About Xscape
Popular American girl group Xscape – formerly known as XSCAP3 – was formed in 1991 by Tamika Scott, Tamera Coggins-Wynn, LaTocha Scott, Tameka ‘Tiny’ Cottle and Kandi Burruss, but Coggins-Wynn quit before the girls released any music. They signed a contract with So So Def label after having been discovered by American rapper, singer-songwriter and record producer Jermaine Dupri Mauldin in 1993.
The girls released their first studio album “Hummin’ Comin’ at ‘Cha” on 12 October 1993, which reached #17 on the US Billboard 200 chart and #3 on the Top R&B Albums chart; the album spawned hit singles “Understanding” and “Just Kickin’ It”, both of which topped the Hot RB&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and were certified platinum. The album was also certified platinum a year after its release.
Xscape went on to record the song “Who’s That Man?” for the critically acclaimed 1994 comedy movie “The Mask”, and contributed to the song “Freedom” for the 1995 movie “Panther”. Also in 1995, their second studio album “Off the Hook” was released, and spawned the hit singles “Who Can I Run To” and “Feels So Good”.
The girls’ third studio album “Traces of My Lipstick” came out on 12 May 1998, and included hit singles “My Little Secret” and “The Arms of the One Who Loves You”; despite the group’s success, LaTocha Scott chose to quit to focus on her solo career, and Xscape thus went on an hiatus.
They had a failed comeback in 2005, when they reunited to record their fourth album “Unchained”, however, it wasn’t released as the girls had no support from the record label.
They reunited once again and performed for the first time in 18 years on 25 June 2017 at the BET Awards. Xscape released two new singles on 1 December 2017, entitled “Dream Killa” and “Wifed Up”, but without Kandi Burruss because she wanted to instead focus on acting. The group continued as a trio, and released their debut extended play (EP) “Here for It” on 2 March 2018.
They won a Lady of Soul Award at the Soul Train Awards in November 2022 and the trio continues to perform today.
Who is Tamika Scott?
American actress and singer Tamika Scott was born under the zodiac sign Scorpio on 19 November 1975, in College Park, Georgia USA; she was raised alongside her sister LaTocha Scott, by their father Reverend Randolph Scott and mother Gloria McFarlin who was an elementary school teacher, however, because Tamika and LaTocha respect their parents’ privacy, no other details have been disclosed about them.
Singer Tamika Scott says she’s included self-care into her busy life following the public drama involving her sister, LaTocha Scott, and mother, Gloria McFarlin. Over […] https://t.co/uhSykNGavV pic.twitter.com/RLVBU6Akdi
— Atlanta Black Star (@ATLBlackStar) December 9, 2023
Tamika was only four when she began singing at local talent shows, weddings and in church, and was nine when she and her sister recorded their first song. She studied at Tri-Cities High School of Performing Arts and upon matriculating in 1993, didn’t enroll at college but chose to perform with Xscape.
Following the success of Xscape, their hiatus and unsuccessful reunion, Tamika focused on her acting career. She made her debut in the 2004 comedy movie “Meet the Browns”, written and directed by Tyler Perry, and which starred Trina Braxton, Ali Amin Carter and Terrell Carter. It follows a family who are about to reunite now that their patriarch has died. Tamika has only three other acting credits, appearing in the 2009 musical film “There’s a Stranger in My House”, and in 2023 the biographical film “Wide Open: The Andre Rison Story” and the romantic movie “Christmas Ringer”.
She was married to American non-celebrity Darius Byas and they have two daughters together: O’Shun Reney and Taniyah. She’s revealed that when she was pregnant with O’Shun, she was threatened with expulsion from Xscape if she didn’t have an abortion. Tamika divorced Darius in the first half of the 2000s, and then married her bodyguard Darnell Winston in 2004; she went on to give birth to their daughter Princess Armani.
Who is LaTocha Scott?
American singer-songwriter and actress LaTocha Reney Scott-Bivens was born under the zodiac sign Libra on 2 October 1973, in College Park; she hasn’t had much success in the film industry and is known best for being a member of Xscape.
LaTocha was six when she started performing at weddings and in church, and was 11 when she and Tamika recorded their first song together. She also studied at Tri-Cities High School, but upon matriculating in 1991 didn’t enroll at college.
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After Xscape went on an hiatus, LaTocha focused on her solo career and released her singles “Promises” and “Liar Liar” in 1998 and 1999, respectively. Her debut solo album “Solo Flight 404” came out in 2004, and the following year saw her play Vanessa in the drama movie “Fair Game”, written and directed by Michael Whaley, and which starred Christoher B. Duncan, Chip Dobbs and Kimberly Bailey; it follows two co-workers who can’t stand each other, but have now been forced to live together.
LaTocha’s since released only eight songs, with her three most recent in 2023 – “Stay With Me”, “I’m Yours” and “Afraid”.
She exchanged vows with music manager Rocky Bivens in 1995, and gave birth to their son Jamon in August 1997.
LaTocha’s into eating plant-based foods and she’s published her cookbook “LaTocha Planted Lifestyle”.
About Tameka ‘Tiny’ Cottle
American singer-songwriter Tameka Dianne Cottle-Harris was born under the zodiac sign Cancer on 14 July 1975, in College Park. Although known best for the hit her career with Xscape, Tameka’s also known for winning a Grammy for co-writing TLC’s hit song “No Scrubs”.
She was raised in College Park alongside her sister Michelle Pope and brother Red Pope, by their African-American father Charles Pope who died in 2013 aged 77, after a long fight with Alzheimer’s disease, and Caucasian mother Dianne Cottle who’s today 78 years old. Tameka also attended Tri-Cities High School, which was how she met the Scott sisters.
She released her debut solo song “What The Fuck You Gon Do?” on 22 July 2014, and then went on to help write the hit song “Shape of You” by Ed Sheeran.
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Tameka’s also known for being the wife of famous American rapper Clifford Joseph Harris Jr. – aka T. I. The two began dating in 2001 and exchanged vows in a small, private ceremony on 30 July 2010; Tameka gave birth to their first son Clifford on 25 August 2004, and their second son Major Philant Harris followed on 16 May 2008. Their daughter Heiress Diana Harris was born on 26 March 2016. Tameka filed for divorce in December 2016 but the two were able to reconcile before it could be finalized.
Prior to meeting T. I, Tameka was in a relationship with Zonnie ‘Zeboe’ Pullins, and has a daughter Zonnique Jailee with him.
About Kandi Burruss
American actress, singer-songwriter, businesswoman, dancer and TV personality Kandi Burruss was born under the zodiac sign Taurus on 17 May 1976 in College Park. She’s the most popular amongst the Xscape members, and has written and co-written songs for numerous celebrities, such as P!nk, Ed Sheeran and Ariana Grande.
She was raised in College Park alongside her older brother Patrick Riley, who died in a car crash aged 23 in 1991, by their mother Joyce Jones and father Reverend Titus Burruss Jr. Kandi also attended Tri-Cities High School.
She focused on songwriting and production following Xscape’s hiatus, and the year 1999 saw her co-write three hit songs: P!nk’s “There You Go”, Destiny’s Child’s “Bills, Bills, Bills” and TLC’s “No Scrubs”. Kandi’s debut solo album “Hey Kandi…” was released in 2000, and spawned hit singles “Cheatin’ On Me” and “Don’t Think I’m Not”. She then took a break from music, returning with her debut EP “Fly Above” on 29 October 2009; it was followed by her second studio album “Kandi Koated” in December 2010.
In 2009, Kandi began starring in the reality show “The Real Housewives of Atlanta”, and is today its longest-serving cast member; she’s since starred in several of the show’s spin-offs, including “The Kandi Factory”, “Kandi’s Wedding” and “Kandi’s Ski Trip”. Some of her other reality show appearances have been in “Celebrity Big Brother”, “RuPaul’s Drag Race” and “Kandi & The Gang”.
Kandi’s also an actress, and has appeared in various TV series, such as “Let’s Stay Together”, “Thicker Than Water: The Tankards” and “Single Ladies”.
She’s the owner of the sex toy company Bedroom Kandi.
Kandi was in a relationship with American non-celebrity Russell ‘Block’ Spencer and she gave birth to their daughter Riley Burruss on 22 August 2002. Kandi began dating Ashley ‘A. J. Jewell in 2008 and they became engaged in January 2009, however, Ashley died on 2 October 2009 from injuries sustained in a fight. Kandi married American film producer Todd Tucker on 4 April 2014, following a three-year relationship – their son was born on 6 January 2016, and their daughter via surrogacy on 22 November 2019.
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