In an industry where many artist’s career can have a lifespan as little as six months, Kandi Burruss has managed to keep the torch burning for two decades; and counting. She has defied the odds, while at the same time keeping her business sense tight. “It’s the hardest thing to do (to stay relevant) in the music industry. One minute you can be hot, and the very next year nobody cares anymore, Kandi explained. “No matter if I’m in front of the camera or behind the scenes, I always want to be relevant. Whether it’s writing songs, producing for other people, music, and now television; I just want to be able to continue to do what I love to do. And it’s hard.”

Kandi’s career began in 1990 when the group Xscape was formed. Signed to Jermaine Dupri’s SoSo Def Recordings, the ladies released their first album ‘Hummin’ Comin’ At Cha’ in 1993 (which went platinum). Actually, all three Xscape albums made it to platinum status. Then the group parted ways in 1998. Well, that sparked the beginning for Kandi Burruss. “I guess when ‘No Scrubs’ got placed; that’s when I started writing for everybody. So that’s when it was like non-stop. I was writing, song; after song; after song; after song. It was like 1999; yeah, like 11 years ago.” Kandi said confidently. That same year, Kandi went on a writing rampage. Her pen went to work on Destiny Child’s: Bills Bills Bills & Bug-A-Boo; and Pink’s: There You Go, off her debut album.

Burruss released her solo effort, ‘Hey Kandi’ in 2000. She gained a broader fan base with the single, Don’t Think I’m Not. Since then, Kandi has written for: Mariah Carey, Alicia Keys, Boyz II Men, NSync, Da Brat, Usher, Fantasia, Mya, Joe, MC Lyte and Whitney Houston. She is also responsible for discovering male group, Jagged Edge.

Currently, Kandi has her hands in some of everything business. The years 2009 & 2010 have been very kind to her. She has a clothing store in Atlanta with her business partner, Peaches: TAGS ATL that is doing extremely well. She’s working on her new album on Asylum/Warner Bros. label, she’s performing, producing other artists, runs her own production company, writes for other artists, dabbles in real estate, and is a cast member on the Real Housewives of Atlanta on Bravo. All the while, Mrs. Kandi Burruss remains a caring & devoted mother to her daughter, Riley. “I’m actually considering home schooling her, so she can travel with me. Because I really don’t like the idea of somebody else raising my child. Even if it’s your mom, it’s still not you,” she said lovingly. Yes, Kandi Burruss is a very busy woman. However, she seems to be taking it all in stride; making time for what’s really the most important in her life: Family. “That is the most important thing in the world to me.”

story by: CuttyShark
Pics by: George Butler