Kiana Ledé Brown is an American singer and actress. She first starred as Zoe Vaughn on the second season of MTV's horror series Scream (2015–2019). She also starred as Veronica Washington on Netflix's original series All About the Washingtons. As a recording artist, Brown first began her musical career in 2012 and signed with Republic Records to release her third extended play (EP), Selfless (2018). It spawned the single "Ex", which received platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Her debut studio album, Kiki (2020), peaked at number 30 on the Billboard 200.
Kiana Ledé | |
|---|---|
 Ledé in 2023 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Kiana Ledé Brown |
| Born | Lemoore, California, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 2011–present |
| Labels |
|
| Website | kianalede |
Early life and education
editKiana Ledé Brown's father is of African American and Indigenous American descent, while her mother is a white Hispanic of Mexican-American[3] descent.[4][5][6] As an infant, she began to sing the alphabet immediately after learning it and began performing at the age of three upon receiving her first karaoke machine. As a child, she began to regularly perform in school plays and beauty pageants while studying the piano. [7] She would regularly get kicked out of class for singing, prompting her mother to enroll her in a performing arts school so she could put her talent to good use.[8] She attended Mountain Pointe High School.[7]
Career
editIn 2011, Ledé's mother discovered Kidz Bop, a website for kids to upload and share videos of themselves performing. She uploaded a video of Ledé performing an original number on the piano which was selected as a finalist. After performing Adele's "Someone Like You" to earn her a place in the Top 4, Ledé won the 2011 KIDZ Star USA Grand Prize out of 45,000 submissions, the largest national talent competition for kids ages 15 and under.[7]
At a school assembly, Ledé was told that she won the national talent search by American Idol winner Kris Allen. The prize included a RCA Records recording contract and a starring role in the Kidz Bop 21 music video and commercial. Allen said after seeing her live, "she went from 'She's good' to 'She is no doubt gonna win this thing.'"[9]
Ledé said she had the opportunity to listen to and select from her top three song choices. After considering and listening to the songs, she said she chose her first single "Hey Chica" because of the upbeat tempo. The song was released June 19, 2012.[10] Brown has performed the song on The Today Show and at the 86th annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. She also performed "Do The Mermaid" from Barbie in A Mermaid Tale 2.
In 2012, Ledé was named cover girl for Miss Moxie's Holiday 2012 issue.[11] The site praised "Hey Chica" for promoting a "clear message of self-empowerment and encourages young women to feel beautiful in their own skin".[citation needed]
At the age of 16, Ledé moved to Los Angeles. As artists do, she wanted more creative control of her music, so she showed the label what she was working on. They did not see potential in her work, and dropped her a month later. She started creating cover songs with production duo Rice N' Peas. The series was dubbed "Soulfood Sessions" and gained millions of views.[12]
In 2016, Ledé was cast in the series regular role as Zoe Vaughn on the second season of MTV's Scream.[13] In 2018, she also accepted a lead role alongside Joseph Simmons of Run-DMC in the Netflix original series All About The Washingtons. Despite the actress' raving reviews,[citation needed] the series was cancelled after only one season.
Following her departure from RCA Records, Ledé signed with Republic Records[1][14] after her rendition of Drake's "Hotline Bling" helped gain their attention. She would later release her debut EP Selfless in July 2018.[14] The EP includes her breakout single "Ex", which became her first entry to the Billboard charts, peaking at number 9 on the US R&B Songs charts.[15] It has earned platinum status from the RIAA as of June 2020. To promote Selfless, she served as opening act with Ro James on Jessie J's R.O.S.E. Tour. She and Lucky Daye also opened up for the Ella Mai The Debut Tour in 2019.
Ledé's second studio EP, Myself, was released in June 2019, and included the single "Bouncin" featuring rapper Offset, which peaked within the top 30 of Billboard's rhythmic airplay chart. She would also embark on her first headlining tour that same year.
Standalone singles "Title" and "Easy Breezy" would build momentum for her debut album, which Ledé had been working on for some time. Her highly anticipated 17-track debut album, titled KIKI was released on April 3, 2020, which debuted at number 30 on the Billboard 200.[14] The album features guest appearances from R&B stars Ari Lennox, 6LACK and more. The lead single "Mad at Me" interpolates Outkast's 2000 hit song "So Fresh, So Clean".
Ledé would later make a few guest appearances on tracks with Usher, Queen Naija and others. She released the deluxe edition of KIKI on October 23, including seven bonus tracks. In 2021, she was featured on the first all-female compilation album, Big Femme Energy Volume 1, with her track "Cut 'Em Off".[16]
On January 7, 2023, Ledé released a mixtape on SoundCloud titled Unfinished.[17] She released her second studio album, Grudges, on June 16, 2023.[18] She also announced a headlining tour, The Grudges Tour, which took place in September and October 2023.[19]
Personal life
editLedé identifies as queer.[20] She has bipolar disorder.[21]
Filmography
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Deadlands: The Rising | Evacuee / Zombie | |
| 2018 | Next Gen | Greenwood (voice) | |
| 2025 | Sneaks | Shawna (voice) |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Temporary Dreams | Herself | Evelyn Worku |
| 2015 | Guidance | Riley | Episodes: "The Pictures", "The Secrets" |
| 2015–2016 | Betch | Various characters / Herself | 3 episodes |
| 2016 | Scream | Zoe Vaughn | Main role (season 2); 11 episodes |
| 2018 | All About the Washingtons | Veronica Washington | Main role; 10 episodes |
Discography
editStudio albums
edit| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions |
|---|---|---|
| US [22] | ||
| Kiki |
|
30 |
| Grudges |
|
30 |
| Cut Ties |
|
- |
Extended plays
edit| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Soulfood Sessions |
|
| Christmas by Ledé |
|
| Selfless |
|
| Myself |
|
Singles
editAs lead artist
edit| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Bub. [23] |
US R&B /HH [24] |
US R&B [25] |
NZ Hot [26] | ||||
| "Hey Chica" | 2012 | — | — | — | — | Non-album singles | |
| "Home for Christmas" | 2016 | — | — | — | — | ||
| "I Choose You" (featuring Pell) |
2017 | — | — | — | — | ||
| "One of Them Days" | — | — | — | — | |||
| "Fairplay" (solo or featuring ASAP Ferg) |
— | — | — | — | Selfless | ||
| "Ex" | 2019 | 6 | 44 | 9 | — | Selfless & Myself | |
| "Can I" | — | — | — | — | Myself | ||
| "Bouncin" (featuring Offset) |
— | — | — | — |
| ||
| "Title"[29] | — | — | — | — | Non-album singles | ||
| "Easy Breezy"[30] | — | — | — | — | |||
| "Mad at Me" | 2020 | — | — | — | 18 | Kiki | |
| "Forfeit" (featuring Lucky Daye) |
— | — | — | — | |||
| "Chocolate" (featuring Ari Lennox) |
— | — | — | 28 | |||
| "Only Fan" (featuring Jacquees) |
— | — | — | — | |||
| "Ur Best Friend"[31] (featuring Kehlani) |
2021 | — | — | — | 27 | Non-album single | |
| "Irresponsible" | 2022 | — | — | — | — | Grudges | |
| "Jealous" (featuring Ella Mai) |
2023 | — | — | — | 33 | ||
| "Deeper" | — | — | — | — | |||
| "Natural" | 2024 | — | — | — | — | Cut Ties | |
| "Space and Pussy" | — | — | — | — | |||
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | |||||||
As featured artist
edit| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NZ [32] | |||||||
| "Bruised Not Broken"[33] (Matoma featuring MNEK and Kiana Ledé) |
2019 | — | Non-album singles | ||||
| "Mama" (Ella Eyre and Banx & Ranx featuring Kiana Ledé) |
— | ||||||
| "I'm Her" (Queen Naija featuring Kiana Ledé) |
2020 | — | missunderstood | ||||
| "Not My Neighbour"[34] (Niko Walters featuring Kiana Ledé) |
2021 | 4 | Non-album singles | ||||
| "Just Fine" (Kitty Ca$h featuring Kiana Ledé) |
— | ||||||
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | |||||||
Promotional singles
edit| Title | Year | Album |
|---|---|---|
| "Do the Mermaid" | 2012 | Barbie in A Mermaid Tale 2 |
| "Big Spender" (featuring Prince Charlez) |
2018 | Fifty Shades Freed: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack |
| "A Little More"[36] (G-Eazy featuring Kiana Ledé) |
2021 | Non-album single |
| "Who Do You Think You Are" (with Cautious Clay) |
2022 | From The Netflix Film The School for Good and Evil |
Other charted songs
edit| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| NZ Hot [37] | |||
| "All to You" (Russ featuring Kiana Ledé) |
2020 | 38 | Shake the Snow Globe |
Other appearances
edit| Title | Year | Other artist(s) | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Touch Me" | 2015 | VenessaMichaels | Non-album single |
| "Running to the Sky" | 2018 | Daveed Diggs | Blindspotting: The Collin EP |
| "Undercover" | Ljay Currie | Free (EP) | |
| "Clutch" | 2020 | Col3trane | Non-album single |
| "In Too Deep" | Jacob Collier | Djesse Vol. 3 | |
| "This Day" | Usher | Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey – Soundtrack | |
| "Stuck in the Middle, Pt. II" | Tai Verdes | Non-album single |
References
edit- ^ a b Zellner, Xander (March 20, 2019). "R&B Singers Nicole Bus, The Bonfyre & Kiana Ledé Debut on Emerging Artists Chart". Billboard. Retrieved April 26, 2019.
- ^ a b "Kiana Ledé on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
- ^ "How I Stopped Hiding Behind Makeup & Found the Real Me".
- ^ "I'm watching Kiana Ledé at Ones to Watch!".
- ^ "Kiana Ledé Opens up About 'Life-Changing' Album and Her Mixed Race Identity".
- ^ "NEXT: Intent on Impact, Kiana Lede is Ready to Leave Her Mark". December 14, 2018.
- ^ a b c Burnsilver, Glenn (August 9, 2012). "Kiana Brown Wants to Be a "Normal" Star Archived April 23, 2015, at the Wayback Machine" Phoenix New Times.
- ^ "Kiana Ledé Sings Ex And Talks About Her Acting Career And Upbringing With Mina SayWhat". YouTube. November 6, 2018.
- ^ Masley, Ed (October 22, 2011). "Phoenix teen Kiana Brown wins 'KIDZ Bop' talent search Archived July 14, 2014, at the Wayback Machine" The Arizona Republic.
- ^ Roemhild, Travis (June 10, 2012). "MP student works hard to make a name in the music industry" Ahwatukee Foothills News.
- ^ Miss Moxie (November 22, 2012). "Kiana Brown Announced as Next Miss Moxie Cover Girl Archived December 13, 2014, at the Wayback Machine" Miss Moxie.
- ^ Zaynab (December 17, 2018). "Kiana Ledé Reveals How She Bounced Back After Being Dropped From Her Label". HotNewHipHop.
- ^ Goldberg, Lesley (March 10, 2016). "MTV's 'Scream' Sets New Cast, Season 2 Premiere Date". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 20, 2017.
- ^ a b c Ginsberg, Gab (March 22, 2019). "Emerging Artists Spotlight: Kiana Ledé". Billboard. Retrieved April 26, 2019.
- ^ "Emerging Hip-Hop: NLE Choppa, Kiana Lede & Luh Kel Make Noise With Latest Chart Moves". Billboard. Retrieved April 26, 2019.
- ^ Ahlgrim, Callie (July 23, 2021). "Kiana Ledé knows she's toxic, but she's working on it". INSIDER. Retrieved February 24, 2022.
- ^ Cho, Regina (January 10, 2023). "Kiana Ledé releases intimate 'Unfinished' mixtape". Yahoo.
- ^ Okon, Wongo (June 13, 2023). "Kiana Ledé's New Album 'Grudges': Everything We Know So Far". Uproxx.
- ^ Trapp, Malcolm (June 21, 2023). "Kiana Ledé Announces "Grudges. The Tour"". Rap-Up.
- ^ The Moment I knew I Was Queer feat. Kiana Ledé | Lovers and Friends Ep. 60, February 10, 2023, retrieved June 21, 2023
- ^ R&B singer Kiana Ledé talks 'underrated' label, coping with bipolar disorder (YouTube video). Associated Press. November 28, 2023. Retrieved October 18, 2024.
- ^ "Kiana Lede Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
- ^ "Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100: May 4, 2019". Billboard. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
- ^ "Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs: May 4, 2019". Billboard. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
- ^ "Billboard R&B Songs Chart – April 27, 2019". Billboard. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
- ^ Peaks on the NZ Hot Singles Chart:
- "Mad at Me": "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. April 13, 2020. Retrieved April 11, 2020.
- "Ur Best Friend": "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. August 2, 2021. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
- "Jealous": "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. April 24, 2023. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
- ^ "Gold & Platinum". Recording Industry Association of America.
- ^ a b "New Zealand single certifications – Kiana Ledé". Radioscope. Retrieved December 25, 2024. Type Kiana Ledé in the "Search:" field.
- ^ "Title by Kiana Ledé". Apple Music. Retrieved August 16, 2019.
- ^ "Easy Breezy – Single by Kiana Ledé". Apple Music. Retrieved October 18, 2019.
- ^ @KianaLede (July 22, 2021). "Hey guys🤍 my new single, 'Ur Best..." (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "Discography Niko Walters". Recorded Music NZ. Hung Medien. Retrieved April 17, 2022.
- ^ Ju, Shirley (June 14, 2019). "Matoma enlists MNEK and Kiana Lede for 'Bruised Not Broken'". EDM.com. Archived from the original on June 28, 2019. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
- ^ Thomson, Zangba (April 23, 2021). "Niko Walters releases his "Not My Neighbour" remix single featuring Kiana Ledé". Bong Mines Entertainment. Retrieved April 17, 2022.
- ^ "New Zealand single certifications". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
- ^ @G_Eazy (February 11, 2021). "Never finished. Dropping "A Little More" with @KianaLede tonight just in time for V day" (Tweet). Retrieved February 12, 2021 – via Twitter.
- ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. February 10, 2020. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
