Khia Chambers (born Khia Shamone Finch), better known as Khia (pronounced /ˈkaɪ.ə/ KYE-ə), is an American rapper, songwriter, and record producer. Khia is best known for her song "My Neck, My Back (Lick It)", which became a top five hit in the UK and pushed her album to gold-selling status in the U.S.

Currently, Khia writes an advice column called "Tough Love" for HooD magazine.

[edit] Early life

Khia was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania^[2] but later moved to Tampa, Florida.^[2] She first wanted to be a musical performer in her early years while attending school talent shows and taking part in parades.^{[citation needed]} After studying tap dance and bartending in a Tampa Bay hot spot, she became acquainted with several DJs and producers from the area which led her to getting a record deal.^{[citation needed]} Her mother met an untimely death in 2000 from kidney failure.^{[citation needed]} The song "You My Girl" was a dedication to her mom from her debut album, Thug Misses.

[edit] Music career

[edit] 2002–2003: Thug Misses

Khia's debut album, Thug Misses, was released on April 23, 2002 on Artemis Records. The lead single "My Neck, My Back (Lick It)" became a breakthrough hit, charting at number forty-two on the Billboard Hot 100 and thirteen on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. The single was also featured on the soundtrack of Fox's hit series Dark Angel. The second single, "You My Girl", was a dedication to her mother. As the single was released for promotional use only is did not chart. The K-Wang" was the third and last promotional single.^[3] Thug Misses was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America in September 2002 for sales in excess of 800,000 copies in the U.S.

[edit] 2003–2006: Going independent

After years of touring, Khia's second album, Gangstress, was released in July 2006 on her own independent record label, Thug Misses Entertainment (or T.M.E. Records). The album got low sales, but later on received some success through download purchases at 130,000. The album was released in both clean and explicit versions. She also helped develop background instrumentals (or "beats") for the project, but all lyrics have been written by the self-proclaimed "Queen of the South" herself. The album spawned two singles, "Snatch the Cat Back" and "For the Love of Money".

In 2004, Khia appeared on a track with Trick Daddy and Tampa Tony called "J.O.D.D" from Trick's album Thug Matrimony: Married to the Streets. Later in 2006, Khia also collaborated with Janet Jackson on her hit "So Excited".

In late 2006, Khia released a mixtape, All Hail the Queen: Hit 'Em Up Mixtape, after the release of the album.

[edit] 2007–2008: Nasti Muzik

After signing a brand new recording contract with Big Cat Records, and still with her own label Thug Misses Entertainment, Khia has finished working on her third studio album, Nasti Muzik, released on July 22, 2008. Selling 1,400 albums in its first week "What They Do" is the first promotional single off the album, which features Atlanta rapper Gucci Mane. The second single (first official single) off the album is "Be Your Lady". The album includes collaborations from Gucci Mane and Maceo. Khia has stated that Big Cat Records will take full promotion with the new project with a music video and heavy airplay. Khia promoted the up-and-coming album by releasing a mixtape entitled The Boss Lady, which was hosted by DJ Scream.

On July 2, 2008, three weeks prior to the release of Nasti Muzik, Khia made an official announcement on her MySpace blog that she would no longer be working with Big Cat Records. Lack of promotion for the album, as well as an alleged fraudulent check written out to Khia by the label, were the main causes for the split. Despite Khia's troubles with the label, Nasti Muzik was not affected by her departure from Big Cat Records and was released as scheduled. Currently, Khia is filming footage for her reality show "Anger Management", to possibly air in 2010. The reality show is being shopped around by Bravo and VH1.

[edit] Discography

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Khia at Allmusic

• http://www.undergroundgirlsofhiphop.com