Khia Shamone Chambers (born November 8, 1970), better known as Khia
is an American rapper, songwriter, singer and record producer.
Khia is known for her one song "My
Neck, My Back (Lick It)", which became a top five hit in the
UK Singles Chart and pushed her album to gold-selling status in
the U.S. As a result of her success, Khia was featured in collaboration
with Janet Jackson.
Khia was born in Philadelphia and was raised in its Germantown neighborhood,[2][3]
and she moved to Tampa, Florida when she was 11.[2] Khia attended
Dowdell Middle School and Hillsborough High School. She was expelled
from Hillsborough during ninth grade and attended an alternative
school afterwards.[4] 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.[2] Before becoming a rapper, she worked as a bartender
at Club XS in Tampa, Florida.[4] Her mother Carol Belinda Chambers,
who was a data entry specialist, died in 2001.[4][2]
[edit] Music career
[edit] 2001–2003: Thug Misses
Main article: Thug Misses
Khia's debut album, Thug Misses, was released on April 24, 2002
on Dirty Down/Artemis Records as a re-release from the original version
by Divine Records.[1] Thug Misses entered the American Billboard
200 chart at #175[5] 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.[6] During its first week, Thug Misses sold 4,000 copies.[7]
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.[8] MTV News reported that she wrote "My Neck,
My Back" in 15 minutes.[1] The single was also featured on the
soundtrack of Fox's TV series Dark Angel.[4] The second single, "You
My Girl", was a dedication to her mother.
[edit] 2003–2006: Gangstress
Main article: Gangstress
In 2004, Khia appeared on a track with Trick Daddy 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.[9] It debuted at #67 on the Billboard R&B
chart.[6] 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.[10]
In Fall 2006, Khia released a mixtape, All Hail the Queen: Hit 'Em
Up Mixtape, after the release of the album.
[edit] 2007–2008: Nasti Muzik
Main article: Nasti Muzik
After signing to Big Cat Records, 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.[6] 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.[11]
[edit] 2009–present: Motor Mouf/Khia Shamone
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.[12] The first single is "Been A Bad
Girl". The video was directed in New York by Clifton Bell.[13]
It shows a different, more sensitive and feminine side of the rapper.[14]
The singer promoted the song on ABC News.[15]"So Addicted" will
be the second song promoting the smooth R&B[16] disc, Khia Shamone.
The first single off Motor Mouf (a follow up to her previous dirty
south albums) - "4real" [17] is a rap song, and was released
on December 3, 2010.[18][19] The second single from Motor Mouf will
be "Where's The Money".[17]
"Fix Your Face" was released on March 1, 2011, and was
part of the album and mixtape, Damage Control.
[edit] Discography
Main article: Khia discography
Thug Misses (2002)
Gangstress (2006)
Nasti Muzik (2008)
Motor Mouf a.k.a. Khia Shamone (2012)