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Keshia Chanté (born as Keshia Chanté Harper on June 16, 1988) is a Juno Award-winning Canadian R&B/Pop singer, songwriter, entrepreneuse and model. She is a signed model to Ford Models International. She currently resides in New York City and Brampton, Ontario.

Early life

Keshia Chanté was born in Ottawa, Ontario and she went to St.Peter Catholic High School and then moved to Toronto at the age of 14. She then attended Fletchers Meadow Secondary School and graduated with her class in 2006. Her father is of Trinidadian descent and her mother is of Portuguese and Puerto Rican descent.^[1][2][3]

Music

Keshia Chante (Self-Titled) (2004)

Main article: Keshia Chanté (album)

Keshia Chante (2004)

Her debut "Shook (The Answer)" appeared in early 2003. It was only meant to be a "buzz" single but it surprisingly broke into the Top 10 on Canadian music charts and won an Urban Music Award for "Best Pop/R&B Single".

For the follow-up, "Unpredictable", she released her first video, which hit number one on YTV and the top ten on MuchMusic. In November 2003, the CD single of "Unpredictable" was certified gold. Because of that single, in 2003, she won the Canadian Radio Music Award for "Best New Solo Artist".

In early February of 2004, Chanté's third single, "Bad Boy", was released. It was also successful, breaking the Top 5 on radio and becoming the #1 video on MuchMusic for 4 weeks. The video was directed by director Little X.^[4] Later, in June 2004, Chanté topped the charts again (Top 5) with the release of her fourth single "Does He Love Me?" ft. Foxy Brown which Chanté & Foxy Brown wrote and "Young Gav" (Foxy Brown's older brother) produced. The video was also directed by Little X and became #1 on MuchMusic for 3 weeks.

On June 22, 2004 Chanté released her debut album self-titled debut album. On December 3, 2004 it was certified gold. It contained her previous singles, as well as her later to be released fifth "Let the Music Take You" penned by Chanté. In October 2004, at the Canadian Urban Music Awards Chanté swept all three of nominations, winning awards for "Best New Artist", "Video of the Year" (for Bad Boy), "Fans' Choice Award" and by surprise taking home the "Rising Star of the Year" award.

2U (2006)

Main article: 2U (album)

2U (2006)

After her signing, Chanté moved to New York, New York to begin working on her second album. During that time, Chante was on Teen People Magazines "Rock The Runway" Mall Tour (where Ciara started) and Seventeen Magazine's "Rock N' Shop" Mall Tour (where Britney Spears started).^[3] In May 2006, she posted 3 brand new songs, "Been Gone", "Kiss" and "Summer Love" on MySpace.

In March 2006 she released her "2U" Album teaser single, "Ring The Alarm", which was used for WarChild's "Keep The Beat" charity campaign. All the proceeds from "Ring The Alarm" went to supported children at war and was also featured on triple platinum compilation "MuchDance 2006".

In July of that year, she released her single "Been Gone", produced by Philadelphia's Matrax Productions and written by Chanté. The video was shot by Little X (making it her 3rd collaboration with him) and was shot inside of "Fletcher's Meadow Secondary School" where Chante attended in her last year of school and graduated with great honours. Her second single, "2U", produced by Philadelphia's Matrax Productions and written by Chanté was released in early November. 2U's video was shot on October 22 in Miami by director Bobby O'Neill, and was released on Yahoo Music Canada on November 16.

Also in 2006, Chanté made a featured cameo appearance in label mate Bow Wow's video "Shortie Like Mine". The video depicts R&B singer Chris Brown searching for Keshia Chanté on his laptop. They send messages back and forth throughout the video.

Her second album was released on December 5, 2006 in Canada through Sony/BMG Canada and was released in May 2007 in Japan. A United States release is still pending.

Third Studio Album

Chante's currently untitled third album is now being worked on and it will be released sometime in 2008. Chante stated on her official myspace that she was let her fans know the details shortly.

In April 2008, CP Records released "Get To Know You" by fellow Ottawa-native rapper Belly featuring Keshia Chante.

Keshia is also at work filming the Biographical Movie Aaliyah.

Business

Chante is the face of Ontario Tourism and sings the theme song "There's No Place Like This". She has been featured in summer commercials that play across North America and billboards that have been shown throughout malls and cities. The commercial has garnered much recognition and has been seen consistently during popular tv shows "The Ellen DeGeneres Show", "The Oprah Winfrey Show", "The View", "Dr.Phil" and the finale's of "Desperate Housewives" and "Gossip Girl"

Chanté has always voiced her interest in being a young business woman and has a strong interest in fashion and business. Chanté is the face of Sony's new Cyber-Shot Digital Camera and has been the face of EckoRed in 2006.

She is now in the process of launching her own Diamond Jewelry Line, name still tentative, with conflict-free diamond company "Polar Bear Diamonds" ^[5] and a Perfume Line.

Charity work

Throughout her career, Chanté has always shown a large interest in charities that support and contribute to important causes, such as building awareness about AIDS with the Stephen Lewis Foundation and BET'S Rap-It-Up campaign, building awareness about children affected by war in third world countries with WarChild's Keep The Beat^[6] and has visited Dominican Republic to work with World Vision and has been supporting the World Vision 30 Hour Famine.^[7] campaigns.

Awards

Award wins

• 2005 JUNO Award for R&B/Soul Recording of the Year
• 2005 Urban Music Award for Video of the Year for "Does He Love Me"
• 2004 Urban Music Award for Best New Artist
• 2004 Urban Music Award for Video of the Year for "Bad Boy"
• 2004 Urban Music Award Fans Choice Award
• 2004 Rising Star Award for Rising Star of the Year
• 2003 Urban Music Award for Best R&B/Soul Single for "Shook (The Answer)"
• 2003 Canadian Radio Music Award for Best New Artist

Award nominations

• 2008 JUNO Award for "R&B/Soul Recording of the Year"
• 2007 MuchMusic Video Award for "Best Pop Video" for "2U"
• 2006 JUNO Award for "R&B/Soul Recording of the Year"
• 2005 JUNO Award for "New Artist of The Year"
• 2005 MuchMusic Video Award for "People's Choice: Favorite Canadian Artist"
• 2005 MuchMusic Video Award for "Best Pop Video" for "Does He Love Me"
• 2004 MuchMusic Video Award for "Best R&B Video" for "Unpredictable"

Trivia

• Her middle name "Chante" means "to sing" in French.
• Her fashion icon is Jennifer Lopez

Film

• Keshia played a minor role in a small movie titled "Cat's Cradle" which was shot in Edmonton Alberta and its' surrounding area. ^[8]

Singles

Discography

Videography

• Unpredictable (2004)
• Bad Boy (2004)
• Does He Love Me? (2004)
• Let The Music Take You (2005)
• Been Gone (2006)
• 2U (2006)

Cameos

• "Shortie Like Mine by Bow Wow ft. Chris Brown (2006)

References

1. ^ KeshiaChante.com Brand New Site Coming Soon!
2. ^ Keshia Chante
3. ^ ^{a b} MySpace.com - Keshia Chante - Canada & New York, US - R&B / Pop - www.myspace.com/keshiachante
4. ^ The Official Little X Website
5. ^ A high five for Nelly
6. ^ War Child International - keepthebeat
7. ^ Keshia Chante Plays Show For 30 Hour Famine Participants
8. ^ Elizabeth Withey, The Edmonton Journal "Locally shot Cat's Cradle in the can"

External links

• Official website
• Official Keshia Chanté MySpace page