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Keshia Chanté

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Keshia Chanté

Keshia Chanté (born Keshia Chante Harper on June 16, 1988) is a Canadian Juno Award-winning critically acclaimed[4], singer, songwriter, actress[5], Ford model, socialite[6], beauty queen[7], Fashionista and Débutante for her relation to Canada's current Prime Minister Stephen Harper[8] . She signed to Sony BMG Canada at the age of 13[9][10] and as a result has released 2 major successful albums, and released 10 hit singles in Canada.[11]

Chante has been honoured with many awards and countless nominations, such as "Best New Artist" at the Canadian Radio Awards and Urban Music Awards, as well as "Video of the Year", "Fans Choice" and "Sexiest Female Artist".[12]

She is best known as the Canadian "Princess of Pop"[13][14] for 8 of her #1 radio hits, such as, "Shook (The Answer)", "Unpredictable", "Bad Boy", "Does He Love Me", "Let The Music Take You"[15], "Ring The Alarm", "Been Gone" and "2U".

She is known in the U.S for her "Bad Boy" video that was in heavy rotation on BET[16], her guest appearance in Bow Wow & Chris Brown's "Shortie Like Mine" video[15] and media attention surrounding her personal life.

Chante has also been controversially said to look strikingly similar to the late Aaliyah[17], even being called her doppelgänger, as a result she has been chosen to play Aaliyah in the upcoming biopic of the singer's life.[18].

Biography

1988–2003: Early life

Keshia Chanté was born in Ottawa, Ontario and she went to St. Peter Catholic High School and then moved to a suburb of Toronto[19], Brampton, Ontario at the age of 14. She then attended Fletcher's Meadow Secondary School, and graduated as a straight-A student with her class in 2007[20] . Her father is of Trinidadian descent and her mother is of Portuguese and Puerto Rican descent.[21][22][23].

In 1994, at the age of six, Chante began singing for the first time. Her first performance was Dear Mama by Tupac Shakur. The performance was taped, and seven years later passed on to a DJ who handed it off to a talent scout at SonyBMG[24].

Chanté cites Tupac Shakur[25][26] as her idol, with Beyoncé[27], Aaliyah[28] and Christina Aguilera[29] as her early childhood musical influences. For fashion inspirations, Chanté cites Jennifer Lopez and Donatella Versace[30].

2003-2005: Keshia Chanté

Main article: Keshia Chanté (album)

Her debut "Shook (The Answer)" appeared in early 2003. It was only meant to be a "buzz" single but it surprisingly broke into the Top 10 on Canadian music charts and won an Urban Music Award for "Best Pop/R&B Single".

For the follow-up, "Unpredictable" went #1 on both radio & video charts[31], she released her first video, which hit number one on YTV and the top ten on MuchMusic. In November 2003, the CD single of "Unpredictable" was certified gold. Because of that single, in 2003, she won the Canadian Radio Music Award for "Best New Solo Artist". It also became the highest selling single in Canada and the only Canadian artist to do so, other than Shania Twain. [32]

In early February 2004, Chanté's third single, "Bad Boy", was released. It was also successful, breaking the Top 5 on radio and becoming the #1 video on MuchMusic for 4 weeks. The video was directed by director Little X.[33]

Later, in June 2004, Chanté topped the charts again (Top 5) with the release of her fourth single "Does He Love Me?" ft. Foxy Brown which Chanté & Foxy Brown wrote and "Young Gav" (Foxy Brown's older brother) produced. The video was also directed by Little X and became #1 on MuchMusic for 3 weeks. The video also garnered her an Urban Music Video Award for "Video of the Year".

On June 22, 2004 Chanté released her debut album self-titled debut album. On December 3, 2004 it was certified gold. It contained her previous singles, as well as her later to be released fifth "Let the Music Take You" penned by Chanté. In October 2004, at the Canadian Urban Music Awards Chanté swept all three of nominations, winning awards for "Best New Artist", "Video of the Year" (for Bad Boy), "Fans' Choice Award" and by surprise taking home the "Rising Star of the Year" award.[34] In that same month, she also sang the national anthem at the Canadian Football League's Grey Cup[35].

In November 2004, Chante did her first American interview with BET's Rated Next[36] and performed with Alicia Keys.[37]

In December 2004, Chante headlined Nathan Phillips Square for New Year's Eve.[38]

In February 2005, Chante won Chartattack Awards for "Best Album" and "Sexiest Female"[39]. During the same month, she was also selected to represent Canada at Expo 2005 held in Japan.

In July 2005, Chanté went on a cross Canada mall and venue tour sponsored by Solo Mobile (Bell), EckoRed and SPC sponsored Chante's tour across Canada which helped raise awareness for phone counseling service Kids Help Phone[40].

In September 2005, Chante performed on tour with Destiny's Child throughout Canada during there Destiny Fulfilled ... And Lovin' It tour, and is also included on the Destiny's Child Live In Atlanta Tour DVD[41].

In October 2005, Chante received four nominations at the Urban Music Awards.[42]

2006-2007: 2U

Main article: 2U (album)

After her signing, Chanté moved to New York to begin working on her second album. During that time, Chanté was on Teen People Magazines "Rock The Runway" Mall Tour (where Ciara started) and Seventeen Magazine's "Rock N' Shop" Mall Tour (where Britney Spears started). In May 2006, she posted 3 brand new songs, "Been Gone", "Kiss" and "Summer Love" on MySpace.

In March 2006 she released her "2U" Album teaser single, "Ring The Alarm", which was used for WarChild's "Keep The Beat" charity campaign. All the proceeds from "Ring The Alarm" went to supported children at war and was also featured on triple platinum compilation "MuchDance 2006".

In July of that year, she released her single "Been Gone", produced by Philadelphia's Matrax Productions. The video was shot by Little X (making it her 3rd collaboration with him) and was shot inside of "Fletcher's Meadow Secondary School" where Chanté attended in her last year of school and graduated. Her second single, "2U", produced by Matrax was released in early November. 2U's video was shot on October 22 in Miami by director Bobby O'Neill, and was released on Yahoo Music Canada on November 16.

Also in 2006, Chanté made a featured cameo appearance in label mate Bow Wow's video "Shortie Like Mine". The video depicts Rapper Bow Wow searching for Keshia Chanté on his laptop. They send messages back and forth throughout the video.

Her second album, in which Chanté executive produced[43] was released on December 5, 2006 in Canada through Sony/BMG Canada and was released in May 2007 in Japan.

Chanté refused to finish promoting her album to its full potential because of "dirty label politics" infuriating her to back away from her album and begin working on a new one, which is her upcoming third album[44].

2008–present: New albums and films

In August 2008, Chante got the lead role in a television series titled "Soul", which they began filming for several months in Halifax. Chante's upcoming third album is confirmed to be titled The Vendetta releasing in the year 2010. Chante will also play the leading role as Aaliyah in a 2011 biopic film. The movie is titled Aaliyah.[45]

Products and endorsements

Chante is the face of Ontario Tourism and sings the theme song "There's No Place Like This" in their commercials[46]. Chanté is the face of the Sony's Cyber-Shot Digital Camera and was the face of EckoRed in 2006.[1] In 2005, Solo Mobile (Bell), EckoRed and SPC sponsored Chante's tour across Canada which helped raise awareness for phone counseling service Kids Help Phone[47].

Acting

In 2006, Chanté starred as herself in the indie flick "Cats Cradle"[18]. In 2007 she had a guest starring role in "Da Kink in My Hair"[18]. In August 2008, Chanté began filming Soul, a television series in which she stars as "Mahalia". In February 2009, Soul began to air on VisionTV throughout Canada.[48]. It was reported and confirmed that Chanté would star as Aaliyah in the upcoming biopic of the late singer's life.[18][49]

Personal life

Fashion Image

As Chanté has matured, greater interest in her fashion choices began. The New York Times and the L'Oreal Fashion Week committee declared Keshia Chanté a fashion icon for pioneering the "Glamour Mystique" look[50]. Chanté has been known to have an aesthetic of mixing super high fashion with lower end as a way of "connecting to her younger fans."

In Canada, Chanté is considered a Fashionista by fashion's high rankings[51]. Her style has been described as "glamourous" meets "sexy elegance" by Holt Renfrew executives.[51]

She commonly gets crowned best dressed[52] for her high fashion looks seen on red carpets and events[53]. She frequently is seen in Roberto Cavalli, Versace and Valentino, famously wearing two dresses worth $20,000[54] crystal jewel encrusted[55] to the 2007 Canadian Juno Awards[52][56][57].

She is a frequent seen sitting front row at Fashion Week and has performed for Chanel's Fashion Show[58].

She is also known to model Valentino,[59] as she did for Hello Magazine, Elle Magazine and on red carpet.

In 2008, Chanté acquired stock in Guess's upscale fashion brand Marciano. Chanté also co-owns the Marciano Store in Toronto's Yorkdale Shopping Center[60].

Romantic life

Chante has been romantically linked to Chris Brown[61] whom she met in 2006 after doing a tv show together [62]. They began a definite friendship afterwards[62]. Some media outlets, mainly TMZ[63] reported that Chante was the "other woman" in the Chris Brown assault against Rihanna[64] claiming Chante was the woman who sent the text message[63][65] but Chante's rep's heavily denied that claim[63][66]. Chante was in fact in LA during the incident[62]. In November 2009, Rihanna confirmed it was an argument over a text message from a past Brown relationship that triggered the altercation.

In 2007, Actor/Rapper Drake talks about his past relationship with Chante on the second verse of his song "Deceiving", referencing her mother "Tessa".[67] stating "when I say I'm serious, you claim your only teasing" and "What up Tessa? I love you like my own mama, and your daughters getting grown mama, and me, I'm just here working, waiting, patient for her to be ready for love and leave alone drama"

In May 2009, Drake spoke to MuchMusic about his song "Deceiving" addressing speculation of his past relationship with Chante[68], "Would I call Keshia Chante an ex? I'd be proud to say she is an ex. I'm proud to say we had our time, when we were, like 16 years old. She's great. She's one of the first people in the industry that I met, we just connected."[69]

In June 2009, Drake did two remixes to Chante's song "Fallen" where he addresses his love for her, on Version 1 he raps "Keshia, Keshia, do you remember the old us? They said we'd never be together that's what they told us. Immature kids, to entrepreneur kids." then on Version 2, he raps "you just hold it down for your boy until the plaques arrive, that's why I love you."

Philanthropy

Chante worked closely with Alicia Keys to throw a fundraising concert to help build awareness about AIDS with the Stephen Lewis Foundation[70][71] and was apart of BET'S Rap-It-Up campaign.

She has also helped build awareness about children affected by war in third world countries with WarChild's Keep The Beat campaign donating the proceeds of her singles to them, as well as the proceeds that came from her songs inclusion into the MuchMusic's MuchDance compilations.

In 2008, she visited Dominican Republic to work with World Vision.[72][73] She has also been apart of three consecutive WorldVision 30 Hour Famine's and has been apart of many of their campaigns and advertisements endorsing the event.

Chante also developed the Roger's Love Music Speaking Tour where she spoke to school students across Canada and donated tens of thousands of dollars to their music programs[74].

Public Image

In May 2009 was involved in a minor car accident. She attended rehab. [75]

Awards and nominations

2003

  • Canadian Urban Music Award for Best R&B/Soul Single for "Shook (The Answer)" - Won
  • Canadian Radio Music Award for "Best New Solo Artist" (Dance Urban Rhythmic) - Nominated[76]
  • Canadian Radio Music Award for "Best New Solo Artist" (CHR) - Won[76]

2004

  • Canadian Urban Music Award for Best New Artist - Won
  • Canadian Urban Music Award for Video Of The Year for "Bad Boy" - Won
  • Canadian Urban Music Award for Fans Choice - Won
  • Rising Star Award for Rising Star of the Year - Won
  • MuchMusic Video Award for "Best R&B Video" for "Does He Love Me?" - Nominated
  • Chart Poll Awards - won Golden Toque Award and Throw Your Underwear Female Award categories[77]

2005

  • Juno Award for "R&B/Soul Recording Of The Year" - Won[78]
  • Canadian Urban Music Award for "Video Of The Year" for "Does He Love Me?" - Won
  • MuchMusic Video Award for "People's Choice: Favorite Canadian Artist" - Nominated
  • MuchMusic Video Award for "Best Pop Video" for "Does He Love Me?" - Nominated
  • Juno Award for "New Artist of the Year" - Nominated
  • 10th Annual Chartattack Award - "Sexiest Female" - Won
  • 10th Annual Chartattack Award - "Best Album" - Won

2006

  • Yahoo Music Canada Online Award for Best Canadian Video for "Been Gone" - Won
  • Sony Ericsson Stylus Award for R&B Single of the Year for "Ring The Alarm" - Nominated[79]

2007

  • MuchMusic Video Award for "Best Pop Video" for "2U" - Nominated[80]
  • Juno Award for "R&B/Soul Recoding Of The Year" for "Been Gone" - Nominated[78]

2008

  • Juno Award for "R&B/Soul Recoding Of The Year" for "2U" - Nominated

Trivia

  • Her middle name "Chanté" means "sung" in French.
  • Her website hit 1 million hits in a matter of a few months from its launch, becoming the top website for Sony BMG Canada [15]

Discography

Singles

Year Single Peak positions
CAN
2003 "Shook (The Answer)" 10[15]
"Unpredictable"1 1[15]
2004 "Bad Boy"1 1[15]
"Does He Love Me?" (feat. Foxy Brown)1 1 [81][15]
"Let the Music Take You"1 5[15]
2005 "Come Fly With Me"
(Promo) 		4[15]
2006 "Ring the Alarm" (Charity Single) 8
"Been Gone"1 6
"2U"1 4
2007 "Fallen" (feat Freeway) 98

[82][83]

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