Tiffanie Cross aka Ms. Cross

Tell me about yourself and Walk me through the step-by-step process that you went through to get to where you are today
"I’ve been singing all my life, or at least for as long as I can remember. I was born and raised in San Diego and grew up in an Apostolic church; singing in various children, youth and adult choirs. I got my first professional singing opportunity from the artist then known as Tonex (now known as B.Slade), for his live DVD recording of Out The Box. I was 16 at the time. After graduating from the University of San Diego, with a Bachelor’s Degree in English and Communications, I decided to pursue music and move to Los Angeles in 2011.
A few months after moving, I got a call from Adam Blackstone, through a referral from a good friend of mine, Omar Edwards, and landed the audition for an opportunity to record background vocals with Nikki Minaj for the 2011 Femme Fatal Tour. Since then, I have worked for various artists and musical directors. To date, I've worked for VH1 Hip Hop Honors (Nisan Stewart house band singer 2017), Janelle Monae (BET Awards 2016), Father John Misty (Studio Session), Blackish (Juneteenth Episode 2017), Walt Disney Company (Festival of Holidays 2017), Beyonce (Coachella 2018), H.E.R. (BET Awards 2019), Kirk Franklin (BET Awards 2019), NBC The Voice (background vocals for Jason White, 2019), Netflix, Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey (David E. Talbert, 2019), Kanye West (Coachella 2019; member of the Sunday Service choir since its inception in January 2019) and Robin Thicke (background vocals for album "On Earth, and in Heaven,” 2020).
In February 2018, I released my first single and music video entitled "Simple Love" on YouTube and all digital streaming platforms. Along with singing for major artists, I produce and write my own music; telling my own stories about my life in hopes that it can help others. I followed that up with “My Side of Town,” 4 years later after losing my mother to breast cancer in July 2018. I promised her I would continue pursuing my purpose and S I N G. After taking time to process growth and healing, A F F I R M, my debut EP, is that promise kept. I am stepping into my purpose and power to help as many people as I can, step into their’s!"
Do you have any specific goals for the rest of this year?
"Finish my album, put out a visual for "Blue Pill," begin the process of owning property, travel more, get my dessert in stores, learn more about the stock market."
If a kid walked up to asking for your advice and you only had a few minutes to give ‘em your best tip, what would it be?
"Educate yourself on how to invest in the stock market, go to therapy asap, figure out what you're most passionate about, don't date anyone exclusively in your 20's, find out who God is for yourself to become more self aware, READ!"
If you were a tree, what kind of tree would you be and why?
"A money tree, I like the name and it gives life. Symbolic."
Listen more about Jessica and her journey on being a creative singer on the Black Creative Handbook hosted by Kassandra Lauren Gordon:
I will be featuring another special guest soon. Don't miss out!
Speak soon,
Kassandra xx