Our Top 10 Keyshia Cole Songs list takes a look at a popular singer, songwriter and reality star. Keyshia Cole is known for singing songs about heartbreak and betrayal. She has 11 number one hit singles. Her hits include “I Changed My Mind,” “(I Just Want It) To Be Over,” “I Should Have Cheated,” “Love,” “Playa Cardz Right,” “Let It Go,” “I Remember,” “Heaven Sent,” “You Complete Me,” “Trust” as well as other hit singles. Her musical influences are Mary J. Blige, Faith Evans, Monica and Brandy. Hip-hop artists such as Tupac, Big Daddy Kane and Queen Latifah also inspire her. She has a soprano voice mixed with a smoky flavor.
Keyshia Cole was born Keyshia Myeshia Cole on October 15, 1981. She knew she wanted to be a singer when she met rapper MC Hammer at a young age. She would go on to form a friendship with Tupac. He promised to help her get in the music business. She was supposed to help write a song for him when he died. She would go on to be signed to a record deal.
The Way It Is was released in 2005. It peaked at number two on the r&b charts and number six on Billboard 200. It features the singles “I Changed My Mind.” “(I Just Want It) To Be Over,” “I Should Have Cheated” and “Love.” The album sold over one million copies. The pressure was on for her to release another hit album. She did that with Just Like You. It was released in 2007. It peaked at number one on the r&b charts and number two on Billboard 200. It features the singles “Let It Go,” “Shoulda Let You Go,” “I Remember” and “Heaven Sent.” The album sold over one million copies.
A Different Me was released in 2008. It peaked at number one on the r&b charts and number two on Billboard 200. It features the singles “Playa Cardz Right,” “You Complete Me” and “Trust”. The album sold over one million copies. Calling All Hearts was released in 2010. It peaked at number five on the r&b charts and number nine on Billboard 200. It features the singles “I Ain’t Thru,” Long Way Down” and “Take Me Away.”
Woman to Woman was released in 2012. It peaked at number two on the r&b charts and number 10 on Billboard 200. It features the singles “Enough of No Love,” “Trust and Believe” and “I Choose You.” Point of No Return was released in 2014. It peaked at number one on the r&b charts and number nine on Billboard 200. It features the singles “Next Time (Won’t Give My Heart Away),” “Rick James” and “She.” 11:11 Reset was released in 2017. It peaked at number six on the r&b charts and number 14 Billboard. It features the singles “You” and “Incapable.”
Keyshia Cole had a lot of competition for fans. She had to compete with Mary J. Blige, Faith Evans, Toni Braxton, Brandy, Monica as well as other r&b acts. She managed to make a name for herself in the music industry by singing songs from her heart. She was singing songs about what people were going through in relationships. She can tell a story with her songs. This Top 10 Keyshia Cole Songs list will feature her best singles. Which song do you think will be number one on our list?
# 10 – Playa Cardz Right ft. Tupac
The first song on our Top 10 Keyshia Cole Songs list is “Playa Cardz Right” from the A Different Me album. It is also featured on Tupac’s Pac’s Life album. The song has an r&b and hip-hop beat. This is a longing song about a relationship. She wants to take a risk and be with a man if he does the right thing. He has to “play his cards right.” The title of the song is a take on Alicia Myers’ “If You Play Your Cards Right.”
This is an urban version of the same song. The only similarity between this song and Alicia Myers’ is the title. Other than that, the songs are completely different from each other. This is actually Tupac’s song featuring Keyshia Cole. On Keyshia Cole’s album, the song is featuring Tupac. She re-worked the song and included it on her album. The music is soft and sensual. It has enough tempo where you can bop your head to the music as you are chilling to it. The music production is on another level. The bass line is incredible. The musical production is arranged to show off her mature side. Keyshia Cole sings the song with a lot of passion.
Her voice is beautiful. She speaks to your soul. She makes you feel the pain in her voice as she sings about wanting a relationship. What can we say about the legend that is Tupac? He was in a class by himself when it concerned rapping. His rhymes are excellent. He raps in time with the beat. The passion heard in his rhymes is incomparable to most artists in music today.
# 9 – Shoulda Let You Go ft. Amina
The next song on our Top 10 Keyshia Cole Songs list is “Shoulda Let You Go” from the Just Like You album. The song has an r&b beat. This is a bitter song about a relationship gone wrong. She talks about what the guy has done to her. She believes she should have broken up with him instead of putting up with what he has done to her. The lyrics are relatable to anyone who has been in situations where they should have broken up with the person instead of sticking around.
It is most likely a women’s anthem, but men can also relate to the track. This track has a great mid-tempo dance beat. It is perfect for the club or for chilling out at home. The music is similar to Mary J. Blige’s “Enough Cryin’.” Songwriter/producer Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins produced both tracks so that would explain the similarities in sound. The themes of both songs are also similar. Keyshia Cole does a great job selling the song. She stays in character throughout the track. She makes you believe that she is in pain. Her raspy voice resonates with the music.
It makes her sound more passionate. She even pleases the listener by holding little notes. It could have been a risk to do it because she doesn’t have the type of voice where she can hold notes without risking her voice cracking. She holds the notes in perfect pitch. Amina’s rhymes are on point. Her part isn’t too big, but she does get her point across. She was the perfect person to accompany Keyshia Cole on the female anthem.
# 8 – Let It Go ft. Lil’ Kim and Missy Elliott
The empowering song is from the Just Like You album. The song has an r&b and hip-hop beat. This is an anthemic song about a failed relationship. They talk about letting go of someone if they don’t have respect for you. This song is about female empowerment and surviving without a man who disrespects you. The song features a sample of Mtume’s “Juicy Fruit.” Here is some trivia about the song. This track was originally intended for Fantasia.
The track didn’t make the cut for her second album. Missy Elliott didn’t think Keyshia Cole would want the track. When Keyshia Cole heard the song, she wanted it. Keyshia Cole made the right decision because it was one of her number one r&b hits. The sample of “Juicy Fruit” really sells the music. You can hear the essence of “Juicy Fruit” while appreciating Keyshia Cole’s version. It is the perfect blend of old school and new school. This is the kind of music that will never get old. It can still hold up today. Keyshia Cole’s vocals are pretty good. She sings from the heart. She will make you feel things.
There are two guest appearances in this song, but Keyshia Cole manages not to get lost in the song. Lil’ Kim and Missy Elliott are featured in the song. Lil’ Kim and Missy Elliott do what is expected of them in the track. Lil’ Kim’s rhymes are tight. Missy Elliott doesn’t really rap in the song. She is more of the hype person.
# 7 – (I Just Want It) To Be Over
This angry song is from the The Way It Is album. The song has an r&b, hip-hop and soul beat. This is an enraged song about a breakup. She talks about how the guy was good to her in the beginning and then he changed. Now she wants the relationship to be over. The lyrics are in Keyshia Cole’s wheelhouse because she mostly sings songs about breaking up. Women who have been with men who treat them like queens in the beginning of a relationship and then change towards the end of it can relate to the subject matter.
Here is a fun fact. Alicia Keys co-wrote this song. Alicia Keys co-wrote the perfect song for Keyshia Cole because this kind of track is what she is known for singing. The music combines r&b and hip-hop, which will please fans of both genres. The music is sizzling hot. There is no way to sit still while listening to the energetic music. Keyshia Cole sounds a little bit like Alicia Keys in this track. She doesn’t sing in time with the music in the verses. She is ahead of the music. She sings in time with the beat in the pre-chorus and chorus. It doesn’t hurt the song, but it is noticeable. She belts and holds notes in the pre-chorus.
One again she took a risk doing this because her voice could have cracked. Her voice does crack a little when she holds notes, but it doesn’t take away from how good she sounds. The flaw in her voice makes her sound more natural. She gets an A- for trying to go the extra mile with her voice.
# 6 – I Changed My Mind
This inspiring song is from the The Way It Is album. The song has an r&b and hip-hop beat. This is a heartfelt song about a woman who is tired of her man treating her badly. The song has two samples. One sample is “The Chronic (Intro)” by Dr. Dre ft. Snoop Dogg. The second sample is “Doggone” by Love. Keyshia Cole wrote this song about a past boyfriend who was cheating on her. He wasn’t giving Keyshia Cole any attention anymore so she wanted to break up with him.
Here is a fun fact about the song. John Legend and Kanye West co-wrote this song with Keyshia Cole. John Legend sings in the background of the track. This is Keyshia Cole’s debut single. This is the song that introduced the world to Keyshia Cole. The beat of the song hits hard. The music is smoking hot. The music begs you to get on the dance floor. The chorus is catchy and will stay in your head long after you hear it. Keyshia Cole sounds like an angel on this track.
She sings in time with the beat changes. She races through the verses effortlessly towards the end of the track when it picks up the pace. Her voice will take you on an emotional ride. The only minor complaint about the song is that it ends abruptly. It needs a smoother finish. Other than that, the song is worth checking out.
# 5 – I Remember
The next song on our Top 10 Keyshia Cole Songs list is “I Remember” from the Just Like You album. The song has an r&b beat. This is an emotional song about her biological mother giving her up for adoption. This is another personal song for her. The song may be misleading. It can easily be about romantic relationship gone wrong. Keyshia Cole is known for singing songs about relationships gone wrong.
This song is about heartache, but it’s not about a man who broke her heart. It’s about her mother breaking her heart. You can tell she wrote this song from the heart. The lyrics are very powerful. People don’t usually write negative songs about their parents. They usually write dedications to their parents. This is a very honest and emotional song. If you have issues with your parent, you may be able to relate to the lyrics. The music is soft and soothing. You would think this was a song about romance based on the music. The beat is surprisingly sensual despite the subject matter. Keyshia Cole is singing from the heart. You can tell this song hits close to home for her.
She pours her heart and soul out in this ballad. She proved she could be just as emotional in a song about her mother as she is about a boyfriend who hurt her. She tries to turn the song into a power ballad after the bridge by holding notes. She also belts throughout the song.
# 4 – Never ft. Eve
The romantic song is from the Barbershop 2 soundtrack. The song has an r&b and hip-hop beat. The loving song is about her being in love with someone. It doesn’t matter what he does because she’s never going to stop loving him. The song features the sample of Luther Vandross’ “Never Too Much.” The lyrics of this song are a departure from Keyshia Cole’s signature songs. She is actually praising love instead of talking about the downside of love. It was a nice change to hear her sing a positive song about love.
The sample will help fans of Luther Vandross and Keyshia Cole enjoy this song. The music is a banger. It combines old school and new school. If you love Luther Vandross’ “Never Too Much,” you will definitely be a fan of the music. The song will have you out of your seat the second it starts. Keyshia Cole sounds like she is having fun on this jam. She shows versatility because she goes up and down throughout the track. Her voice also sounds good in the background. She harmonizes well in the song. She sings in time with every beat change.
She races through the pre-chorus and never misses a beat. Speaking of the chorus, it is catchy beyond belief. It is an earworm that will stay in your head. Eve’s rhymes are flawless. She raps in time with the beat. Keyshia Cole and Eve worked well together on this excellent tune.
# 3 – Heaven Sent
The touching song is from the Just Like You album. The song has an r&b beat. The tender song is about her cousin. Despite being about her cousin, it can also be about a romantic relationship. It is up to the listener to decide what the lyrics are about and how you can relate to it. The lyrics are poetic and will touch your soul. This is another departure from her signature break up songs. The lyrics will put you in a good place. The song will make a perfect wedding song. You can also play this song if you want to express how you feel about the one you love. This track will make you want to fall in love.
The music is soft and relaxing. It features the keyboard, strings and drums to create the beautiful sound. Keyshia Cole’s vocals are stacked because she has a double. One part is singing in her lower register while the other part is in her normal register. It was nice to hear her singing in a lower register. Her voice does crack a little when she vocalizes towards the end of the song. Her voice cracking doesn’t take away from how good the song is. You can feel her positive energy while she is singing this song. This is one of her signature songs as well as one of her biggest hits.
# 2 – I Should Have Cheated
This drama filled song is from the The Way It Is album. The song has an r&b beat. This soapy song is about her accusing her boyfriend of cheating on her. Unfortunately, he accuses her of cheating as well. She didn’t cheat on her boyfriend, but she feels as if she should have done it since he keeps accusing her of cheating.
The subject of this song is different. People don’t usually sing a song saying they should have cheated on their boyfriend/girlfriend. They usually sing about being cheated on. Here is some trivia about the song. Keyshia Cole and r&b singer Nivea both recorded this track, but it was eventually given to Keyshia Cole. Here is a fun fact. Members of the group 112 co-wrote the blazing single. Daron Jones and Quinnes “Q” Parker co-wrote this song. The music has an old school meets new school vibe to it. The melancholy beat is the perfect theme for the subject matter of this track. It has a somber beat. It sounds like something 112 would have recorded. The lyrics are right at home for Keyshia Cole. She is in her wheelhouse with this track.
It is hard to believe she didn’t write this song because she sings it as if she wrote it. She sings it with all of the passion needed to convey the message she is sending. She sounds convincing as she tells the listeners that she should have cheated on her boyfriend. She really tells it like it is. She has the right amount of sass to pull off a track like this.
# 1 – Love
The number one song on our Top 10 Keyshia Cole Songs list is “Love” from the The Way It Is album. The song has an r&b beat. This self-deprecating song is about her feeling she isn’t good enough for her boyfriend. The song also talks about him being unfaithful and she is struggling to believe he cheated because she is blinded by love. The lyrics will resonate with anyone who has been in a similar situation. This track is in one of Keyshia Cole’s signature songs because it’s about a tumultuous relationship.
The music is simple and features the keyboard and drums. The drumbeat gives the song tempo so you can bop your head to the beat. Keyshia Cole sounds vulnerable as she puts herself down in the lyrics. People don’t usually put themselves down in songs. She sings the song with a lot of passion. She is so into the song that her voice cracks when she hits the high notes. Normally when voices crack it can be hard on the ear. In this case, it made the song sound authentic. It showed that every song doesn’t have to be technically perfect. This is a song that will make you feel emotional. She belts and holds notes throughout the song. She also does runs in the chorus.
The song is so good that you will want to keep repeating it over and over. This song was a number one song for Keyshia Cole and it’s easy to see why. Everything about the song works from the music to the singing.
Top 10 Keyshia Cole Songs article published on Classic RockHistory.com© 2021
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