Xscape (group)

Hummin' Comin' at 'Cha (1992–1994)

After Tamera Coggins left the group in 1993, Xscape became a quartet. They were later discovered by Jermaine Dupri. Dupri immediately signed the group to his So So Def label. He debuted the quartet at his birthday party in 1992. The group released their debut album, Hummin' Comin' at 'Cha, on October 12, 1993.^[3] The album peaked at number seventeen the U.S. Billboard 200 and number three on the Top R&B Albums chart. It was a critical and commercial success, certified platinum within a year, and launched two top 10 singles. The debut single, "Just Kickin' It", and second single, "Understanding", both entered the top 10 of the official Hot 100 and became platinum and gold-certified number-one hits on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. The follow-up singles, "Love on My Mind" and "Tonight", did not achieve the same success.

The group appeared on The Mask soundtrack at the conclusion of Hummin' Comin' at 'Cha, the group appeared on "Freedom (Theme from Panther)" for the movie of the same name, and the film's soundtrack in 1995.

Off the Hook (1995–1998)

Xscape released their second studio album, Off the Hook, in 1995. The lead single, "Feels So Good", reached #31 of the US Hot 100, while "Who Can I Run To" peaked at #8. The follow-up singles, "Do You Want To" and "Can't Hang", the latter featuring rapper MC Lyte, were released as a double A-side single. It went only as high as number 50 on the Hot 100, but peaked at #9 on the "Hot R&B/Hip Hop" charts. The album eventually went platinum.

In 1996, the group was featured on a number of singles, including singing background vocals on a remix version of Mariah Carey's 11th Billboard Hot 100 chart-topper "Always Be My Baby". The remix, formally known as the "Mr. Dupri Mix", also featured a rap verse by their So So Def label mate, Da Brat. The group also appeared on MC Lyte's single "Keep On Keepin' On", which appeared on the Sunset Park soundtrack. The single reached number 10 on the Hot 100,becoming MC Lyte's best single on the pop charts and #3 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts. In 1997, the group's songs appeared on the soundtracks to the films Love Jones and Soul Food.

Traces of My Lipstick (1998–2002)

In early 1998, Xscape was featured on the Keith Sweat produced single, a cover of Atlantic Starr's "Am I Dreamin'", by R&B new-comer group Ol' Skool. The single was a success in North America, peaking at #31 on the "Hot 100", and was later featured on Xscape's third album Traces of My Lipstick.

Traces of My Lipstick debuted at #28 on the Billboard 200 and at #6 on the Hot R&B/Hip Hop album chart; over a million copies were sold in the U.S. The album featured the top 10 hit "The Arms of the One Who Loves You", which reached #7 on the Hot 100 chart, and "My Little Secret", which reached #9. Although their unofficial third single was released, "Softest Place on Earth" reached #28 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.

After Traces of My Lipstick, LaTocha Scott initially left the group to pursue a solo career. She later joined her sister Tameka Scott and Tameka Cottle to reform the group. The three members requested Burruss also rejoin. When Burruss declined, she was asked to sign a "leaving member notice," signing over her rights to the Xscape name. She signed and the remaining three original members went on to make appearances on the Big Momma's House and Hardball soundtracks, before going on another hiatus until 2005.

Unchained (2005–2006)

After a five-year hiatus, sisters LaTocha Scott and Tamika Scott reunited with Tameka "Tiny" Cottle and new member Kiesha Miles to record a fourth album, Unchained. The new single, "What's Up", was released on a mixtape and later got some airplay in hometown Atlanta.^[4] However, the album was not released due to lack of promotion from the record label.

Reunion (2017–2018)

On June 25, 2017 the original four group members had their first performance together in over 18 years at the 2017 BET Awards.^[5] They would also have performances at the Essence Festival and at Chene Park in Detroit.

In September 2017, the group announced a reunion tour featuring 29 cities from late November through early January 2018 and were to be joined by Monica and Tamar Braxton.^[6]

On September 22 of the same year, the group made their first appearance together on daytime television on the Wendy Williams show, performing "My Little Secret" and "Understanding".^[7]

On November 12, Kandi publicly announced that she would not be making new music with Xscape at this time.^[8] Two new singles titled "Wifed Up" and "Dream Killa" were released on December 1, neither single featuring Burruss.

Creation of subunit XSCAP3 (2018 - current)

In late 2017, Kandi Burress indicated in numerous interviews her lack of interest in recording new music as Xscape, stating instead that she was pursuing Broadway roles.^[9] In response, Tameka Harris, LaTocha Scott, and Tamika Scott formed the subunit XSCAP3, which included three of the five original Xscape members, with the notable exception of Burress. As a trio, XSCAP3 signed with Creative Artists Agency (CAA) in January 2018 for representation in all areas.^[10] The trio also formally created a recording label, XSCAP3 Entertainment. In late 2017 to early 2018, the members of XSCAP3 recorded six original songs that were later included in their subunit's debut EP.

On March 2, 2018 "XSCAP3" released their EP titled "Here for It" on all digital outlets.

Kandi Burruss

Kandi Burruss (born May 17, 1976) is the group's contralto, singing the lower harmonies. She was also known for her whistle register, as sung in "Understanding" and "My Little Secret." Burruss also sung lead parts on other Xscape singles, such as "Just Kickin' It", "Feels So Good" and "Can't Hang".

Since her Xscape days, she has co-written songs for artists such as Mariah Carey, Faith Evans, Pink, Whitney Houston, and Alicia Keys. She has also written songs for the groups TLC, Destiny's Child, RichGirl, 'N Sync, and Boyz II Men. She is also responsible for discovering the male R&B quartet Jagged Edge. In 1999, she appeared on Solé's debut album and was in a video for the single, titled "4, 5, 6". In 2000, Columbia Records released her solo debut, Hey Kandi, which featured the hit song "Don't Think I'm Not".

In 1999, Burruss teamed with bandmate Tameka "Tiny" Cottle to score the international number one hit "No Scrubs" for TLC.^[11] That same year, Burruss wrote another song, "Bills, Bills, Bills".^[12] Kandi would go on to work with Pink by co-writing her debut single "There You Go".^[12]

In 2003, Burruss sang backup on "Wide Open" for LSG's final album LSG2. In 2006, she released "I Need", featuring Eightball & MJG from an unreleased solo album on UpFront Records. She is also featured on E-40's hit "U and Dat" and performs under the name Kandi Girl. In 2007, she formed a duo, Peach Candy, with Atlanta female rapper Rasheeda.^[13][14]

Since 2009, Burruss has been a cast member of the hit Bravo reality show, The Real Housewives of Atlanta, currently filming for its eleventh season. During her first season on the show she recorded material for her latest album Kandi Koated, featuring tracks "Fly Above" and "Leave U". The album was released in December 2010. She currently has an adult sex toy line Bedroom Kandi, owns a restaurant Old Lady Gang, owns a clothing company in honor of her son Ace (Raising Ace) as well as TAGS Boutique, a non-profit organization Kandi Cares and finally Kandi Koated Entertainment.

Tameka "Tiny" Cottle

Tameka "Tiny" Harris (born July 14, 1975) is the soprano in the group, usually switching between the top note and the melody in their harmonies. She sung lead parts in the Xscape singles "Understanding", "Tonight", "Do You Want To", "My Little Secret" and the single "Am I Dreamin'", an Atlantic Starr remake by Ol' Skool with Keith Sweat. Cottle is well known for co-writing TLC's 1999 hit No Scrubs with Burruss, with her singing vocals on the chorus of the song. She also sang the chorus of Lil' Kim's "I Know You See Me", Bow Wow's "Let's Get Down", and on 8Ball & MJG's "Things We Used to Do."

Cottle starred in the BET reality show Tiny & Toya, which followed Cottle and her friendship with Antonia "Toya" Johnson Carter, the ex-wife of rap artist Lil’ Wayne. In 2011, she and husband T.I. began appearing in the reality series T.I. and Tiny: The Family Hustle. and started appearing in its spin-off, Tiny and Shekinah's Weave Trip, in October 2014.

LaTocha Scott

LaTocha Scott (born October 2, 1973) is a mezzo-soprano in the group, sometimes singing soprano in the harmonies (as seen in several live performances), sometimes singing mezzo-soprano (as in the backgrounds of "Tonight" and other songs). She sang lead parts on most Xscape songs, and is considered the lead singer in the group due to this and being the oldest of the group. After Xscape's first disbanding, Scott released a solo album entitled Solo Flight 404, featuring "One Night Stand", her duet with artist J-Shin. She also contributed the song "Liar, Liar" to the soundtrack of The Best Man, and was a featured artist on Cha Cha's "Dear Diary", and Trick Daddy's single "Thug Holiday",^[15] and even released her own single "Bad Timing" in 2012. Scott was cast in the second season of TVOne's R&B Divas: Atlanta along with Faith Evans, Syleena Johnson, Nicci Gilbert, Monifah, Angie Stone, and Keke Wyatt, though she was not a part of the third season, nor was there any mention of her previous involvement.

Tamika Scott

Tamika Scott (born November 19, 1975) typically sang the alto note between Burruss and her sister LaTocha in the harmony. Out of the group, she fewest lead vocal lines, taking lead on "Understanding", "Love on My Mind", "Who Can I Run To" and "The Arms of the One Who Loves You". After Xscape’s breakup, Scott played the role of Milay Brown in Tyler Perry’s hit Meet the Browns. She wrote and produced four songs for Tyler Perry’s movie soundtrack Daddy's Little Girls. On the soundtrack, she performed a song titled “Greatest Gift”. Scott also wrote and performed the title song from Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married. Scott will appear in the film Conundrum: Secrets Among Friends in late 2018.