Khia Biography

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Khia Shamone Finch ( /ˈkaɪ.ə/ KY-ə; born Khia Shamone Chambers, November 8, 1970), better known just as Khia, is an American rapper, songwriter, singer, and record producer.

Khia was born Khia Shamone Chambers on November 8, 1970 in Philadelphia and was raised in its Germantown neighborhood, and she moved to Tampa, Florida when she was 11. Khia attended Dowdell Middle School and Hillsborough High School. She was expelled from Hillsborough during ninth grade and attended an alternative school afterwards. In 1991, Khia had her first child, a daughter also named Khia. In 1992, she moved to Hawaii when the father was stationed there and had her second child with him, a son named Rashawn. Before becoming a rapper, she worked as a bartender at Club XS in Tampa, Florida. Her mother Carol Belinda Chambers, who was a data entry specialist, died in 2001.

Khia released her debut album, Thug Misses in 2002 on Dirty Down/Artemis Records as a re-release from the original version by Divine Records.Thug Misses entered the American Billboard 200 chart at #175 but later topped the Billboard Independent Albums chart and peaked at #33 on the Billboard 200 and #13 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. During its first week, Thug Misses sold 4,000 copies. The lead single "My Neck, My Back (Lick It)" became a breakthrough hit, charting at #42 on the Hot 100 chart and #12 on the Hot Rap Tracks chart. MTV News reported that she wrote "My Neck, My Back" in 15 minutes. The single was also featured on the soundtrack of Fox's TV series Dark Angel. The second single, "You My Girl", was a dedication to her mother. The emotional track paying homage to her mother was not well received by radio and was panned by critics. Khia also performed this song on Miss Rap Supreme during a freestyle battle.

In 2004, Khia appeared on a track with Trick Daddy and Tampa Tony called "Jump On It" from Trick's album Thug Matrimony: Married to the Streets. Khia's second album was supposed to be released in 2003 by the title "Street Preacher". The album was complete by mid 2003, and was set for released by the end of 2003, but the album got shelved for unknown reasons. In 2006 Khia recorded another album to be her second album, Gangstress.

Khia's second album, Gangstress, was released in July 2006 on Phase One Communications. It debuted at #67 on the Billboard R&B chart. Later in 2006, Khia also collaborated with Janet Jackson on her hit "So Excited", which peaked at #90 on the Hot 100 and #1 on the Hot Dance Club Play chart.

After signing to Big Cat Records, and still with her own label Thug Misses Entertainment, Khia finished working on her third studio album, Nasti Muzik, released on July 22, 2008. "What They Do" was the first promotional single on the album, which featured Atlanta rapper Gucci Mane. The first single, "Be Your Lady", was produced by Tampa's Push-a-Key Productions. Nasti Muzik premiered at #66 on the R&B chart selling a little over 1,400 copies in its first week. Khia promoted the up-and-coming album by releasing a mixtape entitled The Boss Lady, which was hosted by DJ Scream.

Khia participated in the VH1 reality show Miss Rap Supreme in 2008. Khia was eliminated from the competition for rapping a song recorded prior to the show, Respect Me.

In 2010, she told the website HipHopDX that she would launch a singing career with her upcoming double album Motor Mouf/Khia Shamone, which will be released in 2012.[dated info] The first single is "Been A Bad Girl". The video was directed in New York by Clifton Bell. It shows a different, more sensitive and feminine side of the rapper. The singer promoted the song on ABC News. "So Addicted" will be the second song promoting the smooth R&B disc, Khia Shamone. The first single off Motor Mouf (a follow up to her previous dirty south albums) - "4real" is a rap song, and was released on December 3, 2010. The second single from Motor Mouf will be "Georgia".