Kimberly Michelle Pate was born on March 4, 1982, in Memphis, Tennessee.[14] As a child, Michelle learned to play piano and guitar, and took voice lessons from Bob Westbrook, who also trained pop singers Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears. She graduated from Overton High School in Memphis in 2000.[15][16] She earned a music scholarship to Florida A&M University (FAMU) by yodeling at her audition. She was crowned the Freshman Attendant of the Homecoming Court at the age of 18.[17] She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta sorority, pledging Beta Alpha chapter Fall of 2001.[18] She reports that she stopped attending classes for a short time to have a son born in September 2004, then returned to finish college.[19] She graduated from FAMU with honors and was accepted into several law schools but did not attend, opting to pursue music full-time.[20][21][22]
Michelle's age was reported in her college yearbook as 18 in late 2000, which would put her birth year at 1982.[17] Her age was reported as 31 in 2015 by The Source magazine, which would put her birth year at 1984.[23]AllMusic's biography of her initially gave a birth year of 1986, then in 2022 reported only “1980s”, but in 2023 the year was changed to 1982.[24] Michelle gave 1986 in a 2013 interview.[25][26] The editor of "GossipWeLove.com" commented on the discrepancies in reported birth year, registering disbelief that Michelle could have entered college, and won her class's prom beauty contest, at age 14. Michelle formed a college friendship with Basketball Wives actress Royce Reed who was born in 1981.[27]
Career
2009–2011: Beginnings
In 2009, Michelle signed a deal with Jive Records and released her first R&B-charting single, "Fakin' It", featuring Missy Elliott.[4] The song peaked at number 100 on the U.S. Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. During 2010, Michelle released three follow-up singles, "Fallin'", "I Just Can't Do This" and "How Many Times", which charted at numbers 56, 53, and 53 respectively on the U.S. Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.[28] At the time, Michelle was in the process of recording her debut album, originally titled Pain Medicine, which was slated to have features from artists such as Trina,[29][30]Gucci Mane, Akon, Usher, and R. Kelly, who she would credit as her mentor during this period.[31] However, her album was scrapped when Jive Records folded in 2011.
2012–2014: Love & Hip Hop, Rebellious Soul, Anybody Wanna Buy a Heart?
In 2012, Michelle joined the cast of VH1's docu-soapLove & Hip Hop: Atlanta.[32] The first season chronicles her return to the music industry after several personal struggles, including an abusive relationship with a music executive.[33] K was dubbed the show's breakout star,[34] signing a multi-album record deal with Atlantic Records shortly after filming.[35] She returned to the show for a second season, which chronicled the recording of her debut studio album, Rebellious Soul. On May 20, 2013, she released the album's lead single, titled "V.S.O.P". The track was produced by Pop & Oak, and samples "Very Special", performed by Debra Laws, as well as "That's How Long" performed by The Chi-Lites.[36][37] "V.S.O.P." reached at number 89 on the US Hot 100 Singles[38] and number 27 on the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts.[28] Its music video, directed by Benny Boom, was released on June 29, 2013.[39][40]Rebellious Soul was released on August 13, 2013, debuting at number 2 on the U.S. Billboard 200 and number one on the U.S. Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts, with first-week sales of 72,000 copies in the United States.[41] As of December 2014, Rebellious Soul has sold over 260,000 copies.[42]
On November 4, 2013, K. Michelle headlined her first tour, The Rebellious Soul Tour, presented by BET Music Matters. The 19 city tour kicked off in San Francisco and ended December 3, 2013 in Boston. It included stops in Los Angeles, Houston, Chicago, and Atlanta. Opening acts featured Chris Brown protégé Sevyn Streeter and Tiara Thomas. On January 14, 2014, the album's second single "Can't Raise a Man" was released, which peaked at number 94 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and number 23 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts.[43][44]
During Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta's reunion special, K. Michelle announced that she was leaving the show to join the cast of Love & Hip Hop: New York in season four.[45] During this time, Michelle joined Robin Thicke on the North American leg of his Blurred Lines Tour, which began on February 21, 2014, in Atlanta, Georgia. On February 14, 2014, she released a mixtape project titled Still No Fucks Given.[46] K's purpose on Love & Hop: New York was mainly served to set up her own spin-off series, K. Michelle: My Life, which premiered November 3, 2014.[47][48]
On September 16, 2014, Michelle released "Love 'Em All" on iTunes as the first single from her second album Anybody Wanna Buy a Heart?. Kevin, editor-in-chief of Spin Media website Direct Lyrics, described "Love 'Em All" as a "powerful and gritty" song and a "heartbreaker anthem".[49] On November 17, 2014, Michelle released "How Do You Know?" as her third single from Anybody Wanna Buy a Heart?, which shot to number one on the iTunes R&B chart. Michelle announced that she would go on a joint tour with Keyshia Cole beginning in January 2015.[50]Anybody Wanna Buy a Heart? was released through Atlantic Records on December 9, 2014.[51][52][53] The album debuted at number four on the Billboard 200 chart, number one on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop chart and number one on the R&B chart, selling 87,000 copies in the first week of its release.[54] Although Anybody Wanna Buy a Heart? charted lower than Rebellious Soul, it topped Rebellious Soul's first-week sales. In its second week, the album sold 30,000 copies, bringing its sales to around 120,000 copies. As of June 2015, Anybody Wanna Buy a Heart? has sold over 230,000 copies. Rebellious Soul and Anybody Wanna Buy a Heart? have sold 500,000 copies worldwide.[55]
2015–2017: More Issues Than Vogue, Kimberly: The People I Used to Know
On January 21, 2016, K. Michelle released the single "Not a Little Bit" from her third studio album More Issues Than Vogue.[56][57] From February 11, 2016, Michelle released several promo singles from the album, including "Ain't You",[58] "Mindful" and "Time".[59][60] On February 12, 2016, More Issues Than Vogue was made available for pre-order before its official release on March 25, 2016.[61] After making guest appearances in seasons three and four of Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta, K. Michelle would rejoin the main cast in season five, which chronicled her return to Atlanta and the release of her third album, More Issues Than Vogue.[62][63]
Michelle toured for a month from July 14, 2016, to August 14, 2016 for her Hello Kimberly Tour.[64] On September 30, 2016, Michelle released "Forward", from the soundtrack to the film "The Birth of a Nation".[65][66]
On February 3, 2017, Michelle released the single "Got Me Crazy", alongside DJ Feezy, Rick Ross and Fabolous. On February 6, 2017, K. Michelle: My Life ended after three seasons. On September 8, 2017, Michelle released two singles from her fourth album Kimberly: The People I Used to Know, "Birthday" and "Either Way", featuring Chris Brown.[67]
2018–2023: All Monsters Are Human and I'm the Problem
In 2018, K. Michelle joined the cast of Love & Hip Hop: Hollywood in season five, making her the only person in the franchise's history to appear in three incarnations of Love & Hip Hop as a main cast member. Michelle announced that her next project will be titled FAB, an acronym for "Fuck All U Bitches".[69] On November 19, 2018, Michelle released the song "Save Me".[70] It was later announced that she had signed a new record deal with Entertainment One Music.[71]
In 2019, K. Michelle also appeared in the Love & Hip Hopclip show specials Love & Hip Hop Awards: Most Certified (where she won the Clapback Queens category) and 40 Greatest Love & Hip Hop Moments: The Reboot. In November 2019, during one of her O.S.D. Tour stops, Michelle announced the title of her fifth album, All Monsters Are Human, set to be released in January 2020.[72] On January 1, 2020, Michelle released her sixth mixtape Not 1 Fuck Given (which also marks her third body of work from her 0 Fucks Given series). On the same day, she shared a lengthy message to her supporters on Instagram where she called her fifth album a "masterpiece." She wrote, "Where do I begin? Well first I just want to say thank you for loving on me. The last two years have been a real journey and growing experience for me. I literally was fighting for my life. I know I've had you guys waiting for my album so I wanted to give you something to vibe to until then. You know for years now we've had fun together remixing my favorite songs."[73] On January 10, she revealed cover art and tracklist for All Monsters Are Human and made the album available for pre-order on digital retailers Apple Music and Amazon.[74][75]
All Monsters Are Human was released to positive critical reviews on January 31, 2020,[76] along with a music video for one of the songs from the album, "Just Like Jay".[77] The album debuted and peaked at number 51 on the US Billboard 200 with first week sales of 8,200 copies.[78]
In 2022, K. Michelle announced her sixth studio album, I'm the Problem, would be her final R&B album.[79] The album was released on September 22, 2023, through MNRK.[80] Its lead single, "Scooch", was released on February 11, 2022, and reached No. 1 on the Billboard Adult R&B Songs chart.[81]
2023–present: Move to country music
K. Michelle, who has long expressed her desire to record a country music album,[82] began teasing the project which expected to drop after her final R&B album, I'm the Problem.[83] She released a country song titled "Tennessee" as a bonus track on the album, debuting it under her alter ego, Puddin'.[84] She also featured on the track "Country Love Song" with Justin Champagne[85] and appeared on The Judds tribute album, A Tribute to the Judds, which was released on October 27, 2023, on a cover of "Love Can Build a Bridge" alongside Jelly Roll and Fisk Jubilee Singers.[86] K. Michelle and Jelly Roll performed the song together on the 57th Annual Country Music Association Awards on November 8, 2023.[87]
It was announced on July 29, 2024, that K. Michelle had signed a recording contract with BBR Music Group and BMG Nashville, to release her debut country record.[88] K. Michelle, who had initially wanted to be a country music singer before beginning her R&B career, moved to Nashville and became "fully engulfed" in the process, making connections with creatives, playing with musicians, and recording in her in-home studio.[82] She performed in June 2024 at CMA Fest for the second time in her career, and is finalizing her first headlining tour as a country act.[88]
