Keshia Chanté

Early life

Keshia Chanté Harper was born in Ottawa, Ontario. Her mother is Puerto Rican and Portuguese and her father is Trinidadian. She was 6 years old when she first performed, receiving a standing ovation for her rendition of Dear Mama by Tupac Shakur Through talent shows, she got the attention of a local DJ who, in 2002, sent a video of her performance to SonyMusic Canada. After performing for execs, she was signed to the label exclusively to release her music in Canada.

At 14, Chante moved to Toronto, which she cites as the city that raised her. Chante was valedictorian and graduated with honors.

2003–2012: Career Beginnings

In 2002, at the age of 14, SonyMusic Canada signed Chante to a long term record contract to release her music in Canada. In early 2003, she released "Shook (The Answer)" which won an Urban Music Award for "Best Pop/R&B Single". The follow-up, "Unpredictable" went #3 on radio charts, and her first video hit number one on YTV and the top ten on MuchMusic. In November 2003, the CD single of "Unpredictable" was certified gold and later went on to win Chante the Canadian Radio Music Award for "Best New Solo Artist". In early February 2004, Chanté's third single, "Bad Boy", was released. It was also successful, breaking the Top 10 on radio and sitting at #3 on MuchMusic for 4 weeks before later earning the #1 position on the chart. The video was directed by Director X. Later, in June 2004, Chanté's fourth single "Does He Love Me?" ft. Foxy Brown reached top 5 at radio. The video was also directed by Director X and became #1 on MuchMusic for 3 weeks. The video also garnered her an Urban Music Video Award for "Video of the Year". On June 22, 2004 Chanté released her self-titled debut album. On December 3, 2004 it was certified gold. In October 2004, at the Canadian Urban Music Awards Chanté swept all three of her nominations, winning awards for "Best New Artist", "Video of the Year" (for Bad Boy), "Fans' Choice Award" and by surprise taking home the "Rising Star of the Year" award. This brought the attention of the President of BET, Stephen Hill, who became Chante's mentor and putting the video for "Bad Boy" into heavy rotation. In that same month, she sang the national anthem at the Canadian Football League's Grey Cup championship game. She was also selected to represent Canada at Expo 2005 held in Japan. In July 2005, Chanté went on a cross-Canada tour and later opened up for Destiny's Child during the Canadian leg of their Destiny Fulfilled ... And Lovin' It tour, and is also included on the Destiny's Child Live In Atlanta Tour DVD. In October 2005, Chanté received four nominations at the Urban Music Awards. In 2006, Chanté toured with Teen People Magazine and Seventeen Magazine across select cities in the U.S. In July 2006, Chante released her new single "Been Gone" with a video shot by Director X (marking her third collaboration with him). Her second single, "2U" was released in early November. Also in 2006, Chanté made a featured cameo appearance in Bow Wow and Chris Brown's music video "Shortie Like Mine". Her second album, which Chanté executive produced was released on December 5, 2006 in Canada and Japan through SonyMusic Canada. MTV's "The Diary of Keshia Chante" aired in Canada December 6, 2006, showing footage following Chante as she travelled to Miami and LA working on her album. In 2007, during her last year of high school, Chante took a departure from music to study to learn more about the music business and be mentored by respected entertainment lawyers in LA and Toronto. She later made the decision to move to Atlanta and West Hollywood, where she worked closely the camps of Ne-Yo, Missy Elliott and OutKast. She began honing her skill as a songwriter and her acting chops, starring as the lead actress in the TV series "Soul". In 2010, Chanté released her third album "Night & Day" in Canada through Universal Music Canada. Chanté released "Table Dancer" and "Test Drive" which were both nominated for Juno Awards; R&B Recording of the Year for "Test Drive" and Dance Recording of the Year for "Table Dancer". Both songs entered Top 10 at radio. On February 14, 2011, Chanté released the Taio Cruz penned song "Set U Free". On December 31, 2011, Chanté performed on ET Canada's New Year's Eve Bash in Niagara Falls, which later set a record becoming Canada's #1 Year End Countdown Show with 4.8 million viewers. In April 2012, Chanté was announced as the new music judge for a music competition show on YTV called The Next Star. On the week of November 28, 2012, Chante's first single release "Table Dancer" went #1 on the Billboard Charts in Japan and #6 on Hot 100, #3 on Digital & Airplay & #11 on regular charts Chanté guest starred & judged on TV shows Top Chef Canada and Canada's Best Beauty Talent with supermodel Coco Rocha & Flare Magazine's Editor-in-Chief Lisa Tant

2013–2015: BET's 106 and Park

On June 14, 2012, Chanté made her US television debut on BET's 106 & Park as a co-host on two separate occasions co-hosting with Terrence J. On June 30, 2013, Chanté attended the 2013 BET Awards as a correspondent for the event & began co-hosting select episodes of 106 & Park. On September 26, 2013, BET President Stephen Hill announced on the Rickey Smiley Morning Show that Chante will be a new co host for 106 & Park alongside rapper Bow Wow starting on October 1. Childhood friend and fellow Canadian Drake publicly announced and congratulated Chante for becoming the first ever Canadian to host the iconic show. Chante went on to make history having the First Lady of the United States Michelle Obama on the show, as well as filming with the likes of Mariah Carey, Jennifer Lopez, Mark Wahlberg, Sylvester Stallone, Denzel Washington, Jessica Alba, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Robert De Niro, Will Ferrell, Eminem, The Rock, Floyd Mayweather, Forest Whitaker, 50 Cent, Kerry Washington, Tyra Banks, Naomi Campbell, Kevin Hart, Melissa McCarthy, Emma Stone, Joe Manganiello, and many more.

On December 18, 2013, Chante was invited by United States President Barack Obama & the first lady Michelle Obama to their White House holiday party in DC.

In December 2014, received a star on the Brampton Arts Walk of Fame.

In January 2015, after two years hosting 106 & Park, the show announced it was going digital. In June 2014, 2015 and 2016, Chante hosted the BET Awards 106 & Park Pre-Show in LA.

2016-Present: New Music

In 2016, Chante announced she was a "free-agent" and would be releasing her new music independently. On November 11, 2016, BET premiered Chante's song "The Valley" off her upcoming album. On January 11, 2017, Radio Host Ebro Darden debuted Chante's single "F**k It Tho" on his Beats 1 radio show on Apple Music.

Musical style

Tara Henley of The Georgia Straight noted that Chante had "an arresting voice, magnetic charisma, and driving ambition." Denise Sheppard from Amazon.ca also noted, "[Chanté is] a teen-targeted pop phenom" whose "music has the one-two punch of melodic hooks and the voice to back them up; a combination that can and will appeal to dance/pop music fans of any age.

Influences

Chante cited Beyoncé, Aaliyah and Brandy as her childhood influences, as well as Tupac Shakur, with whom she shares the same birth date.

Public image

In Canada, Chanté is considered a Fashionista by fashion's high rankings performing at Marchesa's first runway show in Toronto, as well as Chanel event for Toronto International Film Festival. Her style has been described as "glamorous" meets "sexy elegance" by Holt Renfrew executives. Chante is an avid supporter of Canadian Fashion Designers and labels. Flare Magazine has named her a "true style chameleon" January 2012, Fashion Television labeled Keshia a Fashion Icon In 2012, Chante served as a Judge on Canada's Best Beauty Talent with Coco Rocha and Editor-in-Chief of FLARE Magazine Lisa Tant. Chante has been cited for having an eerily striking resemblance to late-singer Aaliyah.

Endorsements

Chante has been endorsed by brands such as Pepsi, Smarties, Bell, Rogers, Stila Cosmetics, MAC Cosmetics, Ecko Red and Sony. In November 2010, Chante became the face of Pepsi and their Pepsi Refresh Project campaign. Chante is the face of Ontario Tourism and sings the theme song in their commercials.

Philanthropy

Chante worked with Alicia Keys to throw a fundraising concert for the Stephen Lewis Foundation She has visited Dominican Republic to work with World Vision. and Kenya, Africa with CANFAR, serving as their Youth Ambassador for two years. In 2014, Chante starred in NBC's PSA for Mariska Hargitay's Joyful Heart foundation alongside Eli Manning, Hilary Swank and more.

Awards and nominations

2003

2004

2005

2007

2008

2011