UB ReVisit: KeKe Wyatt Talks R&B, Domestic Violence and Catalog

Kicking off our R&B Divas weekend, leading up to our brand New R&B Divas Interview Monday; is one of our absolute favorites KeKe Wyatt. Who just celebrated her birthday on March 10th!

We’ve had the pleasure of speaking with KeKe, many times over the years. This ReVisit, takes quotes from our 2010 and 2011 UB Interviews. On our list of favorite interviews. All in celebration of our 15 Year Anniversary. More on that in the coming weeks.

A voice of an angel, can be one way to describe R&B soultress KeKe Wyatt! Beautiful, talented, real and a proud mother & wife could be easily added to list. KeKe first appeared on the scene with Avant on the remake of “My First Love” in 2000.

The next year KeKe released her Gold debut album “Soul Sista.” The hits kept coming with “If Only You Knew” the Patti LaBelle remake and she re-teamed with Avant on the hit single “Nothing In This World.” All of this before she was even 21 years old!

KeKe was quickly being hailed as one of the most impressive new R&B voices to emerge within the crowded urban landscape.

KeKe made headlines shortly after the release of her debut CD when she & her then husband were involved in a domestic dispute where she ended up being arrested.

Through the years after that, KeKe was in the studio recording music as well as doing theater! Bad deals and one of her labels filling for bankruptcy, kept KeKe from putting out an album since her debut.

She finally re-launched in 2010, separating from her husband of ten years, moving with her four children from her home state of Kentucky to Atlanta, releasing a comeback album, “Who Knew?”

In 2012 she begin shooting the reality series R&B Divas, until the show was canceled in 2014. KeKe has kept us blessed with new music. Starting with the 2014 EP release of “Ke’Ke,” followed by “Rated Love,” which dropped in 2016. That year she also was apart of the WE series Marriage Boot Camp: Reality Stars. KeKe then released a covers album in 2017 entitled “KeKe Covers.”

In October of 2019 she along with husband Zackariah Darring announced the expecting of their new child, which would make 10. On January 6th, 2020, they welcomed a baby boy Ke’Riah Darring.

In this UB ReVisit, Aries from UB speaks to KeKe on a wide rang of subjects, including the development of R&B Divas, her favorite songs from her catalog, her love for Avant and how growing up in Indianapolis prepared her for the industry.

KeKe also gets candid on the domestic violence incident, where she was arrested and the after math. Plus her hilarious responses to real fans vs. fake fans and being in a group with Beyonce.’

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UrbanBridgez.com: I’ve been hearing about this reality show with some other female artists, can you tell us about that?
Keke Wyatt: Yeah, we’re looking to get that up and running later this year. I think it’s going to be good. It’s just going to be basically showing us as mothers, singers, divas whatever you want to call it on stage. Just to show we’re just like everybody else. We go grocery shopping and our babies try to pee pee on us while we’re trying to pay the cashier. I don’t really want to drop names yet on who will be on it, until everybody’s contract is signed.

UrbanBridgez.com: You spoke earlier about the current state of R&B, what do you think can be done to get it back to where it was?
Keke Wyatt: People can go buy all of Keke Wyatt’s albums (laughs). You know if people start buying it, we’ll sing it. I mean we are out here, we’re just waiting for people to buy our albums.

UrbanBridgez.com: What made you want to modernize the songs you chose to remake on your current album?
Keke Wyatt: The same way people want to give themselves some boot cut jeans. Like I always tell people boot cut jeans ain’t nothing but some bell bottoms honey that’s it. And to hear some good songs. Sometimes you want to hear the same songs but done a little different. Like Michael Jackson did (sings hook to “Human Nature”) then SWV did it and that was hot. Now look at Chris Brown now. So it’s like a good song is just that. Hot is hot!

UrbanBridgez.com: Do you know what the next single will be at this point?
Keke Wyatt: I think it’s going to be “Mirror,” even though I love “Tap Out” & “Love Uses Time.”

UrbanBridgez.com: Yeah “Tap Out” is my favorite!
Keke Wyatt: That’s what everybody is saying, I just did an interview and the guy said the same thing! So Hum, we might have to put that one out.

UrbanBridgez.com: Your album “Who Knew” was one of the best R&B albums released last year.
Keke Wyatt: Thank you, I’m glad you liked it!

UrbanBridgez.com: “Weakest” was my favorite from that one.
Keke Wyatt: Mine too! And “Daydreaming.”

UrbanBridgez.com: For Black Music Month: Who are three artists who inspires you musically?
Keke Wyatt: I have to say Donny Hatheway, Aretha Franklin and Patti LaBelle!

UrbanBridgez.com: Off the top of your head what are 3 of your favorite songs from your catalog?
Keke Wyatt: I have to say “Nothing In This World,” Weakest,” “Tap Out” and I will add “Love Uses Time.”

UrbanBridgez.com: I’ve been seeing you on Twitter more and more lately, so is it safe to say you really enjoy interacting with your fans on there?
Keke Wyatt: Oh yeah I do, it is what it is (laughs)!

UrbanBridgez.com: Is there anything else you’re working on you want to tell us about?
Keke Wyatt: Yeah, there is stuff in the air. And there is talk about me doing the movie of Phyllis Hyman.
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UrbanBridgez.com: Love the “Who Knew” video, were you nervous or anything when you got on set to film it, being that it had been awhile since you’ve done a video?
KeKe Wyatt: Thank you! You know, I never get nervous. The only time I get nervous is when somebody is getting on my nerves and I feel like I may have to jump on them (laughs in the background). That’s the only time I get nervous (laughs)! I never get nervous when it comes to music or anything like that honestly.

UrbanBridgez.com: I have the advance and “Without You” is one of my favorite songs from the new CD.
KeKe Wyatt: Oh for real! Everybody says that! And you know, I know when somebody really has my album or is really a fan. Because they’ll say that song! Either that one or from my first album “Call on Me.” You know that one?

UrbanBridgez.com: Oh yeah, wow I love that song and that whole CD!
KeKe Wyatt: See, yeah! And it’s so funny because people be like (imitating voice) “oh girl I’m like your biggest fan,” I’m like really?! What’s your favorite song, they’ll be like “the one you did with Avant!” I’m like nigga, everybody heard that on the radio (everyone laughs). I’m talking about, what’s your favorite song. And then they’re like “ummm”, I’m like you’re not a fan! I’m just playing (laughs). So you like “Without You?”

UrbanBridgez.com: Yeah I love that one, I actually love most of it, but that’s a strong favorite!
KeKe Wyatt: Really, I did that with this guy named El. He’s from Kentucky too and he’s a new kat coming out. But it’s so funny because he’s written a lot of songs for a lot of people. You would be surprised and be like oh wow he wrote that? So I was excited when they choose that song to go on the album because I really like that song too!

UrbanBridgez.com: What is your favorite?
KeKe Wyatt: I would have to say “Daydreaming,” because I wrote it! I just really love that song and “Weakest” I did that one with Harvey Mason, from the Underdogs. It shows more of a sexual, sensual side of KeKe that nobody has ever heard before. You know, they’re so used to the sanging and the belting out. So this is different, it’s still KeKe Wyatt but it’s just a different part of me, that I’m trying to show everybody.

UrbanBridgez.com: How do you think growing up in Indianapolis prepared you for a career in music, if at all?
KeKe Wyatt: Oh people being rude! Oh honey, let me tell you (laughs). They don’t show me no love there! That’s just made me work even harder, I swear. Don’t nothing make you stride harder in life than somebody putting you down constantly! Of course my family was behind me 150%, but other people it’s like they’re so busy hating they can’t see the bigger picture!

UrbanBridgez.com: I still play your debut CD faithfully, take me back to when you were recording it, what was the best thing about that?
KeKe Wyatt: I would have to say, just being in the studio with Keith Huff. He’s stupid, I mean he is like funny as hell! So who wouldn’t want to go to work everyday to laugh. You know, I mean I know I was suppose to be working and stuff but he was so funny. I think that was my favorite part about recording the first album. It wasn’t anything else, because they didn’t let me do anything else! I didn’t get to write anything, they gave me two weeks to record that album and I did it! Ain’t no fun in that.

UrbanBridgez.com: Will fans ever get that Avant & KeKe Wyatt album we’ve been hearing about?
KeKe Wyatt: Yeah, I’m going to try to get that into motion sometime this year because so many people keep asking. Of course they ask about my project but then they ask about the two of us. I came out with him, so my debut on the scene was with Avant. So of course we gotta do something together, so we’re going to do like an album of covers and he’s a great writer and I’m a good writer & just make a hot album!

UrbanBridgez.com: People know you have one of the best voices of our time, but that was overshadowed by the incident with your ex husband years ago, is there anything about that situation that you would like your fans to know now?
KeKe Wyatt: I guess I’ll just say this, you know it did happen. But I was afraid for my safety, so I did what I had to do. But it wasn’t with a machete, it wasn’t with no butcher knife! It was with a little bitty knife and I wish people would stop judging me. Because if they were in the same situation they would of did the same thing. So stop judging me! You know, I mean it’s real life what people don’t see or understand, just because I’m a celebrity I live real life too! You know what I mean, I live in reality, I live on earth with everybody else. Stuff happens, period. People that don’t have anything nice to say, just don’t say anything at all! You know people come up to me and be like, “move the knife, move the knife! Ha, ha, ha” funny and it is funny, it’s funny as hell. But you’re being rude by saying that. You know what I mean, so I wish people would go on with their life and stop metaling in mine. Just simply love my music and love my voice for what it is.

UrbanBridgez.com: Amen, I agree!
KeKe Wyatt: You know, but I have to say through it all that I have learned a lot and I’ve grown as a woman. I hate to say it, but it did put me on the scene a little more. Which is, whatever! You know I’ll take it in stride (laughs). I do hate the nickname crazy girl though, but oh well!

UrbanBridgez.com: Well I think with the new album, it’s going to over shadow all of that, so you’re good!
KeKe Wyatt: I hope so and thank you so much for saying that, I really appreciate it! Also, I just want to say to women. That if you can get out of a situation, that you’re put into like that, just get out! Because it’s no good to anybody, I stayed in a marriage for 10 years! And it never, ever got better. It literally got worse! And you know there is nothing wrong, I mean I’m a fighter and I love to fight for what is mine and I don’t like to just give up that easy. That’s why I stuck in there for 10 years. But at the same time, every year, was not a better year. The only thing that was making it better, was seeing the new little faces that I birthed! My Children, I’ll never take that back. I just want women to know that if you’re in your first year of marriage and stuff isn’t looking right, just get out of it! Because if it’s starts out crappy, it’s going to end even crappier! It does not get better and trust me when I tell you honey, I am a prime example that it does not get better! I don’t care how much you love a person, if it don’t work, it just doesn’t period! I want to be that woman who stands up for women who don’t know what to do. Just tell them, it’s okay if you love him and okay if you have children, but don’t stick around for the children. Because you and them end up hurt in the end, you physically and them emotionally! They end up scared and it’s not fair to them. I have two boys and I refuse to raise them in that and then they think it’s okay to do that whenever they get mad at their woman or wife. Like poking them all in the face or choking them when they get pissed off, no way! And I don’t want my little girl thinking it’s okay to let a nigga put his hands on her, hell no! That doesn’t work for me. She’s light skin like me, real yellow. I’ll be damned if a man tells my daughter what I had to hear, like you shouldn’t be so yellow and you wouldn’t have those bruises! You know, crazy! But God is good and I’m still alive! I didn’t end up like my best friend Miranda, she was murdered by her children’s father.

UrbanBridgez.com: Thank you for sharing that with our readers, I’m sure a lot of people will get something out of that!
KeKe Wyatt: Well people judge what they think they know, and they just don’t know! You know what I mean, so I just wanted to clear it up and I want all of my fans who have stood by my side even when everybody else was calling me KeKe the crazy, they stuck by my side. And I thank them for that because I would probably be lost. I really appreciate that and I love my fans. Because without them I would not be KeKe Wyatt today. Getting ready to put out ‘Who Knew’ on February 23rd and shut the game down on these whores out here honey! (everyone laughs)!

UrbanBridgez.com: That’s what’s up!
KeKe Wyatt: You feel me! They better watch out, they better watch out!

UrbanBridgez.com: There’s always been some confusion about whether you were at one point in time in a group with Beyonce’ and Kelly Rowland, can you clear that up?
KeKe Wyatt: You know what, let me clear that up now! Because that rumor has got on my nerves! There was a group called The Dolls, I didn’t want to be in the group, my mama made me be in the group. And I heard over the years that they ended up being Destiny’s Child. I wanted to be a solo artists so that’s what I did. So through the grapevine, Dolls ended up being Gyrls Tyme and they ended up being Destiny’s Child. But no, I ain’t never been in Destiny’s Child, I ain’t never been in a group with Beyonce,’ no! I do think it’s funny that people compare the two, like we both light skinned, both have big voices, both have a little waist and a big booty, you know. But it is, what it is!

UrbanBridgez.com: Any last words for your fans?
KeKe Wyatt: I love them, thank you so much for staying with me! Go get your little brother, your little sister, your cousin, your mama, your uncle and all of them and tell them…to buy KeKe Wyatt’s new album!

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