K. Michelle’s Debut Album ‘Rebellious Soul’ Gets RIAA Certification

K. Michelle has achieved a new award from the Recording Association of America (RIAA).

The Memphis native’s debut album, Rebellious Soul, is now certified gold with over 500,000 equivalent units sold. It’s her first RIAA-certified album and second certification overall. 

She scored her first gold plaque in 2017 for “Can’t Raise a Man,” the second single from Rebellious Soul. 

K. Michelle’s debut album was released Aug. 13, 2013, via Atlantic Records. It bowed at No. 1 and No. 2 on Billboard’s Top R&B Albums chart and the Billboard 200, respectively, with 72,000 copies in the first week. 

Rebellious Soul also includes the lead single, “V.S.O.P.,” produced by Pop & Oak and written by Priscilla Renea (now known as Muni Long).

“V.S.O.P.,” which samples The Chi-Lites’ “That’s How Long,” peaked at No. 8 on Billboard’s Hot R&B Songs chart. 

Rated R&B revisited Rebellious Soul in 2013 to commemorate the album’s 10th anniversary. Producer Warren “Oak” Felder shared the story behind the creation of “V.S.O.P.,” including how the sample came about.

“We’re there listening to ‘That’s How Long’ by The Chi-Lites and Pop gets this flash of inspiration like, ‘Yo, I’m going to chop this sample right now.’ A year later, Pop and I were in the room with Priscilla Renea. She said, ‘Let’s write,’” Felder recalled.

He continued, “She’s a beast of a songwriter. She’s not gonna wait for you to finish the track. We gotta have something ready to go. Pop said, ‘Yo, what about The Chi-Lites flip.’ I said, ‘Oh, that’s perfect.’ I pulled it up, added chords and that was it. Maybe 20 minutes later, she had the song written in her head, and she beefed it out in the booth.”

Felder also spoke about K. Michelle’s performance on the track. “Priscilla did write that record and she did her thing, but K made it a K. Michelle record. She put an attitude on it that wouldn’t have existed otherwise. She determined she was gonna put her character all over the record and the twang that she put on that record is very much her,” Felder said.

In September 2023, K. Michelle released her final R&B album, I’m The Problem on MNRK Records. The album featured her No. 1 radio hit “Scooch,” produced by Lil Ronnie.

I’m The Problem also included the bonus track, “Tennessee,” a country tune she co-wrote with Louis York, the duo consisting of Claude Kelly and Chuck Harmony, who also produced it.

“Tennessee” was included on the album to mark the end of one chapter and the beginning of another, as she has been preparing to transition into country music. 

K. Michelle a.k.a. Puddin has been working on her long-awaited country album for the last few years. In 2020, she revealed that the legendary Dolly Parton wrote a song for her. 

“Dreams do come true. Im losing my mind right now! I received a record that @dollyparton wrote for me! My lord i’m floored and honored. Can’t wait for you guys to hear it!!!!!!!” she wrote on X (formerly Twitter). 

K. Michelle has been in the studio with other country artists such as Billy Ray Cyrus, Eric Paslay, Morgan Wallen and ERNEST. She recently shared an update with her fans about the impending album.

“My album is almost complete and I truly pray musically that u love it and it makes u proud. It’s just who I am truly and what I love. It’s Kountry,” she wrote on X on Tuesday (Feb. 13). 

I thank yall and love yall so much for all the love and support yall have been giving me. Truly has brought tears to my eyes. My album is almost complete and I truly pray musically that u love it and it makes u proud. It’s just who I am truly and what I love. It’s Kountry🌻✍️

— K. Michelle (@kmichelle) February 14, 2024

Last year, K. Michelle made her debut at the 2023 CMA Fest in Nashville and performed at the CMA Awards. At the latter event, she performed “Love Can Build a Bridge” with fellow country act Jelly Roll. Their version of the classic appears on A Tribute to the Judds, a compilation album that pays homage to The Judds. 

“What an honor to be performing at the biggest night in country music the @cma awards with my Rebel Brother @jellyroll615. We got some legends to honor who changed my life,” K. Michelle wrote on social media. 

Revisit K. Michelle’s Rebellious Soul below.