In a world where dreams are often whispered and rarely achieved, Kandi Burruss is a testament to the power of passion, resilience, and unwavering determination. Born and raised in the vibrant city of Atlanta, Georgia, Kandi’s journey from a young girl with a dream to a multifaceted entertainment mogul has been extraordinary. As she prepares to debut her latest project, producing the revival of “The Wiz,” set to premiere on April 17th, 2024, Kandi graciously opens up about her childhood, music career, and venture into acting.
“I was born and raised in Atlanta, GA,” Kandi reflects. A proud Atlantan through and through, her upbringing was marked by the influence of her family, particularly her mother. Raised by a single mother who took on the responsibility of parenting with unshakable strength, Kandi learned the value of resilience and the power of determination at an early age. “My mom always said, ‘If you can see and conceive the thought, you can make it happen every time,'” Kandi recalls. The unwavering support of her extensive family network further fueled her aspirations, and their presence at every performance became a source of motivation and pride.
Kandi’s journey into the world of music began with a quiet hum around the house. Inspired by her older brother’s love for singing, Kandi found her voice and embraced her talent. But it was only an impromptu recording session at a mall studio that her talent was truly recognized. “That was when my mom first recognized I could sing,” she shares. The validation from her mother was a turning point, and her entry into the world of music was solidified when she auditioned for a performing arts program in high school. “Going to Tri-Cities High School’s visual and performing arts program changed my life,” Kandi recalls. Her musical journey took off here, leading her to form the iconic girl group Xscape.
Xscape’s rise to fame was not an overnight phenomenon. Kandi reminisces about the challenges faced by the group, from skepticism to the internal dynamics that come with any creative endeavor. “Our group started when I was in 9th grade,” Kandi shares. Despite the obstacles, they persevered and signed a record deal that propelled them to stardom. For Kandi, balancing touring and maintaining her education was formidable, but the sacrifices were worth it. “So you give and take, right?” The success of Xscape not only solidified her musical prowess but also set the stage for her future endeavors.
Kandi’s gift for songwriting shines brightly through her extensive catalog of hits, and “No Scrubs” remains a timeless anthem that continues to resonate with fans across generations. Reflecting on the song’s creation, Kandi recalls drawing inspiration from personal experiences. “An ex-boyfriend inspired me,” she chuckles. The song’s catchy hook and relatable lyrics made it a massive hit, cementing Kandi’s reputation as a brilliant songwriter.
As Kandi’s career evolved, she embraced new challenges beyond music. Joining “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” marked a pivotal decision, leading to unexpected experiences and personal growth. “I would have never thought I would still be doing this long,” Kandi admits. This bold step into reality television showcased her unfiltered authenticity and entrepreneurial spirit, inspiring women to embrace their multifaceted identities.
Kandi’s venture into acting mirrored her music career’s trajectory—full of dedication, growth, and passion. Her appearances on scripted series like “The Chi” and “Insecure” provided her with opportunities to showcase her range as an actress. “I feel like Broadway is tougher,” Kandi observes. The rigors of live theater demand excellence in every performance, fostering discipline and resilience that spills over into all aspects of her artistic endeavors.
Kandi’s journey is a testament to the power of collaboration and persistence. Her advice for aspiring artists is practical and profound: “Go to as many acting and improv classes as you possibly have time to. Connect with other people in the community.” She emphasizes the importance of nurturing relationships and viewing fellow artists not as competitors but as collaborators who can help each other thrive.
As Kandi Burruss continues to evolve as an artist, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, her legacy becomes an intricate tapestry woven with determination, creativity, and authenticity. From Xscape’s harmonious melodies to Broadway’s grand stages, her journey inspires us to chase our dreams with fervour, embrace our multifaceted identities, and leave an indelible mark on the world.
In the upcoming revival of “The Wiz,” Kandi’s influence will undoubtedly add a layer of magic to the production, reminding us of the boundless potential within each of us—waiting to be unlocked through passion, hard work, and a touch of imagination. As April 17th, 2024, approaches, the world eagerly awaits Kandi’s latest masterpiece, ready to embark on another enchanting journey alongside this remarkable artist.
Can you tell us about your childhood and upbringing? What were some of your life’s most significant influences during that time?
I was born and raised in Atlanta, GA. And, my parents were also born and raised there. My mom is the youngest of 14 kids, which means I have a ton of cousins. And that being said, family was always very important to me. My first influence is my mom because my mom and my father divorced when I was around four years old and, while evidencing my mom making things happen as a single parent with two children. I also have an older brother… My brother passed when I was in high school, but I have an older brother. My mom raised us both as a single parent, which significantly influenced my life to see a woman making things work. So, I always wanted to be in a position to be able to make it happen with or without a significant other. Although now I’m blessed to have a great significant other. But it didn’t start that way because I did start out being a single parent with my first child.
My mom always said, “If you can see and conceive the thought, you can make it happen every time.” If I ever performed or something, my mama, aunts, and cousins everybody used to show up. Thus, I’ve always had a significant support system. That’s a big deal growing up as a child. Knowing that every time you do something, you got a gang of people from your family showing up to support you makes you feel good.
My mother didn’t have a college degree or anything like that. So, she showed me that with hard work and a little common sense, you can figure out a lot and make things happen.
How did you discover your passion for music?
I’ve always liked to sing, I used to sing, around the house and stuff. My brother used to sing, too, he was the true big brother, and we were very close. And because my mom worked when I was younger, I spent much time with my brother. He was like the unofficial babysitter. When I got into middle school, I used to sing on the bus all the time. And I remember there was this studio in the mall where you could make little VHS tapes of you singing other people’s songs.
That was when my mom first recognized my voice. I came back home, and I was playing the tape that I recorded in the mall, and she was walking past the room, and then she came back. She said, “Wait a minute, is that the real person, or is that you singing?” And I told her, “That’s me!”. She yelled, “You can sing!!” And I said, “Well, I’ve been trying to tell you I can sing.” So, it’s funny, but that was the first time, though I had friends that went to school with me and knew that I could sing, but my mom’s acknowledgement meant a lot. During the summer while I was finishing my 8th grade, a friend wanted to audition for the performing arts program. This was a high school that I did not plan to go to, but she did not want to go by herself. It was a month-long summer program, and they would let you know at the end if you made it. So, she asked me to audition with her, and I did because I had nothing better off that summer. And that situation changed my life simply because I got into the school. They chose me, but unfortunately, my friend did not get chosen. Going to Tri-cities High School’s visual and performing arts program changed my life. That’s where I met my group members, and the whole music and acting started there.
How has been the journey for you transitioning from a young artist to becoming part of a successful girl group?
Our group started when I was in 9th grade. I was 14, and in my heart, I just knew that we needed the right person to see us, and we would make it. I knew we would blow up; we just needed somebody to sign us. But it took us two years to get the deal. In my junior year, we signed our record deal with SO SO DEF. When I first started the group, I was 14, a freshman. Tasha was 18, in her senior year in high school, and then Tamika Scott was in the 10th grade. We used to have another member of my friend, Tamra Coggins, at the time. She was also a freshman with me, and then Tiny came into the group a little bit later. But by that time, we ended up getting the deal, Tasha had already started to have second thoughts; she was supposed to be figuring out college. We ended up getting a record deal when I was in the 11th grade, and a lot of people didn’t believe us. They knew we had been singing around the school for a while, singing at every opportunity to sing in the area. But when we finally got that deal, some people didn’t believe us. We shot the video the summer after the 11th grade, and the single dropped. So, I was the only one in the group left in high school. Which in turn was a little tough because I had to tour and do shows but then come back home and I went to regular school with everybody else. Because I was going to graduate. I had worked so hard to get my diploma. When we performed at the shows, I had a tutor that would grab the work from the school and send it to me. And I would have to finish all the work, and the teachers would just let me take all the tests when I came back. So, I was working overtime because my group members would get done singing for the day, and then they would have a break. They could chill, they could relax, but I couldn’t because I had schoolwork to do. So that was difficult, but it was worth it. I hate that I missed a lot of the senior activities that year. I didn’t get to go to senior prom because I had shown that day. But at the same time, I was on tour, living out my dream and traveling the world. So, you give, and you take, right?
What challenges did you face during the early years with Xscape as an all-black girl group, and how did you overcome them?
Oh my gosh, I think being in a girl group is tough anyway.
It’s a challenge in itself. We all had our internal dramas, and we weren’t what you would consider the typical girly group. When we first came out, we were like tomboys with baggy clothes, and bandanas. And we weren’t necessarily trying to be all glamorous. So, sometimes we would catch flak from people. Comedians would make jokes about our looks, and so many people thought that was so funny. And, being in high school, I had to deal with my classmates making jokes and teasing me, which wasn’t funny. But I didn’t care and paid no attention to them.
We were what people considered an urban R&B group, and at that time, they kept the urban and the pop charts separate. Now a lot of music is crossing over into each other right now.
Your song Understanding became an anthem for many fans. Can you share the story behind the creation of that song and its significance to you?
Oh well, that was on our first album. We loved understanding, I remember. Tamika Scott revealed she was pregnant around that time, and we thought that would ruin the group. You know, like we were on a height. Our first single, “just kicking it,” was on the air; we were killing it, and then she told us she was pregnant. Back in the 90s, pregnancy was like a career killer, but nowadays, people want to see celebrities pregnant and revealing baby bump. Back then, labels used to drop new artists who would get pregnant. But we ended up working through it, and it was a blessing. But you know, as a group, we used to bump heads so much that “Understanding” was an anthem for everybody else in the world, but especially for us. We needed some understanding y’all.
How has been the journey for you transitioning from a young artist to becoming part of a successful girl group?
Our group started when I was in 9th grade. I was 14, and in my heart, I just knew that we needed the right person to see us, and we would make it. I knew we would blow up; we just needed somebody to sign us. But it took us two years to get the deal. In my junior year, we signed our record deal with SO SO DEF. When I first started the group, I was 14, a freshman. Tasha was 18, in her senior year in high school, and then Tamika Scott was in the 10th grade. We used to have another member of my friend, Tamra Coggins, at the time. She was also a freshman with me, and then Tiny came into the group a little bit later. But by the time, we ended up getting the deal, Tasha had already started to have second thoughts; she was supposed to be figuring out college. We ended up getting a record deal when I was in the 11th grade, and a lot of people didn’t believe us. They knew we had been singing around the school for a while, singing at every opportunity to sing in the area. But when we finally got that deal, some people didn’t believe us. We shot the video the summer after the 11th grade, and the single dropped. So, I was the only one in the group left in high school. Which in turn was a little tough because I had to tour and do shows but then come back home and I went to regular school with everybody else. Because I was going to graduate. I had worked so hard to get my diploma. When we performed at the shows, I had a tutor that would grab the work from the school and send it to me. And I would have to finish all the work, and the teachers would just let me take all the tests when I came back. So, I was working overtime because my group members would get done singing for the day, and then they would have a break. They could chill, they could relax, but I couldn’t because I had schoolwork to do. So that was difficult, but it was worth it. I hate that I missed a lot of the senior activities that year. I didn’t get to go to senior prom because I had shown up that day. But at the same time, I was on tour, living out my dream and travelling the world. So, you give, and you take, right?
What challenges did you face during the early years with Xscape as an all-black girl group, and how did you overcome them?
Oh my gosh, I think being in a girl group is tough anyway.
It’s a challenge in itself. We all had our internal dramas, and we weren’t what you would consider the typical girly group. When we first came out, we were like tomboys with baggy clothes, and bandanas. And we weren’t necessarily trying to be all glamorous. So, sometimes we would catch flak from people. Comedians would make jokes about our looks, and so many people thought that was so funny. And, being in high school, I had to deal with my classmates making jokes and teasing me, which wasn’t funny. But I didn’t care and paid no attention to them.
We were what people considered an urban R&B group, and at that time, they kept the urban and the pop charts separate. Now a lot of music is crossing over into each other right now.
Your song Understanding became an anthem for many fans. Can you share the story behind the creation of that song and its significance to you?
Oh well, that was on our first album. We loved understanding, I remember. Tamika Scott revealed she was pregnant around that time, and we thought that would ruin the group. You know, like we were on a height. Our first single, “just kicking it,” was on the air; we were killing it, and then she told us she was pregnant. Back in the 90s, pregnancy was like a career killer, but nowadays, people want to see celebrities pregnant and revealing baby bumps. Back then, labels used to drop new artists who would get pregnant. But we ended up working through it, and it was a blessing. But you know, as a group, we used to bump heads so much that “Understanding” was an anthem for everybody else in the world, but especially for us. We needed some understanding y’all.
Jacket: Landeros New York @Landerosnewyork Skirt: Courtesy of Agentry PR Ring: Stylist own
Joining “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” was a significant decision in your career. What made you join the show, and how has the experience impacted your life?
Oh well, I didn’t get any money from it. In my first year, they gave me $10,000 for using my home, and that was it. They don’t normally pay people the first year to do a reality show. Derek J hit me up one day, saying they’re looking for new women to be on “Housewives of Atlanta.” I was like, oh no, I’m already occupied with something. Because I was working with Tiny, who said “I’m going to tell him to call you anyway because they need somebody with their own money”. I watched their first season, and I thought it was hilarious. I thought it was good to watch, but I didn’t see myself relating to those women or being connected to them. So anyway, it was after a week or two right after he hit me up. Later I found out that the people who were doing the show with Tiny, Toya, and myself; decided they only wanted Tiny and Toya.
When I found out I wasn’t going to be a part of it, I was disappointed. But once again, I believe everything happens for a reason because the very next week, the people from “The Real Housewives” reached out to me. And asked me if they could talk to me. I would have never thought that I would still be doing this long, like in a million years. I thought it was something to do for a year or two.
What inspired you to venture into acting, and how did your background in the music industry influence your decision?
I’ve always wanted to act. I just never pursued it, when I was younger. Even though when I was singing in high school, I was at the Tri-Cities Performing Arts program for Drama. When I first auditioned, I sang in that 9th-grade year. But when they added the drama department in 10th grade, I got into drama and musical theatre. So, it was like my dream. It just happened when my music career was taking off. Then I felt a need for an agent that would really help me get more auditions. So, I did and found an agent, Nick Roses, who helped me get a lot of auditions, and I started to make some moves by taking advantage of those opportunities and getting my face on the screen.
You’ve had roles in both television and theatre productions. What do you find most rewarding about acting in each medium?
I feel like Broadway is tougher. It’s eight shows a week, and you got to give people your all in every broadcast. Every time when you are doing the same show over and over again for months or even for years. When I’m acting, I do my thing, then cut. You can do it again if you don’t get it right on that tape. When you’re doing theatre, you must get it on point each and every time. The theatre is not for the weak. Actually, theatre helps you step your game up as an actor. As a performance singer, you want your audience to feel your passion every time. So, I love theatre, but it does take a lot of energy out of you which people don’t know. Like when you, pour out emotion when you put it like whenever you’re doing it on stage.
You’ve appeared on scripted series like “The Chi” and Insecure. How did your experiences of acting in those various roles affect your growth as an actress?
Yes, I have been on “Insecure.” There was a show within the show. They’d be watching a soap opera. So, I was on the show that they were watching that was all comedy which was a lot of fun. Whereas in “The Chi,” I felt like I got to show myself as an actress. Rosalyn, who is my character in “The Chi,” is more of the villain, and I like it.
What advice would you give aspiring actors looking to break into the entertainment industry?
There are always new techniques to learn. Go to as many acting and improv classes as you possibly have time to connect with other people in the community. Those are the people that will help you find other jobs. A lot of jobs in this industry will be just the word of mouth and referring other people. Also, remember collaboration is the key in every field. Do not look at people as competition. Look at them as your collaborators. Somebody that you can help, and somebody who can help you.
Looking back on your career, what are your proudest accomplishments and defining moments?
When I won songwriter of the year. Initially, I didn’t realize how important it was. I still remember I used to just think it was like any other songwriter award. But when somebody from ASCAP asked, “Do you understand that you are the first woman to accomplish this?”. I was the first woman to win Songwriter of the Year for the Rhythm and Soul category. There have been some women who have done it on the pop side, but they have yet to do it on the urban side. And then I was the first woman to win “The Masked Singer.” I’m really proud of that as well.
As a multi-talented artist and entrepreneur, how do you hope to be remembered in the entertainment industry?
I would hope to be remembered as a woman. A woman who not just makes things, but who makes things happen. And, not just for herself but for others too.
