Kim Hill (soul musician)
Encyclopedia
Kim Hill is an American
soul
singer-songwriter
, best known for being the backup vocalist in the hip-hop
band Black Eyed Peas
. She left the band in 2000 and was replaced by Fergie in 2002. Hill has since begun performing as a solo artist, with a 2000 release (12" Summertime in Aspen) a 2002 release (Sugahill) a 2005 release (12" Right Now) as well as a 2007 release, Okada Taxi. She is known for her commentary on female body image during live performances.
, piano
, and gymnastics
as a child before enrolling in the University of The Arts
in Philadelphia as a dance major. She moved to Los Angeles
in 1993 after a year as a Philadelphia 76ers
cheerleader, when she committed to music full time.
, apl.de.ap
and Taboo
at a chance meeting in 1995 at a BMI
Showcase. This encounter led to her co-writing several songs on their album, Behind the Front
, including "The Way You Make Me Feel". She also co-wrote "Mama's Just a Little Girl" with the late Tupac Shakur
on the album, Better Dayz
. Kim became known as the Peas' stand out vocalist and quickly assimilated into the roots of their progressive family tree, contributing to numerous tracks on both Behind the Front
and Bridging the Gap
. Hill's writing style and concepts gave birth to songs such as "On My Own", which featured Les Nubians
and Mos Def
, as well as the "Hot". She has shared the stage with a spectrum of artists including the late Biggie Smalls, Outkast
, The Pharcyde
, Cody Chestnutt, Common, Slum Village
, Raphael Saadiq
, Jody Watley
, De La Soul
, No Doubt
, A Tribe Called Quest
and Aaliyah
. During her tenure as a Black Eyed Pea, she obtained a solo contract with Interscope Records
in 1998. However she was dropped before she could release anything in 1999, because Interscope declared that her music wasn't black enough. Taboo described her position in the band in his autobiography, Fallin' Up: "Kim was never fully installed as a member of the Peas, even though there has been coverage in the past that she was the fourth member. It is more accurate to say that she featured with us, because she was still a singer-songwriter in her own right and still performed solo."
as "DJ Kill him", and has been featured on Entertainment Tonight
, Access Hollywood
, and in Billboard
and Vibe magazines. Today, Kim resides in Los Angeles
and has, most recently, become a blog
ger, and a mother to son, Cassius Etienne Harrison Hill.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
soul
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
, best known for being the backup vocalist in the hip-hop
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
band Black Eyed Peas
The Black Eyed Peas
The Black Eyed Peas are an American pop group , formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1995. The group includes rappers will.i.am, apl.de.ap, and Taboo, and singer Fergie. Since the release of their third album Elephunk in 2003, the group has sold an estimated 56 million records worldwide...
. She left the band in 2000 and was replaced by Fergie in 2002. Hill has since begun performing as a solo artist, with a 2000 release (12" Summertime in Aspen) a 2002 release (Sugahill) a 2005 release (12" Right Now) as well as a 2007 release, Okada Taxi. She is known for her commentary on female body image during live performances.
Personal life
Born to Norman D. Hill (1940–2006) and Shirley A. Hill (1940-) in Syracuse, NY, Kim was the third child of their union. She has siblings Brian K. Hill (born 1961) and Teretha M. Hill-Williams (born 1963). Kim studied violinViolin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
, piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, and gymnastics
Gymnastics
Gymnastics is a sport involving performance of exercises requiring physical strength, flexibility, agility, coordination, and balance. Internationally, all of the gymnastic sports are governed by the Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique with each country having its own national governing body...
as a child before enrolling in the University of The Arts
University of the Arts
University of the Arts or University of Arts may refer to:*University of the Arts in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States*University of the Arts London in London, England, United KingdomGermany...
in Philadelphia as a dance major. She moved to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
in 1993 after a year as a Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers are a professional basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . Originally known as the Syracuse Nationals, they are one of the oldest franchises in the NBA...
cheerleader, when she committed to music full time.
Black Eyed Peas
Kim Hill met will.i.amWill.i.am
William James Adams, Jr. , better known by his stage name will.i.am and occasionally by his other stage name Zuper Blahq, is an American rapper, musician, songwriter, singer, actor and producer...
, apl.de.ap
Apl.de.ap
Allan Pineda Lindo, Jr. better known as apl.de.ap , is a Filipino-American rapper, record producer, and occasional drummer who is best known as a member of The Black Eyed Peas.-Early life:Pineda was born in Belfast...
and Taboo
Taboo (rapper)
Jaime Luis Gómez , better known by his stage name Taboo, is an American singer, actor, and rapper best known as a member of the group The Black Eyed Peas.-Personal life:...
at a chance meeting in 1995 at a BMI
Broadcast Music Incorporated
Broadcast Music, Inc. is one of three United States performing rights organizations, along with ASCAP and SESAC. It collects license fees on behalf of songwriters, composers, and music publishers and distributes them as royalties to those members whose works have been performed...
Showcase. This encounter led to her co-writing several songs on their album, Behind the Front
Behind the Front
Behind the Front is the debut album by American hip hop group Black Eyed Peas, released in 1998.-Background:Most of the tracks were demos for the Grass Roots album, with added verses by new member Taboo. The song "Joints & Jam" appeared on the soundtrack of the movie Bulworth, where it was billed...
, including "The Way You Make Me Feel". She also co-wrote "Mama's Just a Little Girl" with the late Tupac Shakur
Tupac Shakur
Tupac Amaru Shakur , known by his stage names 2Pac and Makaveli, was an American rapper and actor. Shakur has sold over 75 million albums worldwide as of 2007, making him one of the best-selling music artists in the world...
on the album, Better Dayz
Better Dayz
-Disc 2:-Album chart positions:...
. Kim became known as the Peas' stand out vocalist and quickly assimilated into the roots of their progressive family tree, contributing to numerous tracks on both Behind the Front
Behind the Front
Behind the Front is the debut album by American hip hop group Black Eyed Peas, released in 1998.-Background:Most of the tracks were demos for the Grass Roots album, with added verses by new member Taboo. The song "Joints & Jam" appeared on the soundtrack of the movie Bulworth, where it was billed...
and Bridging the Gap
Bridging the Gap
Bridging the Gap is the second album by Black Eyed Peas, released in 2000. It contained the single "Request + Line", featuring Macy Gray. "Weekends" was remixed & renamed as "Another Weekend" for the Deluxe Edition of their fifth studio album The E.N.D....
. Hill's writing style and concepts gave birth to songs such as "On My Own", which featured Les Nubians
Les Nubians
Les Nubians is an R&B Grammy-nominated duo composed of sisters Hélène and Célia Faussart from Paris, France. In 1985 the sisters moved with their parents to Chad. Seven years later, they returned to Bordeaux, France, and began singing a cappella, producing poetry slams in Bordeaux and Paris, and...
and Mos Def
Mos Def
Dante Terrell Smith is an American actor and Emcee known by the stage names Mos Def and Yasiin Bey. He started his hip hop career in a group called Urban Thermo Dynamics, after which he appeared on albums by Da Bush Babees and De La Soul. With Talib Kweli, he formed the duo Black Star, which...
, as well as the "Hot". She has shared the stage with a spectrum of artists including the late Biggie Smalls, Outkast
OutKast
Outkast is an American hip hop duo based in East Point, Georgia, consisting of Atlanta native André "André 3000" Benjamin and Savannah, Georgia-born Antwan "Big Boi" Patton. They were originally known as Two Shades Deep but later changed the group's name to OutKast...
, The Pharcyde
The Pharcyde
The Pharcyde are an alternative hip hop group based in South Central Los Angeles. The original four members of the group are Imani , Slimkid3 , Bootie Brown and Fatlip . DJ Mark Luv was the group's first DJ, followed by producer J-Swift and then J Dilla...
, Cody Chestnutt, Common, Slum Village
Slum Village
Slum Village was a hip hop group from Conant Gardens, Detroit, Michigan.The group was formed by three members: rappers Baatin and T3, plus rapper and producer J Dilla . J Dilla left in 2002 to pursue a solo career with MCA Records...
, Raphael Saadiq
Raphael Saadiq
Raphael Saadiq is an American singer, songwriter and record producer. Saadiq has been a standard bearer for "old school" R&B since his early days as a member of the multiplatinum group Tony! Toni! Toné! He also produced songs of such artists as TLC, Joss Stone, D'Angelo, Mary J...
, Jody Watley
Jody Watley
Jody Vanessa Watley is an American, singer, songwriter, record producer, and founder of Avitone Records whose music crosses genres from Pop, R&B, Jazz, Dance and Electronic Soul....
, De La Soul
De La Soul
De La Soul is an American hip hop trio formed in 1987 on Long Island, New York. The band is best known for their eclectic sampling, quirky lyrics, and their contributions to the evolution of the jazz rap and alternative hip hop subgenres...
, No Doubt
No Doubt
No Doubt is an American rock band from Anaheim, California that formed in 1986. The ska-pop sound of their first album No Doubt , failed to make an impact...
, A Tribe Called Quest
A Tribe Called Quest
A Tribe Called Quest is an American hip hop group, formed in 1985, and is composed of rapper/producer Q-Tip , rapper Phife Dawg , and DJ/producer Ali Shaheed Muhammad. A fourth member, rapper Jarobi White, left the group after their first album but rejoined in 2006...
and Aaliyah
Aaliyah
Aaliyah Dana Haughton , who performed under the mononym Aaliyah , was an American R&B recording artist, actress and model. She was born in Brooklyn, New York, and was raised in Detroit, Michigan. At the age of 10, she appeared on the television show Star Search and performed in concert alongside...
. During her tenure as a Black Eyed Pea, she obtained a solo contract with Interscope Records
Interscope Records
Interscope Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that currently operates as one third of UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group.-History:...
in 1998. However she was dropped before she could release anything in 1999, because Interscope declared that her music wasn't black enough. Taboo described her position in the band in his autobiography, Fallin' Up: "Kim was never fully installed as a member of the Peas, even though there has been coverage in the past that she was the fourth member. It is more accurate to say that she featured with us, because she was still a singer-songwriter in her own right and still performed solo."
Post Peas
Kim left the Black Eyed Peas in 2000 due to creative differences. Soon thereafter, she signed to Up Above Records and released her debut, Surrender to Her Sunflower (2000); however Hill left the label in 2001. That year, she signed to One bRave inDian, who released her second album, Suga Hill, in 2003. She parted with the label in 2005 and in 2006, she signed with Concrete Grooves Records and released her third album, Okada Taxi in 2007. She left that label in 2008. Hill continues to create independent music, deejayDeejay
A deejay is a reggae or dancehall musician who sings and toasts to an instrumental riddim .Deejays are not to be confused with disc jockeys from other music genres like hip-hop, where they select and play music. Dancehall/reggae DJs who select riddims to play are called selectors...
as "DJ Kill him", and has been featured on Entertainment Tonight
Entertainment Tonight
Entertainment Tonight is a daily tabloid television entertainment television news show that is syndicated by CBS Television Distribution throughout the United States, Canada and in many countries around the world. Linda Bell Blue is currently the program's executive producer...
, Access Hollywood
Access Hollywood
Access Hollywood is a weekday television entertainment news program covering events and celebrities in the entertainment industry. It was created by former Entertainment Tonight executive producer Jim Van Messel, and is currently directed by Robert Silverstein. In previous years, Doug Dougherty and...
, and in Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
and Vibe magazines. Today, Kim resides in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
and has, most recently, become a blog
Blog
A blog is a type of website or part of a website supposed to be updated with new content from time to time. Blogs are usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in...
ger, and a mother to son, Cassius Etienne Harrison Hill.
Discography
- Surrender to Her Sunflower (2000, Up Above)
- Suga Hill (2003, One bRave inDian)
- Okada Taxi (2007, Concrete Grooves)