Tamika Scott facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Tamika Scott
Scott in 2017
Born	(1975-11-19) November 19, 1975 (age 49) College Park, Georgia, U.S.
Occupation	Singer-songwriter actress
Years active	1990–present
Spouse(s)	Darius Byas ​ (divorced)​ Darnell Winston ​ (m. 2004)​
Children	3
Musical career
Genres	R&B soul hip hop new jack swing
Instruments	Vocals
Labels	So So Def Recordings Columbia Creative Artists Agency Brolic Entertainment Twenty Two Recordings
Associated acts	Xscape Tameka "Tiny" Cottle Kandi Burruss LaTocha Scott

Tamika Scott (born November 19, 1975) is an American singer-songwriter, actress, and ordained minister. She rose to fame in the early 1990s as a member of Xscape. Scott sang lead on the group's singles "Love on My Mind", "Who Can I Run To", and "The Arms of the One Who Loves You", the latter two which peaked in the Billboard Hot 100 and became earn platinum and gold certification by the Recording Industry Association of America. During the group's hiatus, Scott ventured into acting. She appeared in Tyler Perry's stage production Meet the Browns in 2004.

Scott reunited with Xscape in 2017 for their The Great Xscape Tour. After the group downsized to a trio in 2018, performing as Xscap3. As a member of Xscap3, the group released an extended play Here for It (2018). In 2019, Scott released her debut extended play, Family Affair. She also debuted her line of seasonings called Southern Fuse along with her cookbook "Table Set: A Taste of South in Your Mouth".

Throughout her career, Scott has sold over 9.8 million records with Xscape. Her work with the group has earned her several and nominations, including a Soul Train Music Award, a Black Music Honors Lifetime Achievement Award, an honorary Soul Train Lady of Soul Award.

Early life

Scott was born in Atlanta, Georgia, and at age 4 began singing in church, weddings, and local talent shows. At 9, she had recorded her first song with her sister Latocha. Scott attended TriCities High School of Performing Arts in Atlanta, Georgia, transferring to Tri-Cities High School in East Point, Georgia graduating in 1993.

1991–1992: Xscape beginnings

While attending Tri-Cities performing arts high school in East Point, Georgia, Tamika met Kandi Burruss. The three (along with her sister LaTocha Scott began singing together and recruited a fourth member, Tamera Coggins, though her time with the group was short-lived. Soon Tameka "Tiny" Cottle was asked to audition for the girls, and Xscape was officially formed. After the group's major debut performance at BET's Teen Summit in 1992, the girls were introduced to record executive Ian Burke, who later became the group's manager. Xscape soon caught the attention of Jermaine Dupri, who later signed the group to his So So Def Recordings.

1993–1999: Xscape success

The group released their debut album Hummin' Comin' at 'Cha on October 12, 1993. The album peaked at number seventeen on the U.S. Billboard 200 and number three on the Top R&B Albums chart. It was a critical and commercial success, certified platinum within a year, and launched two hit singles, "Just Kickin' It" and "Understanding"; both entered the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 and peaked at number one on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. The follow-up singles, "Love on My Mind" and "Tonight", did not achieve the same success. The group later appeared on The Mask soundtrack and the soundtrack for the 1995 film Panther, featuring the single "Freedom", which she appeared with her older sister LaTocha and other female singers.

Xscape released their second studio album, Off the Hook, in 1995. Much of the album's production was by Jermaine Dupri and featured guest vocals from MC Lyte. Four singles were released. "Feel So Good" and "Who Can I Run To" peaked at No. 32 and No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart respectively. The latter release, "Can't Hang/Do You Want To", was a joint single and reached the top ten of the Billboard R&B charts. "Off the Hook" was certified platinum in 1995. In 1996, the group was featured on MC Lyte's single "Keep On, Keepin' On", which appeared on the Sunset Park soundtrack. The single reached the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. In 1997, as the group's popularity grew, they appeared on the soundtracks of the films Love Jones and Soul Food.

In 1997, the group found new management and released their third studio album, Traces of My Lipstick in 1998. The album entered the Billboard 200 at number 28, and featured top 10 hits "The Arms of the One Who Loves You" and "My Little Secret", which LaTocha Scott co-wrote with Jermaine Dupri, earning the pair an ASCAP Rhythm and Soul Music Award. In early 1998, Xscape was featured on the Keith Sweat-produced single, "Am I Dreamin'", by R&B newcomer group Ol' Skool.

1999: Xscape disbandment

The dynamic of the group had changed by the third album, which led to LaTocha Scott leaving the group in 1999 to pursue a solo career. Subsequently, the group went on hiatus.

2000–2009: After Xscape

In 2004, Scott, along with LaTocha Scott, Tameka "Tiny" Cottle, and new member Kiesha Miles, attempted to revamp Xscape. They released the single "What's Up" in 2005, but the reconciliation was short-lived and the group ultimately disbanded in 2005.

Around the same time, Scott made her first TV appearance in a 2004 episode of Tyler Perry's Meet the Browns.

2010–present

Tamika Scott released a new single entitled "Greatest Gift" for Tyler Perry's Daddy's Little Girls, released in 2007. Also Released a single named Why did I Get Married That Same Year

She made a special appearance in the second season of the TV One show R&B Divas: Atlanta in 2013.

When Xscape reunited in 2017, they announced they would be releasing a biopic about the band. In the biopic, Scott plans to be played by her daughter. The band was followed by Bravo as they prepared for the 2017 Essence Festival. The footage was made into a four-part television series called Xscape: Still Kickin' It. Tensions arose between band members during the show, and when asked about how the band was doing, Scott joked that they needed therapy.

On March 25, 2019, Tamika released her first solo project since her reunion with Xscape. A single entitled "Tonite" was released to her official SoundCloud and YouTube channel.

On August 9, 2019, Tamika released her new single "Almost Over". It was announced on August 15, 2019 by Here TV & BroadwayWorld that Scott had joined season two of the television series Conframa from executive producer Shaun Cairo Pitchfork (film).

Career

1990–1999: Xscape

In 1990, Xscape was formed by Kandi Burruss, Tamera Coggins, Tameka Cottle, sisters LaTocha Scott and Tamika Scott. The group met while attending Tri-Cities High School in East Point, Georgia. In 1991, they were invited to sing at Jermaine Dupri's birthday party. Dupri eventually signed the group to his record label So So Def. In August 1993, the group released their debut single "Just Kickin' It". They released their debut album Hummin' Comin' at 'Cha in October 1993, which established the group as a viable act in the music industry. The group released their platinum-selling second album Off the Hook in 1999. The album featured songs such as "Feels So Good" and Who Can I Run To, the latter of which features Scott on shared lead vocals and became a platinum-selling single. Off the Hook won a Soul Train Music Award for R&B/Soul Album of the Year – Group, Band or Duo in 1996.

In April 1998, the group released the single "The Arms of the One Who Loves You", which features Scott on co-lead vocals. The song became a top-ten Billboard Hot 100 song and sold over 800,000 copies in the United States, earning a gold certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). When the third album Traces of My Lipstick was released in May 1998, Scott's elder sister LaTocha announced her plans to go solo. The album peaked at number twenty-eight on the U.S. Billboard 200 and eventually earned a platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America in 1999. The album also spawned another Billboard Hot 100 song "My Little Secret", which became certified gold in the US. In 2000, the group went on a hiatus to pursue solo careers.

2000–2016: Solo career

In 1998, Scott began recording a gospel album. The album included collaborations with BeBe & CeCe Winans. When Xscape briefly reformed in 2000, Scott abandoned the project and the album remained shelved. In 2004, Scott pursued an acting career. In August 2004, she appeared as the character Milay Brown in Meet the Browns, a American stage play written and directed by Tyler Perry.

In 2005, Scott reformed Xscape with original members Tameka Cottle and LaTocha Scott, along with new member Kiesha Miles. The group recorded an full album titled Unchained but the album was shelved after the release of a single "What's Up", which failed to chart and received minor radio airplay. The group also did a few concert performances before disbanding by 2006. In 2007, Scott released a song titled Greatest Gift on the soundtrack of American romantic comedy-drama film Daddy's Little Girls. She also co-wrote and produced "Step Aside" by Yolanda Adams as well as "Struggle No More (The Main Event)" by Anthony Hamilton, which appeared on the same soundtrack. She released the titled-track for the soundtrack of comedy-drama film Why Did I Get Married?, released in October 2007.

In 2009, Scott appeared a single titled "Pull On My Weave" by singer Phoenix the Fire Starter. In 2010, Scott released a single titled "Say Aah. In February 2013, LaTocha Scott and Tamika Scott performed as Xscape at the So So Def 20th Anniversary Concert. In 2015, the original members of Xscape appeared in an episode of music documentary Unsung. The episode chronicled the group's success as well as internal turmoil.

2017–present: Reunion with Xscape and other projects

On June 25, 2017, Xscape reunited and performed at BET Awards 2017, marking their first performance together in eighteen years. In November 2017, the group embarked on their headlining tour The Great Xscape Tour. In late 2017, Xscape premiered their own reality show titled Xscape: Still Kickin' It on Bravo network. The reality show was centered around the group resolving internal conflicts, preparation and rehearsals for their upcoming tour, and personal endeavors. The group downsized to a trio after fellow member Burruss departed and the remaining members began performing as Xscap3. In March 2018, Xscap3 released an extended play titled Here for It, which spawned two singles: "Wifed Up" and "Dream Killa".

In December 2019, Scott released an extend play titled Family Affair, which featured the singles "Almost Over" and "Go Outside in the Rain". In 2021, Scott launched her brand of food seasonings titled Southern Fuse. In August 2022, Scott released her cookbook "Table Set: A Taste of South in Your Mouth". In April 2023, Scott released a single titled "Tonight".

Personal life

In 1994, Scott gave birth to her first child O'Shun Reney, to Darius Byas. ..... She refused and had her daughter Oshun. Later in 1994, Scott married Byas. In 1999, she gave birth to their second child Taniyah. In the early 2000, Scott divorced Byas. In 2004, she married bodyguard Darnell Winston. In July 2013, Scott gave birth to their child Princess Armani.

Discography

Extended plays

Singles

• "Pull on my Weave" (Phoenix the Fire Starter featuring Tamika Scott) (2009)
• "Say Aah" (featuring Rasheeda, Trina and Gloss Da Boss) (2010)
• "Almost Over" (2019)
• "All of Me" (featuring Q Parker) (2019)
• "Go Outside in the Rain" (2019)
• "Tonight" (featuring Method Man)

Soundtrack appearances

Filmography

Theatre and musical

• Meet the Brown (2004)
• There's a Strange in My House (2009)
• The Little Black Dress (2015)
• A Good Man Is Hard To Find (2015)
• The Man of Her Dreams (2016)