Xscape
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Xscape is a female American R&B quartet that had a string of hit songs during the early and mid 1990s. The original lineup of the group consisted of sisters LaTocha ("Juicy") Scott (born October 2, 1973) and Tamika ("Meatball") Scott (born November 19, 1975), along with Kandi Burruss (born May 17, 1976) and Tameka ("Tiny") Cottle (born July 14, 1975).
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Background
The Scott sisters' father, Rev. Randolf Scott, was part of the 1970s R&B group Scott Three. The sisters sang at church throughout their childhoods while being trained by their father. In 1990, they met the other two members, Burruss and Cottle, in College Park, Georgia, a suburb of Atlanta.
Music career
They first sang at Jermaine Dupri's birthday party in 1991 and later signed to his label, So So Def Recordings. They released their debut album, Hummin' Comin' At 'Cha, in October of 1993. The album featured their debut single, "Just Kickin' It", which reached #2 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, along with the other singles "Tonight", "Understanding", and "Love On My Mind".
Xscape's sophomore album, Off the Hook, was released in July of 1995. It featured the #1 hit "Who Can I Run To" (a cover of the song originally recorded by The Jones Girls) along with singles "Feels So Good", "Can't Hang", and "Do You Want To". During the next few years, they collaborated with different artists such as female rapper MC Lyte on the song "Keep On Keepin' On" and R&B/pop singer Mariah Carey on the Mr. Dupri Mix of her #1 song, "Always Be My Baby", which also featured rapper Da Brat.
They released their third album, Traces of My Lipstick, in May of 1998. It featured the singles "The Arms Of The One Who Loves You", "My Little Secret", and "Softest Place on Earth". After the release of this album, the group parted ways.
Solo careers
Tamika
Released a solo gospel album called God's Gift. A single "Day & Night" was released in Japan. She also appeared in the 2004 Tyler Perry play "Meet the Browns". Scott is married to Darius Byas and has a daughter named O'Shun Reney. It was rumored that she became an ordained minister.
LaTocha
Currently resides with son Ja'Mon and his father Rockey Bivens. She recorded a solo album, titled Solo Flight 404, and made solo appearances on Jermaine Dupri's "All That's Got To Go", J-Shin's "One Night Stand" and Cha Cha's "Dear Diary".
Kandi
Kandi has the most solo success as a singer and songwriter. She has written for artists such as TLC, Destiny's Child, *NSYNC, Boyz II Men, Faith Evans, and Alicia Keys. In 2000, Columbia Records released her solo debut, Hey Kandi…, which featured the hit song "Don't Think I'm Not". She is also responsible for discovering male R&B quartet Jagged Edge. In 2006, she released "I Need" featuring Eightball & MJG from an upcoming solo album Upfront Records.
Tameka
Nicknamed "Tiny" is attributed to her 4'11" height, resides in Atlanta with her daughter Zonnique Jailee Pullins. She, along with Burruss, wrote TLC's 1999 megahit "No Scrubs." She was in a relationship with rapper T.I., with whom she has a son named King.
Reunion
Xscape returned to the scene in 2005 with a new single titled "Wassup" and a new member, Keisha Miles, to replace Burruss. Miles is a childhood friend of the Scott sisters. LaTavia Roberson, formerly of Destiny's Child was originally asked to be Kandi's replacement. The reunion album, Unchained, was due out in late 2005 on Warner Music Group, but Tiny later confirmed in 2006 that the project never came to fruition due to problems with LaTocha's husband Rocky, who served as manager for the group for many years. Now, Tiny and Keisha have formed a group of their own and are working on their debut.
Discography
Albums
- Hummin' Comin' At 'Cha (1993) (Platinum)
- Off The Hook (1995) (Platinum)
- Traces Of My Lipstick (1998) (Platinum)
- Traces Of My Lipstick (2001; Re-released and packaged)
- Unchained (2005) (shelved)