Tameka Tiny Cottle Biography

Tameka "Tiny" Cottle (born July 14, 1975) is an American singer-songwriter who was a member of the multi-platinum R&B female group, Xscape. She acquired the nickname "Tiny" due to her small stature of only 4'11".

Born to Dianne Cottle-Pope and Charles Pope in College Park, Georgia, Cottle's father and her uncle, Joseph Pope (1933-1996), formed the R&B group, The Tams. Cottle joined the R&B quartet Xscape in 1992 while attending North Atlanta Performing Arts High School. Xscape was discovered by producer Jermaine Dupri while singing at a Martin Luther King, Jr. birthday celebration in Atlanta. Dupri immediately signed the group to his new record label, So So Def Recordings.

As a member of the group, Cottle has contributed to three of the band's platinum albums: Hummin' Comin' at 'Cha, Off the Hook, and Traces of My Lipstick. As a member of Xscape, she has received two Soul Train Music Awards for Best New R&B Artist and Best R&B Album, and the A-Town Music Award for Best Duo/Group. Cottle sang lead vocals on four of Xscape's hit singles: "Understanding", "Do You Want To?", "All I Need", "Love's a Funny Thing", and "Am I Dreamin'". She has also recorded on soundtracks for Soul Food, Panther, Bad Boys, and Love Jones. In 1998, after the release of Xscape's third album, Traces of My Lipstick, the band parted ways.

In 1999, Cottle and fellow former Xscape band member Kandi Burruss were honored with a Grammy Award for Best R&B Song, for penning TLC's hit single, "No Scrubs" Cottle's other accomplishments include an American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers award in the R&B and Pop Music categories for "No Scrubs", as well as the ASCAP Rap Award for her work on the Sporty Thievz track, "No Pigeons." Cottle has also worked with T.I., 8Ball & MJG, Lil' Kim and Bow Wow.

After a five year hiatus, Cottle reunited with sisters LaTocha and Tamika Scott and added a new member, Kiesha Miles, to release a new Xscape album entitled, Unchained, and released the single, "What's Up" in 2005.

Cottle is involved in a new project with Keisha Miles called The Ga.P Girlz. Cottle's daughter, Zonnique (aka Star) is also involved in the music industry and is part of a musical duo called the QT-Possie.

In June 2009, Cottle's reality series, Tiny and Toya, debuted on BET.

Cottle has one daughter, Zonnique Pullins, from a previous relationship. She also has two sons, Clifford "King" (born in 2005) and Major Harris (born in 2008), with rapper T.I. whom she has been in a relationship with since 2001. In 2007, Cottle gave birth to a stillborn daughter named Leyah Amore.