Biography
Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, Sheard spent her formative years surrounded by the strong influences of her family, their faith, and their music. At age 6, she began singing in the choir at Greater Emmanuel Institutional Church of God in Christ, pastored by her father Superintendent J. Drew Sheard. Even at a young age, Sheard had a preternatural grip on the signature "Clark sound" pioneered by her mother and aunts, executing high and fast melismas, riffs, runs, and deep, throaty growls sometimes referred to as "squalls" (the latter is prominently displayed on "Done Did It", a traditional gospel leaning track from her album I Owe You).
Sheard made her stage debut at the age of 10 duetting with her mother on the Twinkie Clark-penned "The Will Of God", the standout closing track from her mother's debut solo album Finally Karen in 1997. The song won a Stellar Award for Best Children's Performance the following year. In the years following, she honed her skills as a performer accompanying her mother on stage. By 2003, EMI Gospel won a bidding war between several record companies to sign Kierra to her first recording contract.
Her debut album I Owe You was released September 7, 2004. The 11-track set included production and songwriting from such notable music luminaries as Rodney Jerkins, Warryn Campbell, Erica and Tina Campbell of Mary Mary, J Moss, and Tonéx. The album also functioned as the production debut for her brother J Drew.
The following year, EMI commissioned a collection of remixes entitled Just Until... on August 2, 2005. The title of the stopgap release was abbreviated from its working title "Just Until The Next Record".[1] The album had a surprise international hit in The Godson Concept remix of "Let Go". The upbeat gospel single, released only in Japan, raced to the top of mainstream R&B charts and remained there for several weeks.[2]
Shortly after graduating high school, Sheard readied her second album This Is Me. Repeating the same spectacular feat from her first release, this album debuted at #1 on the Billboard Gospel charts when it was released June 27, 2006.[3] A midtempo fan favorite, the Fred Jerkins III-produced "Why Me?" was chosen as the lead single for the album. Sheard's shot her first music videos for two subsequent singles from the album, "Yes" and "This Is Me". This Is Me was nominated for a Grammy for Best Contemporary R&B Gospel album in December 2006.[4]
Kierra is currently a freshman at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan where she is studying entertainment law. Though originally a criminal justice major, the decision to switch to entertainment law was definitely influenced by her growing career in the gospel music industry.[5] Though her touring schedule has been curbed to accommodate her academic goals, Sheard did embark on a Japanese tour with her mother Karen Clark-Sheard in August 2006.
In addition to performing at the 2007 Stellar Awards, ("Why Me?"), Sheard appeared on BET's Celebration of Gospel standing in for Faith Evans in "Endow Me" (as popularized by Sheard's aunts) along with Coko, Lil' Mo, and Fantasia. Sheard also sang with her mother for A Tribute to Aretha Franklin.
Discography
Albums
* I Owe You
(EMI Gospel, 2004)
* Just Until
(EMI Gospel, 2005)
* This Is Me
(EMI Gospel, 2006)
* This Is Me:
Special Edition
(+6 bonus songs)
(EMI Gospel, 2006)
* This Is Me:
Japanese Import
(+2 songs unavailable in U.S.)
(EMI Gospel, 2006)
Singles
* "You Don't Know"/"Praise Offering"
* "Let Go"
* "Why Me"
* "Yes"
* "This Is Me — The Live Session"
Other
* J. Moss feat. Kierra "Kiki" Sheard & 21:03: "Jump, Jump" V2 (GospoCentric)
* Kierra "KiKi" Sheard & Marcus Cole: "This Christmas" Christmas To Remember (EMI Gospel)
* Karen Clark Sheard feat. Kierra Sheard: "The Will Of God" Finally Karen (Island)
* Karen Clark Sheard feat. Kierra Sheard: "Sacrifice" 2nd Chance (Elektra)
* Karen Clark Sheard feat. Kierra Sheard: "You Loved Me" The Heavens Are Telling (Elektra)
* Karen Clark Sheard feat. Kierra Sheard: "Don't Change" The Heavens Are Telling (Elektra)
* Ramiyah f/ Kierra Sheard, Dorinda Clark Cole, Karen Clark Sheard: "Don't Nobody Know" Ramiyah (Columbia)
* 21:03 f/ Kierra "KiKi" Sheard, PDA & J Moss: "One Love" Twenty One O Three (Verity)
* Kierra "Kiki" Sheard: "Nearer My God To Thee" Music Inspired By the Motion Picture Amazing Grace (Sparrow)
Videography
Kierra filmed her first two videos for "This Is Me" and "Yes" simultaneously. Both songs are culled from her 2006 sophomore studio release This Is Me.
* "This Is Me" premiered on September 16, 2006. The
video is for the Antonio Neal-produced "live
session" version of the song, not to be confused
with the Darkchild-produced studio version. The
scenes alternate from Kiki driving a Ford Fusion,
Kiki singing in a small gig, and Kiki singing in a
curtained room.
* "Yes" consists of alternating scenes of Kiki
Sheard in an old-fashioned General Motors vehicle
and a party scene on top of a roof. The video
premiered on The Gospel Music Channel and BET.
For further reference, Kierra Sheard has made video appearances on the DVD release Dorinda Clark Cole LIVE, singing background for Clark Cole throughout the set and being featured in a standout solo on "You Can't Hurry God". Also available is Karen Clark Sheard's Finally Karen Live (VHS only). This video features the now-classic 1997 Karen & Kierra duet performance that earned both artists Stellar awards in their respective fields.
Controversy
There was a rumor going around that prior to signing with EMI Gospel, Sheard considered singing with a well known mainstream R&B label. While this was seemingly minor, it stirred up Sheard's conservative fan base. In an interview, Sheard claimed that she had not ever considered signing with a secular label.[6]
Trivia
* Kierra's song "Have What You Want" plays in gospel
duo Mary Mary's recent music video "Yesterday".
The vamp is heard as the two exit their vehicle,
presumably from their car.
* Sheard's favorite musical artist is Mary J.
Blige[7]
References
1. ^ Kierra "KiKi" Sheard to be Kellogg’s Gospel Sing Off Spokesperson & Judge. GospelCity.com (May 5, 2005).
2. ^ Justin Camacho (January 5, 2006). 'Kiki' Sheard Tops Japanese Radio, Receives 3 Stellar Nominations. The Christian Times.
3. ^ Kierra "Kiki" Sheard's ‘This Is Me’ debuts at #1. GospelCity.com (July 10, 2006).
4. ^ 49th Annual Grammy Awards Nominee List. Grammy.com.
5. ^ Jones, Steven. Kierra Kiki Sheard Interview. GospelFlava.com.
6. ^ Heron, Christopher. BlackGospel.com Interview With Kierra Kiki Sheard. BlackGospel.com.
7. ^ Jones, Steven. Kierra Kiki Sheard Insider Interview. GospelFlava.com.
You Don't Know
Kierra "Kiki" Sheard Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't let no one speak for me
When it comes down to His blessings
No one can give Him praise for me but me
Just trust God
He'll always come through for you
Yes He will (I know, I know that)
Miracles He can do, mountains that He can move
All things are possible through Him
I'm tellin' you!
You don't know
The blessings that He's given me, you don't know
Like I know
Even if I had a thousand tongues, I'd need more
You should know
What He's done for me, He can do for you
You can tell it, let me tell you
What the Lord has done for me!
Now let me tell you 'bout what He did for my mother
And at the same time took a load off me
Just when the doctor said that is was over
My God He stepped right in and gave her back to me
He's delivered me
Out of hopeless situations (situations)
And the devil used (used to try to break me)
(But here I stand as) A living testimony
All those who's trustin' Him
Put all your faith in Him
They will never be
Defeated or cheated out of the victory!
In "You Don't Know," Kierra "Kiki" Sheard shares about her own personal relationship with God, emphasizing the importance of having a personal connection with Him. She starts the first verse by quoting advice her mother gave her about taking ownership of her faith and blessings. Kiki then goes on to express her unwavering trust in God, citing the miracles He's done in her own life, such as moving mountains and delivering her from hopeless situations. She concludes the first verse by emphatically encouraging listeners to put their faith in God because victory is guaranteed for those who trust in Him.
In the chorus, Kiki emphasizes the idea that some blessings from God are so unique to our personal journeys that no one without personal experience can truly know just how profound they are. She expresses gratitude for what He's done in her own life and shares the belief that what God has done for her, He is capable of doing for anyone.
In the second verse, Kiki shares a personal anecdote about God's ability to heal and deliver even when all hope seems lost. She shares how the Lord healed her mother - a testimony that also lifted a burden off her. She goes on to offer herself as a "living testimony" to encourage all those who may be going through difficult times to trust in God.
Overall, "You Don't Know" is a testimony to God's faithfulness and a reminder that having a personal relationship with Him brings unique and profound blessings that we alone can attest to.
Line by Line Meaning
I can remember my mother told me
I recall my mother advising me
Don't let no one speak for me
Let no one speak on my behalf
When it comes down to His blessings
Regarding His blessings
No one can give Him praise for me but me
I am the only one who can praise Him for what He's done for me
Just trust God
Simply have faith in God
He'll always come through for you
He will always deliver for you
Yes He will (I know, I know that)
I am confident that He will
I believe, cause my eyes have seen what
My experience has led me to believe that
Miracles He can do, mountains that He can move
He is capable of performing miracles and moving obstacles
All things are possible through Him
Everything is attainable through Him
I'm tellin' you!
I assure you of this!
You don't know
You are unaware
The blessings that He's given me, you don't know
You are not aware of the blessings He has bestowed upon me
Like I know
As well as I do
Even if I had a thousand tongues, I'd need more
I need an infinite number of tongues to recount His blessings
You should know
You ought to be aware
What He's done for me, He can do for you
What He has done for me, He can do for you as well
You can tell it, let me tell you
You are free to share it, allow me to share it with you
What the Lord has done for me!
What the Lord has done for me personally!
Now let me tell you 'bout what He did for my mother
Allow me to recount what He did for my mother
And at the same time took a load off me
In the process, He relieved a burden from me
Just when the doctor said that is was over
Just as the doctor said it was the end
My God He stepped right in and gave her back to me
God intervened and restored her to me
He's delivered me
He has rescued me
Out of hopeless situations (situations)
From situations without hope
And the devil used (used to try to break me)
And the devil attempted to destroy me
(But here I stand as) A living testimony
(Yet I stand here) As a living testament
All those who's trustin' Him
All those who trust in Him
Put all your faith in Him
Have complete faith in Him
They will never be
They will never become
Defeated or cheated out of the victory!
Defeated or robbed of victory!
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: LASHAWN AMEEN DANIELS, FREDDIE D III JERKINS, RODNEY ROY JERKINS, DANIEL NIXON, DELISHA THOMAS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind