Keyshia Cole releases her first-debut album 'I Changed My Mind' on A&M Records

LOS ANGELES (A&M Records) - "Honestly, when I first came out here (to Los Angeles) it wasn't about (becoming an artist)," says Keyshia Cole, newest female R&B artist released on A&M Records. "I knew a lot of people like MC Hammer and Dewayne Wiggins. I came out here to better myself. I went to school for veterinarians and I still want to be a vet."

Just as her first single off her debut album "The Way It Is" is title, "I Changed My Mind," Keyshia did just that when she was introduce by a friend to an industry executive, who introduced her to someone else, and that person introduced her to someone else, which gave her an opportunity to audition for A&M president Ron Fair, who co-executively produced her album. It's good that she did, for Cole has a pretty nice voice for a future veterinarian.

Keyshia went on to pick her own producers and co-wrote her own material. She appears on the soundtrack for Barber Shop 2 on "Never," featuring Eve and her single off of the debut, "I Changed My Mind," features Shyne and is produced by Kanye West.

"I did (hooking up with the artists, writers and producers) everything myself," Keyshia says. "If you wait around for someone to help you, you'll get nowhere."

At age 12, Keyshia did some recording for rapper MC Hammer and appear on the indie film Me and Mrs. Jones soundtrack for Dewayne Wiggins (Tony Toni Tone's). Oakland born and raised, Keyshia obtained the support for this album of Kanye West, DaRon of the group 112; rapper Chink Santana; Interscope artist Mya and producer E-Poppi.

Cole credits God for her successes and would like to (one day) write and tour with Brandy, someone whom she says heavily influenced her. The currently single 21 year-old says that upcoming artists should stay focused, "do what you want to do... only you can control your destiny."