1986. Retrieved July 28, 2016.
  17. ^ a b "K. Michelle". Billboard.com. Retrieved January 12, 2015.
  18. ^ "K. Michelle: "I'm the Happiest I've Been in My Career"". bet.com. August 2, 2011. Retrieved August 29, 2012.
  19. ^ Canada, Danielle (July 1, 2011). "K. Michelle Says "Fawk Jive Records", Talks R. Kelly Mentorship, Crush on Lupe Fiasco". hiphopwired.com. Retrieved August 29, 2012.
  20. ^ "Love & Hip Hop Atlanta " Cast › K.Michelle". vh1.com. Retrieved August 29, 2012.
  21. ^ Muhammad, Latifah (April 18, 2013). "K. Michelle Confirms She's Leaving Love & Hip Hop Atlanta". BET.
  22. ^ "K. Michelle Signs Major Record Deal With Warner Bros, Talks Being Blessed". Singersroom. November 19, 2012. Retrieved August 20, 2013.
  23. ^ "Pass Or Play? K Michelle Shows Her Skills In New "V.S.O.P." Video". MadameNoire. Retrieved January 12, 2015.
  24. ^ "BRAND NEW MUSIC: K. Michelle's "V.S.O.P" Single | The Young, Black, and Fabulous". Theybf.com. Retrieved July 23, 2013.
  25. ^ "K. Michelle". Billboard.com. Retrieved January 12, 2015.
  26. ^ BRIAN Davis / July 1st, 2013 (July 1, 2013). "Music Video: K. Michelle – "V.S.O.P." – Concreteloop.Com | Quality Not Quantity". Concreteloop.com. Retrieved July 23, 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  27. ^ Exton, Emily (July 1, 2013). "Watch K.Michelle's Music Video For "V.S.O.P." | Reality TV + Gossip". Blog.vh1.com. Retrieved July 23, 2013.
  28. ^ Tardio, Andres. "Hip Hop Album Sales: The Week Ending 8/18/2013". HipHopDX. Retrieved August 21, 2013. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  29. ^ "HITSDailyDouble: Upcoming Releases". Hitsdailydouble.com. Retrieved January 12, 2015.
  30. ^ "K. Michelle - Still No Fucks Given". Orangemixtapes.com. Retrieved January 12, 2015.
  31. ^ a b Rose, Lacey (March 5, 2014). "VH1 Unveils New Slate: Rappers, DNA Testing and Walks of Shame". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 5, 2014.
  32. ^ Augustine, Afiya (July 21, 2014). "K. Michelle's New Spin-Off Reality Show Gets Air Date (PHOTO)". Wetpaint. Retrieved July 31, 2014.
  33. ^ "Listen: K. Michelle Premieres Heartbreaker Anthem "Love 'Em All"". Directlyrics. Retrieved January 12, 2015.
  34. ^ "Keyshia Cole And K. Michelle Announce Joint Tour Beginning In January As "V.S.O.P." Singer Preps For New VH1 Reality Show 'My Life'". Music Times. Retrieved January 12, 2015.
  35. ^ Tube, You (October 29, 2014). "K. Michelle - #AWBAH Official Album Trailer". Company. Youtube. Retrieved October 30, 2014.
  36. ^ Wass, Mike (October 29, 2014). "K. Michelle Unveils Her Striking 'Anybody Wanna Buy A Heart' Album Cover & Official Trailer: Watch". Company. Idolator. Retrieved October 30, 2014.
  37. ^ Pate, Kimberly (October 29, 2014). "My new album 'Anybody Wanna Buy A Heart?' will be available December 9th!". Company. Twitter. Retrieved October 30, 2014.
  38. ^ "Hip Hop Album Sales: J. Cole, Eminem, PRhyme". Hiphopdx.com. Retrieved January 12, 2015.
  39. ^ "K. Michelle". Billboard. Retrieved January 12, 2015.
  40. ^ "K. Michelle - Not A Little Bit (Official Audio)". Youtube. Retrieved February 17, 2016.
  41. ^ "Not a Little Bit - Single by K. Michelle". iTunes. Retrieved February 17, 2016.
  42. ^ "K. Michelle - Ain't You (Official Audio)". Youtube. Retrieved February 17, 2016.
  43. ^ "More Issues Than Vogue by K. Michelle". iTunes. Retrieved February 17, 2016.
  44. ^ "K. Michelle Shares Her Top 4 Anti-Valentine Anthems". Billboard. Billboard. Retrieved February 27, 2016.
  45. ^ "K. Michelle Mindful Stream [New Song]". HotNewHipHop. HotNewHipHop. Retrieved February 27, 2016.
  46. ^ "K. Michelle Time Stream [New Song]". HotNewHipHop. HotNewHipHop. Retrieved February 27, 2016.
  47. ^ "K. Michelle Announces Return to Love & Hip Hop Atlanta: Video | Wetpaint, Inc". Wetpaint.com. December 28, 2015. Retrieved July 28, 2016.
  48. ^ "K. Michelle Shows Off Smaller Back Side & Confirms 'LHHATL' Return". Vibe.com. December 28, 2015. Retrieved July 28, 2016.
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