Shei Atkins and Dallas Recording "You and I" in the studio.
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Influences
Jesus, Mary J, Brandy, Tonex, Kirk Franklin, Michael W. Smith, One Republic, Rascal Flats, Clark Sisters, Juanita Bynum, Drathoven, Destiny's Child, Hillsong, J Moss, Anthony Hamilton, Tyler Perry, D' Angelo, Bobby Womack, Betty Wright, and many more......
Check Out My Husband's NEW Video "DUMB NERD"
Biography
“I got shot one time/in my back with a nine/bullet came right out/man I promise I ain’t lyin’/I got the scar to prove it/fought the war to do this/got to let the world know that God brought me through this…”
— ‘I got shot’ The Lita Mae Show
That simple refrain from the third cut of Shei Atkins’ sophomore effort, 2006’s ‘The Lita Mae Show,’ tells you everything you need to know about the Grammy nominated R&B songstress whose, soulful style and straightforward, honest lyrics have made her a favorite among gospel and secular music fans alike.
Born and raised in Houston’s notorious Acres Homes area, once considered to be the largest unincorporated African American community in the South, and a haven for drugs and crime during the ’80s and ’90s— Atkins, 25, was subjected to many hardships early in life.
It was, however, being robbed of her innocence by a bullet at the tender age of 13— as she describes in the lyrics of ‘I got shot’— that became the catalyst for her transformation from a talented but undisciplined neophyte into the vocal tour-de-force Atkins represents today.
“I was a disobedient kid in the wrong place at the wrong time,” she says, summing up the seminal event, which would never have taken place if she had followed her Mother’s admonitions not to go to a party she wanted to attend.
“It changed my life because it {surviving the attack} let me know that God has a purpose for me.”
That purpose according to Shei is her music: A medium she uses not only to spread His word but to share the stories of her own triumphs, failures and suffering; connecting with her fans on a much more personal level than much of the formulaic ‘MTV-Ready’ fare currently dominating the racks.
Getting down to business
Under the tutelage of late Destiny’s Child co-founder Ann Tillman, Shei honed her singing and performance skills, recording two well received demos and receiving her first big break when she was offered a chance to sing on Houston rapper, and underground legend, Lil O’s debut album with MCA in 1997.
Following the death of Tillman from Lupus, Atkins found herself taking a sabbatical from music to reevaluate her paths in both life and music. After a short period of time in which she reconciled her love for the hard-hitting beats and themes of popular R&B and rap music of the day with her intrinsic talent for gospel, Shei was reunited with platinum hit maker Simon “Crazy C” Cullins Jr.
Cullins, who produced the Lil’ O track Atkins sang backup on, was reintroduced to Shei by her husband producer Drathoven— whom she met at the age of 16 at the Spirit of Life Church, which they both still attend today, and married at 19, had just founded a record label especially suited for her style called Soulmuzick with his friend Madd Hatta of KBXX radio.
After cutting a few demos with Soulmuzick, Atkins’ was signed by the label immediately once its proprietors saw the way she connected with the audience during her live performances.
Life in Stereo
Shei’s first release on Soulmuzick “Life in Stereo” dropped in 2004 to positive reviews and earned her best new artist honors at the 2005 Urban Gospel Awards, as well as nods for disc of the year and female artist of the year at The Texas Holy Hip Hop Achievement Awards.
In 2006 Atkins’ followed up on her initial success with the release of “The Lita Mae Show.”
Highlighted by guest appearances from top industry talent like platinum rapper Paul Wall, and the writing talents of “Tabu”— who co-wrote Whitney Houston’s last album, the CD has received critical acclaim from program directors and DJ’s, many praising Atkins’ ability to weave important messages with entertaining and ultimately head-nodding beats.
The future
With two award-winning albums in the bag, Atkins isn’t taking time off to enjoy her success. Between touring and performing all over the country with the likes of Kirk Franklin, Fred Hammond, Tonex, J.Moss, Avant and her idol Mary J. Blige, Atkins has found time to get back to the studio and is already hard at work on her next album, tentatively title “Girl Talk,” scheduled to be released in 2007.
Covering topics as diverse as depression and rape, Shei describes the project as an “empowerment record.”
We as women go through so much, I wanted to talk about It," says Shei, who feels her trials and tribulations as a youth and young marriage give her credibility when talking about relationships and other hardships women face.
“Marriage, love life, relationships… things that you deal with everyday. This album is more for the ladies.”
HEY SHEI! I HAVENT HAD CONTACT WITH YOU IN A LONG TIME! HOW ARE YOU DOING? I SEE YOU STILL DOING YO THANG! GOD IS GOOD!
I WAS ALSO HITTING YOU UP TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THE GROUP THE IM MANAGING CALLED FAVORED O.N.E. WILL BE FEATURED IN CONCERT WITH A LOCAL ARTIST IN FRESNO NAMED KEYSHA. SHE IS ON MY TOP FRIENDS LIST! ALSO A BAND BY THE NAME OF EPIPHANY TONES WILL BE FEATURED AS WELL! I KNOW ITS VERY SHORT NOTICE, BUT IF YOU SCHEDULE ALLOWS YOU TO COME TO FRESNO, CA ON THE 18TH...LET ME KNOW! MUCH LOVE GIRL...
SHEI ATKINS HOW YOU DOING WELL WE HOPE DROP IN WHEN YOU EARS NEED SOME REFRESHMENT HERE S TO THE MUSIC MAY WE ALL PEACE OUT RESPECT FEEDBACKFUNK SENDING RESPECT TO THE MUSIC WORLD
HEY SHEI! WASUP GIRL. I WAS WATCHIN LIL WAYNE'S LOLLIPOP VIDEO AND IT SEEMED LIKE THERE WAS A GIRL IN THE VIDEO THAT LOOKED EXACTLY LIKE U! WERE U IN THAT VIDEO?
Hey Is Your Temptaion Song Ever Gonna Be Put On You r Music Player???I Wsa Jus Wondering Cause I Really Like That Song Have Since The First Time I Heard It,,,But Anyway Can You Get Bac To Me With Info On It...Plz Nd Thankx!!!
It is such an honor and a blessing to have you in our life as a friend. Continue to be the leader that you are and follow God with your own heart and everything will fall into it's perspective place. We love you and God does too. Don't you ever forget that. Keep in touch and get back at us. Yours Truly, The Collins Sisterz
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