Keyshia Cole Reflects on⁣ Tupac, Mary J. Blige and Reality TV on “Drink Champs”

⁢ Updated May 31,2025
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In a recent appearance on ⁣N.O.R.E. and DJ EFN’s ⁤”Drink Champs,” Keyshia Cole shared stories about her career, including‍ early encounters with Tupac Shakur and her influence on reality television. The Oakland-bred singer discussed her journey from rapping⁤ to ⁢becoming ⁢a chart-topping R&B artist, offering insights into her musical evolution and personal experiences.

Cole recalled that Tupac advised ⁢her to focus⁢ on singing rather than rapping. She said Shakur told ⁢her, “You’re going to be singing and ‍you’re going ⁣to⁣ stop rapping about weed‍ and being out in the streets.” She also humorously remembered teasing him ‍about his footwear.

The conversation shifted to her decision to move away from heartbreak anthems. Cole explained ‍that she‍ felt she had exhausted⁤ the topic. “I had already sung about all the heartbreak I could sing about,” Cole said. “How many different ways can we rewrite this story? I’m over it.”

N.O.R.E. suggested that the Kardashians “stole ⁣everything” from Cole,referring to her early reality TV show,”Keyshia Cole: The Way It Is.” While Cole didn’t directly agree, she⁢ spoke about the show’s authenticity and her⁤ desire for her family to⁤ grow together on ‍camera. She ⁤emphasized that her focus ⁤on authenticity set her ⁤show apart.

Cole also‍ expressed‍ her deep admiration ‍for Mary J. Blige, calling her⁢ “the Queen of Hip‍ Hop⁤ Soul.” She stated, “I’m her ⁤baby sister… That’s the way it goes,” acknowledging Blige’s influence on ⁢her career. She added that she studied⁢ Blige’s strength and admired her authenticity.

In a surprising revelation, Cole shared that she wrote Monica’s verse on “Trust,”⁤ a‍ popular song‍ from her 2008 album, A Different Me. ⁢She noted that writing for other artists is common in the R&B world and‍ mentioned that ‍Elijah Blake, who will ⁢be supporting her ⁣on “The Way It Is: 20th ⁢Anniversary Tour,” has⁤ also written for her.

Cole⁤ also mentioned a missed ‍opportunity to collaborate with DMX. she said they were supposed to record a song together, but he never⁣ showed up. Despite her disappointment, she harbors⁢ no ill‍ feelings toward the late rapper.

Reflecting on her early days in⁣ Oakland,Cole recounted meeting The Notorious B.I.G. at a local record store. “I told him ⁣I wanted to sing,” she said. “He said, ‘Yeah, okay, okay.’ ‍Big was cool as s**t.” she credited⁢ local record stores and meet-and-greets⁤ for helping her ⁣launch ‍her career.

What’s next

Keyshia⁤ Cole is currently on her “The Way It Is: 20th Anniversary Tour,” celebrating her debut album and performing ⁢for fans ⁣across the country. She also hinted at ⁤future collaborations and songwriting opportunities.