Kina - "Girl from the Gutter"

Kina Cosper is best known for her work with Grammy Award-nominated group Brownstone, but it's her 2000 solo single "Girl from the Gutter", that always pops into my brain. It's a 90's era GEM that was remixed often and is usually overlooked in the fun pop that came out in the early 00's.

Kina was born in Detroit. She found limited success with her single "Girl from the Gutter", which received strong airplay and peaked at #21 on the Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart. She then released her self-titled debut album on July 18, 2000. Kina peaked at #14 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart.

A few years after their release, Kina's songs began popping up in various TV shows. In fall 2005 "Give & Take" and "I Love You" both appeared in an episode of the UPN sitcom Girlfriends. Kina's song "Sincerely" was also featured in the motion picture Beauty Shop.

This song was just so inspiring and empowering. It gave the listener a voice, and told them you are worthy and you are beautiful no matter your size, color, orientation or age. 

She's no Beyoncé with mega-hit after mega-hit, but she had a moment, in that moment she chose to empower everyone who has ever felt different or like an outsider. So give me one for nostalgia. 

Today, with nostalgia and narcissus, I choose Kina's "Girl from the Gutter" as my, let it be me, gadzooks, give me just one chance, song for a, take a look at me now, filled with with magazines, not bad for a girl like me, Tuesday.