"I got shot one time/in my back with a nine/bullet came right out/man I promise I ain't lyin'/I got the scar to prove it/fought the war to do this/got to let the world know that God brought me through this"
'I Got Shot' - The Lita Mae Show
That simple refrain from the third cut of Shei Atkins' sophomore effort, 2006's 'The Lita Mae Show,' tells you everything you need to know about the Grammy nominated Inspirational / R&B songstress whose, soulful style and straightforward, honest lyrics have made her a favorite among gospel and secular music fans alike.
Born and raised in Houston's notorious Acres Homes area, once considered to be the largest unincorporated African American community in the South, and a haven for drugs and crime during the '80s and '90s, Shei Atkins, 25, was subjected to many hardships early in life.
It was, however, being robbed of her innocence by a bullet at the tender age of 13 as she describes in the lyrics of 'I Got Shot' that became the catalyst for her transformation from a talented but undisciplined neophyte into the vocal tour-de-force Atkins represents today.
"I was a disobedient kid in the wrong place at the wrong time," she says, summing up the seminal event, which would never have taken place if she had followed her Mother's admonitions not to go to a party she wanted to attend.
"It changed my life because it {surviving the attack} let me know that God has a purpose for me." That purpose according to Shei is her music: A medium she uses not only to spread His word but to share the stories of her own triumphs, failures and suffering; connecting with her fans on a much more personal level than much of the formulaic 'MTV-Ready' fare currently dominating the racks.
Getting Down To Business
Under the tutelage of late Destiny's Child co-founder Ann Tillman, Shei honed her singing and performance skills, recording two well received demos and receiving her first big break when she was offered a chance to sing on Houston rapper, and underground legend, Lil O's debut album with MCA in 1997.
Following the death of Tillman from Lupus, Atkins found herself taking a sabbatical from music to reevaluate her paths in both life and music.
