Kandi Burruss (born May 17, 1976), better known by her stage names Kandi or Kandi Girl, is an American R&B singer-songwriter, actress, record producer, and television personality. She is also a former member of the group Xscape from Atlanta.

Early life[link]

Kandi was born on May 17, 1976 in Atlanta, Georgia to a single mother, Joyce Jones^{[citation needed]}. Kandi has stated she was definitely a daddy's girl before her father left the family when Kandi was 4. Kandi was very close to her brother Patrick, who was older by 7 1/2 years and later died in a car accident when Kandi was a young teenager. Her first major appearance, on BET's Teen Summit, introduced her to the public. Kandi Attended Tri- Cities High School In East Point GA.

Career[link]

Songwriting[link]

After the disbanding of Xscape, Burruss began to focus on production and songwriting. In 1999, Burruss teamed with bandmate Tameka "Tiny" Cottle to score the international number one hit "No Scrubs" for TLC. The single received a Grammy for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal, MTV Video Music Award, Billboard Music Award and Soul Train Music Award. That same year, Burruss scored a hit for Destiny's Child on their second album, "The Writing's on the Wall". "Bills, Bills, Bills", also topped the Billboard "Hot 100" chart & was followed by their second single "Bug a Boo", also penned by Burruss. Kandi would go on to work with then newcomer Pink by penning her debut single "There You Go" off Pink's debut album "Can't Take Me Home".

Burruss was the first African-American woman ever to win ASCAP's Songwriter of the Year award in 2000. She won for Songwriter of the year in the Rhythm & Soul category.^[1][2][3][4] She won for songwriting credits such as Destiny Child's "Bills, Bills, Bills" and TLC's No Scrubs.

Kandi's writing credits continued to grow by penning for the likes of Mariah Carey, Alicia Keys, Boyz II Men, Da Brat, NSYNC, N-Toon, Solo, Usher, Fantasia, Mýa, Joe, MC Lyte and Whitney Houston.

Kandi has since rewritten and executive produced "Tardy For The Party" for Real Housewives of Atlanta co-star Kim Zolciak's debut album. The song was made available to iTunes on September 1, 2009.

[edit] Kandi Koated and Reality Television (2009–present)

In early 2006, Kandi began work on her second album. The first single, "I Need", was a promotional single only. It featured rap duo 8Ball and MJG. Another song, "Keep It Gangsta" featuring rapper Lil Scrappy, was also set to appear on the album, although it was never released as a promo single.

Failing to generate any buzz, plans for the new album were temporarily put on hold. Burruss then teamed with Atlanta female rapper Rasheeda to form the duo Peach Candy, signed to D-Lo Entertainment. Their first single, titled "Bam", got little airplay and plans for this album were also put on hold. PeachCandy EP was released on iTunes with a 5-track lineup.

In 2009, Kandi joined the second season of the Bravo reality series, The Real Housewives of Atlanta, and went back to work on her second album, then titled B.L.O.G.. Her debut EP, the Fly Above EP, was released on October 29, 2009. The album will be released on her own record label, Kandi Koated Entertainment, and possibly Capitol Records, although the EP will only be released on Kandi Koated Entertainment. The album is confirmed to feature appearances from artists such as Rick Ross, Rasheeda, Gucci Mane and possibly Missy Elliott. Despite speculation that the lead single would be either "I Like Him" featuring Rick Ross and Rasheeda or "Trade Him In" featuring Gucci Mane, the lead single, "Fly Above", was released on October 6, 2009. It was later dubbed a promo single. Kandi signed a record deal with Asylum Records in early 2010^[5] and released her second album, Kandi Koated, on December 14, 2010. The lead single "Leave U" debuted at #89 on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. Kandi also made a cameo appearance along with Atlanta producer Jermaine Dupri on the first episode in the new television series, Single Ladies.

Kandi is now working on her music and Bravo has greenlit her new reality show, The Kandi Factory. "The Kandi Factory will capture a unique look at her successful music career as Kandi transforms two music hopefuls into the next big pop star."^{[citation needed]}

Personal life[link]

Kandi briefly dated Gerald Levert.

Burruss and ex-boyfriend Russell "Block" Spencer of Block Entertainment had a daughter named Riley Spencer^[6] on August 22, 2002.^[7]

In late 2008, Kandi began a relationship with Ashley "A.J." Jewell and after dating several months, the couple became engaged to be married in January 2009. Tensions began to rise between Jewell, who participated in the second season of The Real Housewives of Atlanta, and Kandi's mother over Jewell's having six children of his own with four different mothers. In June 2009, Burruss and Jewell called off the engagement and later dissolved their romantic relationship completely, though Jewell was quoted as saying they remained "good friends". He moved out of Burruss' home, although his 12-year-old twin daughters remain in her care.

Less than four months after separating from Burruss, on October 2, 2009, Jewell was killed outside of a club's parking lot in a fight. He suffered massive head trauma in a heated argument at the Body Tap Club, an Atlanta strip club. The police arrested a club manager named Fredrick Richardson. He has been charged with voluntary manslaughter.^[8] However, sickle-cell anemia may have played a significant role in the death. According to the medical examiner, it is likely that Jewell was worked up from the fight and because of his condition, could not replenish the oxygen he lost during the incident, which the doctor says could have fatal consequences. Two days after Jewell's death, Kandi posted an open-letter expressing her heartfelt grief over her loss. In late 2010, Kandi released Kandi Koated. Her album includes tracks such as "Me and U", "Fly Above", and "Haven't Loved Right". Many songs on her album are inspired by her late ex-fiance AJ.

Kandi and three of her friends started a "sex and relationship" webshow on Ustream titled Kandi Koated Nights. They have had numerous guests, including Katt Stacks, Tionna T. Smalls, Grand Hustle, Jazze Pha, Young Joc. The show began to air on television beginning in 2011.^[9]

Discography[link]

• 2000: Hey Kandi
• 2010: Kandi Koated

Awards[link]

Grammy

• 2000 (42nd Grammy Awards)

• • Record of the Year – No Scrubs – TLC (Nominated)
  • Album of the Year FanMail – TLC (songwriter) (Nominated)
  • Best R&B Song (Rhythm & Blues Song) – TlC for "No Scrubs" (Won)
  • Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals – TLC for "No Scrubs"(Won)
  • Best R&B Song (Rhythm & Blues Song) – Destiny's Child for "Bills, Bills, Bills" (Nominated)
  • Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals – Destiny's Child for "Bills, Bills, Bills" (Nominated)

ASCAP

• 2000
  • Songwriter of the Year (Rhythm & Sou) for "Bills, Bills, Bills" and "No Scrubs" (Won)

References[link]

External links[link]

• Kandi Burruss Twitter
• Kandi official Myspace Page
• StraightFromTheA.com
• Kandi Burruss Singersroom.com
• Kandi Talks About Xscpae BreakUp, Ghettofabu.com
• Kaandi/Rasheeda Form Peach Candy Duo, Ballerstatus.com
• Peach Candy official Myspace Page
• Kandi Burruss Interview
• Interview, HitQuarters Mar 2007