Candice Pillay facts for kids

Candice Pillay (born June 10, 1981) is a singer and songwriter from South Africa who now lives in Los Angeles. She is famous for writing hit songs for some of the biggest names in music. These artists include Rihanna, Kendrick Lamar, Christina Aguilera, and Dr. Dre.

From South Africa to Superstardom

Candice Pillay grew up in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, in a family with Indian roots. She moved to the United States to follow her dream of a career in music.

In 2014, she released her first mixtape, called The Mood Kill. A mixtape is a collection of songs, and hers had 15 tracks that she wrote with other creators.

A huge moment in her career came in 2015 when she worked with the legendary music producer Dr. Dre. Her voice was featured on two songs from his album Compton. One of these songs was "Medicine Man," which also featured the famous rapper Eminem.

Pillay said that working with Dr. Dre was an amazing experience. "He really made an impression on me from the moment I met him," she told MTV. "Of course, he's a legendary guy... But, from the first meeting, he was one of the most humble guys I've met."

Writing for the Stars

Besides singing, Candice is a very talented songwriter. In 2015, she helped write the song "American Oxygen" for Rihanna. Pillay said the song was special to her, Rihanna, and co-writer Alex da Kid, because all of them had moved to America to build their careers.

In 2020, inspired by the growing calls for justice and equality, Pillay released the song "Stand Silent." The following year, she announced a new collection of her own music, an EP called The Rise.

A Mix of Cultures in Her Music

Candice's music is a unique blend of different cultures. She once explained how her background influences her sound.

"I have African and Indian heritage," she said. She explained that mixing the rhythms and drums from these cultures is very similar to the sounds of R&B and hip-hop. "A lot of my melodies are very Indian and you wouldn't think that because they're under a heavy 808 [a type of drum machine], but I try to access all those cultures that I grew up on."

Famous Songs by Candice Pillay

Candice Pillay has a long list of songs she has either sung on or written for other artists. Here are some of the most well-known ones.

As a Featured Singer

Sometimes, an artist will be "featured" on another artist's song, which means they sing a part of it.

• "Genocide" (2015) - by Dr. Dre, featuring Kendrick Lamar, Marsha Ambrosius, and Candice Pillay
• "Medicine Man" (2015) - by Dr. Dre, featuring Eminem, Candice Pillay, and Anderson .Paak
• "WHateva U Want" (2016) - by Schoolboy Q, featuring Candice Pillay

As a Songwriter

As a songwriter, Candice helps create the lyrics and melody for a song.

• "Cockiness (Love It)" (2011) - for Rihanna
• "Lotus" (2012) - for Christina Aguilera
• "American Oxygen" (2015) - for Rihanna
• "Cash Out" (2017) - for Calvin Harris
• "Help Me Help You" (2017) - for Logan Paul