Keyshia Cole

Two decades after her breakthrough debut album changed the R&B game, Keyshia Cole is taking it back to where it all started. The Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter, and “Princess of Hip-Hop and R&B” has officially announced The Way It Is 20th Anniversary Tour, which comes to Birmingham on 26 September. Joining Keyshia on tour is Multi-Platinum, GRAMMY-winning hip-hop legend Lil’ Kim. 

“I’m so grateful to be celebrating The Way It Is 20 years later with the fans who have been with me since day one,” says Cole. “This album changed my life, and being able to take it on the road — from city to city, country to country — is truly a full circle moment, and blessing.”

Released in June 2005, The Way It Is marked a pivotal moment in R&B—introducing Keyshia Cole’s unfiltered storytelling, powerhouse vocals, and signature blend of vulnerability and strength. Twenty years later, she’s bringing that same energy back to the stage, giving fans a chance to reconnect with the songs that soundtracked so many real-life moments. Fresh off a standout performance at this year’s Dreamville Festival in Raleigh, North Carolina, Keyshia is ready to take it nationwide. From “I Should Have Cheated” to “Love” and beyond, the tour will spotlight the records that helped define an era, delivered with the raw emotion and authenticity that made her one of the genre’s most impactful voices.