'Keyshia Cole: Golden Touch' - VIBE Magazine August 2006

What's Good: Unveiling A Star
Who doesn't like to feel sexy? If you don't, you can't possibly be human! Even those who choose not to flaunt it enjoy doing so on the low.

I'm not denying that sexiness can be exploited in an objectionable way. But let's not ever confuse attacking exploitation with attacking sexuality itself. We shouldn't judge someone else's choice to showcase his or her sensual side. Shouldn't people have the right to express themselves however they want?

Take new R&B phenomenon Keyshia Cole. No one can deny she's a sexy girl, but she has purposely been careful about how she conveys it. Concerned that her body could steal the show, Keyshia has focused on garnering acceptance as an artist by concentrating on her music first. The only problem is that even the regular stuff young girls wear looks different on her.

Male fans couldn't help but take notice and were intrigued immediately.
When I called Keyshia to ask if she would grace the cover of our annual Sexy Issue, she even hesitated, sayıng she wanted to mull it over, then called right back two seconds later urgently saying, "I don't even know why I've got to think about this-yes, yes, I'm ready to be sexy!" She added, with a laugh, "Guys are probably tired of seeing me look so mean all the time."

I admire Keyshia's initial concern and wish others would be more thoughtful about the decisions they make. Our pictures are indeed sexy, but more in spirit than anything else. She's got a fair amount of clothes on and wasn't even down to give a full booty shot (sorry, guys). While willing to show a bit more of who she naturally is, she also knew where she wanted to draw the line. Confident and in control-how sexy is that?

For more of her thoughts on the subject, check out my Q&A with Keyshia ("Golden Touch," page 94), where she breaks down what she considers sexy and what she doesn't.

Adult sexuality and personal identity are also at the heart of Aliya S. King's compelling report on rappers wives ("Behind Closed Doors," page 110), which explores the difficult reality faced by women whose husbands are adored by groupies. We also take a look at hip hop's new golden boy, Chi-Town's Lupe Fiasco ("Weird Science," by Roni Sarig, page 106). Finally, on an even more sober tip, we revisit the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in "A Tale of Two Cities" (page 116). Writers Corey Takahashi and Noah Callahan-Bever flew to New Orleans and Houston, respectively, to gauge the storm's lingering effects on those who've remained in Louisiana and those who've resettled in Texas. For the people of New Orleans-one of our music's greatest incubators-huge challenges remain.
All of us need to keep paying attention. Be easy.

Mimi Valdés - Editor-in-Chief

P.S. If you've got comments about this issue or suggestions for stories you'd like to read, I wanna hear from you! Hit me back at mimi@vibe.com.

She's All Yours: The first 10 people to name the track where Keyshia Cole says,
"Dreams turn reality," will win** a copy of this issue signed by our sexy cover girl. Log on July 25 for details.

Golden Touch - Sure Keyshia Cole is not the average girl in the video, but she has a sex appeal of her own. Mimi Valdés put's VIBE's cover girl in the hot seat and learns why lips, lotion, and laughter, are all any man needs. Photographs by Jamil GS

What is it about R&B Chicks? Is sexiness simply a part of their DNA? They tend to ooze sensuality in a way that feels effortless, which is probably why Biggie devoted a whole song to them. And he's not alone in his infatuation. Whether they're showcasing their curves or simply belting out tunes, they compel athletes to chase them, make high school boys study them, and entice rappers to dream about them. Keyshia Cole, 24, is no exception. Her sexiness isn't obvious in the typical wet model mold. Yes, she's got a body men love, but it's not something she feels comfortable flaunting. Instead, she wants everyone to concentrate on her music.
"I want to be a performer like Usher one day," she says. "From people not believing in me to now believing, I just want to stay focused and not get thrown off by the bullshit." Given her past struggles, it's easy to understand her indifference to being perceived as sexy. We all know the story of her drug-addicted mom, how she grew up in Oakland with foster parents and hung out with Tupac and Suge Knight as a kid, and the way one bad relationship finally led her to pack up and move to L.A. in pursuit of a record deal. With an amazing voice and remarkable songwriting skills-never mind herround-the-way sex appeal-she has certainly carved out a place for herself. The plat-inum-selling singer has her own reality show on BET, Keyshia Cole: The Way It Is. And with the cameras rolling, music fans get a chance to witness Cole's realness, which is ironically a rarity in reality TV. The show's finale chronicles her visit to see her jailed mom (who's been clean and sober since she went in a year ago), and promises to be a tearjerker. › In the meantime Cole's in the process offinalizing a label deal with A&M/Interscope Records, where she'll sign her best friend (an Oakland rapper named Amina). She's starring in a new advertising campaign for Akademiks and, of course, preparing for her sophomore album. Lastly, she's looking to invest in an animal hospital and build a foster home. A ride-or-die chick with heart-what's hotter than that?

VIBE: How do you feel about gracing the cover of VIBE's Sexy Issue?

Keyshia Cole: I knew I was excited 'cause I woke up all hella early this morning, like six o'clock. I jumped up, and when I saw the time, I was, like, Six? HELL, NO! But I couldn't go back to sleep. It's crazy. I mean, I remember where I came from. Things like this show me that it's possible to get where I'm trying to get, that I'm elevating; I'm growing. And that's dope.

V: So that's why you were at the shoot all early.

KC: And I would have been there earlier! I forgot my legs weren't shaved. I was about to leave, but then was, like, Wait, this is for the Sexy Issue; this ain't gonna work.

V: This kind of photo shoot is different for you in that you're not used to posing for sexy pictures, right?

KC: So many girls, when they come into the business, the first thing they want to do is use their sex appeal. I'm just not ready to throw it all out there. Like, "Here it is; take me I'm yours!" My mama [foster mother] didn't raise me that way, and I really have to hear stuff from her. Seriously. She's always, like, "Baby, I just don't know about that shirt." She's a pastor, the one who took me to church, always giving me the "Don't fall victim to the world" speech. When my breasts first got big, I just wore a tank top under everything'cause they'd be like-boom!-right there. That line down the middle..? [Sigh] Like, why can't it just be cool [laughing]?

V: Are you really that uncomfortable with your sexiness?

KC: I like sexy, nothing wrong with it, but on my own terms. I just take into consideration that young girls look up to me.

V: Does that mean you regret the dress you wore in the "(I Just Want It) To Be Over" video?

KC: I liked that titty dress [laughing]. It's just that sometimes my boobs are a little too big. Brandy and J.Lo wore that same dress; mine was in bronze. But on me, it didn't look like when they wore it.

V: What are some things you consider sexy?

KC: Lips are sexy; you got to have nice lips. A black T-shirt with some black sneakers - just the simplicity of it is sexy. Having ambition, that's sexy-knowing what you want to get out of life. You can't come around me and ain't got shit you trying to do. Ask me for money? I'm not giving it to you.

I think it's sexy for a man to laugh at my jokes. Better laugh at my jokes!

Red makes me feel sexy. It's bright, grabs attention, like what I
wore in the photo shoot. [Laughing] Hot!

Some nice high heels, not real tall, with the peekaboo toe, love
the peekaboo toe.

My Range Rover makes me feel sexy. It's just a sexy car. I got the Sport in black. Ooooh, I just like riding! I turn my music up and bump it. I live for that. I'd much rather drive my car than ride in somebody else's.

I love when someone orders flowers to my hotel room just because. That's sweet and makes me feel sexy, like, all right!

It makes me feel sexy when somebody is into me: cares about what I'm doing, how I feel, what I'm going though. That's the best feeling.

I like when a man rubs my feet; that's sexy. With a foot massage, I'm asleep as soon as you do it. Yes, take out that lotion.

V: So what don't you find sexy?

KC: Don't cook for me - please don't cook. Not sexy. Let me cook and be sexy. I mean, where they do that at? It's not cool. Tell me you ordered it or something.

Don't be messing with a lot of girls - having multiple partners - that's not sexy. Don't get slapped! Too much stuff going around these days to be playing with that. If you can't find your man for two days, he's cheating - period.

I don't like a dude who's 'extra' - disrespectful, too loud, or who just wants to be noticed and the center of attention. Don't do that.

Lying? That's never cute.

V: It's never easy dealing with those issues, but you seem as if you're in a good place.

KC: I love my life. God is good. If you're from the streets, it's hard to make a lot of money and be true to that. You can't keep those same friends because it's gonna get hectic. Given my childhood, I never really had friends, so there's no one to complain that I'm changing.The three I have are easy to handle and balance. It's not too much for me to give them attention.

V: What's been the most difficult thing to manage in your career?

KC: Keeping my family straight. They're still in the streets, and they have to deal with people talking. My niece told my sister that kids in school tell her, "Well, if Keyshia Cole is your auntie, how come your hair ain't done?" She told her mother, "It's ruining my life." Just as much as it's crazy for me, it's crazier for them. They're all I got, and what they think and how they feel really matters to me. With 11 nieces and one nephew, from 8 months to 12 years old, I'm just trying to figure out how we all gonna go to Disneyland!