Miami Bass, Chopped and Screwed, Bounce, and Crunk Music, are just a few of the terms used to express the sentiment behind Hip-Hop sounds and lyrics that have raged wars throughout “The Dirty South” for decades now. One of the most notable battles was that of “Luke and The 2 Live Crew”, going head to head with a Florida State Court, over the groups “Nasty As You Wanna Be”, album, which set a precedent, forcing the United States Supreme Court to recognize violations of the groups 1st Amendment Rights. Thereafter fellow Floridian artists (Trina, Trick Daddy, Jackie O. and many throughout the United States) would test the waters and give the world what we’ve come to know as Raunchy Rap with attitude. Khia is also one of those artists. She’s not afraid to get naked on the set, bust a cap in a Nigga’s ass if he treats her disrespectful or take a stand because someone called her a Bitch. She’s taken punches, and also gave a few in such very public squabbles with fellow artists Trina ,Deelishis (of Flavor of Love fame) Jackie O., and Janet Jackson. Many know her as “The Boss Lady”, “Gangstress”, and “Thug Misses”, but to be real, she’s one of brightest minds to ever represent “The Dirty South”. Yes Khia is one of the top mc’s/ballers/shot callers in the game when it comes to lyrics that hit you where it counts, make you move on the dance floor, and get your mind pumping with lust filled themes that would drive a wild animal crazy. Khia is definitely in a league all her own, as she portrays the sexy and controversial leader of self penned moniker, Thug Misses Entertainment, creating, personifying and seeking to be excellent in a male dominated industry, where many fall short on a daily basis. While many start-ups and established industry heads are evaporating in thin air, Khia remains strong, self -sufficient and on top of her game.
It seems as if it was only yesterday when “Dirty South” Rapper, Singer, Producer and Businesswoman Khia scored high on the charts with her sexually suggestive single, “My Neck, My Back (Lick It)”. The records’ success broke new ground, not only for women in Hip-Hop, but for women in general. Her sound was raw, to the point, and represented one of the hottest anthems to-date- “I can ball like a nigga do. I can smoke like a nigga do. I can grind like a nigga do. I can hustle like a nigga do. Regardless of what it is, I can do it to”, and true to the game, she has done just that, and then some. The historic significance about “My Neck, My Back (Lick It)” was Khia did all the promotion, marketing and distribution herself. Her performances and videos have stimulated sex, while her record covers put the ‘p’ in power, showing the world what she was working with, all combined with raunchy lyrics that were the talk of the town. “Many people don’t know it, but I’ve recorded six albums”, says Khia. “Yea- I’ve been in the business for a while, and I’m still grinding, doing my thing. Also many people don’t know that I’m a singer. I just rapped on the “My Neck, My Back” project, but I was born and raised singing. This latest project is very special to me because I get to sing with my band. This is a double disk, project with some singing and rapping in a live show”. The album is entitled “Khia Shamone/Motor Mouf”, which showcases the artist at her best. The first single released is “Been A Bad Girl”, where Khia explains the contents. “This album is me. I’m singing the melodies and taking the entire project to a new level. This project is about growth and being in a comfortable place in my life. Because of the success of “Neck & Back”, I can now just sit back and enjoy some of what I’ve work so hard for”.
“Khia Shamone/Motor Mouf”, Khia’s latest project, and 4th studio project is packed with singles that are very suggestive and controversial, but who else could pull off a set like this, but Khia. “Been A Bad Girl”, showcases a boom boom base beat that is classic South Florida. The lyrics repeat in the open and give listeners a taste of what it’s really like to be on the receiving end of Khia’s antics. “I need a bad boy, I been so damn bad- oh how it feels, when you put it in your mouth, pen me down, and lock it down,- oh no I can back it up, and it’s like night, I been a bad girl, I need a bad boy” . The instrumental is elementary, with rhymes that have their own creative flair. This record is for sure a different vibe for Khia as it places her in a more commercial area for marketing and distribution. Listeners can take away the lyrics and feel lost, and separated, but add the live show, and for sure this bad girls’ music and sound will come to life. “ Khia Shamone is my R&B side, with a neo-soul flavor, and people really love it”, continues Khia. “We’re trying to give the audience a little of everything. I can really sing and I want to show that to people. I want to be respected for my music and my talent, and for most part I haven’t been. I’ve been doing my Hip-Hop for 12 years now, and it’s time that I give me, the real me”.
Kia’s recorded works include “Thug Misses’, which was released on April 23, 2002 on Artemis Records as a re-release from the original version by Dirty Down Records. It 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. 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. Khia's second album, “Gangstress”, was released in July 2006 on her own independent record label, Thug Misses Entertainment (or T.M.E. Records). The album spawned two singles, "Snatch the Cat Back" and "For the Love of Money". 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”. Later in 2006, Khia also collaborated with Janet Jackson on her hit "So Excited". “Yea, Jermaine Jackson and I had done a project prior to this ”, says Khia. “So he hooked me up with Janet to work on her album. The project was a good experience, and a lot of fun”. In fall 2006, Khia released a mixtape, “All Hail the Queen: Hit 'Em Up Mixtape”, after the release of the album. 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.
Khia, aka, “Ms. Neck-Back”, was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and later moved to Tampa, Florida, where she struggled to get her grind on, but once it happened, she had some relevant pit falls, but never looked back. She has been writing, singing and rapping R&B, Hip-Hop and Gospel all of her life. She was once a tap dancer and later a cheerleader in school. Another past time of hers was appearing in talent shows. As Khia got older, she became a bartender, which gave her access to some of the top radio DJ’s in the area. It was then that she became friends with radio personalities, which later helped her spark her go-getter spirit and create what we know today as “Khia- Thug Misses”. “I’ve always been a hard worker and about my business”, she continues. “ I grew up singing since the age of 5 years old. I will sing before I will rap. In the past when I’ve done interviews, I’ve always been portrayed for the negative and not who I really am. So to have been in the game this long and having my list of projects, it’s a blessing. I don’t have cover stories. I don’t have headlining projects, nor do I have big movie companies talking about me, but I am who I am and I do what I do, and it seems that people really like my sound and my style. I can’t go in a club and perform anywhere and not sing “Neck and Back”. It would be a riot. Believe it not, it was the biggest song of the century (during that time), and I didn’t get a cover on any magazines. Believe it or not, I’m not bitter about it, just working to create more successful music because all of that’s coming.”
Many had the opportunity to witness Khia’s appearances on the VH-1 reality series “Miss Rap Supreme”, starring as herself, participating in a competition style show for the coveted trophy, but to some dismay, she was voted off, which resulted in speculation and negative comments that continue to plague her today. “ I’m not sure what all that was about, “she says. “ They had some real haters there, there was a lot of hostility, but it gave a lot of my fans the opportunity to see me again. So I loved the experience and now I’m working on my own Reality Show. It’s called “Anger Management”, and we’re shopping it around to different shows right now”. There are two partial episodes of “Anger Management” at www.youtube.com, which showcases Khia, her band and members of her entourage traveling, performing live concert appearances, and discussing deals with fellow artists, promoters and business people, where Khia is not ashamed to show her “rough/tough” business side, mellowed in moments of her being the friend, confidant and gentle soul her fans long to see her as. “Appearing on “MS. Rap Supreme” was good because it gave me the opportunity to network and meet the producers and staff at VH-1”, she continues. “I really used it as a marketing tool to take me further. I’m working on my own show because there is a lot of stuff that was not showcased with “Miss Rap Supreme”. It didn’t show my business side- the ideas that I have to open doors for other independent artists looking to get out there. I call the show “Anger Management” because it’s important that you always know how to control yourself, and this show is my life on the road and behind the scenes, but it’s also my therapy”. “Anger Management”, is produced in conjunction with Deeply Paid Entertainment, and is being shopped with several networks including VH-1.
“It’s hard being a woman in this industry”, Khia says in closing. “ But it’s all business and I don’t feel challenged, I’ve just had to learn how it works. And to do that, I have my hands in everything. I’m doing what I love so and that is very important because it has not always been a good situation working with the different artists or business people. And I’ve been out there with the best of them. When I’m not touring, I’m more concerned about working on me. I’m not the hangout type. Some people do this to say they are friends with this one, or that one, and that kind of stuff. It’s all about business with me. So I learned early on that I had to really be a go getter and not look for others to confirm my ability to do what I know”. In the future look for Khia on her "Nasti Muzik" Tour and the release of her self help book targeted at young ladies in different aspects of their lives. It will also address pursuing careers in entertainment. For more on Khia visit www.khia-thugmisses.com.
