Still Standing & Holding It Down – Our Kandi Burruss Spotlight
When you hear the name Kandi Burruss, singer and songwriter usually come to mind; but lately it’s been drama—being an Atlanta Housewife—and gossip about dating a deadbeat dad, that has seemed to surround the Grammy winner.
I was able to sit down with the multi-talented entrepreneur, and once and for all set the record straight on those pesky relationship rumors, being on reality television, and her upcoming album in the works.
Later this month, Burruss will debut her second solo album titled B.L.O.G. (Bitches Love Online Gossip). The negativity from her personal life wasn’t the only thing that inspired songs for her album. While filming season 2 of Real Housewives of Atlanta, Burruss sat down with another housewife and aspiring singer, Kim Zolciak.
“I first met Kim on the show. She was discouraged on becoming a singer because she said the other housewives were always dogging her out. She told me that she was above all the drama, and that’s where I got the idea for my song, ‘Fly Above,’ because regardless of what anyone says, I’m going to do what I want to do. So many artists that don’t have strong voices have hit records because they know how to work with the right producers, writers, and handle business.”
So will we be hearing Zolciak collaborate on the track, “No she didn’t sing on my record but I do teach her a few things that you’ll be able to see on the show.”
Although we won’t be hearing Zolciak on the track, artists that did collaborate on B.L.O.G. include Rick Ross, Gucci Mane, and former Xscape member, Tiny.
Burruss also set the record straight about her current relationship with Tiny, co-writer of R&B hit, ‘No Scrubs,’ and how they were originally supposed to have their own reality show together. “It was actually Tiny’s idea to put together a reality show. Instead of the Tiny and Toya show, it was supposed to include them, myself, and Lyfe Jennings ex-fiancé Joy. We wanted to do a talk show, sort of like The View, but with four Black women discussing topics.
After meeting with the producers they decided that they only wanted Toya and Tiny, but everything happens for a reason because the next week I was approached by Bravo to be the new housewife of Atlanta.”
The new season of The Real Housewives of Atlanta has begun and if you’ve watched an episode you know there is nothing but drama, drama, drama. If Burruss thought she was going to be welcomed with open arms into the new group of women she had another thing coming, because apparently America’s diva, NeNe, hasn’t been too kind.
“I don’t like how she talks to people. The neck rolling, finger pointing, she has a tendency to loud talk people. I’m real laid back, but I have a switch that flips when people talk to me like they’re getting me told. I had to always tell her to bring her voice down. I didn’t want to go crazy but you will see me snap on the show, after being provoked so much.”
Rumors were circulating on the blogs, and NeNe even called into a radio show badmouthing Kandi Burruss, calling her a ‘weak ass woman.’ America enjoys the drama that NeNe brings to the show and sees her as the realest chick, but Kandi thinks otherwise, “I feel everyone says she’s the realest one but she does it for TV. After filming was done I thought NeNe and I were cool. But while we were on press tours and reporters asked questions about our TV argument, I found out she was still talking about me. I just have to keep it moving.”
Besides her new album and being an ATL housewife, Burruss still has goals to obtain, “I would love for Neyo or Babyface to write a song for me. I would also like to write songs for Britney Spears and Janet Jackson because they’re such great performers.”
She’s not just a singer and songwriter, Kandi Burruss is a business woman, running two companies, Kandi Koated Entertainment, the production company that is putting out her second album, and Kandacy Music Publishing, where she signs other writers. “I’m in works to sign on a couple artists and work with Tiny’s girl group that she’s created. When I look for talent, I look for artists that already know who they are and what type of music and sound they like to do; they’re just looking for the vehicle or company that can get them started.”
Having over 56 millions albums sold to date with her name on them, Burruss plans to increase that amount with the release of her new album B.L.O.G.
So what can we expect from Kandi Burruss and the Atlanta housewives? “A lot of drama.
You’ll see me become cool with Kim and teach her things about the music business. The producers also wanted to focus on the relationship between my mother and I, and the process of me recording songs for my new album, and an opportunity with a major label.”
Kandi Burruss is known as a singer, songwriter, and entrepreneur, but with all of her success, she’s now unforgettable.
To keep up with Kandi Burruss follow her Twitter: https://twitter.com/kandiconnection
MySpace: https://www.myspace.com/kandionline
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/kandionline
It wasn’t until she signed on to be a new face of Bravo’s reality hit, Real Housewives of Atlanta, that viewers were introduced to her fiancé A.J. It wasn’t his successful job or good looks that made everyone talk…it was his six kids. “I expected people to say stuff about me, but not A.J,” Burruss says. “Our relationship became so big on the blogs. I understand why people say what they say, but I do love kids.”
Sadly in August, Kandi and A.J ended their engagement and relationship. During an appearance at the Wendy Williams show, Kandi stated that although her engagement ring “is in a safety deposit box” at the moment.
She also admitted that has full custody over A.J’s twin daughters due to the biological mother’s instability. Now in even sadder news, it’s unfortunate to announce that Kandi’s ex fiancé has passed away during the weekend of October, after suffering a head injury from a fight at the Atlanta strip club Body Tap, which he was part owner of.
The morning following his death Kandi tweeted, “I’m just in one of those moods where I don’t wanna talk, I don’t wanna be held and told it’s gonna be ok. I just wanna cry myself to sleep, alone.”
Our thoughts and prayers go out to A.J’s family as well as Kandi’s.