XSCAPE

These days Tameka ‘Tiny’ Cottle is best known for being the the fiancee of rap star T.I and one half of the BET reality TV show Toya and Tiny, while Kandi Burruss, an award-winning song-writer for the likes of Destiny’s Child and TLC, stars on the hit US reality TV show The Real Housewives of Atlanta. But back in 1993, they first came to the public’s attention as one half of the successful Atlanta female singing group Xscape.

Xscape hit the scene as one of the first acts from producer Jermaine Dupri’s So So Def label. Along with sisters Latocha and Tamika Scott, Jermaine groomed the quartet to be the ‘ghetto En Vogue’, and was responsible for penning some of their biggest hits. In terms of being the ghetto En Vogue, one thing the two groups did have in common was they all shared lead vocals and all had great voices, which isn’t the norm in most singing groups. Latocha had the edge on the voices though. She could ’sang’! Taking it to church each time!

But it should be noted that (and I’m not trying to dog them out), unlike En Vogue and even TLC, who were around at the time, Xscape used to get a bit of stick for not fitting the stereotyped cover girl/cute looks of a female group. Even rapper Notorious B.I.G had a pop at them on his track Dreams, where he delivered the infamous line, ‘I’d rather f—k RuPaul than those ugly ass Xscape b—ches,’ which didn’t go to well with the ladies (see below)

I remember their first two singles Just Kickin’ It and Understanding from their debut album Hummin’ Comin’ At Cha, clearly. Again I came across these videos on The Box. I was in college at the time and everyone used to say that my best friend Shalrina (still my bestie today) was a prettier version of Tiny! lol! My friend is Filipino, and back then peeps used to think Tiny was also of Asian descent. It wasn’t till years later, having seen her parents on her reality TV show Toya and Tiny, I realised she was actually mixed race (half black and half white). But regardless of her ethnicity, she and the other girls brought something fresh and new to the music scene at the time.

The videos for both songs showcased the girls as four tomboys dressed in baggy jeans, shirts, waistcoats boots, beanie hats and bandannas.

Just Kickin It came under a bit of an attack back in the day due to its lyrics, it was like a ghetto version of Destiny’s Child’s Cater 2 U, and was accused of being degrading to women, as it spoke about a woman waiting on her man to some degree. I think the criticism was a bit OTT to be honest, peep some of the lyrics below and judge for yourself.

‘Every man wants a woman,
That can cook him up a good meal.
A woman he can treat like his homie,
And take her out on the Ave. and just chill.
Every man wants a woman,
That ain’t good for just laying on her back.
And I’m that kind of woman,
So before me and my man get in the sack…’

Out of the two Understanding was my jam and I used to sing it till I was hoarse. Such a powerful song, with some of the smoothest harmonies you’ll ever hear. It is definitely one of those songs that really draws you in. Unfortunately my voice wasn’t (ahem) quite up to the standard of the the group itself, who sounded amazing on this track, about a girl pleading for her guy to listen to her and to keep the lines of communication open. The video was in black and white and featured the group singing in what looked like a warehouse, with inserted shots of Tiny trying to reason with her man!

Xscape released their follow-up album titled Off The Hook in 1995. This time round their image was a lot more polished and slick, and the lyrics and songs took on a grown and sexy tone. For example the video for the  first single Feels So Good features the ladies in lingerie, tight fitting clothes, more coiffed hair styles, and in some scenes provocatively drenched in water.

The biggest song from this album though was undoubtedly top ten single Who Can I Run To? which was such a tune! Still is! The doo-wop harmonies have a real old school Motown vibe, but with a 90s flavour! The follow-up release  Do You Want To? which featured a sequel video (both below), was also a nice track.

In 1996 the ladies went back to their b-girl roots by hooking up with MC Lyte for the top ten hit Keep on Keepin’ On, from the soundtrack for the film Sunset Park (below). The song proved  popular in the clubs and in the charts.

Xscape’s third and final album was Traces Of My Lipstick (1998), and on this one they took it there with the down low (by way of a having an affair with an attached man) anthem My Little Secret. Latocha also shone on   the Diane Warren written power ballad Run To The Arms Of the One Who Loves You, which reached the top ten in the US charts. Like the previous two, this album also sold a million copies, but it was to be their last, at least with the original line-up.

The group broke up in the late 90s, which was a damn shame as they were still very popular. No one could really understand it at the time. If I remember correctly LaTocha wanted to do a solo album and left. And when that didn’t work out, she apparently came back to the group. But by that time Kandi, who also had plans for a solo career, had also left and decided not to come back.

Years later in a radio interview with former shock jock-turned TV talk show host, Tamika Scott claimed the group disbanded because Kandi was having an affair with the group’s producer and label boss Jermaine Dupri. According to Tamika, this affected the group negatively as Kandi allegedly used her position to influence her role in the group, in terms of receiving favourtism. e.g. getting the lion’s share of lead vocals.

Whatever the case, Kandi  not coming back to the group turned out to be a good decision. Instead she teamed up with Tiny to form a song-writing duo. They went on to write TLC’s No Scrubs (1999). Kandi also went on to write Destiny’s Child’s Bills, Bills, Bills and Bug A Boo (also 1999), from the group’s sophomore album Writings on the Wall, and the hit song There You Go for then newcomer Pink’s debut album Take Me Home, all four songs were produced by her then partner (rumoured ex husband) Kevin ‘Shekspere’ Briggs.

These songs earned Kandi an ASCAP’s Songwriter of the Year award in 2000, in the Rhythm & Soul category, the first African American woman to do so. During her career Kandi has also penned tunes for Alicia Keys, NSYNC, Usher, Whitney Houston and Fantasia to name a few.

However despite her success with other artists, Kandi was unable to replicate the same success in her own solo career. Her debut solo album Hey Kandi failed to hit the top 40, while her debut solo single Don’t Think I’m Not, despite being huge in the clubs, failed to make a major impact on the US charts. I think it did moderately well over here, but she was dropped from her Columbia deal shortly after its release.

In recent years Kandy tried to start another group Peach Candy  with rapper Rasheeda, but it failed to take off. In 2009 she starred in the hit US reality TV show The Real Housewives of Atlanta, and made headlines last October when her former fiancee Ashley ‘AJ’ Jewell was murdered in a night club fight.

As for the other members of the group they reformed, minus Kandi, alongside new member Keisha Miles and released the single What’s Up? in 2005. A planned album titled Unchained has never been released.

Tiny is now in a high profile relationship with Atlanta rapper T.I, who is currently on house arrest in a half way house, having served most of his year long sentence for gun possession. He is scheduled for a March release. The couple have two young sons King (5) and Major(2). The couple also had a daughter who was still born in 2007. Tiny has another daughter Zonnique  from a previous relationship. Tiny currently stars in the BET reality TV show Toya and Tiny, with Toya Carter, ex wife of rapper Lil’ Wayne.

Latocha (above) released a solo single last year, titled Sun Goes Down, and is currently filming a reality TV show. (who isn’t these days? lol!).

Aside from snitching about who broke up the group and who was sleeping with who behind the scenes, Tamika has been busy as an ordained minister (following in the footsteps of her father). She recorded a gospel album, and has also writing songs for soundtracks for films such as Daddy’s Little Girls (Idris Elba). A few years back she starred in stage plays (Tyler Perry’s Meet The Browns).