Xscape is proof that when concord is actual, each musically and personally, the music doesn’t age; it evolves. Forward of their efficiency on the Stockbridge Amphitheater, two of the group’s unique members, Kandi Burruss-Tucker and Tamika Scott, sat down with BOSSIP’s Lauryn Bass to debate their journey from Atlanta church ladies to platinum-selling icons and the way they’re nonetheless pushing ahead three a long time later.
Their newest win is a well-deserved resurgence for one in every of their most underrated data.
Tamika Scott identified that “The Softest Place on Earth”, initially launched in 1998, is lastly getting its shine.
“Now it’s going viral on TikTok — and it simply went Gold,” she mentioned. “That’s highly effective.”
Kandi added that the present streaming period is opening doorways for his or her music to be rediscovered by a brand new technology.
“All of our albums went platinum again within the day,” she defined. “However now that persons are streaming particular person songs, we’re seeing a few of these songs go Gold or Platinum on their very own. It’s thrilling.”
A Return To Their Roots
The group’s efficiency in Stockbridge holds further weight for the Atlanta natives.
“We at all times love once we get the chance to come back house and do exhibits,” mentioned Kandi. “Stockbridge, sure, it’s a little bit bit south of Atlanta, nevertheless it’s nonetheless Atlanta to me.”
That ATL id has at all times been part of Xscape’s story, even earlier than the celebrity.
Tamika shared how their soulful basis began within the church, lengthy earlier than they signed with Jermaine Dupri’s So So Def.
“We received our sound from the church,” she mentioned. “You hear the soul in our voices due to that. However what Jermaine did was carry that to the streets — he added the hip-hop beats, the melodies, the sting.”
Kandi recalled how timing performed a job in all the things aligning excellent.
“We have been simply ladies from church who might sing,” she mentioned. “Jermaine gave it that edge it wanted and helped take us the place we would have liked to be. Atlanta was simply beginning to bubble — and we have been proper there when it occurred.”
Religion, Friendship & Reconnection
Longevity isn’t frequent for woman teams, however Tamika and Kandi credit score religion and friendship for conserving them collectively, even after years of ups and downs.
“We have been mates earlier than the celebrity, earlier than the offers,” Tamika defined. “And our religion has at all times performed a component. Even once we walked away from it, we discovered our approach again.”
That spirit interprets into how they deal with their followers off stage as nicely.
“We love on our followers,” she mentioned. “We hug them, we encourage them, we join. That heat — it’s actual.”
Tamika additionally acknowledged that after they have been youthful, they didn’t at all times have management over the music they have been singing.
“We didn’t write the songs at first — we simply wished to sing,” she mentioned. “Now we’re in management. We get to decide on music that aligns with who we’re.”
Mentorship In Movement
Whereas nonetheless performing, each artists are dedicated to mentoring the following technology of ladies in music.
Kandi is producing Othello on Broadway alongside Denzel Washington and managing a brand new woman group, PsiRyn, whose single samples “The Softest Place on Earth.”
“As somebody from a lady group, I wish to see different ladies win,” she mentioned. “PsiRyn can actually sing, and I wish to make sure that they really feel supported and guided.”
Persevering with The Legacy
The ladies say their legacy isn’t nearly gross sales or accolades — it’s about what number of others they’ve helped alongside the way in which.
“We didn’t simply hold our blessings to ourselves,” Kandi mentioned. “We poured into different teams. That’s how we’ve saved the legacy going.”
From their work behind the scenes with Future’s Baby, TLC, and now PsiRyn, their affect extends far past the stage.
Xscape remains to be right here, nonetheless soulful — and nonetheless kickin’ it.
Try our unique with the icons.
