The singer, songwriter restaurateur, entrepreneur, Real Housewives of Atlanta star and mother lets ESSENCE in on the art of the hustle and how she’s surviving drama while building a legacy.

The October 2017 cover goes onsale Friday, September 22. www.essence.com/celebrity/kandi-burruss-essence-october-2017-cover

COVER QUOTES

On the frailty of fame: “It’s a very humbling moment when your songs aren’t on the radio anymore. I didn’t appreciate what that success was when we had it. I remember feeling like, when I get things back the way I want them to be, I will never take anything for granted again.”

On how public betrayal made her rethink doing RHOA: “…I honestly had a lot of times when I just cried. There were moments when I really wanted to say, ‘You know what? I’m done with this!’ I was vindicated in front of millions, which helped me to feel comfortable again…”

Comparing single motherhood to her current blended family: “…as Riley got older, I saw that there were things she did miss, not having her dad really there. Now this is even better. We’re a whole family—we’ve got Riley, Kaela [Tucker’s 21-year-old daughter from a previous relationship] and Ace [the couple’s 21-month-old son.]”

On “grinding like she’s broke” and building and empire: “Some of us are doers and some of us are just dreamers. I’m both. I’m trying to build so that I can set up my children to have great futures. All of these different companies that we have, I would love for them to be passed down from generation to generation. I want my kids to be leaders.”

RHOA Executive Producer Andy Cohen on Burress’ reality TV career: “She’s lived through so much in front of the camera and she’s had an incredible amount of drama, but through it all she’s been exactly herself.”