Through the midst of a turbulent upbringing, Samira Randolph has managed to keep her head above waters remaining God-fearing, and humble. At a young age, she experienced molestation and abuse at the hands of her own father. This was the turning point in her life and the tip of the iceberg for future traumas to come. With a heart etched in steel, she fought her way through foster care, drug-addicted parents, teen pregnancy, single parenthood, and the foster care system. Through it all, she remained focused and ever more determined to accomplish her life’s dreams, which were to sing, act and write. Her first debut album, “My Journey My Story,” is soon to be released this summer and will feature hits such as “Hallelujah” and “They Don’t Love You Like I Do.”
Samira takes you to step by step on a journey through her life from the eyes and heart of an innocent child lost that morphed into the strong woman you see today. Samira never allowed her hurdles to break her; instead, she uses those trials as learning experiences that ultimately lead her into philanthropy work as a child advocate and become a foster mother to neighboring runaway teens. This gave her the community title of “Mama.” Samira has raised many children not biological to her and with no financial rewards. Yet, everything she does is from her heart.
Samira has worked with local agencies within her community, such as Children and Youth family services to help end systemic issues within these programs that often create dysfunction in the home instead of bridging the gap between parent and child social relationships that often have failed merely due to the rising crave of social media. Samira is a woman of faith and character that has been lost within man for a very long time. Seemingly prophetic in her songs, novels, and poetry, Samira has a voice with a purpose that did not allow her obstacles in life to become her final testimony.
Samira was originally born in Los Angeles, CA. Still, at the tender age of 2, she and her two older siblings relocated to Chattanooga, TN, with their mother and father, the late Butch Cornell Jr. Butch Cornell Jr. was a famous Jazz Musician from the South; he was born and raised in Chattanooga, TN. Butch played with many great jazz musicians such as Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, Stanley Turentine, Duke Ellington, Plas Johnson, etc. Many of these individuals Samira grew up calling Uncle Plas, never knowing the extraordinary people she was surrounded by growing up.
Her father founded the Friends of Jazz, a local blues festival still held today in Chattanooga, TN. Chiki Productions was the first music label her father started in 1985. Surrounded by music royalty and the music industry is what gave Samira her immediate love for music and the arts. Samira watched her father perform at countless showcases, and concerts around the United States. Watching her father network and seeing all the fans adore her dad, she knew as early as the age of 5 that she wanted to be a STAR. Growing up, Samira would vocally train herself to sing by mimicking great artists such as Whitney Houston, Chaka Khan, Anita Baker, and Patti Austin, giving herself the ability to sing like anyone. She often called herself the female “Ray Charles.”
At the age of 9, Samira blew her 4th-grade teachers away at a school talent show with her rendition of “Caught Up In The Rapture Of Love, by Anita Baker. Not only is Samira multi-talented, but she is also a breath of fresh air to the entertainment industry. Her voice brings forth purpose and truth to social issues through songs, scripts, and novels. Her lyrics, in many ways, symbolize truth and wisdom beyond her years. You will want to dive deeper into Samira’s world when you listen to her because each song tells a story.
After her horrific experience within the foster care system, Samira’s parents eventually split, forcing her to have to relocate to unfamiliar territory; Harrisburg, PA. Still struggling with a mother addicted to crack cocaine, Samira quickly grew up and adapted to her surroundings. Samira details her life during this time in a 5-part documentary series about her life entitled “SAM”. This film is available for viewing on YouTube. Also, be sure to subscribe to her channel for new music and projects.
Under an immense amount of stress, Samira discovered she was pregnant during her senior year of high school. Determined not to be a statistic, Samira withdrew herself from school, got her GED, and traded it in for her high school diploma, and at 17, she was ever more determined than anything to succeed. She began to make a name for herself by collaborating with several indie artists on the northeast coast. Samira won 2nd place in the East Coast Sundays Best Competition in Steelton, PA, hosted by Valerie Lynn. After that, Samira traveled near and far, auditioning for shows such as; The Voice, American Idol, Broadway, and Hamilton.
Samira’s first on-stage break was as a vocalist performing with a blues cast in a musical play entitled “The Tear Jar,” written & produced by Jerry Mussuer. Then, Samira is featured on the explosive Soundtrack “Don’t Blame Me,” a novel written by Jonathan Z. Queen. Samira wrote and recorded two of these soundtrack songs entitled Little Carol-Anne, and 3Some. Today, Samira has written and released many of her own novels, which are all available on Amazon and CreateASpace. She recently released her latest novel entitled “Burn Out,” which is available on Amazon.com and CreataASpace.com.
She has worked with other local artists on film projects that are currently in the works, and she co-wrote novels entitled David 2, Alcoholic Bruce, Claudette The Heart of the Streetz, and Katya Rise of a Sex Slave. Samira writes scripts, stage plays, and work within her community, promoting shows and showcases highlighting other local talents. Samira was blessed with the opportunity to produce one music score for the smash Web Series Detective Miles Handy written and produced by Daniel Fordham of Fordham Films. Samira is a featured singer/songwriter on the soundtrack of “Our Boys,” a Netflix documentary film by Eli Greene of Eli Greene Films. She wrote and recorded the smash hit “A Mother’s Cry.”
Samira not only strives to be a worldwide superstar, but she has also started her own online dating service called links2loveonline, an online service geared towards inmates finding love. Through this service and with everything Samira witnessed and experienced as a child, she desired to do more for less fortunate others, so she started a foundation called Apiphanee’s House, a teen runaway shelter- halfway housing for parolees. Offering housing to teens in distress, Samira is able to act as a ventricle role model to help get lost youth on the right path.
Mental health is a largely growing issue within the Black community that is often shammed and viewed as unspoken hocus pocus. Still, the fact remains Depression, Suicidal Thoughts, PTSD, and anxiety is real. Instead of hiding those feelings or be ashamed, Samira enjoys working with others to help them use their artistic abilities to express their deepest emotions. In a way, she’s created her own musical healing process for the soul.
Please watch Samira’s documentary film “SAM”; as she learns of the many tragedies she experienced throughout her life, you will not only grow to love her more, but you will develop a more profound respect and understanding for her fight to be great simply. She is a mother, wife, innovator, and truly one of a kind! Last year Samira started her own record label with partner Gale “Big Guy” Green called Hustlers Hope Entertainment. She plans to release small trailer films of her written novels and other small PSAs films through her company.
This summer, be sure to look for her new cookbook entitled CellBlock Culinary, which features delicious, elegant meals made strictly from the inmate commissary list. The town-talk surrounding her yummy delights such as the “Chi-Chi, Crackhead Casserole, and Smashie” has morphed into a full-blown cooking show currently in the works this Fall in 2022.
When it comes to who inspires this phenomenal woman, Samira will tell you many people, good and bad, have inspired her; to either be or not be more like that person. Collectively each experience made her into the woman she is today. Many of her greatest idols are Master P, Barrack, Michelle Obama, Prince, Kandi Burruss from her favorite RnB group grouping up, Xscape, and horror novel writer Stephen King. Check out all her links below, and enjoy learning more about Samira, a rising star striving for God’s glory.
Tammy Reese: What defines your swag as a creator?
Samira: My writing skills definitely define me as a writer. I’m very creative with my wordplay, especially when writing stories and rhymes. Hip Hop is musical poetry. If you’re not talking about something real or delivering a message through your words, then you’re not a true lyricist.
I have a track called “BARS” where I’m spitting all rhymes for 4 minutes straight with no hook. It’s one of my favorite songs I ever wrote. Even in my novels, my writing style is very unique, and the stories I create are exquisite. I attribute this only to the fact that I have experienced so much in my own life, thus why I can create plays, PSAs, films, sitcoms, and more in minutes. That’s a gift many wish to have but cannot obtain because it’s not their testimony.
Tammy Reese: What does your work mean to you?
Samira: My work means a lot to me because my work comes from a deeply internal place. Many songs and stories I’ve written over time all come from components within the real-life I have drawn internally. Many are true stories from the past traumas I experienced as a minor or things I witnessed.
Tammy Reese: How do you get in your creative mood?
Samira: It’s the BEAT for me. Lol. I can hear a dope beat, and a song will come to my head instantly, hook and all; it’s weird. It also doesn’t hurt to have a blunt and red cup filled with some Hennessy & coke to get the vibe going. Dark liquor mixed with pain will make one bomb-ass RnB album.
Tammy Reese: How do you use your platform to empower others?
Samira: I use my platform to spread knowledge as well as uplift, mentor, and give hope to a lot of our broken, misguided youth. Through my open expression, I encourage them to let go and release their inner demons and face their true feelings. I’m very real and brutally honest. Sometimes to a fault. I mean, well, every time, my delivery just isn’t always the best, especially when I feel used or disrespected.
Essentially I desire to be an open vessel for others to be comfortable speaking with or speaking out about the traumas of sexual and physical abuse in their own lives. I minister about my own abuse so that way I am showing others, it’s okay to tell your story.
There is immense strength in speaking out. It’s never a good thing to keep that pain inside. Far too often in the black community is our mental health deemed shameful, or it is viewed to be a bad thing when discussing “so-called” family business, which is a forbidden rule in our community.
As an African American woman, I personally know how this feels. I was taught very young just to shut up and get over it, move on, and be labeled dramatic or an attention seeker when you can’t. This is WRONG. I plan to help aid in removing this stigma given to victims of abuse while providing the resources these victims truly require.
Tammy Reese: What are the most memorable moments in your career so far?
Samira: I have many memorable moments, but I guess the moments most impactful to me would be knowing I made a difference. Helping others with their breakthrough or self-growth is a rewarding experience. It’s a no better feeling than helping someone else recover than release. Watching someone you mentored, someone the world gave up on, let go of the hate and layers of pain that have held them back from their true destiny is a life-changing experience.
Tammy Reese: What are you currently working on?
Samira: Currently, I’m working on building my brand. I’ve been promoting my new album, “My Journey My Story,” which is available for listening to SoundCloud.com. I am promoting my documentary film SAM which is a true story based on my life. It can be found on YouTube at https://youtu.be/V5KdNE56rko, and it’s also available for viewing on Podbean at https://queen Samira.podbean.com/I started a podcast to be more interactive with my followers who desire to engage in open discussions with me. Our Podcast is called The Open Door. Please subscribe to our channel and feel free to donate to our patronage https://patron.podbean.com/TheOpenDoor
All donations help go towards keeping new content on our latest podcast forum streaming daily. Donations will also aid in the construction of my shelter project Apiphanee’s House.
Tammy Reese: What will Samira be doing in 5 years?
Samira: In 5 years, Samira Randolph hopes to have my teen runaway shelter Apiphanee’s House, up and running. I can effectively provide services to young adults experiencing homelessness, drug addiction and that may be suffering from mental health issues. You can find out more information on my projects and everything I have currently in the works on my website www.therealsamrandolph.com. I now have it where anyone will be able to reach me directly through my website to book me for events.
-Tammy Reese | @tammyreesemedia
