ArtistDirect News
Kandi Burruss: From Xscape Hitmaker to Multi-Industry Mogul
From the gritty streets of Atlanta to the bright lights of Broadway, Kandi Burruss has turned every role into a milestone. Born in Atlanta, the singer‑songwriter‑actress‑TV personality has built a career that spans music, reality television, stage work and entrepreneurship. After first grabbing national attention as a member of the 1990s R&B group Xscape, Burruss earned a Grammy, a Billboard Music Award, and the record of being the first Black woman to win ASCAP’s Songwriter of the Year.
Xscape formed in 1990 and signed with Jermaine Dupri’s So‑So‑Def label. The group—composed of Kandi, sisters LaTocha and Tamika Scott, and Tamera Coggins—released the platinum‑certified debut album Hummin’ Comin’ at ’Cha in 1993. The album produced two top‑ten Billboard Hot 100 singles, “Just Kickin’ It” and “Understanding.” Follow‑up releases Off the Hook (1995) and Traces of My Lipstick (1998) also went platinum, and Xscape’s catalog includes six top‑ten Hot 100 songs and more than 12 million U.S. records sold.
Burruss’s songwriting career began in the late 1990s. She co‑wrote TLC’s 1999 smash “No Scrubs,” which won the 42nd Annual Grammy for Best R&B Song and earned her a Billboard Music Award. Her pen has also appeared on tracks for Destiny’s Child, NSYNC, Mariah Carey, Pink, Ariana Grande and others. In 2000 she released her debut solo album Hey Kandi…, featuring the single “Don’t Think I’m Not,” a Billboard Hot 100 top‑40 hit.
In 2009 Burruss released her second studio album, Kandi Koated, adding to her discography of two studio releases and several singles that charted on the Hot 100. Her songwriting credits continued to grow; she has been credited on songs such as “Bills, Bills, Bills” by Destiny’s Child and “Break Up with Your Girlfriend, I’m Bored” by Ariana Grande.
Burruss’s television career launched with her appearance on The Real Housewives of Atlanta in its second season (2009). She remained on the show through its fifteenth season, making her one of the franchise’s longest‑serving cast members. She has hosted six spin‑off series, including The Kandi Factory (2012), Kandi’s Wedding (2014), Kandi’s Ski Trip (2015), Xscape: Still Kickin’ It (2017) and Kandi & the Gang (2022). In 2020 she won season three of The Masked Singer, becoming the program’s first female champion.
Broadway has also been part of Burruss’s portfolio. She debuted on the stage in 2018 as Mama Morton in the revival of Chicago. She later joined the production team for the 2022 revival of Othello starring Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal, and appeared in the limited engagement of & Juliet as Angélique. Her acting credits include recurring roles in The Chi, Reasonable Doubt and Insecure.
Beyond entertainment, Burruss has launched several business ventures. She founded the intimacy and sexual wellness brand Bedroom Kandi, the Old Lady Gang restaurant, and Kandi Koated Entertainment. These enterprises complement her music and television work and demonstrate her entrepreneurial breadth.
Today, Burruss continues to work across multiple platforms. Her songwriting catalog remains a source of royalties through samples and new collaborations, while her television and stage projects keep her in the public eye. Her career trajectory—from 1990s R&B hitmaker to award‑winning songwriter, reality star, Broadway performer and businesswoman—illustrates a sustained influence on the music and entertainment industries.
Xscape formed in 1990 and signed with Jermaine Dupri’s So‑So‑Def label. The group—composed of Kandi, sisters LaTocha and Tamika Scott, and Tamera Coggins—released the platinum‑certified debut album Hummin’ Comin’ at ’Cha in 1993. The album produced two top‑ten Billboard Hot 100 singles, “Just Kickin’ It” and “Understanding.” Follow‑up releases Off the Hook (1995) and Traces of My Lipstick (1998) also went platinum, and Xscape’s catalog includes six top‑ten Hot 100 songs and more than 12 million U.S. records sold.
Burruss’s songwriting career began in the late 1990s. She co‑wrote TLC’s 1999 smash “No Scrubs,” which won the 42nd Annual Grammy for Best R&B Song and earned her a Billboard Music Award. Her pen has also appeared on tracks for Destiny’s Child, NSYNC, Mariah Carey, Pink, Ariana Grande and others. In 2000 she released her debut solo album Hey Kandi…, featuring the single “Don’t Think I’m Not,” a Billboard Hot 100 top‑40 hit.
In 2009 Burruss released her second studio album, Kandi Koated, adding to her discography of two studio releases and several singles that charted on the Hot 100. Her songwriting credits continued to grow; she has been credited on songs such as “Bills, Bills, Bills” by Destiny’s Child and “Break Up with Your Girlfriend, I’m Bored” by Ariana Grande.
Burruss’s television career launched with her appearance on The Real Housewives of Atlanta in its second season (2009). She remained on the show through its fifteenth season, making her one of the franchise’s longest‑serving cast members. She has hosted six spin‑off series, including The Kandi Factory (2012), Kandi’s Wedding (2014), Kandi’s Ski Trip (2015), Xscape: Still Kickin’ It (2017) and Kandi & the Gang (2022). In 2020 she won season three of The Masked Singer, becoming the program’s first female champion.
Broadway has also been part of Burruss’s portfolio. She debuted on the stage in 2018 as Mama Morton in the revival of Chicago. She later joined the production team for the 2022 revival of Othello starring Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal, and appeared in the limited engagement of & Juliet as Angélique. Her acting credits include recurring roles in The Chi, Reasonable Doubt and Insecure.
Beyond entertainment, Burruss has launched several business ventures. She founded the intimacy and sexual wellness brand Bedroom Kandi, the Old Lady Gang restaurant, and Kandi Koated Entertainment. These enterprises complement her music and television work and demonstrate her entrepreneurial breadth.
Today, Burruss continues to work across multiple platforms. Her songwriting catalog remains a source of royalties through samples and new collaborations, while her television and stage projects keep her in the public eye. Her career trajectory—from 1990s R&B hitmaker to award‑winning songwriter, reality star, Broadway performer and businesswoman—illustrates a sustained influence on the music and entertainment industries.