Burruss entered professional music in 1992 as a singer in the successful vocal group Xscape. She sang lead on their hits “Just Kickin’ It” and “My Little Secret”, displaying a versatile contralto voice flexible enough to sing above soprano range.
Burruss also wrote some of Xscape’s early hits, including “Feels So Good” and “Can’t Hang”. When the group disbanded in 1999, Burruss continued as a songwriter and soloist. She has been credited with the discovery of Columbia recording artists Jagged Edge.
In 2000, Burruss’s song “No Scrubs”, performed by TLC, won the Grammy Award for Best R&B Song. She also made history in 2000 as the first woman ever to win the ASCAP “Rhythm & Soul Songwriter of the Year” award. She has continued to write for a number of pop and R&B artists, including significant contributions to Destiny’s Child’s “The Writing’s on the Wall” (including “Bills, Bills, Bills” and “Bug-a-Boo”) which sold 13 million copies.[citation needed] Burruss has written for *NSYNC, Mariah Carey, Boyz II Men, Faith Evans, Whitney Houston, Pink, and Alicia Keys. Producer Kevin “Shekspere” Briggs has been an important long-term collaborator.
In 2000 Burruss signed with Sony Records as Kandi, releasing her first soloist single, “Don’t Think I’m Not,” in the summer of that year. The song peaked at #32 in R&B, and performed even better at pop radio (peaking at #12 on the Top 40 Mainstream chart) and the Billboard Hot 100, where it peaked at #24. Her debut album, Hey Kandi… peaked at #72 on the Billboard Hot 200 and sold reasonably well in its first few months on the chart. Her second single, “Cheatin’ on Me”, was an underground hit and featured a remix by rapper 50 cent. In 2006 she returned to a recording career with her as-yet untitled second album which will be released through choreographer Devyne Stephens’ record label Upfront Records and BME Recordings.
More Camden Listings MORE
Inheriting the Future
Inheriting the Future is a major group exhibition at October Gallery bringing together new works by Zana Masombuka,…
A Century of Anti-Slavery Campaigns in London
A Century of Anti-Slavery Campaigns in London offers a powerful guided exploration of the capital’s role in the…
Abolition! Anti-Slavery Campaigns Against the Aristocracy of Skin
Join historian and guide Laura Agustín (Footprints of London) for a powerful and revealing walking tour exploring Britain’s…
Exploring Black British Literature – Live! with Malorie Blackman
Join literary icon and former Children’s Laureate Malorie Blackman for a special interactive event at the British Library….
The Fairy Tale Fan Club with Richard Ayoade and David Roberts
Join BAFTA-winning comedian, writer and presenter Richard Ayoade alongside illustrator David Roberts for a live event based on…
Black Men Making Moves
Join a powerful community-led event focused on empowerment, growth and connection among Black men, bringing together voices, experiences…
New Directions: Histories and Adaptations in Black Theatre and Performance
Join a one-day symposium exploring the past, present and future of Black theatre and performance, bringing together scholars,…
Renell Shaw: The Windrush Suite & Echo in the Bones
Artist-in-Residence Renell Shaw leads an evening of powerful storytelling, cultural reflection and musical innovation with The Windrush Suite…