I first met Kandi Burruss on a summer day in 1993.  I was an intern on the set of the first music video for the group Xscape. The song was “Just Kickin It” and I was doing more than just kickin it on what felt like the hottest day ever!

Video ~ “Just Kickin It”  ~ Xscape

Trivia… the club was the Masquerade, the neighborhood was little Five Points and the convertible actually belonged to Tiny.

My nondescript role was to do whatever anyone on set told me to do. However, my personal mission was to make sure that I STOOD OUT FROM THE REST of the “low folks” on the totem pole.

If I was asked to go get something, then I was off to the races, sprinting to my final destination in record time. I remember being so focused and watching everything and everyone around me.  Back then as I surveyed my surroundings I remember Kandi

Kandi & Lisa

…STANDING OUT FROM THE REST as a soft-spoken leader.  Yes it was her cool vocals which fueled the verses on this track but even when the music wasn’t playing she seemed to be more focused than her counterparts and I can remember relating to her at that time.

I recall…while in the trailer waiting on the next setup, Kandi was letting people hear Xscape’s new songs from their album.  I remember she played this one song called “Understanding” and I wanted to blurt out and tell her how much I loved it, BUT she wasn’t talking to me.  I sat there quiet playing my position soaking up the atmosphere.

But out of the blue,  Kandi WOULD turn to me and ask ME if I liked the record… actually giving me a  chance to sing their praises.  As years would pass, you could see that the traits I saw early on in Kandi she would keep.  The FOCUS I saw was there when she became a “chart topping” songwriter and the HUMILITY stays to this day as Kandi truly loves her fans and has stayed “down to earth” throughout her journey.

The picture above was taken some months back at Blendz Salon when I was producing and directing a segment for a video promo (yes I too found success…lol) and Kandi who is now on a hit reality show, was the same as ever.  It was good to know that she could “Just Kick It” like she always has.

Written by fellow ATLien Lisa Cunningham ~ Visit her site at I Have The Secret

**We will be turning back the clock each Friday to reminisce about Old School ATL. Are you an ATLien? Would you like to share your crazy A-Town Stories? Hit us up at [email protected] with your favorite Old School Atlanta Memory. **