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This biography of a living person needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately from the article and its talk page, especially if potentially libelous. Find sources: "Kandi Burruss" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (July 2012) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

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

Early life

Kandi Burruss was born in Atlanta, Georgia and grew up the younger of two. Kandi has stated she was definitely a daddy's girl before her father left the family when she 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 and helped launch her career. Kandi attended Tri- Cities High School in East Point, Georgia.

Career

Songwriting

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 co-writing 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. 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. In 2006, she appeared on E-40's single "U and Dat", which also featured T-Pain.

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.

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 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.". She is also running a sex toy company called Bedroom Kandi.

Kandi Factory Cancelation

It looks like RHOA Kandi Buruss’ spinoff series, The Kandi Factory, will not be returning for a second season. The show struggled with lackluster ratings so this doesn’t come as a total shock but I’m sure Kandi isn’t thrilled with the way things went down. Kandi herself broke the news about her show not returning via twitter. A fan asked if the the Kandi Factory was coming back and Kandi’s response left little room for confusion: “unfortunately, no”.

In case you missed it (and, let’s face it, you probably did), The Kandi Factory was a competition show for singers. The plan was to turn an an everyday girl or guy into a superstar, a-la American Idol. Kandi Buruss is an award-winning song writer and artist, penning hits like “No Scrubs” for TLC and “Bills, Bills, Bills” for Destiny’s Child. And, of course, her latest claim to fame and current law-suit fodder: “Tardy For the Party” for fellow RHOA Kim Zolciak. Kandi’s music industry success and popularity as a Housewife seemed to be a winning formula prompting her Bravo spinoff series. As it turned out, the show didn’t seem to feature the same level of talent as other competition shows and viewers never really connected.

Resources: http://bravowatch.com/kandi-factory-cancelled/ by: Mia Ambreya

Personal life

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

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. But on October 22, after sustaining head injuries in a brawl, Jewell died

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.

On January 15, 2013, Kandi announced via Twitter that she is engaged to Todd Tucker, a line producer for The Real Housewives of Atlanta, whom she has been dating since 2011 while filming for the series' fourth season. Several season 5 episodes of The Real Housewives of Atlanta showed and discussed the house Kandi and Todd bought and moved into together.

Discography

• 2000: Hey Kandi...
• 2010: Kandi Koated

Awards

Grammy

• 2000 (42nd Grammy Awards)

• • Best R&B Song – TLC for "No Scrubs" (Won)
  • Best R&B Song (Rhythm & Blues Song) – Destiny's Child for "Bills, Bills, Bills" (Nominated)

ASCAP

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

See also

• "Tardy for the Party" lawsuit

References

1. "Dropping Knowledge > Playback Summer 2007". Ascap.com. June 23, 2007. Retrieved August 8, 2010.
2. "Sean `Puffy' Combs And Kandi Burruss Named ASCAP Songwriters Of The Year.(American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers Rhythm and Soul Music Awards.)(Brief Article) – Jet". Encyclopedia.com. June 26, 2000. Retrieved August 8, 2010.
3. "Interview: Kandi Burruss – Singer & Songwriter – Blogcritics Music". Blogcritics.org. Retrieved August 8, 2010.
4. ACE Title Search. The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers
5. "The Official Website of Kandi Burruss". Kandi Online. Retrieved August 8, 2010.
6. "Bravo Orders Season 1 of The Kandi Factory". Retrieved October 26, 2012.
7. "Parent Trap! Kandi Burruss Speaks on Bullying, Pre-Teen Sex and Mother-Daughter Talks!". UrbLife.com. November 17, 2010.
8. Real Housewives of Atlanta Episode 2.5, OAD August 27, 2009
9. "Richardon Charged With Voluntary Manslaughter". People.com. October 3, 2009. Retrieved August 8, 2010.
10. "Exclusive: "Real Housewives of Atlanta's" Kandi Burruss Speaks on Death of Fiance AJ". Hellobeautiful.com. October 6, 2009. Retrieved August 8, 2010.
11. "Real Housewives of Atlanta Star Kandi Burruss Engaged". EW. 1//16/2013. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); External link in |date= (help)

External links

• 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

Template:Persondata

• 1976 births
• African-American female singer-songwriters
• American film actresses
• African-American record producers
• American dance musicians
• American rhythm and blues singer-songwriters
• American female rappers
• Grammy Award-winning artists
• Living people
• Rappers from Atlanta, Georgia
• The Real Housewives cast members
• African-American actresses
• American television actresses