K. Michelle

2009–2011: Beginnings

In 2009, she signed a recording contract with Jive Records and released her debut single, "Fakin' It", featuring Missy Elliott.^[14] The single charted on the U.S. Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, peaking at number 100. Throughout 2010, she released several follow-up singles, including "Fallin'", "I Just Can't Do This" and "How Many Times", which also charted on the U.S. Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.^[15]

During this period, she worked on her planned debut studio album, originally titled Pain Medicine. The project was reported to include collaborations with artists such as Trina, Gucci Mane, Akon, Usher, and R. Kelly, whom she has described as a mentor during the early stages of her career.^[16][17][18] However, the album was ultimately shelved following the closure of Jive Records in 2011, and she was released from the label.

2012–2014: Love & Hip Hop, Rebellious Soul, Anybody Wanna Buy a Heart?

In 2012, she joined the cast of VH1's reality series Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta.^[19] The first season documented her return to the music industry following personal and professional setbacks, including a previously reported abusive relationship with a music executive.^[20] She became one of the breakout figures of the series and subsequently signed a multi-album recording contract with Atlantic Records.^[21][22] She returned for the show's second season, which chronicled the recording of her debut studio album, Rebellious Soul.

On May 20, 2013, she released "V.S.O.P" as the lead single from her debut album Rebellious Soul. The song, produced by Pop & Oak, contains a sample of “Very Special” by Debra Laws, and "That's How Long" performed by The Chi-Lites.^[23][24] It peaked at number 89 on the US Billboard Hot 100^[25] and number 27 on the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.^[15] Its music video, directed by Benny Boom, was released on June 29, 2013.^[26][27] The single was later certified Gold by the RIAA.^[28] The album was released on August 13, 2013, debuting at number two on the U.S. Billboard 200 and number one on the U.S. Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart with first-week sales of 72,000 copies.^[29] By late 2014, it had sold over 260,000 copies in the United States, and was later certified Gold.^[30][31]

Following the album’s release, she embarked on her first headlining tour, The Rebellious Soul Tour, presented by BET Music Matters, which ran from November to December 2013. The tour featured supporting acts including Sevyn Streeter and Tiara Thomas. In January 2014, she released "Can't Raise a Man" which peaked at number 94 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 23 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.^[32][33] The single was later certified Platinum .

After departing Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta, she joined the cast of Love & Hip Hop: New York for its fourth season.^[34] During this period, she released the mixtape Still No Fucks Given (2014) and toured as a supporting act on Robin Thicke's Blurred Lines Tour. Her participation in Love & Hip Hop: New York also served as a lead-in to her own reality series,K. Michelle: My Life, which premiered in November 2014.^{[35] [36][37]}

On September 16, 2014, she released "Love 'Em All" as the lead single from her second studio album Anybody Wanna Buy a Heart?.^[38] The album was released on December 9, 2014, through Atlantic Records and debuted at number six on the Billboard 200 chart and number one on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, selling 87,000 copies in its first week.^[39][40] Billboard recognized it as the highest-selling female R&B album of 2014.^[41] It produced the singles “Maybe I Should Call” and “Hard to Do,” both of which were later certified Gold by the RIAA.^[42] The album also included the single “How Do You Know?” “Love 'Em All” was later certified Platinum by the RIAA, and the album track “Cry” was certified Gold.^[43]

2015–2017: More Issues Than Vogue, Kimberly: The People I Used to Know

In 2016, she released "Not a Little Bit" as the lead single from her third studio album More Issues Than Vogue, followed by several promotional singles including “Ain’t You,” “Mindful,” and “Time.” ^{[44][45][46][47][48]} The album was made available for pre-order in February 2016 and released on March 25, 2016. It debuted at number two on the US Billboard 200 and number one on the Top R&B Albums chart.^[49]

Following her return appearances on Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta, she rejoined the main cast for season five, which documented her relocation to Atlanta and the release of More Issues Than Vogue. Later that year, she embarked on the Hello Kimberly Tour, which ran from July to August 2016. In September 2016, she released “Forward,” a contribution to the soundtrack of the film "The Birth of a Nation".^[50][51]

In 2017, she was featured on “Got Me Crazy” in collaboration with DJ Feezy, Rick Ross, and Fabolous.^[52] Her reality series K. Michelle: My Life concluded after three seasons the same year. She later released the singles “Birthday” and “Either Way” featuring Chris Brown, leading into her fourth studio album Kimberly: The People I Used to Know, released on December 7, 2017, which became her fourth album to reach the top ten of the US Top R&B Albums chart. The project also marked her final release under Atlantic Records.^[53][54]

2018–2023: All Monsters Are Human and I'm the Problem

In 2018, she joined the cast of Love & Hip Hop: Hollywood for its fifth season, becoming the first cast member in the franchise to appear as a main cast member across three different installments. During this period, she signed with Entertainment One Music. and released the single "Save Me".^[55][56]

She announced her fifth studio album, All Monsters Are Human, in 2019 during her O.S.D. Tour. She also released the mixtape Not 1 Fuck Given on January 1, 2020, as part of her ongoing 0 Fucks Given series.^[57] The album was preceded by the single “The Rain,”which became her first top 10 entry on the US Billboard Adult R&B Songs chart and was later certified Gold by the RIAA.^[58][59]

All Monsters Are Human was released on January 31, 2020, debuting at number 51 on the US Billboard 200 and reaching the top five on the Top R&B Albums chart, marking her fifth consecutive top 10 entry on that chart.^[60] The album received generally positive reviews and was further supported by the single “Just Like Jay,” which also received a music video.^[61][62]

In 2022, she announced her sixth album, I'm the Problem, as her final R&B project.^[63] Its lead single, "Scooch", was released on February 11, 2022, and became her first number-one single on the Billboard Adult R&B Songs chart.^[64] The album was released on September 22, 2023, through MNRK and debuted at number 21 on the US Independent Albums chart.^[65]

2023–present: Move to country music

K. Michelle has long expressed interest in recording a country music album, began previewing material for a crossover project following the release of her final R&B album, I’m the Problem.^[66][67]

In 2023, she made her Nashville performance debut at the kickoff of BMI’s Rooftop on the Row concert series.^[68] That same year, she released the country track “Tennessee” as a bonus song on the album, introducing the material under her alter ego “Puddin’. She co-wrote the song with its producers, Claude Kelly and Chuck Harmony of Louis York.^[69][70] She also appeared on “Country Love Song” with Justin Champagne and contributed to The Judds tribute album, A Tribute to the Judds, performing a cover of "Love Can Build a Bridge" alongside Jelly Roll and Fisk Jubilee Singers.^[71][72]

She performed at CMA Fest in 2023 and returned in 2024, where she appeared on the VIP stage at Nissan Stadium.^[73][74] In November 2023, she and Jelly Roll performed “Love Can Build a Bridge” live at the 57th Annual Country Music Association Awards where their performance received a standing ovation.^[75][76][77] In 2025, she performed “The Star-Spangled Banner” at CMA Fest.^[78][79]

In July 2024, she signed a recording contract with BBR Music Group and BMG Nashville to release her debut country project..^[80] In August 2025, she released “Jack Daniel’s” as her first promotional country single under BBR Music Group and BMG Nashville.^[81]The song peaked at number 18 on the iTunes Country Songs chart. It was produced by Kristian Bush and Jeff Balding, and written by Balding, Ernest, Jordan Dozzi, Rocky Block, and K. Michelle. Following its release, BBR Music Group described the track as an “absolutely stunning country debut” for K.Michelle.^[82][83]

Film

Television