Tameka “Tiny” Cottle is a trooper. With her soul mate T.I. locked up, the former Xscape singer/songwriter has had to hold down the fort on her own. In the face of much adversity, she’s done an admirable job. Thrust back into the spotlight, Tiny stoically delivered an acceptance speech on Tip’s behalf at this year’s BET’s Hip Hop Awards. She’s ALSO the co-star of Tiny and Toya, which has become one of BET’s most successful shows.
In addition to taping her second season, Tiny is helping get her daughter Zonnique’s singing group, the OMG Girlz, off the ground. The pre-teen quartet, which also includes Lil Wayne’s daughter Reginae, is promoting their first single, “Ain’t Nobody,” and are in the early stages of developing a children’s boutique line. To say that Tiny is keeping herself busy would be an understatement. XXLMag.com caught up with the multi-tasking mama to discuss her relationship with Tip, adjusting to life of a reality star and her advice for co-star Toya as she prepares for ex-husband Lil Wayne’s impending bid.
XXLMag.com: With the Tiny and Toya show being such a success and T.I. being away, how has that affected the dynamic of your relationship?
Tiny: Well, right now it’s pretty easy because our relationship is where it is. He’s there and I’m here, so all I have right now is to make sure I do a lot of focusing on my career. Once he comes home, I’m going to try and balance it out. We email each other all day long and we speak a couple of times throughout the day. I go to see him one day every week.
XXLMag.com: A lot has changed for the both of you over the last several months. What if anything have you noticed about you that’s changed during that time span?
Tiny: I noticed that I can do a lot more than I decided to do, and a lot of things I could have put my time into didn’t take too much time away from the house, you know. A lot of things I can do in-house and be creative, I’m really liking that aspect of doing things [on my own]. I can still be with my kids, be mom and still work; that’s one great thing. The positive that’s come out of it makes me want to do better and be better.”
XXLMag.com: It’s ironic that Toya is now going through a similar situation with Wayne getting sentenced recently. Seeing as how you’re living through this right now, what advice do you have for Toya?
Tiny: She’s seen me go through it. She’s been there for me, and I’ll be there for her. We’ll just be supportive; I’ll be there whenever she needs me. As far as the baby, Reginae, you know I keep her over here when we’re working. We have a lot of fun I think she’ll be okay. I know she’s going to miss her daddy but I’m going to try keep her busy, to keep her going and uplifted. Right now [the OMG Girlz] are working on their album. We’re laying down songs trying to keep it young and fresh, and we’re working on TV shows for them—we’re working on a couple of things.
XXLMag.com: With such a difficult situation, how do you explain the circumstances to your children?
Tiny: I didn’t do a lot of explaining to my kids per say. Tip did all the explaining, and he did a great job. It was something I didn’t have to do; he spoke to his kids about him leaving, why or what they could expect. I was just there to be supportive. I pray and they pray a lot to God to help their father [through this].
XXLMag.com: Speaking of family, last season of Tiny and Toya you spoke of sharing vows and moving forward with a wedding. When can we expect to hear about a wedding date?
Tiny: Sometime [next] year, but we can’t really give a date yet because we have to find out exactly when Tip is coming home. We’ll have to just plan around that, but I envision a fairy tale wedding.
XXLMag.com: Fair enough. It’s clear you and T.I. are very committed and talented individuals, so why haven’t we heard any collaboration from the two of you?
Tiny: (Laughs) Well, we did one song and we just never really got back in the studio, but I can’t say that you won’t hear anything in the future. I don’t want to give it out yet; I want to hold it to make sure we go in that direction. We have several things that we’re talking about doing together, so we’ll see how that works out.
XXLMag.com: As for the show, what can viewers look forward to in season two?
Tiny: Season two shows [Toya and I] going into our new projects, going into new things as women and mothers. So far it’s been very positive as far as my kids, it’s help push me to start my company in part with Kiesha [of Xscape] and my focus with the OMG Girlz. It’s helped me to want to do more. Toya and I are going to do a kids boutique clothing line. We’re starting on that now, that’s going to be something to look out for. The rest all I can tell you is you have to stay tuned. —Rosario Mercedes Velazquez
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November 13th, 2009
at 8:38 am
no homo says:
dis hoe ugly
Reply
November 13th, 2009
at 9:03 am
GO-Getta' says:
She does’nt do 4 me.If i had all that molla TI has i would b seen dead with sumttin like this. Just my opinion ,don’t jab me u would not get a reply from me.
Reply
November 13th, 2009
at 3:37 pm
ee bubble says:
the first two posts dont say much, but they are funny as shit, LOLOLOLOL
yall just saying what every body thinking,
my face looked like hers the first time i found that she was TI’s girl
Reply
November 13th, 2009
at 9:50 am
Enlightened says:
Right there. She look like she could get it. If you look at them old Xscape pictures she don’t look like that.
I think she fucked her lips up somehow tryin to do some of that white-girl collagen shit.
Another plastic surgery casualty like Kimberly Jackson- I mean Jones. Just not as bad.
Reply
November 13th, 2009
at 11:32 am
yoprince says:
she doesn’t do it for me either…
but then again… in the words of slim thug, “she’s threesome-ready.” also she’ll “roll” with you and roll up for you.
and t.i.’s house parties (orgies) have become kinda legendary, and tiny’s always been cool with it. she’s kind of the perfect wife for a horny rap star once she’s already given you a couple kids. saves you the money and the hassle to keep her.
Reply
November 13th, 2009
at 11:58 am
Blakout615 says:
TIP has house orgies?? The fuck lol.
Yall be wildin in Atlanta.
I heard Biggie apologized to Xscape on the night he died. I know saying he would smash Ru Paul before any of them had to sting a lil bit.
Reply
November 14th, 2009
at 2:04 pm
Enlightened says:
He did say that didn’t he? Rupaul is a man. I know it’s hip-hop, but Biggie had some gay ass lines in his songs.
“You look so good I’ll such on your daddy’s dick”
(Comments wont nest below this level)
Reply here
November 13th, 2009
at 12:26 pm
Jay stone says:
Ohh my God this is one ugly bitch.
I will still hit it anyway cuz pussy is pussy no matter what
Reply
November 13th, 2009
at 1:34 pm
gift says:
She’s not the worse I’ve seen. I think it’s just that lip job that’s killin her. From reading that article, She’s definitely a down ass chick. I’d keep her on GP.
Reply
November 13th, 2009
at 1:35 pm
pecangirl says:
Ya’ll some judge mental muthafuckas, she can’t help how she look. I think Tiny looks cute in this picture. Stop Hatin cause u wanna fuck her man. T.I. go whip dat ass keep talking about his woman like dat. Did u not see the fucking guns the nigga had!! TINY A DIVA
Reply
November 13th, 2009
at 2:08 pm
SOUTHSIDE A-TOWN says:
thats wassup. she doin her thing, holding down her mans. gotta respect that.
& i dont think she’s ugly. she’s kind of pretty, in a different way. but, not ugly.
Reply
November 13th, 2009
at 3:40 pm
joe farver says:
looks aint everything it just shows you that despite T.I. status and level of wealth he don’t need no top model chick on his arm. He got a decent looking lady who had her own money before him. Half of you cats that’s on her probably got a gutter rat as your baby moms. and some wanda sykes look broad as your main girl
Reply
November 13th, 2009
at 4:19 pm
Stuckfresh says:
i would love to see some of these clowns on here old ladys! if they even have one! lol! Man frist off all real niggas got a ride or die chick! its not about looks! when a female shows u there DOWN you look at them different! T.i could have the baddest bitch walking if he wanted so be for real! Its bigger then that! she holds him down! the dimes bitches just hold his dick!! real niggas do real things! T.i hold ya head!
Reply
November 13th, 2009
at 7:04 pm
REAL TALK '10 says:
I prefer Kandi over Tiny anyday..but…dat pic actually is her at her best..lol…she look worse on da show…BTW…I always thought she was Asian…Never knew she was Mixed!…lol
Reply
November 14th, 2009
at 7:35 am
africa says:
COSIGN STUCKFRESH T.i could have the baddest bitch walking if he wanted so be for real! Its bigger then that! she holds him down! the dimes bitches just hold his dick!!
I WOULD ADD AT THE END OF THE DAY BEAUTY IS EPHEMERE, ONLY LAST WHAT THE PERSON HAS INSIDE OF HER MAKING HER THE MOST BEAUTIFUL OR UGLIEST GIRL ON EARTH NO MATTER WHAT SHE LOOKS LIKE….
ONE OF THE REASONS WHY SO MANY PEOPLE SPLIT UP,THEY JUST FOCUS ON AN ASS, SOME EYES AND FORGET EVERYTHING ELSE..
Reply
November 14th, 2009
at 2:12 pm
Rap Radar :: Tiny & T.I. To Wed Next Year says:
[...] revealed to XXL that she plans to jump the broom with her incarcerated scarface next [...]
Reply
November 14th, 2009
at 3:34 pm
Tiny & T.I. To Marry Next Year says:
[...] revealed to XXL that she plans to jump the broom with T.I. next [...]
Reply
November 14th, 2009
at 6:23 pm
Tiny & T.I. To Wed Next Year…smh « I Am Not A Rapper says:
[...] revealed to XXL that she plans to jump the broom with her incarcerated scarface next [...]
Reply
November 14th, 2009
at 9:57 pm
RDS says:
All the positivity and intelligence in this article and all you stupid motherfuckers wanna comment on is how she looks…?
Smh…
Reply
November 15th, 2009
at 5:56 am
Caino says:
As Southside A-Town said she is pretty in a different way…………an ugly way!!!
Reply
November 16th, 2009
at 12:18 am
Tony Grands says:
Half the females that cats think are the business are complete false representations. They may look good
walking down the street or riding in their cars, but you get that same chick to pull back the weave, wash off the make up, remove the push-up bra, unbutton the painted on skinnys, & take off the butt pads & what you have is a fat, blemish faced, stretch mark monster with a receding hair line & more peach fuzz than a 14 year old Armenian boy.
I’ll take a down ass 6 over a make-believe 10 anyday.
Reply
November 17th, 2009
at 12:01 pm
T.I.’s Girlfriend Planning Post-Incarceration Wedding | Topsongs says:
[...] former Xscape singer Tameka “Tiny” Cottle, with whom he has two children, recently told XXL magazine that she is planning a “fairy-tale” wedding to the King of the South when he [...]
Reply
November 17th, 2009
at 12:44 pm
T.I.’s Girlfriend Planning Post-Incarceration Wedding | HOME OF LATIN HIP HOP says:
[...] former Xscape singer Tameka “Tiny” Cottle, with whom he has two children, recently told XXL magazine that she is planning a “fairy-tale” wedding to the King of the South when he [...]
Reply
November 17th, 2009
at 1:44 pm
T.I.’s Girlfriend Planning Post-Incarceration Wedding Tameka ‘Tiny’ Cottle says couple will have a ‘fairy-tale’ wedding in 2010. « Mechno101.Wordpress.com says:
[...] Xscape singer Tameka “Tiny” Cottle, with whom he has two children, recently told XXL magazine that she is planning a “fairy-tale” wedding to the King of the South when he [...]
Reply
November 17th, 2009
at 3:01 pm
T.I.’s Girlfriend Planning Post-Incarceration Wedding | Michael Jackson Memorial Service says:
[...] former Xscape singer Tameka “Tiny” Cottle, with whom he has two children, recently told XXL magazine that she is planning a “fairy-tale” wedding to the King of the South when he [...]
Reply
November 17th, 2009
at 4:03 pm
MovieStarVacations » Blog Archive » T.I.’s Girlfriend Planning Post-Incarceration Wedding says:
[...] former Xscape singer Tameka “Tiny” Cottle, with whom he has two children, recently told XXL magazine that she is planning a “fairy-tale” wedding to the King of the South when he [...]
Reply