Keshia Chanté facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Keshia Chanté
Chanté in 2016
Background information
Birth name	Keshia Chanté Harper
Born	(1988-06-16) June 16, 1988 (age 37) Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Origin	Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Genres	R&B hip hop soul
Occupation(s)	Singer-songwriter actress television personality businesswoman
Years active	2002–present
Labels	Sony Music Canada Universal Music Canada Sony Urban Music
Associated acts	Drake, Bow Wow, Foxy Brown, DeSean Jackson Preme, Belly

Keshia Chanté Harper (born on June 16, 1988) is a talented Canadian singer, television host, actress, songwriter, and businesswoman. She became famous as a teenager with hit songs like "Unpredictable" and "Bad Boy."

Chanté has released four albums and is known for co-hosting 106 & Park on BET, a popular music show. She is also recognized as Drake's first girlfriend and a source of inspiration for his music, even being called "KIKI" in his song "In My Feelings." Keshia Chanté has won many awards, including being the youngest Juno Award winner. She also has a star on the Brampton Arts Walk of Fame for her amazing work in Canadian music and film.

Early life and beginnings

Keshia Chanté Harper was born and grew up in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. She spent her summers with her grandparents in Hinesville, Georgia, USA. When she was 12, Chanté moved to Toronto, Ontario. Her father is from Trinidad, and her mother has Puerto Rican and Portuguese roots.

Chanté was only 6 years old when she first performed on stage. She sang a song by Tupac Shakur and received a standing ovation! This led to her performing at talent shows, where a local DJ noticed her. In 2002, he sent a video of her singing to Sony Music Canada. After performing for music executives, she signed a record deal to release her music in Canada. Chanté was also a top student, graduating with honors and as her class's valedictorian.

Music career

Becoming a young star

In 2002, when Keshia Chanté was just 13, Sony Music Canada signed her to a record deal. In early 2003, she released her first song, "Shook (The Answer)." It won an Urban Music Award for "Best Pop/R&B Single." Her next song, "Unpredictable," became a top hit on radio charts. Its music video reached number one on YTV and the top ten on MuchMusic. The song "Unpredictable" later won Chanté a Canadian Radio Music Award for "Best New Solo Artist."

In 2004, Chanté released "Bad Boy," which also became a big hit, reaching number one on MuchMusic. The video for "Bad Boy" was directed by Director X. Later that year, her song "Does He Love Me?" featuring Foxy Brown also did very well. On June 22, 2004, Chanté released her first album, Keshia Chanté, which quickly became a gold-certified album. She won many awards at the Canadian Urban Music Awards, including "Best New Artist" and "Video of the Year."

Touring and new music

In 2005, Chanté went on a tour across Canada. She also opened shows for the famous group Destiny's Child during their tour in Canada. In 2006, she toured with Teen People and Seventeen magazines in the U.S. She released new songs like "Been Gone" and "2U." Her second album, 2U, came out in December 2006.

After high school, Chanté took some time to learn more about the music business. She moved to Atlanta and West Hollywood, where she worked with famous artists and improved her songwriting and acting skills.

In 2010, Chanté released her third album, Night & Day. Songs from this album, "Table Dancer" and "Test Drive," were nominated for Juno Awards. "Table Dancer" even hit number one on the Billboard Japan Digital Chart! In 2012, Chanté became a music judge for a TV show called The Next Star on YTV.

Television and acting career

Hosting 106 & Park

In 2012, Keshia Chanté made her first appearance on U.S. television as a co-host on BET's 106 & Park. In 2013, she became an official co-host of the show alongside Bow Wow. Her childhood friend, Drake, publicly congratulated her for being the first Canadian to host the show.

During her time on 106 & Park, Chanté interviewed many famous people, including former First Lady of the United States Michelle Obama. She also hosted the BET Awards Pre-Show multiple times.

Moving to California and new roles

In 2017, Chanté moved to West Hollywood, California, and started taking acting classes. In 2018, she became a Hollywood Correspondent for Entertainment Tonight Canada, where she interviewed many big stars like Larry King and Cate Blanchett.

Chanté has also hosted and judged many other TV shows, including The World's Best as an international music judge. She has appeared as a guest star in TV series like Jann and Private Eyes. In 2020, she became the host of the official aftershow for Big Brother.

Other ventures

Philanthropy and giving back

Keshia Chanté cares a lot about helping others. She has been a youth ambassador for CANFAR (Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research), traveling to Kenya, Africa, to help build schools. She also visited schools across Canada to raise awareness. She has worked with World Vision in the Dominican Republic and helped Alicia Keys with a fundraising concert.

Chanté has also spoken at We Day events, sharing her own experiences with depression and anxiety to encourage young people to talk about mental health. She has helped raise millions of dollars for different causes.

Business and endorsements

In 2022, Chanté launched her own luxury hair care brand called KHAIR. She has also worked with many well-known brands like CANON, Pepsi, Nestlé, and MAC Cosmetics. In 2010, she became the face of Pepsi's "Pepsi Refresh Project" campaign.

Musical style and influences

Keshia Chanté is known for her strong voice and captivating stage presence. Critics have described her music as having catchy melodies and powerful vocals that appeal to many fans of dance and pop music.

Chanté has said that her childhood musical influences include Beyoncé, Aaliyah, and Brandy. She also looks up to Tupac Shakur, who shares her birthday.

Personal life

Keshia Chanté lives in both West Hollywood, California, and Toronto, Ontario.

Relationship with Drake

Keshia Chanté was rapper Drake's first girlfriend and first love when they were teenagers in Toronto. They have worked together on music and have remained close friends over the years. Drake has written several songs about Chanté, and he even called her "KIKI" in his famous song "In My Feelings. He has also mentioned her in other songs like "Wu-Tang Forever" and "U With Me?".

In 2013, Drake appeared on 106 & Park and told Chanté, "You were one of my first crushes, and a lot of people might not know this, but I actually rapped about you before."

In 2022, Drake introduced Chanté at his OVO Fest concert in Toronto. He called her "my first girlfriend I ever had in my life" and a "real legend," saying she "paved the way for all of us." Chanté described this introduction as "the most heartfelt & meaningful."

Relationship with Ray Emery

In 2010, Chanté began dating NHL hockey player Ray Emery. Their relationship was shown on the TV series Hockey Wives. In 2016, Emery proposed to Chanté on her birthday. They were planning to get married in 2017, but Chanté later announced that they had called off the wedding.

After Emery's accidental drowning in 2018, Chanté shared an emotional tribute to him. She said he was "a Superhero" and "loving, affectionate, intelligent, hilarious, giving." She also shared that even though they had differences, they "forgave each other and continued to love each other right to the very end."

Discography

Studio albums

• Keshia Chanté (2004)
• 2U (2006)
• Night & Day (2011)
• Unbound 02 (2018)

EP

• Unbound 01 (2017)

Filmography

Awards and nominations

• 2003
  • Canadian Urban Music Award for Best R&B/Soul Single for "Shook (The Answer)" – Won
  • Canadian Radio Music Award for "Best New Solo Artist" (Dance Urban Rhythmic) – Won
  • Canadian Radio Music Award for "Best New Solo Artist" (CHR) – Won
• 2004
  • Canadian Urban Music Award for Best New Artist – Won
  • Canadian Urban Music Award for Video of the Year for "Bad Boy" – Won
  • Canadian Urban Music Award for Fans Choice – Won
  • Rising Star Award for Rising Star of the Year – Won
  • MuchMusic Video Award for "Best R&B Video" for "Does He Love Me?" – Won
• 2005
  • Juno Award for "R&B/Soul Recording of the Year" – Won
  • Juno Award for "New Artist of the Year" – Nominee
  • Canadian Urban Music Award for "Video of the Year" for "Does He Love Me?" – Won
  • MuchMusic Video Award for "People's Choice: Favorite Canadian Artist" – Won
  • MuchMusic Video Award for "Best Pop Video" for "Does He Love Me?" – Won
• 2007
  • Juno Award for "R&B/SOUL Recording Of The Year" for "Been Gone" – Nominee
• 2008
  • Juno Award for "R&B/SOUL Recording of the Year" for "2U" – Nominee
• 2011
  • Juno Award for "Dance Recording of the Year" for "Table Dancer" – Nominee
  • Juno Award for "R&B/SOUL Recording of the Year" for "Test Drive" – Nominee
• 2018
  • Juno Award for "R&B/SOUL Recording of the Year" for "Unbound 01" (EP) – Nominee
• 2022
  • Canadian Screen Award for Best TV Show Host for "ET Canada LIVE" - Winner
• 2023
  • Canadian Screen Award for Best TV Show Host for "ET Canada" - Winner
• 2024
  • Canadian Screen Award for Best TV Show Host for "The Legacy Awards" - Nominee
  • Canadian Screen Award for Best TV Show Host for "Entertainment Tonight Canada" - Nominee

See also

In Spanish: Keshia Chanté para niños