Keyshia Cole was interviewed about her two Grammy Award nominations for her album "Just Like You". Cole was surprised and astonished by the nominations, as she didn't expect to receive them so soon in her career. The interviewer was advised not to bring up Cole's drug-addicted mother, who Cole has openly discussed in her reality show, but the interviewer planned to ask questions that would lead Cole to discuss the topic herself. Cole discussed her album "Just Like You" and said it features very personal songs, though she didn't go into the album with any particular aim and always sings from her heart.

1. February 4 - 10, 2008
Issue No. 1306
www.voice-online.co.uk
Hot
Cole NE OF the most irritating things a
O journalist can experience prior to
conducting an interview, is being
told by a PR representative what
NOT to ask their client. It’s all the
more frustrating when you’re told to steer clear of the
very subjects you intended to bring up. Note to PR reps:
if you tell someone not to talk about something, they’ll
only be more inclined to talk about it!
In the case of US R’n’B starlet Keyshia Cole, the sub-
ject matter that was off-limits was the issue of her drug-
addict mother. Despite the fact that Cole herself made
the struggles of her private life all too public in her
BET reality show, The Way It Is, I was advised not bring
up this issue. My plan? Think of a way to make her
bring it up herself. But not before offering congrats
on her two Grammy Award nominations.
Her new album Just Like You is up for the Best
Contemporary R&B Album award, at this
year’s ceremony, due to take place on
February 10, while her single Let it Go (a col-
laboration with Missy Elliott and Lil’ Kim) is
up for the Best Rap/Sung Collaboration
award. A pretty impressive feat for an artist
still relatively new to the mainstream world.
“I’m really surprised about the nomina-
tions,” Cole admits. “In fact, I’m astonished.
I didn’t expect to receive such nominations
so soon. But it’s wonderful.”
With her debut album The Way It Is (2005)
establishing her as a songstress with true
vocal talent, Cole further cemented her abil-
ity to deliver songs with true passion and
grit, on her latest offering.
“I think Just Like You is quite edgy and very
sassy,” she says of the album. “And it fea-
tures a lot of personal songs, like I Remember
and Got To Get My Heart Back. But I didn’t
set out with any particular aim for the
album. I always just sing with my heart.”
Continued on page 22
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