Tameka Cottle
Tameka Cottle |
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Tameka "Tiny" Cottle (born July 14, 1975) is an American singer-songwriter who was a member of the multi-platinum R&B female group, Xscape. She acquired the nickname "Tiny" due to her small stature of only 4'11".
Early life and career
She was born to Dianne Cottle-Pope and Charles Pope in College Park, Georgia. Cottle's father and her uncle, Joseph Pope (1933-1996), formed the R&B group The Tams.[1] Cottle joined the R&B quartet Xscape in 1992 while attending North Atlanta Performing Arts High School. Xscape was discovered by producer Jermaine Dupri while singing at a Martin Luther King, Jr. birthday celebration in Atlanta. Dupri immediately signed the group to his new record label, So So Def Recordings.
As a member of the group, Cottle has contributed to three of the band's platinum albums: Hummin' Comin' at 'Cha, Off the Hook, and Traces of My Lipstick. As a member of Xscape, she has received two Soul Train Music Awards for Best New R&B Artist and Best R&B Album and the A-Town Music Award for Best Duo/Group. Cottle sang lead vocals on four of Xscape's hit singles: "Understanding", "Do You Want To?", "All I Need", "Love's a Funny Thing", and "Am I Dreamin'". She has also recorded on soundtracks for Soul Food, Panther, Bad Boys, and Love Jones. In 1998, after the release of Xscape's third album, Traces of My Lipstick, the band parted ways.
In 1999, Cottle and fellow former Xscape band member Kandi Burruss were honored with a Grammy Award for Best R&B Song for penning TLC's hit single "No Scrubs".[2] Cottle's other accomplishments include an American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers award in the R&B and Pop Music categories for "No Scrubs", as well as the ASCAP Rap Award for her work on the Sporty Thievz track "No Pigeons." Cottle has also worked with T.I., 8Ball & MJG, Lil' Kim and Bow Wow.
After a five-year hiatus, Cottle reunited with sisters LaTocha and Tamika Scott and added a new member, Kiesha Miles, to release a new Xscape album entitled Unchained and released the single "What's Up" in 2005.[3]
Cottle is involved in a new project with Keisha Miles called The Ga.P Girlz. Cottle's daughter, Zonnique (aka Star), is also involved in the music industry and is part of a musical quartet called the OMG Girlz.[4]
In June 2009, Cottle's reality series, Tiny and Toya, made its debut on BET.[5]
Personal life
Cottle has one daughter, Zonnique Pullins.[6][7] She also has two sons, Clifford "King" (born in 2005) and Major Harris (born in 2008), with rapper T.I., with whom she has been in a relationship since 2001.[8][9] In 2007, Cottle gave birth to a stillborn daughter named Leyah Amore.[10]
References
- ^ Miller, Zell (1996). They Heard Georgia Singing. Mercer University Press. p. 285. ISBN 0-865-54504-9.
- ^ "T42nd Annual Grammy Award Winners". 2000-02-23. Retrieved 2007.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ Boston, Ericka. "Xscape Breaks the Chains". s2smagazine.com.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ QT Possie: Official Website
- ^ Ho, Rodney (2009-07-09). "Tiny & Toya interviews about BET show". ajc.com. Retrieved 2009-07-20.
- ^ Bennett Kinnon, Joy (2001-06). "Toni & Keril's Dream Wedding - singer Toni Braxton weds". Ebony. Retrieved 2008-12-13.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ Cole, Harriette (2008-02). "Who's Lovin' Who?". Ebony. pp. 75–76.
{{cite news}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help); Check date values in:|date=(help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ Herndon, Jessica (2008-05-16). "Rapper T.I. Welcomes His Second Son". people.com. Retrieved 2008-12-12.
- ^ "T.I.: Me, Myself & I". Vibe. 2007-07-23. Retrieved 2007-10-31.
{{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ Byrd, Kenya N. (2009-02-06). "Tameka 'Tiny' Cottle: 'I Know My Man's Heart'". essence.com. Retrieved 2009-03-15.