She received a nomination for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Female for playing Sidney in the comedy film House Party (1990).

[3] Her mother, Hattie "Mona" Washington (née Raye; formerly Shockley and Campbell),[4][5] was a nurse, talent manager, gospel singer, and vocal coach.

As a child, she won many talent shows, going on to appear in such children's programs as Kids Are People Too, Unicorn Tales (played lead Daisy Bunsen in episode, The Magnificent Major), and Captain Kangaroo.

At age 17, she performed in the musical feature film, Little Shop of Horrors as Chiffon, one of The Supremes-like girl group Greek Chorus, along with future Martin co-star and best friend, Tichina Arnold.

After graduating from the Arts High School in Newark, she moved to Hollywood, where she became a star on the NBC musical comedy-drama series, Rags to Riches (1987–88).

Her most notable film credit is 1990 comedy House Party for which she received Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Female nomination.

She left the show in November 1996, returning to work after settling a lawsuit accusing co-star Martin Lawrence of sexual harassment.

Campbell returned to television in 2001, starring opposite Damon Wayans in the ABC comedy series My Wife and Kids.

[17] Campbell contributed vocals for the soundtrack of the 1997 film, Sprung, in which she starred, singing a cover version of "Don't Ask My Neighbor" with Tichina Arnold.

[18] On February 24, 2016, Campbell released the single, "Lazy Bitch", as well as an accompanying video, where she featured her friend, Tasha Smith.

[27] In November 1996, Campbell left the Fox series Martin during its final season, citing "intolerable" working conditions.

In January 1997, Campbell filed a lawsuit against co-star Martin Lawrence on the counts of sexual harassment and abuse both on and off set.