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Home • Celebrity

Keyshia Cole Through The Years

In 2004, when Keyshia Cole declared that she'd changed her mind, us girls had nothing to do but grab our radios and hold on. The feisty Oakland, Calif., native wowed us with sassy songs like "Let It Go," wailing romantic ballads like "Love," and wedding anthems like "Heaven Sent." Get ready for Keyshia's ESSENCE Festival performance by looking back at the petite songstress' style.
By Essence · Updated October 28, 2020
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01
Orange Bloom

Bursting onto the music scene with her Kanye West-produced “I Changed My Mind” in 2004, Keyshia Cole flew into our hearts with her orange hair and feisty spirit.

Keyshia Cole Through The Years
Ray Tamarra/Getty Images
02
Red Ringlets

Wearing red ringlets, Keyshia Cole took her gritty brand of R&B to MTV’s “TRL” countdown show in 2006 in New York City.

Keyshia Cole Through The Years
Frank Micelotta/Getty Images
03
Just Like You

In 2007, Keyshia Cole released her sophomore album “Just Like You,” and introduced us to her flattering bob haircut.

Keyshia Cole Through The Years
Scott Gries/Getty Images
04
The Way It Was

In addition to singing, Keyshia Cole’s life was captured on the BET reality show, “The Way It Is.”
The series ran from 2006-2008 and the cast included her mother Frankie, sister Neffie and then-manager Manny Halley.

Keyshia Cole Through The Years
05
Last Night

In 2008, Diddy’s Prince-esque “Last Night” featuring throaty vocals from Keyshia was at the top of the charts. Here the petite songstress attended the Bad Boy head’s birthday party while channelling a 1920’s look.

Keyshia Cole Through The Years
Steve Mack/FilmMagic
06
Blonde Bombshell

In early 2008, Keyshia Cole visited New York City with a golden short cut to promote her third album “A Different Me.”

Keyshia Cole Through The Years
Theo Wargo/WireImage
07
Grammy Nominated

In 2008 and 2009 Keyshia received Grammy Awards nominations. Here she is in 2009, when she earned nods for Best R&B Song and Best Female R&B Vocal Performance.

Keyshia Cole Through The Years
Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
08
Courting Ms. Cole

After an on-and-off relationship with Atlanta rapper Young Jeezy, Keyshia began dating basketball player Daniel “Boobie” Gibson. Here are the two at Mr. Chow’s Restaurant in 2009.

Keyshia Cole Through The Years
Koi Sojer/FilmMagic
09
Billie Holiday Blues

In 2011, Keyshia Cole performed in a form-fitting gown with a single flower in her hair, during the 4th annual BET Honors in Washington, D.C.

Keyshia Cole Through The Years
Kris Connor/Getty Images
10
You Complete Me

Following the release of her fourth album “Calling All Hearts,” Keyshia shows us that love is all about family as she poses with her husband Daniel “Boobie” Gibson and their son DJ in 2011. The group have a BET reality show called “Family First,”, which also shows Keyshia recording her fifth album.

Keyshia Cole Through The Years
Monica Morgan/WireImage