Kierra, 17, is the daughter of Karen Clark-Sheard, a founding member of Gospel legends, the Clark Sisters, and who, since 1997, has been a celebrated solo artist in her own right. She's also the granddaughter of the late Dr. Mattie Moss Clark, the prodigious conductor, arranger, songwriter, singer, instrumentalist and teacher who is roundly credited as one the defining influences in all of Gospel music.
With Kierra's solo debut album, I Owe You, that incomparable family tradition is carried on in a voice and a sound that respects its roots, while taking the Gospel message to the masses in the cutting-edge urban, R&B and pop music of today.
"You Don't Know," co-written and produced by Grammy winning, superstar producer, Rodney Jerkins (Destiny's Child, Mary J. Blige, Jennifer Lopez, Will Smith, Joe, Kirk Franklin), is a driving, commanding hip-hop statement of God’s power and faithfulness in the lives of His children.
"This is really my testimony of all that God has done for me in my life," says Kierra. "It's important to me to share that with everyone, because it really let's them know where I'm coming from. There was an old traditional song of the church with the same title and idea of sharing our testimonies, and Rodney wrote a completely new song with that as the inspiration, and with a totally modern sound that young people today can latch onto."
"Praise Offering," a soaring, pop-flavored ballad of worship on which Kierra's amazing prowess is dazzlingly displayed, was written and produced by acclaimed producer/artist JMoss ('N Sync, Hezekiah Walker, Patti LaBelle, Ramiyah). The writer or co-writer, and producer of many of the songs on I Owe You, J. himself is part of the Moss/Clark family tree, and long ago enthusiastically committed himself to be an integral of Kierra's career.
J. also contributed the easy, infectiously funky "Church Nite," reflecting the importance of church in the life of Kiki and her teenaged peers. "Sweetest Thing" is a tender, gently grooving statement of love for the Lord. "War," written by Kierra and produced by her 14-year-old brother, J. Drew Sheard II, for his LT Productions, is an aggressive declaration of spiritual warfare, while "Done Did It," produced by Warren Campbell, is a joyous return to the traditional Gospel roots on which Kiki was raised.
Kierra, or "Kiki," as she is affectionately known, was born and raised in Detroit, where she and her family still reside, and grew up with a strong church foundation, surrounded by great music, teaching and preaching. When she began singing at the age of six in the children's choir of Detroit's Greater Emmanuel Institutional Church of God in Christ, pastored by her father, Rev. J. Drew Sheard, the full and extraordinary extent of her talents became immediately apparent.
"My mother passed away when Kierra was only seven," Karen recalls, "but before she died she told me that this baby was going to sing, and that I was to raise her in my shoes, and bring her up the way my mother had raised me."
Realizing the responsibility that both God and her mother had given her for Kierra's musical and spiritual development, Karen—herself a world-renowned vocalist—began to coach and nurture her daughter in singing, as well as in the lessons deeply engrained by her own mother of the responsibilities of representing Christ through Gospel music. With both technique and a presence that far surpassed her years, Kierra made her recording debut when she was nine, singing a duet with her mother on "The Safest Place," from Karen's chart-topping album, Finally Karen.
The popularity of "The Safest Place", and the warmth of the mother/daughter interaction conveyed in the accompanying music video, led to Kierra's stage debut when she was only 10, as she would often travel with her mother on tour to join her for the song before audiences that numbered in the thousands.
Though she can see those experiences as a blessing, and important part of the development of her talent at such a young age, "Kiki" also recalls them with a combination of wonderment and a child's natural nonchalance.
"It was exciting, and scary," she says, "and I guess I should have been nervous to be onstage with 'Karen Clark-Sheard,' but to me it was just my mother, and I was just singing along with Mommy, like I did at home, or anywhere."
It's hardly surprising that by that time Kierra had firmly decided upon a career in music. "I would watch the Clark Sisters and see how they touched and moved people," she remembers, "and they always looked like they were having such a good time just singing and praising God. They were always so positive, and happy, and I really paid attention and learned from hearing them and being around them. I saw that and it made me want to sing and minister to people my own age. When I got the chance to sing onstage myself, it just felt natural, like God was telling me that was what He wanted me to do."
While the venerable Dr. Mattie Moss Clark would never have stood for her daughters listening to any "secular" music, Kierra says that she's been given the freedom listen to and develop broad and contemporary musical tastes from a wide range of both mainstream and Gospel music, though always with the caution to never let the content of "worldly" music interfere with her anointing to sing and present the pure Gospel message. With diverse musical influences that run from urban superstar Mary J. Blige, and modern rockers Linkin Park, to Kirk Franklin and a whole host of contemporary Gospel artists, as well as her famous mother and aunts and the pantheon of traditional Gospel artists who preceded them, Kierra's own style creates a fresh mix that puts her in a place all her own.
"I grew up on traditional Gospel, and I always want part of what I do to be songs that my elders, as well as kids my age, can enjoy," she says. "But I really feel a calling to reach kids my own age with the message of Christ with a contemporary sound that they can relate to and get into."
"Kiki" has continued to perform, when her schooling allows, with both her mother as well as on occasional Clark Sisters "reunion" dates. She's also shared the stage with a gamut of musical luminaries that runs from Mary, Mary, and Donnie McClurkin to Mary J. Blige, one of a large and formidable number of secular artists who profess a huge creative debt to the Clark Sisters, and who, herself, finds particular inspiration in Kierra's music as well.
"The night of the Mary J. Blige concert, she asked Mom to join her onstage during her set," Kierra recalls, "and she asked her if I was there, too. When Mom told her that I was, she asked me to join them, and of course I did. It was a powerful moment, and an opportunity to minister to a lot of people who might never come to a 'Gospel' concert."
"And Kierra blew them away," Karen adds, with a mother's unrestrained pride. "Afterwards, Mary couldn't stop talking about how much 'Kiki' had ministered to her. And with I Owe You I think she's going to impact her entire generation that very same way."
"I want to demonstrate to young people that you don't have to live in sin to have fun and enjoy yourself," Kierra concludes. "I think I Owe You will show that there's even greater joy, and lasting joy, in singing and praising God, and in our own voice and our own style of music."
People
Kierra Kiki Sheard Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We gotta do it again
Lets make them go krazy this time
I don't think they ready Chico
Lets hit em one time
Latinas they get krazy (Hey)(Hey)(Let's go)
Blanquitas they get krazy (Hey) (Let's go)
Yo Mama she gets krazy (Everybody)
Latinas they get krazy (Hey)(Hey)(Let's go)
Blanquitas they get krazy (Hey) (Let's go)
Negritas they get krazy (Hey) (Let's go)
Yo Mama she gets krazy (Everybody)
Now Jump up let's get krazy
Now Jump up let's get krazy
Now Jump up let's get krazy
Now Jump up let's get krazy
Now Jump up let's get krazy
Now Jump up let's get krazy
Now Jump up let's get krazy
I said damn that's krazy
Let's get krazy
(eh yo)
Kanye no style
J Lo no ass
Fifty no beef
Jay Z no cash
Diddy no Biggie
Fat Joe no Pun
Lil Jon no crunk
D-M-C no Run
Jeezy no coke
Katt Williams no Joke
M-C Hammer still rich not broke (Yeah)
Just imagine all this baby (Yeah)
It's enough to make you go krazy (krazy)
(woo)
Latinas they get krazy
Blanquitas they get krazy
Negritas they get krazy
Yo Mama she gets krazy (Hey)
Latinas they get krazy (Hey)(Hey)
Blanquitas they get krazy (Hey) (Let's go)
Negritas they get krazy (Hey) (Let's go)
Yo Mama she gets krazy (Everybody)
Now Jump up let's get krazy
Now Jump up let's get krazy
Now Jump up let's get krazy
Now Jump up let's get krazy (krazy)
Now Jump up let's get krazy
Now Jump up let's get krazy (krazy)
Now Jump up let's get krazy
I said Damn that's krazy
Iraq no war
U.S no Bush
Cuba no Castro
Atlanta no kush
Britney with no drama
Alicia with no Karma
New York with no flavor
The World with no Haters
Obama with no color
Hillary with no Bill
Pit with no Miami and soon with no deal
Just imagine all this baby
It's enough to make you go krazy
(woo)
Latinas they get krazy
Blanquitas they get krazy
Negritas they get krazy (krazy)
Yo Mama she gets krazy (Let's go)
Latinas they get krazy (Hey)(Hey)
Blanquitas they get krazy (Hey) (Let's go)
Negritas they get krazy (Hey) (Let's go)
Yo Mama she gets krazy (Everybody)
Now Jump up let's get krazy
Now Jump up let's get krazy
Now Jump up let's get krazy
Now Jump up let's get krazy (come on)
Now Jump up let's get krazy (come on)
Now Jump up let's get krazy (hey)
Now Jump up let's get krazy
Damn that's krazy
Break it down
In L.A they get krazy (Hey)
Miami they get krazy
In New York they get krazy (I see it)
Atlanta they get krazy (A-T-L baby)
In London they get krazy (a huh)
In Paris they get krazy (a huh)
In Rome they get krazy (a huh)
Ibizas they get krazy (We gotta tell 'em)
In Trini they get krazy (Come on)
Jamaica they get krazy (Come on)
Australia they get krazy (Come on)
Japan they get krazy (Let's go)
Cubanos they get krazy (Let's go)
Dominicanos they get krazy
Boricua they get krazy (Everybody put there hands up right now)
Mexicano they get krazy (Everybody)
Now Jump up let's get krazy (Jump) (Jump) (Jump) (Jump)
Now Jump up let's get krazy (Jump) (Jump) (Jump) (Jump)
Now Jump up let's get krazy (Jump) (Jump) (Jump) (Jump)
Now Jump up let's get krazy (Jump) (Jump) (Jump) (Jump)
Now Jump up let's get krazy (Jump) (Jump) (Jump) (Jump)
Now Jump up let's get krazy (Jump) (Jump) (Jump) (Jump)
Now Jump up let's get krazy (Jump) (Jump) (Jump) (Jump)
(Jump) (Jump) (Jump) (Jump)
Damn that's krazy
Sube sube sube
Sube el volumen
Sube sube sube
Sube el volumen
Sube sube sube
Sube el volumen
Sube sube sube
Sube el volumen
Haha como
It looks like we going to take over the game
They ain't even see this one coming right here
Boom Boom I'm a make 'em go krazy
Boom Boom I'm a make 'em go krazy
Boom Boom I'm a make 'em go krazy
Boom Boom I'm a make 'em go krazy
Boom Boom I'm a make 'em go krazy
Boom Boom I'm a make 'em go krazy
The song "Krazy" by Kierra Kiki Sheard is an upbeat, joyful track that encourages listeners to let loose and have a good time. The song is structured as a call and response between Sheard and her audience, with Sheard hyping up the crowd by repeating the phrase "Let's get krazy!" and the audience enthusiastically responding. The verses of the song list various groups of people who get "krazy," including Latinas, Blanquitas (white girls), Negritas (black girls), and even "Yo Mama." Sheard also references a variety of pop culture figures who are known for being unconventional or unexpected, such as Kanye West, Britney Spears, and President Obama. Overall, the song celebrates the idea of doing something unexpected and having fun with it, regardless of what others might think.
One of the key themes of "Krazy" is the idea of breaking free from social norms and expectations. Sheard seems to be encouraging her listeners to let go of their inhibitions and do something unexpected, whether that means dancing wildly, dressing in an unconventional way, or just generally letting loose. By celebrating a variety of different groups of people who get "krazy," Sheard is also promoting diversity and inclusivity, suggesting that anyone can get in on the fun regardless of their background or identity.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey hey, lets do it again baby
Encouragement to start over and excite people
We gotta do it again
Reiteration of the need to repeat actions
Lets make them go krazy this time
The desire to create a crazy or exciting experience for the audience
I don't think they ready Chico
Doubt that the audience is prepared for what's about to happen
Lets hit em one time
A suggestion to give it one shot at achieving a high-energy experience
Latinas they get krazy (Hey)(Hey)(Let's go)
Latinas are known for their passion and energy so they are expected to enjoy the experience the most
Blanquitas they get krazy (Hey) (Let's go)
White girls are also expected to enjoy the experience and exhibit wild behavior
Negritas they get krazy (Hey) (Let's go)
Black girls are also expected to enjoy the experience and exhibit wild behavior
Yo Mama she gets krazy (Everybody)
All types of women are expected to enjoy the experience and exhibit wild behavior
Now Jump up let's get krazy
Call to action to hype up the crowd and create a chaotic atmosphere
I said damn that's krazy
Expressing amazement at the level of chaos and excitement that is being created
Kanye no style
J Lo no ass
Fifty no beef
Jay Z no cash
Diddy no Biggie
Fat Joe no Pun
Lil Jon no crunk
D-M-C no Run
Jeezy no coke
Katt Williams no Joke
M-C Hammer still rich not broke (Yeah)
A list of famous people and their missing attributes, meant to emphasize that anyone can be part of the experience and enjoy it regardless of the superficial qualities
Just imagine all this baby (Yeah)
A call to the audience to imagine the experience they are about to have
It's enough to make you go krazy (krazy)
(woo)
The experience is so exciting that it will make everyone go wild
Iraq no war
U.S no Bush
Cuba no Castro
Atlanta no kush
Britney with no drama
Alicia with no Karma
New York with no flavor
The World with no Haters
Obama with no color
Hillary with no Bill
Pit with no Miami and soon with no deal
A list of people and places without their usual drama, meant to emphasize the need for chaos and excitement in life
Negritas they get krazy (krazy)
Yo Mama she gets krazy (Let's go)
Now Jump up let's get krazy (come on)
Reiteration of the idea that anyone can enjoy and participate in the experience
In L.A they get krazy (Hey)
Miami they get krazy
In New York they get krazy (I see it)
Atlanta they get krazy (A-T-L baby)
In London they get krazy (a huh)
In Paris they get krazy (a huh)
In Rome they get krazy (a huh)
Ibizas they get krazy (We gotta tell 'em)
In Trini they get krazy (Come on)
Jamaica they get krazy (Come on)
Australia they get krazy (Come on)
Japan they get krazy (Let's go)
Cubanos they get krazy (Let's go)
Dominicanos they get krazy
Boricua they get krazy (Everybody put there hands up right now)
Mexicano they get krazy (Everybody)
A list of places where the experience can be enjoyed and where people will go wild
Now Jump up let's get krazy (Jump) (Jump) (Jump) (Jump)
(Jump) (Jump) (Jump) (Jump)
Sube sube sube
Sube el volumen
Haha como
It looks like we going to take over the game
They ain't even see this one coming right here
Boom Boom I'm a make 'em go krazy
Final call to action to get everyone hyped up and anticipating the exciting experience
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group, Songtrust Ave
Written by: Armando Christian Perez, Jonathan Smith, Frederico Franchi
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Gideon Parker
This is a great track! I practically love everything that God blesses Kierra to spit out. It's really hot, you all!!
KELH1990
This is my favorite Song from the new album...I went to her listening Party during the AIM convention this year and fell in love with it ever since!!
Brandon Jones
good song, for great worship, lyrics are inspirational
misslovinable
Awesome message. We need to be who called us all to be.
MissMary LouGray
i love this song!
TheSweetish1
i love the melody....this is nice!!!
Markita Kimble
I LOVE THIS RIGHT HERE!!
cutiepie103
So true..and I love the message
MaryLou Adams
Jammin.. Good. Song for the youngsters
Nova
so sick i love it