Ciara Biography

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Take the best songwriters and the best singers, add the most exciting performers and the best all around personalities, throw in the hottest looks and the sexiest smiles  mix them all together and the finished product would probably look and sound a lot like Ciara.

The 18-year-old beauty from Atlanta is the latest multi-talented scene-stealer to nudge her way to center stage with attention-grabbing vocals, irresistible songwriting and killer dance moves.

The Austin, Texas native — a ‘military brat’ has lived in Germany, New York, California, Arizona and Nevada — moved to Atlanta as a child and, since that time, has found herself in the mix with some of the city’s biggest and brightest producers, among them Jazze Pha — who signed Ciara to his Sho’ Nuff label after working with her for a mere five days — and his royal crunkness Lil’ Jon, who produced the singer’s lead single, the “Crunk & B” cautionary wrist-slapper “Goodies.”

Dubbed as the First Lady of “Crunk & B”, Ciara is only the second artist (the first was Usher with his hit single “Yeah”) to release a Crunk & B song. Says Lil’ Jon of the newly-formed genre, “Crunk & B songs are R&B songs that get you crunk. They make you wanna wild out. ['Goodies'] is a female empowerment record. The female has the power. The female is in control on this song. This is one of those records for the ladies.”

“I’m so happy I wrote ‘Goodies’,” Ciara enthuses. “I pray everybody gets it the way they’re supposed to.” In the hook, Ciara warns, “If you’re looking for the goodies keep on looking ’cause they stay in the jar.” “I think we all run across this problem,” she explains. “A guy thinks you’re gonna be with him because he’s got the iced out chain, he’s popular and all that. But that ain’t it. That ain’t gonna make me give you my number and that’s definitely not gonna make me go home with you. It’s the truth.”

Jon says he was impressed by Ciara’s approach to the song, which she co-wrote with “Yeah” songwriter Sean Garrett. “She did an excellent job on it,” says Jon. “With this record, it’s the way she rides over the track, the way she freaks the beat and the stuff that she says to connect her with other women. She’s saying stuff that women can relate to. Guys are always trying to get some from a girl and she’s like you can’t have it. That’s what makes her stand out and this is one of those records with that undeniable energy where as soon as the beat comes on it catches you and makes you move. You can’t sit still when that song comes on. Crunk music, you can’t fake because it’s all about the energy. It’s gotta be real.”

And Ciara is as real as they come. Her self-titled Sho’ Nuff/LaFace/Zomba Label Group debut is a heaping dose of real life issues conveyed through everyday language and extraordinary production and vocal delivery. The album is a complete work of art and a masterful mixture of messages for the young and not so young.

On “Thugstyle,” a song she wrote with songwriter Johnta Austin (Toni Braxton, Aaliyah) Ciara displays her true ’round the way girl’ nature. “It’s kinda how a guy would talk to a female, always spittin’ game,” she explains. “To me, it’s a little slick. It’s just a fun record. Everyone loves to sing along with it.”

“Looking at You” and “Pick up the Phone” with their groove-heavy tracks and sassy vocals, are signature Ciara, who says the latter, written and produced by Austin and Jazze Pha, talks about something that “everybody goes through.” “I love this record because it’s so real. I say, ‘You know it would be nice if you could call somebody and let somebody know that you’re alright….I know you see me on the caller I.D. so pick up the p-h-o-n-e.’”

The slow and sweet “And I,” which Ciara did with producer Adonis, is about “loving someone for who they are and not what they have.” And “Ooh Baby,” written by Sean Garrett and Keri Hilson (Reuben Studdard, 3LW) is about good old-fashioned infatuation. “I’m just really into this guy,” Ciara explains, in character. “I consider myself a ’round-the-way girl, down to earth and basically the kind of guy I like is like this guy who pulls up in the F-150 pickup with the crazy banging system. He’s a ’round-the-way dude, kinda ‘hood. But I’m like really into him.”

With its easy-to-relate-to subject matter, the album is listener-friendly and accessible to anyone who knows even the slightest bit about ‘keeping it real.’ “The songs are very catchy,” says Ciara. “They’re for all demographics, all age ranges….They’re not as personal as I want to be. I’d rather be more personal on the second album, once I grow a little more.”

Considering the short time that she’s been in the music business — about three years — Ciara has grown plenty. She admits that she’s a bit more mature than the average teenager. “Throughout life I’ve experienced a lot more than the typical 18 year old has. And being in this industry makes you develop more quickly than a typical child would. You mature faster.” But much of Ciara’s growth and maturity come from her determination to pursue her dreams. “I remember watching Destiny’s Child perform on TV one day. That’s when I made up my mind: ‘Hey I wanna do this.’ I watched my peers around me and they were worried about who’s wearing what, going to school, trying to talk to somebody and I was like ‘I’m trying to be somebody. What can I do to get there as soon as possible?’”

Ciara set her sights on her dream and went after it. “I wrote down on paper that I had a goal to be a professional singer and I wanna be there soon….I had to sacrifice a lotta things and I think that was the key thing to get me there. I cut out going to the movies, I cut out hanging with my friends, I actually told some of my friends ‘This month we’re not gonna hang out or talk on the phone.’ I don’t have too many friends anyway — less is better for me. I cut out the boyfriend — actually I had my heart broken so I was really like, ‘I’m ’bout to do this. I’m ’bout to be on top.’”

From there, things moved swiftly: She joined a girl group, left the group to go solo, nabbed a publishing deal and eventually hooked up with Jazze Pha, whom she refers to as her “music soul mate.” “God really put him in my life for a reason,” she says. “Our vibe is incredible.”

And now Ciara is ready to share her vibe with the rest of the world, but “It’s not just about penning clever lyrics and singing and dancing to a banging track,” she says. “My goal is to deliver a positive message and let people know they’re not the only one going through things….I’ve been blessed to be able to counsel my peers. I’m here to deliver a message and I think the impression that you make is very important. I don’t wanna write records just to write. I wanna have a message to everything that I write. That gives you longevity.”

Ciara released her second studio album,Ciara: The Evolution, on December 5, 2006. The album was about Ciara’s personal growth after being in the public eye for two years, as shown in the album’s artwork, which featured more stylized images thamn her previous one. She co-wrote and co-produced most of the songs on the album, and worked with a new line of producers, including Jazze Pha, Rodney Jerkins, Pharrell, Bryan-Michael Cox, Will.i.am and many others. The album became her first number one album, debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200, selling over 338,000 copies in its first week, also becoming her highest first week sales to date.The album received generally positive reviews and was certified platinum in the United States, within only five weeks of its release. To date, the album has sold over two million copies worldwide.

The album was preceded by the single “Get Up”, which featured Chamillionaire and served as a lead single for the soundtrack to the film Step Up. The song reached the top ten in the United States, peaking at number seven. The song was also released as the second single internationally, where it reached the top five in New Zealand and top forty in Germany. The first single in the United States, “Promise” also preceded the album and reached number eleven there. “Like a Boy” was released as the second single in the United States and as the first to the United Kingdom and Europe. It reached number nineteen in the United States, and was also successful internationally, reaching the top ten in France and Sweden, and top twenty in Germany, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. “Can’t Leave ‘Em Alone”, which features 50 Cent, was the final single from the album, and reached the top five in New Zealand and top forty in the United States. “That’s Right” was released as a promotional single in late 2007.

In October 2006, Ciara went on The Evolution Tour, in which she previewd songs from the then-upcoming album. In August 2007, Ciara headlined the Screamfest ’07 tour, with fellow recording artist, T.I.. She was also a supporting act in the United Kingdom for Rihanna’s Good Girl Gone Bad Tour. Ciara also appeared on Field Mob’s single, “So What”, from their album, Light Poles and Pine Trees, and Tiffany Evans’ single “Promise Ring” from her self-titled debut album. The former of which reached the top ten in the United States. In addition to her music, Ciara made her acting debut in the MTV Films production All You’ve Got, in May 2006. In the movie, she played, Becca Whiley, a teenager who is competing in a Volleyball Tournament. She also became the face of Jay-Z’s Rocawear clothing line and spokesperson for the women campaign entitled “I Will Not Lose”, which debuted in the summer of 2007. Ciara won the award for “World’s Best Selling Female R&B Artist” at the 2007 World Music Awards.

Although originally intended for a September 2008 release, Ciara’s third studio album, Fantasy Ride was released, after a number of delays in May 2009. In the United States, it opened with first week sales of 81,000, which caused it to debut at number 3. The album has sold over 200,000 copies in the United States and over 300,000 copies worldwide.

In September 2008, Ciara released “Go Girl”, which featured T-Pain and served as a promotional release for the album. The first single in the United States, “Never Ever”, which featured Young Jeezy, reached number sixty-six there. “Love Sex Magic”, which features Justin Timberlake, was released as the album’s second single in the United States and as the first internationally. It became a worldwide hit, reaching number ten in the United States, and number one in India, Turkey, and Taiwan. “Like a Surgeon” was sent to United States’ radio stations as a promotional single, and peaked at number fifty-nine on the US R&B/Hip-Hop chart. The second international single, “Work”, which featured Missy Elliott, charted in the UK, Australia, and Ireland.

In July 2009, Ciara headlined the Jay-Z & Ciara Live tour, with Jay-Z. She was also a supporting act for Britney Spears’s The Circus Starring Britney Spears tour, where she performed eight nights at London’s prestigious O2 Arena during June 2009.

Ciara appeared on Nelly’s single “Stepped On My J’z” from his album Brass Knuckles, and Enrique Iglesias’international hit single, “Takin’ Back My Love”, from his Greatest Hits album. In October 2008, in promotion for the album, Ciara interviewed with Vibe Magazine, which led to the Vibe Magazine controversy. On the October issue, Ciara was appearing to be naked but she has stated that Vibe airbrushed her clothes off to make it appear she was completely nude. She later confirmed to MTV News that she was in fact clothed.

Ciara was honored as Billboard’s 2008 “Woman of the Year”, because of her success in the music industry. She also received a nomination at the 52nd Grammy Awards for “Love Sex Magic”, in which she was nominated in the “Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals” category.

In September 2009, it was revealed the Ciara was well into production of her fourth studio album titled Basic Instinct, which was originally set for a release on August 17, 2010, but now is set for a November 26, 2010 release. Tricky Stewart and The-Dream is executive producing the whole album along with Ciara.

The lead hit single “Ride” which features Ludacris, was released in the United States in late April 2010. The single went on to become Ciara’s twelfth top ten hit on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, peaking at number three. The albums second single will be “Speechless”, and it was released in the United States in September 2010, a music video is expected to be directed by Colin Tilley. The albums third single will be “Gimmie Dat”, and the music video was shoot in September 2010, and was directed by Melina.

Prior to the release of the lead single, Ciara released a viral video for the albums title song “Basic Instinct (U Got Me)”. Other songs that may be on the album include “Speechless” which features The-Dream and “I Run It”. In promotion for the album, Ciara launched a new official website for the album.

It was since been revealed that the album will be called Basic Instinct by Ciara during an interview with Maxim TV. Meanwhile, speaking to Blues & Soul in June 2010 she explained the thinking behind the title: “‘Basic Instinct’ is really about me trusting my instinct and going back to the R&B/urban basics in my music – like where I first started, in the days of ‘Goodies’ and ’1, 2 Step’. Plus it also represents how lately I’ve been trusting my first instinct on EVERYTHING – whether it be my music, love, whatever.”

Rap Up reported that Harris would feature on Ludacris’ seventh album Battle of the Sexes (March 2010) although upon release the album failed to materialize the song. She is however feature on the official remix to the album’s lead single “How Low” with Miami rapper Pitbull. Additionally in March 2010, Harris makes an appearance in the video for the second single, “Lil’ Freak” which is an exclusive US-only single and is taken from Usher’s sixth studio album, Raymond v. Raymond.