Keshia Chanté


Keshia Chanté is a Canadian singer, songwriter, actor, television personality, dancer and philanthropist. Chanté released her first hits as a teenager and has since released four albums. In 2013, she rose to international prominence as co-host of BET's 106 & Park.
Chanté is a Juno Award winner and a 7-time nominee, and has won five Canadian Urban Music Awards and two Canadian Radio Music Awards. Chanté was given a star on the Brampton Arts Walk of Fame for her achievements in Canadian Music & Film. Chanté has had many number one singles on radio in both Canada & Japan, as well as eight Top Ten singles on the radio music charts. She has earned multiple SOCAN No. 1 Awards for her songwriting efforts. Her single "Table Dancer" peaked at #9 on the Billboard Japan Hot 100.
Chante co-hosted 106 & Park with Bow Wow for 2 years, served as an international judge on The World's Best, and is currently a TV personality for Entertainment Tonight Canada in Hollywood, California. Chanté has hosted, judged and appeared on numerous shows including BET Awards, The Next Star, Top Chef Canada, Chopped Canada, Match Game, and Hockey Wives
Chante has conducted interviews with many high-profile celebrities, including Michelle Obama, Larry King, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Robert De Niro, Morgan Freeman, Kelsey Grammer, Mark Wahlberg, Cate Blanchett, Mariah Carey, and Denzel Washington.
As a philanthropist and humanitarian, Chante has donated and raised millions of dollars with multiple organizations and causes, including WE Charity, Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research, Joyful Heart Foundation and World Vision International. Chante also hosts We Day and is a motivational speaker advocating for Mental Health awareness.

Early life

Keshia Chanté Harper was born in Ottawa, Ontario and raised in Toronto, Ontario. She is Afro-Caribbean, Hispanic and of European descent. Her mother is Portuguese and Puerto Rican and her father is Trinidadian. Chante is an only child. She was 6 years old when she first performed, receiving a standing ovation for her rendition of Dear Mama by Tupac Shakur. Through talent shows, she got the attention of a local DJ who, in 2002, sent a video of her performance to SonyMusic Canada. After performing for music executives, she was signed to the label exclusively to release her music in Canada. She went to middle school at Saint Peter High School before moving to Toronto, Ontario at the age of 13. Chanté was valedictorian and graduated with honors.

Career

2003–2012: Singer and Actor

In 2002, at the age of 14, SonyMusic Canada signed Chante to a long term record contract to release her music in Canada. In early 2003, she released "Shook ", a response track to Shawn Desman's song Shook, which won an Urban Music Award for "Best Pop/R&B Single". The follow-up, "Unpredictable" went No. 3 on radio charts, and her first video hit number one on YTV and the top ten on MuchMusic. In November 2003, the CD single of "Unpredictable" was certified gold and later went on to win Chante the Canadian Radio Music Award for "Best New Solo Artist".
In early February 2004, Chanté's third single, "Bad Boy", was released. It was also successful, breaking the Top 10 on radio and sitting at No. 3 on MuchMusic for 4 weeks before later earning the No. 1 position on the chart. The video was directed by Director X. Later, in June 2004, Chanté's fourth single "Does He Love Me?" ft. Foxy Brown reached top 5 at radio. The video was also directed by Director X and became No. 1 on MuchMusic for 3 weeks. The video also garnered her an Urban Music Video Award for "Video of the Year".
On June 22, 2004 Chanté released her self-titled debut album. On December 3, 2004 it was certified gold. In October 2004, at the Canadian Urban Music Awards Chanté swept all three of her nominations, winning awards for "Best New Artist", "Video of the Year", "Fans' Choice Award" and by surprise taking home the "Rising Star of the Year" award. This brought the attention of the President of BET, Stephen Hill, who became Chante's mentor and putting the video for "Bad Boy" into heavy rotation. In that same month, she sang the national anthem at the Canadian Football League's Grey Cup championship game. She was also selected to represent Canada at Expo 2005 held in Japan.
In July 2005, Chanté went on a cross-Canada tour and later opened up for Destiny's Child during the Canadian leg of their Destiny Fulfilled... And Lovin' It tour, and is also included on the Destiny's Child Live in Atlanta Tour DVD.
In October 2005, Chanté received four nominations at the Urban Music Awards. In 2006, Chanté toured with Teen People Magazine and Seventeen Magazine across select cities in the U.S. In July 2006, Chante released her new single "Been Gone" with a video shot by Director X. Her second single, "2U" was released in early November. Also in 2006, Chanté made a featured cameo appearance in Bow Wow and Chris Brown's music video "Shortie Like Mine". Her second album, which Chanté executive produced was released on December 5, 2006 in Canada and Japan through SonyMusic Canada. MTV's "The Diary of Keshia Chante" aired in Canada December 6, 2006, showing footage following Chante as she travelled to Miami and LA working on her album.
In 2007, during her last year of high school, Chante took a departure from music to study to learn more about the music business and be mentored by respected entertainment lawyers in LA and Toronto. She later made the decision to move to Atlanta and West Hollywood, where she worked closely the camps of Ne-Yo, Missy Elliott and OutKast. She began honing her skill as a songwriter and her acting chops, starring as the lead actress in the TV series "Soul".
In 2010, Chanté released her third album "Night & Day" in Canada through Universal Music Canada.
Chanté released "Table Dancer" and "Test Drive" which were both nominated for Juno Awards; R&B Recording of the Year for "Test Drive" and Dance Recording of the Year for "Table Dancer". Both songs entered Top 10 at radio. On February 14, 2011, Chanté released the Taio Cruz penned song "Set U Free". On December 31, 2011, Chanté performed on ET Canada's New Year's Eve Bash in Niagara Falls, which later set a record becoming Canada's No. 1 Year End Countdown Show with 4.8 million viewers. In April 2012, Chanté was announced as the new music judge for a music competition show on YTV called The Next Star. On the week of November 28, 2012, Chante's first single release "Table Dancer" went No. 1 on the Billboard Charts in Japan and No. 6 on Hot 100, No. 3 on Digital & Airplay & No. 11 on regular charts Chanté guest starred & judged on TV shows Top Chef Canada and Canada's Best Beauty Talent with supermodel Coco Rocha & Flare Magazine's Editor-in-Chief Lisa Tant

2013–2015: TV Personality ''BET's 106 and Park''

On June 14, 2012, Chanté made her US television debut on BET's 106 & Park as a co-host on two separate occasions co-hosting with Terrence J. On June 30, 2013, Chanté attended the 2013 BET Awards as a correspondent for the event & began co-hosting select episodes of 106 & Park. On September 26, 2013, BET President Stephen Hill announced on the Rickey Smiley Morning Show that Chante will be a new co host for 106 & Park alongside rapper Bow Wow starting on October 1. Childhood friend and fellow Canadian Drake publicly announced and congratulated Chante for becoming the first ever Canadian to host the iconic show. Chante went on to make history having the First Lady of the United States Michelle Obama on the show, as well as filming with the likes of Mariah Carey, Jennifer Lopez, Mark Wahlberg, Sylvester Stallone, Denzel Washington, Jessica Alba, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Robert De Niro, Will Ferrell, Eminem, The Rock, Floyd Mayweather, Forest Whitaker, 50 Cent, Kerry Washington, Tyra Banks, Naomi Campbell, Kevin Hart, Melissa McCarthy, Emma Stone, Joe Manganiello, and many more.
On December 18, 2013, Chante was invited by United States President Barack Obama & the first lady Michelle Obama to their White House holiday party in DC. In December 2014, received a star on the Brampton Arts Walk of Fame. In January 2015, after two years hosting 106 & Park, the show announced it was going digital. In June 2014, 2015 and 2016, Chante hosted the BET Awards 106 & Park Pre-Show in LA.

2016–present: California

On November 11, 2016, BET premiered Chante's song "The Valley" off her upcoming album. On January 11, 2017, Radio Host Ebro Darden debuted Chante's single "F**k It Tho" on his Beats 1 radio show on Apple Music.
On March 22, Ebro Darden announced Keshia Chante's track listing for Unbound 01 and premiered "Bryson Tiller" exclusively with Apple Music on the Beats 1 radio show. On March 23, Noisey premiered "RedLight", citing the track as "the sonic equivalent of a cool, still night: beautiful but there is something eerie in its midst, hidden in the dark" and AUX TV premiered "Harmless" citing that Chanté is "re-igniting her signature R&B sound" and that "Chanté’s soaring vocals lend the track a distinctly modern edge". On March 24, 2017 Chanté released Unbound 01, an EP and in February 2018 it was nominated for a Juno Award for Best R&B Recording. Unbound 02 was released March 23, 2018.
In 2017, Chante moved to West Hollywood, California and began acting school.
In August 2018, it was announced Chante would be a Celebrity Hollywood Correspondent for Entertainment Tonight Canada and she has since conducted interviews with Larry King, Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway, Christian Bale, Matthew McConaughey, Tyra Banks, Jamie Lee Curtis, Trevor Noah, Charlie Hunnam, Rami Malek and many more.
In November 2018, Chante hosted We Day in Calgary and Ottawa for WE Charity. Chante gave a motivation speech in front of 17,000 youths at WE Day in Vancouver advocating for mental health and sharing her personal experience with depression and anxiety. She also interviewed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
In January, Chante served as an international judge on The World's Best as an expert in the field of music.
On July 22, 2019 it was announced Chante would return to acting by joining the cast of Private Eyes. On October 1, 2019 it was announced Chante would guest star in JANN

Artistry

Musical style

Tara Henley of The Georgia Straight noted that Chante had "an arresting voice, magnetic charisma, and driving ambition." Denise Sheppard from Amazon.ca also noted, " a teen-targeted pop phenom" whose "music has the one-two punch of melodic hooks and the voice to back them up; a combination that can and will appeal to dance/pop music fans of any age.

Influences

Chante cited Beyoncé, Aaliyah and Brandy as her childhood influences, as well as Tupac Shakur, with whom she shares the same birth day.

Public image

Chante has been cited for having an eerily striking resemblance to late singer Aaliyah, often cited as her doppelganger. Chante was set to play Aaliyah in the biopic but declined after saying Aaliyah's mother was against the film being made.
In Canada, Chanté is considered a by fashion's high rankings performing at Marchesa's first runway show in Toronto, as well as Chanel event for Toronto International Film Festival. Her style has been described as "glamorous" meets "sexy elegance" by Holt Renfrew executives.
Chante is an avid supporter of Canadian Fashion Designers and labels. Flare Magazine has named her a "true style chameleon" In January 2012, Fashion Television labeled Keshia a Fashion Icon In 2012, Chante served as a Judge on Canada's Best Beauty Talent with Coco Rocha and Editor-in-Chief of FLARE Magazine Lisa Tant.

Other ventures

Philanthropy

Chante served as youth ambassador for CANFAR traveling to Kenya, Africa to build schools and visited schools across Canada to raise awareness. She has visited Dominican Republic to work with World Vision and has worked with Alicia Keys to throw a fundraising concert for the Stephen Lewis Foundation In 2014, Chante starred in NBC's PSA for Mariska Hargitay's Joyful Heart foundation alongside Eli Manning, Hilary Swank and more to raise awareness on domestic violence. Chante hosted We Day Calgary and Ottawa, as well as spoke in front of 16,000 youth for Vancouver on her passion to raise awareness on mental health issues like depression and anxiety.

Endorsements

Chante has been endorsed by brands such as CANON, Pepsi, Bacardi, Nestlé, Bell, Rogers, Stila Cosmetics, MAC Cosmetics, Ecko Red and Sony. In November 2010, Chante became the face of Pepsi and their Pepsi Refresh Project campaign. Chante is the face of Ontario Tourism and sings the theme song in their commercials.

Personal life

On December 18, 2013, Chanté was invited by United States President Barack Obama and the first lady Michelle Obama to their White House holiday party in DC.
Chanté resides in both West Hollywood, California and Toronto, Canada.

Drake

Chanté lived in Toronto during her teens along with rapper Drake and was his first girlfriend. They dated during their teen years, have collaborated musically and remain close friends. Drake has cited Chanté as his "muse" and has written multiple songs about Chanté, including "Madonna" from his 2015 mixtape If You're Reading This It's Too Late. Drake's 2018 song "In My Feelings" contains repeated reference to "Kiki," which several outlets reported to be Chanté. Neither Chanté nor Drake have confirmed the identity of "Kiki." Drake discussed their relationship in the remix of Chanté's song titled "Fallen", rapping "Keshia, Keshia, do you remember the old us?/ You just hold it down for your boy until the plaques arrive that's why I love you". Drake also speaks of Chanté in the second verse of his song "Deceiving" referencing Tessa, Chanté's mother: "What up Tessa, I love you like my own mama / And your daughter's getting grown, mama / And me, I'm just here working, waiting / patient for her to be ready to love and leave alone drama."
In 2009, Drake was asked by MuchMusic's VJ Sarah Taylor on his past relationship with Chanté when they were 16 years old. Drake said he would be "proud to call an ex-girlfriend".
On October 1, 2013, Drake told Chanté on an episode of 106 & Park, "You were one of my first crushes, and a lot of people might not know this, but I actually rapped about you before." He later was a part of a commercial announce Chanté as the new official host of 106 & Park.

Ray Emery

In June 2010, Chanté began dating NHL netminder Ray Emery, announcing their relationship when Emery starred as the love interest in Chanté's Test Drive music video. Their relationship was featured in the series Hockey Wives. On June 16, 2016, Emery proposed to Chanté on her birthday with friends in Nassau, Bahamas. Emery and Chanté were set to wed June 2017, however, simultaneously with the release of her cover on Today's Bride, Chanté announced via her Instagram that she called off the wedding. On September 18, 2017, TMZ reported Emery was arrested for uttering threats and assault with a weapon towards Chanté, after she went to police seeking a restraining order. Chante required Emery to attend anger management in exchange for charges being absolved, in which Emery agreed and successfully completed. On July 16, 2018, two days after his accidental drowning, Chante penned an emotional tribute to Emery stating that she was "heartbroken" and that he was "a Superhero" who was "loving, affectionate, intelligent, hilarious, giving". She also stated that they "may have had differences" but they "forgave each other and continued to love each other right to the very end."

Discography

EP
Canadian albums

Awards and nominations

2003
2004
2005
2007
2008
2011
2018