# Kris Stephens > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Kris_Stephens > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Kris_Stephens.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kris_Stephens > Source revision: 1355849897 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{short description|American singer and songwriter (born 1987)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=October 2019}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Kris Stephens | image = | image_size = | landscape = | alt = | caption = | birth_name = Kristina Marie Stephens | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1987|01|21}} | birth_place = [Temple Hills, Maryland](/source/Temple_Hills%2C_Maryland), U.S. | origin = | genre = [R&B](/source/Contemporary_R%26B), pop | occupation = Singer-songwriter | years_active = 2009–present | label = [Primary Wave](/source/Primary_Wave_Music), RoccAge, [Grand Hustle Records](/source/Grand_Hustle_Records) | associated_acts = [RoccStar](/source/RoccStar), [T.I.](/source/T.I.), [Tank](/source/Tank_(American_singer)) | website = }} '''Kristina Marie Stephens''' (born January 21, 1987) is an American singer and songwriter. She is best known for her guest performance alongside [Kendrick Lamar](/source/Kendrick_Lamar) and [B.o.B](/source/B.o.B) on rapper [T.I.](/source/T.I.)'s 2013 single "[Memories Back Then](/source/Memories_Back_Then)", which entered the [''Billboard'' Hot 100](/source/Billboard_Hot_100). Shortly after, she signed with T.I.'s record label, [Grand Hustle Records](/source/Grand_Hustle_Records), an imprint of [Epic Records](/source/Epic_Records) to begin work on her debut studio album for the label, which remains unreleased. Prior to this, she was credited with songwriting work for American singer [Tank](/source/Tank_(American_singer)) on his albums ''[Now or Never](/source/Now_or_Never_(Tank_album))'' (2010) and ''[This Is How I Feel](/source/This_Is_How_I_Feel)'' (2012).{{cite web|url=https://www.bet.com/article/l2ey6g/kris-stephens-chasing-a-dream-with-help-from-tank-and-t-i |title=Kris Stephens Is the mother of one child, with producer Rockstar. |author=Ugwu, Reggie|access-date=31 December 2014|work=BET.com}} ==Life and career== Stephens began writing poetry when she was nine, singing solos in church and school.{{cite web |url=http://rollingout.com/music/artist-interviews/grand-hustles-newest-artist-kris-stephens-talks-new-single/ |title=Grand Hustle's newest artist, Kris Stephens, talks new single|author=Green, Alexandria|work=Rolling Out|date=June 15, 2013 |accessdate=12 January 2015}} She attended Towson University, where she studied business management until she realized she'd been writing songs in class instead of paying attention, leading her to drop out so she could focus on music. Stephens moved to Atlanta and joined a girl group, and although her time with the group was limited, R&B singer [Tank](/source/Tank_(American_singer)) took notice and the two formed a long-term writing partnership and eventually moved in together for a brief period of time. Tank featured her on his song "Compliments" along with rapper [T.I.](/source/T.I.), and on set for the music video, Stephens built a rapport with T.I.; he heard her music and decided to go into business with Tank on her behalf. In 2013, Stephens was featured on T.I.'s single "[Memories Back Then](/source/Memories_Back_Then)", which also featured [B.o.B](/source/B.o.B) and [Kendrick Lamar](/source/Kendrick_Lamar), as well as "Chasing Me," alongside [Iggy Azalea](/source/Iggy_Azalea) and [Young Dro](/source/Young_Dro).{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1703274/ti-single-without-gotye-bob-kendrick-lamar/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150110110902/http://www.mtv.com/news/1703274/ti-single-without-gotye-bob-kendrick-lamar/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 10, 2015 |title=T.I.'s 'Memories Back Then' Is 'Just As Hot' Without Gotye Sample |publisher=MTV|author=Markman, Rob|accessdate=31 December 2014}} That same year, she released a cover of [Aaliyah](/source/Aaliyah)'s "One in a Million" and signed a major publishing deal with [Primary Wave Music](/source/Primary_Wave_Music) through super producer [RoccStar](/source/RoccStar).{{cite web |url=http://www.rap-up.com/2013/01/16/new-music-kris-stephens-one-in-a-million-aaliyah-cover/|title=New Music: Kris Stephens – 'One in a Million' (Aaliyah cover) |website=Rap-Up.com |accessdate=2 January 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://urbanbridgez.com/ubgblog/2014/04/03/roccstar-drops-hot-new-video-for-confidence/|title=RoccStar Drops Hot New Video for "Confidence"|work=UrbanBridgez.com|date=April 3, 2014 |accessdate=12 January 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://www.blackrefer.com/hip-hop-music.html|title=Producer RoccStar Unleashes Solo Debut Music Video "Confidence"|work=Blackrefer.com|accessdate=2 January 2015}} ==Discography== ===As a featured artist=== {| class="wikitable" |- ! Year ! style="width:250px;"|Artist ! Title ! Label |- |rowspan=2|2013 | [T.I.](/source/T.I.) and [Hustle Gang](/source/Hustle_Gang) feat. [Iggy Azalea](/source/Iggy_Azalea), Kris Stephens and [Young Dro](/source/Young_Dro) | "Chasing Me" | [Grand Hustle Records](/source/Grand_Hustle_Records) |- | [Hustle Gang](/source/Hustle_Gang) feat. [B.o.B](/source/B.o.B), [Kendrick Lamar](/source/Kendrick_Lamar) and Kris Stephens | "Memories Back Then" | MTC Records |- |rowspan=1|2012 | [Tank](/source/Tank_(American_singer)) feat. [T.I.](/source/T.I.) and Kris Stephens | "Compliments" | [Atlantic Records](/source/Atlantic_Records) |} ===Songwriting discography=== {| class="wikitable" |- ! Year ! style="width:225px;"|Artist ! style="width:200px;"|Title ! Label |- |rowspan=1|2015 | [Prince Royce](/source/Prince_Royce) | "With You" | [RCA Records](/source/RCA_Records) |- |rowspan=4|2014 | [J.Lo](/source/Jennifer_Lopez) feat. [T.I.](/source/T.I.) | "A.K.A." | [Capitol Records](/source/Capitol_Records) |- | [J.Lo](/source/Jennifer_Lopez) feat. [Iggy Azalea](/source/Iggy_Azalea) | "Acting Like That" | [Capitol Records](/source/Capitol_Records) |- | [J.Lo](/source/Jennifer_Lopez) | "So Good" | [Capitol Records](/source/Capitol_Records) |- | [J.Lo](/source/Jennifer_Lopez) | "Charades" | [Capitol Records](/source/Capitol_Records) |- |rowspan=2|2012 | [Pitbull](/source/Pitbull_(rapper)) feat. [Shakira](/source/Shakira) | "Get It Started" | [Bad Boy Entertainment](/source/Bad_Boy_Entertainment) |- | [Tank](/source/Tank_(American_singer)) feat. [Chris Brown](/source/Chris_Brown) | "Lonely" | [Atlantic Records](/source/Atlantic_Records) |- |rowspan=8|2010 | [Keyshia Cole](/source/Keyshia_Cole) | "Tired of Doin Me" | [Geffen Records](/source/Geffen_Records) |- | [Ron Isley](/source/Ron_Isley) | "Supposed to Do" | [Island/Def Jam](/source/Island%2FDef_Jam) |- | [Ginuwine](/source/Ginuwine) | "Heaven" | Notifi Music |- | [Tank](/source/Tank_(American_singer)) | "Celebration" | [Atlantic Records](/source/Atlantic_Records) |- | [Tank](/source/Tank_(American_singer)) | "You Mean That Much" | [Atlantic Records](/source/Atlantic_Records) |- | [Tank](/source/Tank_(American_singer)) | "Let Me Know" | [Atlantic Records](/source/Atlantic_Records) |- | [Tank](/source/Tank_(American_singer)) | "Sex Music" | [Atlantic Records](/source/Atlantic_Records) |- | [Tank](/source/Tank_(American_singer)) | "On My Way" | [Atlantic Records](/source/Atlantic_Records) |- |rowspan=7|2009 | [Tank](/source/Tank_(American_singer)) feat. [Tyrese](/source/Tyrese_Gibson), [Toni Braxton](/source/Toni_Braxton), [Jordin Sparks](/source/Jordin_Sparks), [Omarion](/source/Omarion), [Faith Evans](/source/Faith_Evans), [JoJo](/source/JoJo_(singer)), [Charlie Wilson](/source/Charlie_Wilson_(singer)), [Tamar Braxton](/source/Tamar_Braxton) & Steve Russell | "If You Dream" ([''More than a Game'' soundtrack](/source/More_than_a_Game_(soundtrack))) | |- | [Day 26](/source/Day_26) | "Girlfriend" | [Bad Boy Entertainment](/source/Bad_Boy_Entertainment) |- | [LeToya](/source/LeToya_Luckett) | "Over" | [Capitol Records](/source/Capitol_Records) |- | [LeToya](/source/LeToya_Luckett) | "Regret" | [Capitol Records](/source/Capitol_Records) |- | [LeToya](/source/LeToya_Luckett) | "Good to Me" | [Capitol Records](/source/Capitol_Records) |- | [Pleasure P](/source/Pleasure_P) | "Under" | [Atlantic Records](/source/Atlantic_Records) |} ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== * [http://www.discogs.com/artist/2815603-Kris-Stephens?type=Credits Kris Stephens] discography at [Discogs](/source/Discogs) * [http://www.allmusic.com/artist/kris-stephens-mn0002927017/credits Kris Stephens] credits or [http://www.allmusic.com/artist/kristina-stephens-mn0002602548/credits Kristina Stephens] credits at [AllMusic](/source/AllMusic) {{authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Stephens, Kris}} Category:1987 births Category:Living people Category:21st-century American women singers Category:African-American women singer-songwriters Category:American women pop singers Category:American women hip-hop singers Category:American women singer-songwriters Category:American rhythm and blues singer-songwriters Category:Singer-songwriters from Maryland Category:21st-century American singer-songwriters Category:21st-century African-American women singers Category:20th-century African-American musicians Category:20th-century African-American women --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Kris Stephens](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kris_Stephens) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kris_Stephens?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.