Kelis Rogers
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Kelis Rogers-Mora (; born August 21, 1979), known mononymously as Kelis, is an American singer, songwriter and a professionally trained chef. At age 14, she was admitted to New York's Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts, where she learned to play the saxophone and won a spot in the Girls Choir of Harlem. After she graduated from high school in 1997, Kelis took on a variety of jobs before landing a backup vocal slot on an album track called "Fairytalez", released by the American hip hop group
Gravediggaz Gravediggaz was an American Hip hop music, hip hop group from New York, known for its Black comedy, dark sense of humor and abrasive, menacing soundscapes. Gravediggaz blended hardcore hip hop, gangsta rap and Heavy metal music, heavy metal with ...
. She then began working with music producers
Pharrell Williams Pharrell Lanscilo Williams (; born April 5, 1973) is an American record producer, rapper, singer, and songwriter. Alongside close colleague Chad Hugo, he formed the hip hop and R&B production duo the Neptunes in the early 1990s, with whom he ...
and Chad Hugo, known as The Neptunes, which ultimately resulted in her being signed to Virgin Records in 1998. Kelis released her debut studio album '' Kaleidoscope'' with Virgin Records on December 7, 1999. Inspired by jazz and disco music from the 1970s, the album was a critical and international success. It spawned three singles: "
Caught Out There "Caught Out There" is a song recorded by American singer Kelis for her debut studio album ''Kaleidoscope'' (1999). Written and produced by The Neptunes, the song was released as the album's lead single in the United States on October 5, 1999. It ...
", "
Good Stuff ''Good Stuff'' is the sixth studio album by American new wave band the B-52's, released in 1992 by Reprise Records. Background ''Good Stuff'' was created in the wake of the departure of B-52's singer and founding member Cindy Wilson, who lef ...
", and "
Get Along With You "Get Along with You" is a song by American singer Kelis from her debut studio album, ''Kaleidoscope (Kelis album), Kaleidoscope'' (1999). A staccato, Pop music, Pop and Contemporary R&B, R&B ballad, "Get Along with You" describes how someone's lov ...
". The album reached number 43 in the United Kingdom while also becoming her first album to be certified gold. She left her label Virgin Records after its follow-up ''
Wanderland ''Wanderland'' is the second studio album by American singer Kelis. It was released on October 17, 2001, by Virgin Records. The album's only single, "Young, Fresh n' New", peaked at number 32 on the UK Singles Chart. As of October 2004, ''Wanderl ...
'' (2001) received little sales attention and no U.S. release until 2019. In 2003, Kelis released her third studio album '' Tasty''. The album produced the singles "
Milkshake A milkshake (sometimes simply called a shake) is a sweet beverage made by blending milk, ice cream, and flavorings or sweeteners such as butterscotch, caramel sauce, chocolate syrup, fruit syrup, or whole fruit into a thick, sweet, cold mixture ...
", "
Trick Me "Trick Me" is a song by American singer Kelis from her third studio album, '' Tasty'' (2003). It was written and produced by Dallas Austin. The song was released as the album's second single on February 17, 2004. "Trick Me" was not released in th ...
", " Millionaire" (featuring André 3000), and "
In Public A public space is a place that is open and accessible to the general public. Roads (including the pavement), public squares, parks, and beaches are typically considered public space. To a limited extent, government buildings which are open to ...
" (featuring
Nas Nas (born 1973) is the stage name of American rapper Nasir Jones. Nas, NaS, or NAS may also refer to: Aviation * Nasair, a low-cost airline carrier and subsidiary based in Eritrea * National Air Services, an airline in Saudi Arabia ** Nas Air ( ...
). The album earned the singer commercial prominence. Her fourth album, ''
Kelis Was Here ''Kelis Was Here'' is the fourth studio album by American singer Kelis, released on August 22, 2006, by Jive Records. Originally titled ''The Puppeteer'', the album features production by Bangladesh, Raphael Saadiq, Max Martin, Sean Garrett, and ...
'' (2006), was preceded by the lead single " Bossy" (featuring Too Short) and reached number 10 on the ''Billboard'' 200. Kelis took a hiatus from music after its release, venturing into culinary arts at
Le Cordon Bleu Le Cordon Bleu (French for " The Blue Ribbon") is an international network of hospitality and culinary schools teaching French ''haute cuisine''. Its educational focuses are hospitality management, culinary arts, and gastronomy. The instituti ...
. She later signed with
will.i.am William James Adams Jr. (born March 15, 1975), known professionally as will.i.am (pronounced "Will-I-am"), is an American rapper, singer, songwriter and record producer. He is the founding and lead member of the musical group Black Eyed Peas. ...
and began recording her fifth album, ''
Flesh Tone ''Flesh Tone'' is the fifth studio album by American singer Kelis, released on May 14, 2010, by the will.i.am Music Group and Interscope Records. Recorded while the singer was unsigned and pregnant with her first child, the album is an ode to m ...
'', which was released in 2010. The album spawned four singles, including "
Acapella ''A cappella'' (, also , ; ) music is a performance by a singer or a singing group without instrumental accompaniment, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. The term ''a cappella'' was originally intended to differentiate between Ren ...
" and "
4th of July (Fireworks) "4th of July (Fireworks)" is the second single from Kelis' fifth studio album, ''Flesh Tone''. It samples " You're My Heart (Pilotpriest Remix)" by Lioness. The song was listed at number 51 on the list of the ''NME'' Best Tracks of 2010. Three di ...
", which were successful on the US
Hot Dance Club Songs Dance Club Songs is a chart published weekly by '' Billboard'' magazine in the United States. It is a national look over of club disc jockeys to determine the most popular songs being played in nightclubs across the country. It was launched as t ...
chart and the UK Dance Singles Chart. Kelis' neo soul-inspired sixth studio album ''
Food Food is any substance consumed by an organism for nutritional support. Food is usually of plant, animal, or fungal origin, and contains essential nutrients, such as carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, or minerals. The substance is inge ...
'' (2014) became her second top-twenty album in the UK and spawned three singles: " Jerk Ribs", "
Rumble Rumble or Rumbling may refer to: Sounds and vibrations * Rumble (noise), a form of low frequency noise * Rumble, a haptic feedback vibration feature in video game controllers * Rumbling, a quality of a heart murmur * Stomach rumble, or borbory ...
" and "Friday Fish Fry". Kelis has been recognized at the Brit Awards, Q Awards, NME Awards, and Grammy Awards ceremonies.Kate Hutchinson
'Soul Food'
, ''The T Dawg '', March 1, 2014.
Her musical output, both as a lead and featured artist, encompasses various genres. She has collaborated with R&B and hip hop acts including
Busta Rhymes Trevor George Smith Jr. (born May 20, 1972), known professionally as Busta Rhymes, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer and actor. Chuck D of Public Enemy gave him the moniker Busta Rhymes, after NFL and CFL wide receiver ...
and
Clipse Clipse, also known as The Clipse, is an American hip hop duo, chiefly active from 1994 to 2010. It consists of brothers Gene "No Malice" and Terrence "Pusha T" Thornton. Pusha T was known as Terrar during the group's early years, while No Mal ...
; electronic and dance producers such as
Calvin Harris Adam Richard Wiles (born 17 January 1984), known professionally as Calvin Harris, is a Scottish DJ, record producer, singer, and songwriter who has released six studio albums. His debut studio album, ''I Created Disco'', was released in June ...
, Timo Maas, and Richard X; pop and rock acts
Enrique Iglesias Enrique Miguel Iglesias Preysler (; (born 8 May 1975) is a Spanish singer and songwriter. He started his recording career in the mid-1990s on the Mexican indie label Fonovisa and became the bestselling Spanish-language act of the decade. By the ...
and No Doubt; and indie and alternative musicians including
Björk Björk Guðmundsdóttir ( , ; born 21 November 1965), known mononymously as Björk, is an Icelandic singer, songwriter, composer, record producer, and actress. Noted for her distinct three-octave vocal range and eccentric persona, she has de ...
and Dave Sitek. She has sold six million records worldwide and has had particular success in the United Kingdom, where ten of her singles have peaked within the top ten of the UK Singles Chart.


Early life

Kelis Rogers was born and raised in the
Frederick Douglass Houses The Frederick Douglass Houses are a public housing project located in the New York City borough of Manhattan, in the Manhattan Valley neighborhood of Upper West Side, named for civil rights pioneer Frederick Douglass. The actual buildings are lo ...
in the Harlem neighborhood of Manhattan. Her first name is a portmanteau of her father's name, Kenneth (1944–2000) and her mother's name, Eveliss. Her father Kenneth was an African-American jazz musician and Pentecostal
minister Minister may refer to: * Minister (Christianity), a Christian cleric ** Minister (Catholic Church) * Minister (government), a member of government who heads a ministry (government department) ** Minister without portfolio, a member of government w ...
and was formerly a professor at Wesleyan University. Her mother Eveliss is a
Chinese Chinese can refer to: * Something related to China * Chinese people, people of Chinese nationality, citizenship, and/or ethnicity **''Zhonghua minzu'', the supra-ethnic concept of the Chinese nation ** List of ethnic groups in China, people of va ...
- Puerto Rican fashion designer who inspired Kelis to pursue her singing career. She has three sisters, Kelis being the third-born of the four girls. As a child, Kelis sang in church choirs and played violin, piano, and saxophone while attending
Manhattan Country School Manhattan Country School is an independent coeducational PreK-8 school with its main location in Manhattan and a farm in Roxbury, New York. Founded in 1966, it is distinctive because of its multicultural and progressive educational philosophy, the ...
, a private school. At the age of 13, Kelis shaved off all of her hair. In an interview with
Charlotte Roche Charlotte Elisabeth Grace Roche (born 18 March 1978) is a British-German television presenter, author, producer, and actress. but continued her education at the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts, where she formed the R&B trio BLU (Black Ladies United). Kelis was also a bartender and a sales associate at a clothing store before graduating high school.


Career


1997–2002: ''Kaleidoscope'' and ''Wanderland''

In 1997, Kelis provided background vocals on "Fairytalez", a track on hip hop group
Gravediggaz Gravediggaz was an American Hip hop music, hip hop group from New York, known for its Black comedy, dark sense of humor and abrasive, menacing soundscapes. Gravediggaz blended hardcore hip hop, gangsta rap and Heavy metal music, heavy metal with ...
' album '' The Pick, the Sickle and the Shovel''. Afterwards, a friend introduced Kelis to The Neptunes (
Pharrell Williams Pharrell Lanscilo Williams (; born April 5, 1973) is an American record producer, rapper, singer, and songwriter. Alongside close colleague Chad Hugo, he formed the hip hop and R&B production duo the Neptunes in the early 1990s, with whom he ...
and Chad Hugo); they formed a strong bond, and with their support she landed a record deal with Virgin Records. According to Kelis, Virgin Records advised her that publishing royalties would be split evenly between Williams, Hugo, and herself, but this turned out not to be the case; Kelis made no money from sales of her first two albums on the label. Kelis has also said that Williams was credited as a songwriter on songs of hers that he had not written. Kelis began recording her debut album, '' Kaleidoscope'', in mid-1998 and was finished within a year. Produced by The Neptunes and released by Virgin Records in 1999, ''Kaleidoscope'' peaked at number 144 on the U.S. ''Billboard'' 200 chart and reached the top five on the Top Heatseekers chart. As of 2006, the album has sold 249,000 copies, according to
Nielsen SoundScan Luminate (formerly Nielsen SoundScan, Nielsen Music Products, and MRC Data) is a provider of music sales data. Established by Mike Fine and Mike Shalett in 1991, data is collected weekly and made available every Sunday (for albums sales) and eve ...
. Its lead and most notable single, "
Caught Out There "Caught Out There" is a song recorded by American singer Kelis for her debut studio album ''Kaleidoscope'' (1999). Written and produced by The Neptunes, the song was released as the album's lead single in the United States on October 5, 1999. It ...
", became a top ten Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs hit and peaked at number 54 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100. During this time, Kelis featured on Ol' Dirty Bastard's U.S. top 40 single, " Got Your Money". The album performed better in Europe, where "Caught Out There" was a moderate hit in most European countries except the United Kingdom, where the song saw massive success, peaking at number four on the UK Singles Chart. A second single, "
Good Stuff ''Good Stuff'' is the sixth studio album by American new wave band the B-52's, released in 1992 by Reprise Records. Background ''Good Stuff'' was created in the wake of the departure of B-52's singer and founding member Cindy Wilson, who lef ...
" (featuring Terrar of
Clipse Clipse, also known as The Clipse, is an American hip hop duo, chiefly active from 1994 to 2010. It consists of brothers Gene "No Malice" and Terrence "Pusha T" Thornton. Pusha T was known as Terrar during the group's early years, while No Mal ...
), reached number 19; the third, "
Get Along with You "Get Along with You" is a song by American singer Kelis from her debut studio album, ''Kaleidoscope (Kelis album), Kaleidoscope'' (1999). A staccato, Pop music, Pop and Contemporary R&B, R&B ballad, "Get Along with You" describes how someone's lov ...
", was less successful, reaching number 51. The British Phonographic Industry certified ''Kaleidoscope'' gold for sales of 100,000 copies in the United Kingdom, where it reached number 43 on the UK Albums Chart. In 2001, Kelis won the Brit Award for International Breakthrough Act and the ''NME'' Award for Best R&B/Soul Act before joining
Moby Richard Melville Hall (born September 11, 1965), known professionally as Moby, is an American musician, songwriter, singer, producer, and animal rights activist. He has sold 20 million records worldwide. AllMusic considers him to be "among the ...
and U2 on their Area:One and Elevation tours, respectively. Kelis and the Neptunes' output at this time was heralded as foreshadowing an innovation in contemporary R&B, but she later said, "I was never an R&B artist. People coined me one but that's because, especially if you're in the States, if you're black and you sing, then you're R&B". Her colorful style in both clothing and hair received considerable attention. Kelis's second album ''
Wanderland ''Wanderland'' is the second studio album by American singer Kelis. It was released on October 17, 2001, by Virgin Records. The album's only single, "Young, Fresh n' New", peaked at number 32 on the UK Singles Chart. As of October 2004, ''Wanderl ...
'' was released in 2001 in Europe, Asia, and Latin America but did not receive a North American release until 2019. According to Kelis, her U.S. record company at the time, Virgin, had laid off those that worked on ''Kaleidoscope''; their replacements did not understand or believe in ''Wanderland''. Eventually, Kelis was dropped from Virgin in America around the time of the album's European release, though she remained on the label's roster in Europe. A commercial failure, ''Wanderland'' peaked at number 78 in the UK; its sole single release, " Young, Fresh n' New", managed to crack the top forty on the UK Singles Chart. The album, which was produced in its entirety by the Neptunes and features collaborations with members of Clipse and No Doubt, received a subdued critical response. '' NME'' wrote: "In our collective fantasies, Kelis Rogers is already the ghetto-fabulous sex-queen of discodelic future-funk pop-rock-soul ..But beyond the initial shopping-and-funking dazzle, there is way too much filler here for a hotly hyped alterna-soul princess with her eyes on the big prize". '' The Fader'' later referred to ''Wanderland'' as "Kelis’s long lost masterpiece". In 2002, Kelis recorded "So Be It" for the
Red Hot Organization Red Hot Organization (RHO) is a not-for-profit, 501(c) 3, international organization dedicated to fighting AIDS through pop culture. Since its inception in 1989, over 400 artists, producers and directors have contributed to over 15 compilati ...
's
Fela Kuti Fela Aníkúlápó Kuti (born Olufela Olusegun Oludotun Ransome-Kuti; 15 October 1938 – 2 August 1997), also known as Abami Eda, was a Nigerian musician, bandleader, composer, political activist, and Pan-Africanist. He is regarded as the p ...
tribute CD, ''
Red Hot and Riot ''Red Hot + Riot'' (a.k.a. ''Red Hot + Riot: The Music and Spirit of Fela Kuti'') is the fourteenth in a series of music compilation projects produced by Paul Heck and John Carlin of the Red Hot Organization and Grammy-winning music producer ...
'', from which all proceeds were donated to AIDS awareness charities. The same year she had a top 20 US club hit with a remix of "Young, Fresh 'n' New", produced by Timo Maas, who subsequently featured Kelis on his single, "Help Me". She hosted the DanceStar USA Awards ceremony at that year's
Winter Music Conference The Winter Music Conference (WMC) is a week-long electronic music conference, held every March in Miami Beach, Florida, United States since 1985. It is also known as the premiere platform for electronic dance music. The conference brings togethe ...
.


2003–2005: ''Tasty''

In 2003, Kelis achieved a second top ten hit in the UK as a featured artist on Richard X's "
Finest Dreams "The Finest" is a song by American band the S.O.S. Band. It is the fifth track on their sixth studio album, '' Sands of Time'', and is one of the group's last songs to feature the vocals of original lead singer Mary Davis. Labelmate and fellow R ...
", a reworking of
the S.O.S. Band The S.O.S. Band (sometimes written as S.O.S. Band; abbreviation for Sounds of Success) is an American Contemporary R&B, R&B and Boogie (genre), electro-funk musical ensemble, group who gained fame in the 1980s. They are best known for the songs ...
's 1986 single "The Finest", and a European club hit (and UK top 40 single) as a featured artist on "
Let's Get Ill The discography of American rapper and record producer Sean Combs (known professionally under the pseudonyms Puffy, Puff Daddy, P. Diddy or Diddy) consists of five studio albums, one remix album and seventy-two singles – including thirty-three ...
" by P. Diddy, her manager for a brief period. She found mainstream success in the U.S. later in 2003 with her Hot Dance Club Play number one, ''Billboard'' Hot 100 top three single "
Milkshake A milkshake (sometimes simply called a shake) is a sweet beverage made by blending milk, ice cream, and flavorings or sweeteners such as butterscotch, caramel sauce, chocolate syrup, fruit syrup, or whole fruit into a thick, sweet, cold mixture ...
"; this helped to propel her third album '' Tasty'' to gold status in the U.S., where it peaked at number 27 on the ''Billboard'' 200 and has sold 533,000 copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan. "Milkshake" also went gold, selling over 500,000 copies, and earned Kelis a Grammy Award nomination in
2004 2004 was designated as an International Year of Rice by the United Nations, and the International Year to Commemorate the Struggle Against Slavery and its Abolition (by UNESCO). Events January * January 3 – Flash Airlines Flight 6 ...
for Best Urban/Alternative Performance. Although the Neptunes contributed several tracks to ''Tasty''—the album was released by their label Star Trak Entertainment, a joint venture with
Arista Records Arista Records () is an American record label owned by Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America, the North American division of the Japanese conglomerate Sony. The label was previously handled by BMG Entertainmen ...
—Kelis also collaborated with other producers such as Dallas Austin, André 3000, Rockwilder, and Raphael Saadiq. She stated in an interview: "I felt like I had a lot to prove with this album. People had started messing with me along the lines of 'Is she REALLY any good without The Neptunes?' — which I knew was ridiculous. And so I was like, 'I'll take that challenge'." The album was well-received critically; '' Entertainment Weekly'' wrote that ''Tasty'' is "Kelis' past—big beats, out-there imagery, and sex appeal—refined ..much of the beauty of ''Tasty'' is in witnessing Kelis rise to the challenge of working with multiple imaginative maestros." "Milkshake" and ''Tasty'' immediately found success in Europe. According to the BPI, ''Tasty'' went platinum in the United Kingdom, selling over 300,000 copies, and "Milkshake" went silver, selling over 200,000 units. The album's second single, the Dallas Austin-produced "
Trick Me "Trick Me" is a song by American singer Kelis from her third studio album, '' Tasty'' (2003). It was written and produced by Dallas Austin. The song was released as the album's second single on February 17, 2004. "Trick Me" was not released in th ...
", went to the top ten in many European countries during mid-2004; it did not, however, garner success in the U.S. in the absence of promotion by
Jive Records Jive Records was an American independent record label founded by Clive Calder in 1981 as a subsidiary to the Zomba Group. In the US, the label had offices in New York City and Chicago. Jive was best known for its successes with hip hop, R&B, an ...
, the label Kelis had been transferred to after Arista Records folded at the time of ''Tasty''s release. Kelis' success grew in Australia, where ''Tasty'' went gold and where "Milkshake" and "Trick Me" went platinum. Kelis followed the success of the third ''Tasty'' single, the BPI silver-certified " Millionaire" (featuring André 3000), with the Rockwilder-produced track "
In Public A public space is a place that is open and accessible to the general public. Roads (including the pavement), public squares, parks, and beaches are typically considered public space. To a limited extent, government buildings which are open to ...
" (featuring Nas), which reached number 17 on the UK chart. " Not in Love", Kelis's collaboration with
Enrique Iglesias Enrique Miguel Iglesias Preysler (; (born 8 May 1975) is a Spanish singer and songwriter. He started his recording career in the mid-1990s on the Mexican indie label Fonovisa and became the bestselling Spanish-language act of the decade. By the ...
from his 2003 album '' 7'', was released as a single the following year, reaching the UK top five. Although the single failed to chart on the U.S. ''Billboard'' Hot 100, it topped the country's Hot Dance Club Play chart. Also in 2004, Kelis collaborated with
Björk Björk Guðmundsdóttir ( , ; born 21 November 1965), known mononymously as Björk, is an Icelandic singer, songwriter, composer, record producer, and actress. Noted for her distinct three-octave vocal range and eccentric persona, she has de ...
on a remix of the latter's track " Oceania" (from Björk's album '' Medúlla''), which appeared as a B-side to the Björk album's second single, " Who Is It". Kelis toured as the opening act for fellow Jive artist
Britney Spears Britney Jean Spears (born December 2, 1981) is an American singer. Often referred to as the " Princess of Pop", she is credited with influencing the revival of teen pop during the late 1990s and early 2000s. After appearing in stage productio ...
's
The Onyx Hotel Tour The Onyx Hotel Tour (billed as The Onyx Hotel Tour 2004) was the fifth concert tour by American entertainer Britney Spears. It showcased her fourth studio album, ''In the Zone'' (2003), and visited North America and Europe. A tour to promote the ...
before headlining her own tour of Australia and New Zealand. In 2005, she was featured on the soundtrack to the film ''
Just Like Heaven Just like Heaven may refer to: * ''Just Like Heaven'' (film), a 2005 romantic comedy starring Reese Witherspoon and Mark Ruffalo * ''Just Like Heaven'' (1930 film), a drama starring Anita Louise and David Newell *'' Just Like Heaven'', a romance n ...
'' with a cover version of The Pretenders' " Brass in Pocket" (1979).


2006–2008: ''Kelis Was Here''

Kelis contributed a track titled "80's Joint" to the soundtrack of the 2006 dance film '' Step Up''. She collaborated with Busta Rhymes and will.i.am on the track "
I Love My Bitch "I Love My Bitch" (known as "I Love My Chick" in its edited version) is a song by Busta Rhymes featuring will.i.am (who also produced the track) and Kelis, released as the second single (music), single from Busta Rhymes' seventh studio album, ''Th ...
", the second single from Rhymes's 2006 album '' The Big Bang''. This was the second time Kelis collaborated with Rhymes, the first being his 2001 song "What It Is". Kelis's fourth studio album, ''
Kelis Was Here ''Kelis Was Here'' is the fourth studio album by American singer Kelis, released on August 22, 2006, by Jive Records. Originally titled ''The Puppeteer'', the album features production by Bangladesh, Raphael Saadiq, Max Martin, Sean Garrett, and ...
'', was released in 2006, and debuted and peaked at number ten on the ''Billboard'' 200. Despite the career-high debut, the album has sold only 157,000 copies in the United States as of 2007, according to Nielsen SoundScan. In the UK, ''Kelis Was Here'' charted at number 41 and has sold 60,000 copies, earning a silver certification from the BPI. The album was Kelis's first not to feature contributions from The Neptunes, as she had left Star Trak by this time; instead, she recorded with Cee-Lo, Max Martin, Raphael Saadiq, Scott Storch, and
will.i.am William James Adams Jr. (born March 15, 1975), known professionally as will.i.am (pronounced "Will-I-am"), is an American rapper, singer, songwriter and record producer. He is the founding and lead member of the musical group Black Eyed Peas. ...
, among others. According to Kelis, she received no support from
Jive Records Jive Records was an American independent record label founded by Clive Calder in 1981 as a subsidiary to the Zomba Group. In the US, the label had offices in New York City and Chicago. Jive was best known for its successes with hip hop, R&B, an ...
for the recording or promotion of ''Kelis Was Here'' and argued heavily with the label, later describing the period as " otthe most creative atmosphere" and "the only time where I felt like I was being pulled in different directions. There were too many cooks in the kitchen".
MTV MTV (Originally an initialism of Music Television) is an American cable channel that launched on August 1, 1981. Based in New York City, it serves as the flagship property of the MTV Entertainment Group, part of Paramount Media Networks, a di ...
characterised critical consensus of the album as "intriguingly intelligent, if unjustifiably disjointed and long" and wrote in 2016 that "it remains her most creatively anarchic project". ''Kelis Was Here'' was nominated for Best Contemporary R&B Album at the
2007 Grammy Awards The 49th Annual Grammy Awards was a ceremony honoring the best in music for the recording year beginning October 1, 2005 and ending September 30, 2006 in the United States. The awards were handed out on Sunday, February 11, 2007 at the Staples Ce ...
. ''Kelis Was Here''s lead single, " Bossy" (featuring Too Short), was a moderate hit in the U.S., peaking at number 16; it additionally went multi-platinum as a mobile phone
ringtone A ringtone, ring tone or ring is the sound made by a telephone to indicate an incoming call. Originally referring to and made by the electromechanical striking of bells, the term now refers to any sound on any device alerting of a new incoming ...
, according to the RIAA. The second U.S. single, "
Blindfold Me "Blindfold Me" is a hip hop song by American singer Kelis from her fourth studio album, '' Kelis Was Here'' (2006). It was written and produced by Sean Garrett and Polow da Don. A remix, featuring American rapper Nas, was released as the album' ...
" (featuring Nas), reached number 91 on the R&B chart and did not chart on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100. Kelis's European label, Virgin, instead released the Cee-Lo-featuring "
Lil Star "Lil Star" is the second international single from Kelis' fourth studio album, ''Kelis Was Here'' (2006). Released outside US (where "Blindfold Me" served as the second single), the single features Cee-Lo, who was at the time half of the duo Gnar ...
", which was another top ten hit for Kelis in the United Kingdom (peaking at number three on the UK Singles Chart). During mid 2007, Kelis toured in Europe, appearing in numerous festivals across the United Kingdom, France, and Germany, such as Wireless,
Rise Rise or RISE may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Fictional entities * '' Rise: The Vieneo Province'', an internet-based virtual world * Rise FM, a fictional radio station in the video game ''Grand Theft Auto 3'' * Rise Kujikawa, a video ...
and
Gurtenfestival Gurtenfestival is an annual musical festival in Bern, Switzerland. 1991–2012 Donovan, (June 9) Rufus Quindile Gunbungus III and the Huantalius Gang 1995 (14–16 July): Ben Harper, Incognito (band), Incognito, Jeff Buckley, Public Enemy (band) ...
. Ford chose Kelis to help advertise the 2007 Ford Edge, and she recorded a theme song for the commercial, titled "Push It to the Edge", with help from producer Scott Storch. Jive Records dropped Kelis in late 2007. Her manager at the time said that the singer was working with Cee-Lo Green on an
alternative dance Alternative dance (also known as indie dance or underground dance in the U.S.) is a musical genre that mixes alternative rock with electronic dance music. Although largely confined to the British Isles, it has gained American and worldwide expos ...
album and would be shopping a pop album produced by songwriter Guy Chambers. Scottish
electronica Electronica is both a broad group of electronic-based music styles intended for listening rather than strictly for dancing and a music scene that started in the early 1990s in the United Kingdom. In the United States, the term is mostly used to r ...
producer
Calvin Harris Adam Richard Wiles (born 17 January 1984), known professionally as Calvin Harris, is a Scottish DJ, record producer, singer, and songwriter who has released six studio albums. His debut studio album, ''I Created Disco'', was released in June ...
was also said to be collaborating with her. Kelis subsequently took a hiatus from music: "I was like, 'I will never put out another record again, I hate this business, I hate all these people.' I was in this race that I didn't even realise that I was in. I woke up and ten years had passed. That was never my plan". After Kelis left Jive, the label released a fourteen-track greatest hits album titled '' The Hits'' in 2008. The album does not contain any previously unreleased songs; Ol' Dirty Bastard's " Got Your Money",
N.E.R.D N.E.R.D. (stylized as N⋆E⋆R⋆D and N.E.R.D, a backronym of No-one Ever Really Dies) is an American hip hop and rock band, formed in Virginia Beach, Virginia, in 1999. Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo were signed by Teddy Riley (producer), Ted ...
's "Truth or Dare", and Richard X's "Finest Dreams" appear on the album alongside every charted Kelis single to that date, with the exception of "Blindfold Me". Also in 2008, the ''Kelis Was Here'' album track "
I Don't Think So I, or i, is the ninth letter and the third vowel letter of the Latin alphabet, used in the modern English alphabet, the alphabets of other western European languages and others worldwide. Its name in English is ''i'' (pronounced ), plural ...
" became a top 40 hit in Australia after being used in promotion for the 2008 season of the reality series ''
Big Brother Australia ''Big Brother Australia'' (also known simply as ''Big Brother'') is an Australian reality show based on the international '' Big Brother'' format created by John de Mol. Following the premise of other versions of the format, the show feature ...
''.


2009–2011: ''Flesh Tone''

In 2009, Kelis signed to
Interscope Records Interscope Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group through its Interscope Geffen A&M imprint. Founded in late 1990 by Jimmy Iovine and Ted Field as a $20 million joint venture with Atlantic Records of Warner Mus ...
via the
will.i.am Music Group will.i.am Music Group is a vanity label founded by music artist will.i.am of Black Eyed Peas. Popular artists that were signed to the label other than will.i.am or Black Eyed Peas include Fergie, Macy Gray, Cheryl, and Sérgio Mendes. Initial ...
to release her fifth studio album, ''
Flesh Tone ''Flesh Tone'' is the fifth studio album by American singer Kelis, released on May 14, 2010, by the will.i.am Music Group and Interscope Records. Recorded while the singer was unsigned and pregnant with her first child, the album is an ode to m ...
'', which included production from
Ammo Ammunition (informally ammo) is the material fired, scattered, dropped, or detonated from any weapon or weapon system. Ammunition is both expendable weapons (e.g., bombs, missiles, grenades, land mines) and the component parts of other weapo ...
,
Free School Free may refer to: Concept * Freedom, having the ability to do something, without having to obey anyone/anything * Freethought, a position that beliefs should be formed only on the basis of logic, reason, and empiricism * Emancipate, to procure ...
, Benny Benassi,
Burns Burns may refer to: * Burn, an injury (plural) People: * Burns (surname), includes list of people and characters Business: * Burns London, a British guitar maker Places: ;In the United States * Burns, Colorado, unincorporated community in Eagle ...
, Boys Noize, Benny Benassi,
DJ Tocadisco Roman Böer (born 9 June 1974), better known as DJ Tocadisco, formerly Tocadisco (; Spanish for "turntable"), is a German DJ and record producer. Biography Born in Berlin, but grew up as the son of the photographer and media designer Gerry Böe ...
,
will.i.am William James Adams Jr. (born March 15, 1975), known professionally as will.i.am (pronounced "Will-I-am"), is an American rapper, singer, songwriter and record producer. He is the founding and lead member of the musical group Black Eyed Peas. ...
, and David Guetta. ''Flesh Tone'' marked Kelis' transition into
dance Dance is a performing art form consisting of sequences of movement, either improvised or purposefully selected. This movement has aesthetic and often symbolic value. Dance can be categorized and described by its choreography, by its repertoir ...
music. Kelis said she was hesitant to sign to another major label after her experiences with Jive Records but did not want the album to be "swept under the rug with a smaller label". Coinciding with her change in musical direction, Kelis appeared on
Basement Jaxx Basement Jaxx are an English electronic music duo consisting of Felix Buxton and Simon Ratcliffe. The pair got their name from the regular club night they held in Brixton, London, UK. They first rose to popularity in the underground house scene ...
's 2009 album ''
Scars A scar (or scar tissue) is an area of fibrous tissue that replaces normal skin after an injury. Scars result from the biological process of wound repair in the skin, as well as in other organs, and tissues of the body. Thus, scarring is a natu ...
'' on the title track, on Benassi's 2010 single "Spaceship" (with
apl.de.ap Allan Pineda Lindo (born November 28, 1974), known professionally as apl.de.ap (), is a Filipino-American rapper, singer and record producer. He is a founding member of the hip hop group Black Eyed Peas. Early life Allan Pineda Lindo was born ...
and
Jean Baptiste Jean-Baptiste is a male French name, originating with Saint John the Baptist, and sometimes shortened to Baptiste. The name may refer to any of the following: Persons * Charles XIV John of Sweden, born Jean-Baptiste Jules Bernadotte, was King ...
)—a top 40 U.S. and UK club hit—and on the Crookers single "No Security" from their debut album ''
Tons of Friends ''Tons of Friends'' is the debut album by Italian electronic duo Crookers. It was released on March 8, 2010 on Southern Fried Records. Many of the songs feature collaborations, including Kid Cudi, Soulwax, Kelis, will.i.am, Róisín Murphy, Miike ...
''. Critical reception to ''Flesh Tone'' was generally positive, with Pitchfork naming the album Kelis's best since her debut, ''Kaleidoscope''. The first single from ''Flesh Tone'', "
Acapella ''A cappella'' (, also , ; ) music is a performance by a singer or a singing group without instrumental accompaniment, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. The term ''a cappella'' was originally intended to differentiate between Ren ...
" (produced by David Guetta), debuted in the top five on the UK Singles Chart and reached number one on the U.S.
Hot Dance Club Songs Dance Club Songs is a chart published weekly by '' Billboard'' magazine in the United States. It is a national look over of club disc jockeys to determine the most popular songs being played in nightclubs across the country. It was launched as t ...
and the UK Dance Chart, eventually receiving a BPI silver certification. ''Flesh Tone'' peaked at number 48 on the ''Billboard'' 200 and at number five on the Dance/Electronic Albums. The second single, "
4th of July (Fireworks) "4th of July (Fireworks)" is the second single from Kelis' fifth studio album, ''Flesh Tone''. It samples " You're My Heart (Pilotpriest Remix)" by Lioness. The song was listed at number 51 on the list of the ''NME'' Best Tracks of 2010. Three di ...
", was accompanied by a video co-directed by Kelis herself (with Rankin and
Nicole Ehrlich Nicole Ehrlich is an American producer, director, and women's rights activist. She is the SVP of Creative and Celebrity Relations, and has been the recipient of Grammy, MTV VMA and Emmy Awards. Ehrlich has previously worked for Extasy Records, Ge ...
) and became a top ten club hit in America and Britain. Subsequent singles, " Scream" and "
Brave Brave most commonly refers to: *Brave, an adjective for one who possesses courage *Braves (Native Americans), a EuroAmerican stereotype for Native American warriors Brave(s) or The Brave(s) may also refer to: Film and television * ''Brave'' (199 ...
", made minimal chart impact. During mid-2010 Kelis embarked on her first U.S. tour, titled
All Hearts The All Hearts Tour was a joint concert tour by American R&B singer Kelis and Swedish pop singer Robyn in support of their albums ''Flesh Tone'' and ''Body Talk Pt. 1'', respectively. The announcement for the tour was unique in that the duo annou ...
with Robyn, amid a selection of club, festival, and solo dates that continued through 2011 – these included Glastonbury,
The Big Chill Big Chill can refer to: *The Big Chill (music festival), an annual music and comedy festival held in England * ''The Big Chill'' (film), a 1983 American film directed by Lawrence Kasdan *The Big Chill at the Big House, a 2010 U.S. college ice hock ...
, Good Vibrations Festival, and Lovebox. Kelis appears on the Mark Ronson-produced track "The Man Who Stole a Leopard" from the 2010
Duran Duran Duran Duran () are an English Rock music, rock band formed in Birmingham in 1978 by singer and bassist Stephen Duffy, keyboardist Nick Rhodes and guitarist/bassist John Taylor (bass guitarist), John Taylor. With the addition of drummer Roger ...
album ''
All You Need Is Now ''All You Need Is Now'' is the thirteenth studio album by English New wave music, new wave band Duran Duran. Produced by Mark Ronson, a truncated version of the album was released digitally on 21 December 2010. A physical package was released on ...
'', a song she and the band performed in a concert directed by filmmaker
David Lynch David Keith Lynch (born January 20, 1946) is an American filmmaker, visual artist and actor. A recipient of an Academy Honorary Award in 2019, Lynch has received three Academy Award nominations for Best Director, and the César Award for Be ...
. She co-wrote the song "Waiting" for British pop singer Cheryl Cole's '' Messy Little Raindrops''. Kelis then collaborated with Scottish producer
Calvin Harris Adam Richard Wiles (born 17 January 1984), known professionally as Calvin Harris, is a Scottish DJ, record producer, singer, and songwriter who has released six studio albums. His debut studio album, ''I Created Disco'', was released in June ...
on the 2011 single "
Bounce Bounce or The Bounce may refer to: * Deflection (physics), the event where an object Collision, collides with and bounces against a plane surface Books * Mr. Bounce, a character from the Mr. Men series of children's books Broadcasting, film and ...
", the lead single from Harris' third studio album, ''
18 Months ''18 Months'' is the third studio album by Scottish DJ and musician Calvin Harris. It was released on 26 October 2012 by Deconstruction, Fly Eye and Columbia Records. It marked Harris's first album where he does not regularly provide vocals on e ...
''. "Bounce" debuted at number two on the UK Singles Chart, becoming Kelis's tenth UK top ten single and her biggest selling in the country (as of 2017). It eventually received a platinum certification from the BPI.


2012–2017: ''Food''

In 2012, Kelis's management firm at the time announced that her sixth studio album would be released in late 2012 and feature production from Skream,
BURNS Burns may refer to: * Burn, an injury (plural) People: * Burns (surname), includes list of people and characters Business: * Burns London, a British guitar maker Places: ;In the United States * Burns, Colorado, unincorporated community in Eagle ...
, Tom Neville,
Dan Black Daniel Black (born 16 November 1975) is an English singer-songwriter and vocalist. He was a member of alternative rock band The Servant (band), the Servant, before their split in 2007. He is also a vocalist for the Italian British group Plane ...
, and Caspa. The first single, the Skream-produced "Distance", received its UK radio premiere in mid 2012. Kelis said of the album, "I've been on a real 1990s vibe with this record, it's kind of trip-hoppish ..it's more electro, it's a little deeper and darker". Kelis was featured on Dan Black's single "Hearts" and Skream's "Copy Cat" (both 2013), the latter of which led to a dispute after Kelis alleged that Skream refused to have her appear in the music video. She subsequently opted to move on from dance music: "when everyone else starts doing it, it's not as much fun ..too much time went by. That oundwasn't a new idea any more". The rest of the material from these recording sessions remains unreleased. By 2013, Kelis was working with producer Dave Sitek, and it was announced that she would release two albums via Sitek's label, Federal Prism. A new single, "Jerk Ribs", subsequently premiered online. Kelis then signed to British independent label
Ninja Tune Ninja Tune is an English independent record label based in London. It has a satellite office in Los Angeles. It was founded by Matt Black and Jonathan More (better known as Coldcut) and managed by Peter Quicke and others. Inspired by a visit ...
for the release of the album, titled ''
Food Food is any substance consumed by an organism for nutritional support. Food is usually of plant, animal, or fungal origin, and contains essential nutrients, such as carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, or minerals. The substance is inge ...
'', in 2014. Produced entirely by Sitek, ''Food'' entered the UK Albums Chart at number 20, becoming Kelis' second highest-peaking album after ''Tasty'' in 2004. In the U.S., it reached number 73 on the ''Billboard'' 200 and the top twenty on the
Independent Albums The Independent Albums chart (previously titled Top Independent Albums) ranks the highest-selling independent music albums and extended plays (EPs) in the United States, as compiled by Nielsen SoundScan and published weekly by '' Billboard'' maga ...
. Subsequent singles were "Rumble" (a top 40 hit on the UK Independent Singles Chart) and "Friday Fish Fry". ''Food'' received positive reviews from critics, including a five-star review in '' The Independent'': "Kelis's sixth album is a moveable feast ..If music be the food of love, Kelis has cooked up something tasty enough to satisfy all but the hungriest of hearts." Mic named ''Food'' the best album of 2014 and of Kelis's career, while '' Rolling Stone'' listed it as one of the year's best R&B albums. A limited edition version of ''Food'' included remixes by electronic producers such as Actress, Mount Kimbie,
Ben Pearce Ben Pearce is an English DJ and music producer. He has co-founded the record label and DJ agency Purp & Soul with Chris Farnworth and heads as the Creative Director. Ben Pearce's music is considered Deep House with punk/metal, hip-hop, electronica ...
,
Breach Breach, Breached, or The Breach may refer to: Places * Breach, Kent, United Kingdom * Breach, West Sussex, United Kingdom * ''The Breach'', Great South Bay in the State of New York People * Breach (DJ), an Electronic/House music act * Miroslava ...
,
Machinedrum Travis Stewart, better known as Machinedrum, is an American electronic record producer and performer from North Carolina.Will Saul Will Saul (born 28 December 1978 in Glastonbury, England) is a British DJ, music producer, and the founder of Simple Records and Aus Music. Career Will Saul started his first record label, Simple Records in 2003, after having worked at Sony I ...
. Breach reworked his remix of "Rumble" into a new track featuring Kelis, "The Key", which was released as a single later in 2014. Kelis' performance at London's
Somerset House Somerset House is a large Neoclassical complex situated on the south side of the Strand in central London, overlooking the River Thames, just east of Waterloo Bridge. The Georgian era quadrangle was built on the site of a Tudor palace ("O ...
was recorded and released as an album, ''Live in London'', in late 2014. In 2015, Kelis featured on veteran disco producer
Giorgio Moroder Giovanni Giorgio Moroder (, ; born 26 April 1940) is an Italian composer, songwriter, and record producer. Dubbed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Father of Disco", Moroder is credited with pioneering euro disco and electronic dance mu ...
's album, '' Déjà Vu'', singing on the track, "Back and Forth". In 2017, she featured alongside rapper Sage The Gemini on English house DJ TCTS' single "Do It Like Me (Icy Feet)" and on
Dan Black Daniel Black (born 16 November 1975) is an English singer-songwriter and vocalist. He was a member of alternative rock band The Servant (band), the Servant, before their split in 2007. He is also a vocalist for the Italian British group Plane ...
's single "Farewell". Also in 2017, she released a new song, " Who's Lovin' You" (originally sung by The Miracles), on the
Danger Mouse Danger Mouse may refer (or appear in) to: * ''Danger Mouse'' (1981 TV series), a 1981 British animated television series * ''Danger Mouse'' (2015 TV series), a 2015 reboot of the British animated television series * Danger Mouse (musician) (born ...
-produced compilation, ''Resistance Radio: The Man in The High Castle'', for the television show '' The Man in the High Castle''.


2018–present: ''Kaleidoscope'' anniversary tour and new music

Kelis contributed vocals to the dance track "My Milkshake", a rework of her 2003 single "Milkshake" by British producer Freejak, in 2018. Kelis embarked on the ''Kaleidoscope'' 20th Anniversary Tour, a UK and European tour celebrating the 20th-anniversary release of her debut album ''Kaleidoscope'', in March 2020, though this was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Kelis was featured on a Disclosure song titled "Watch Your Step" in 2020 and on "Deal with It", a track on the debut mixtape by
Ashnikko Ashton Nicole Casey (born February 19, 1996), known professionally as Ashnikko ( ), is an American singer, rapper, and songwriter. They rose to prominence with their 2019 single "Stupid" with (Yung) Baby Tate, which gained viral popularity on t ...
, ''
Demidevil ''Demidevil'' (stylized in all caps) is the debut mixtape by American singer-songwriter and rapper Ashnikko. It was released on January 15, 2021, through Parlophone and Warner Records. The mixtape was supported by four singles: "Cry" featuring ...
'', in 2021. The former single, from Disclosure's Grammy Award-nominated album '' Energy'', received frequent airplay on BBC radio stations in the UK and reached the UK dance chart top 40. In October 2020, a biographical animated short about her life as a singer and chef was released on YouTube. Kelis revealed to ''
i-D ''i-D'' is a British bimonthly magazine published by Vice Media, dedicated to fashion, music, art and youth culture. ''i-D'' was founded by designer and former ''Vogue (magazine), Vogue'' art director Terry Jones (i-D), Terry Jones in 1980. The ...
'' magazine in 2019 that she was working on an EP that, at the time of the interview, was intended for release in 2020; in 2021, she said an album, ''Dirt'', would be released in 2022. Kelis released the single "Midnight Snacks" in 2021 and "Feed Them" in 2022, the latter in collaboration with the meal delivery service Daily Harvest. An interpolation of Kelis's "Milkshake" was used in the
Beyoncé Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter ( ; born September 4, 1981) is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. Beyoncé's boundary-pushing artistry and vocals have made her the most influential female musician of the 21st century, according to ...
song "Energy", on her 2022 album '' Renaissance''. The song was updated on some streaming services to remove the interpolation after Kelis said that she was not notified nor asked for approval for the song's use. Kelis said that Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo of the Neptunes, the credited songwriters on "Milkshake", had "stolen" and "swindled" her publishing rights for the song.


Other ventures


Culinary

Between 2006 and 2010, Kelis trained part-time as a
saucier A saucier () or sauté chef is a position in the classical brigade style kitchen. It can be translated into English as ''sauce chef''. In addition to preparing sauces, the saucier prepares stews, hot hors d'œuvres, and sautés food to order. ...
, eventually graduating from
Le Cordon Bleu Le Cordon Bleu (French for " The Blue Ribbon") is an international network of hospitality and culinary schools teaching French ''haute cuisine''. Its educational focuses are hospitality management, culinary arts, and gastronomy. The instituti ...
culinary school. In 2013, Kelis debuted her sauce line, Feast, at the Beverly Hills Food & Wine Festival. Kelis has described sauce as "what accessories are to a woman's outfit. Sauce defines where the dish is from and who's making it ..I think everything is better smothered, poured, or dipped." The line went on general sale in 2015 under the new name of Bounty & Full. Kelis's first
cookbook A cookbook or cookery book is a kitchen reference containing recipes. Cookbooks may be general, or may specialize in a particular cuisine or category of food. Recipes in cookbooks are organized in various ways: by course (appetizer, first cour ...
, ''My Life on a Plate'', was released in 2015; Kelis describes it as "an exploration of tastes and cultures, and my experience as a chef, musician, mother and wife". Kelis had previously written an unreleased cookbook with Lauren Pesavento in 2006. In 2014, Kelis set up a food truck to cook for attendees of the American music festival
SXSW South by Southwest, abbreviated as SXSW and colloquially referred to as South By, is an annual conglomeration of parallel film, interactive media, and music festivals and conferences organized jointly that take place in mid-March in Austin, Te ...
. She promoted her 2014 album ''Food'' by sharing her recipes for apple farro, jerk ribs, New York vanilla bean cheesecake, and more on the Spotify app Supper. In 2016, Kelis and cooking duo Le Bun opened a pop-up restaurant in London that she subsequently adapted as a food truck to tour around UK music festivals. In 2017, she released a
milkshake A milkshake (sometimes simply called a shake) is a sweet beverage made by blending milk, ice cream, and flavorings or sweeteners such as butterscotch, caramel sauce, chocolate syrup, fruit syrup, or whole fruit into a thick, sweet, cold mixture ...
recipe in collaboration with
Baileys Baileys Irish Cream is an Irish cream liqueur, an alcoholic drink flavoured with cream, cocoa and Irish whiskey. It is made by Diageo at Nangor Road, in Dublin, Ireland and in Mallusk, Northern Ireland. It is the original Irish cream, invente ...
. In 2019, Kelis developed an exclusive menu with a local street food vendor for Jam on Rye Festival in London. In 2014, the Cooking Channel aired a cooking TV series starring Kelis, called ''Saucy and Sweet''. Kelis appears in ''
Cooked with Cannabis ''Cooked with Cannabis'' is a 2020 streaming television series. The premise revolves around a cooking competition where recreational marijuana is used as an ingredient. Cast * Kelis * Leather Storrs Notable contestants and diners * Core ...
'', a competition cooking series that Netflix launched on April 20, 2020.


Fashion/TV

In 2006, Kelis designed her own line of fashion accessories, called Cake. In 2007, she was in talks to host a '' Project Runway''-esque show for
VH1 VH1 (originally an initialism of Video Hits One) is an American basic cable television network based in New York City and owned by Paramount Global. It was created by Warner-Amex Satellite Entertainment, at the time a division of Warner Commun ...
and auditioned for various film and TV roles. In 2017, Kelis joined BBC One's singing contest ''
Pitch Battle ''Pitch Battle'' was a singing show hosted by Mel Giedroyc on BBC One. It began airing on 17 June 2017. The show sees rival musical groups facing-off against each other, inspired by the 2012 film ''Pitch Perfect''. At the final on 22 July 2017, ...
'' as a judge of the competition alongside Gareth Malone. In 2020, Kelis competed as the Daisy in the British version of ''
The Masked Singer ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the m ...
'', where she was eliminated in the fifth episode.


Personal life

Kelis met rapper
Nas Nas (born 1973) is the stage name of American rapper Nasir Jones. Nas, NaS, or NAS may also refer to: Aviation * Nasair, a low-cost airline carrier and subsidiary based in Eritrea * National Air Services, an airline in Saudi Arabia ** Nas Air ( ...
at an
MTV Video Music Awards The MTV Video Music Awards (commonly abbreviated as the VMAs) is an award show presented by the cable channel MTV to honour the best in the music video medium. Originally conceived as an alternative to the Grammy Awards (in the video category) ...
party in 2002; they dated for one year before becoming engaged in 2004, and marrying in January 2005. In April 2009, she filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences. She was seven months pregnant at the time. In July 2009, Kelis gave birth to her first son, Knight. The couple's divorce was finalized in May 2010. Kelis has described her relationship with Nas as physically and mentally abusive, crediting the anticipated birth of her child as a factor in her decision to end her marriage. Kelis also recalled that the
domestic violence Domestic violence (also known as domestic abuse or family violence) is violence or other abuse that occurs in a domestic setting, such as in a marriage or cohabitation. ''Domestic violence'' is often used as a synonym for ''intimate partner ...
incident between
Rihanna Robyn Rihanna Fenty ( ; born February 20, 1988) is a Barbadian singer, actress, and businesswoman. Born in Saint Michael and raised in Bridgetown, Barbados, Rihanna auditioned for American record producer Evan Rogers who invited her to the ...
and
Chris Brown Christopher Maurice Brown (born May 5, 1989) is an American singer, songwriter, dancer, and actor. According to '' Billboard'', Brown is one of the most successful R&B singers of his generation, having often been referred to by many contempo ...
influenced her decision to leave Nas. After she saw pictures of Rihanna battered she felt embarrassed because she also had bruises all over her body, but she was hesitant to speak out. Nas replied to the accusations on social media, accusing Kelis of attempting to slander him in the time of a custody battle and accusing Kelis of abusing his daughter. In addition to the domestic abuse claims, she alleged that Nas' drinking habit began to damage their relationship, and he had been having adulterous affairs for two years. They are involved in an ongoing custody battle over their son. In April 2018, Kelis claimed that until 2012, she had not seen "a single cent" from Nas in child support and he has not been an active parent. She explained, "He doesn't participate. He shows up when it's fun, he shows up when there's a good photo-op... I don't think it should be 50/50 just because you had sperm involved." In March 2007, Kelis was detained by police in
Miami Beach, Florida Miami Beach is a coastal resort city in Miami-Dade County, Florida. It was incorporated on March 26, 1915. The municipality is located on natural and artificial island, man-made barrier islands between the Atlantic Ocean and Biscayne Bay, the ...
, and charged with disorderly conduct. The arrest report said an operation in which officers posed as prostitutes in the
South Beach South Beach, also nicknamed colloquially as SoBe, is a neighborhood in Miami Beach, Florida. It is located east of Miami between Biscayne Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. The area encompasses Miami Beach south of Dade Boulevard. This area was the fi ...
nightclub district was disrupted when Kelis started screaming racial profanities at them. She was sent to
Miami-Dade County Miami-Dade County is a county located in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Florida. The county had a population of 2,701,767 as of the 2020 census, making it the most populous county in Florida and the seventh-most populous county in ...
Jail, and was later released on a $1,500 bond. In September 2008, Kelis was acquitted of the charges. A spokesman for Kelis further commented that the singer would file a lawsuit against the Miami Beach Police, claiming unlawful arrest and the violation of her civil rights. Kelis married photographer Mike Mora in 2014, and she gave birth to her second son Shepherd in November 2015. Since January 2020, Kelis has been living on a remote farm outside Los Angeles that she manages, when not performing around the world. In September 2020, she gave birth to her and Mora's second child, a daughter named named Galilee. In September 2021, Mora revealed publicly that he was battling stage-4 stomach cancer. In an Instagram post, he stated he had been diagnosed with advanced gastric adenocarcinoma in September 2020 and given eighteen months to live. Mora died on March 14, 2022, at age 37.


Artistry

AXS called Kelis a "punky, rebellious" singer-songwriter. '' The New York Times'' considered Kelis's vocals "dynamic" and commended her for being "well schooled in the intricacies of heartache".
IGN ''IGN'' (formerly ''Imagine Games Network'') is an American video game and entertainment media website operated by IGN Entertainment Inc., a subsidiary of Ziff Davis, Inc. The company's headquarters is located in San Francisco's SoMa distri ...
described Kelis as being "
strange Strange may refer to: Fiction * Strange (comic book), a comic book limited series by Marvel Comics * Strange (Marvel Comics), one of a pair of Marvel Comics characters known as The Strangers * Adam Strange, a DC Comics superhero * The title char ...
,
weird Weird derives from the Anglo-Saxon word Wyrd, meaning fate or destiny. In modern English it has acquired the meaning of “strange or uncanny”. It may also refer to: Places * Weird Lake, a lake in Minnesota, U.S. People *"Weird Al" Yankovic (b ...
, and
eccentric Eccentricity or eccentric may refer to: * Eccentricity (behavior), odd behavior on the part of a person, as opposed to being "normal" Mathematics, science and technology Mathematics * Off-center, in geometry * Eccentricity (graph theory) of a v ...
". The '' Chicago Tribune'' stated that Kelis made the most of "a voice that lives in the basement". Kelis's debut album '' Kaleidoscope'' took influence from a variety of 1970s genres, which included urban,
rock Rock most often refers to: * Rock (geology), a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals or mineraloids * Rock music, a genre of popular music Rock or Rocks may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * Rock, Caerphilly, a location in Wales ...
, jazz, hip hop, R&B, soul, and
disco Disco is a genre of dance music and a subculture that emerged in the 1970s from the United States' urban nightlife scene. Its sound is typified by four-on-the-floor beats, syncopated basslines, string sections, brass and horns, electric pia ...
music. Kelis cited early
Sarah Vaughan Sarah Lois Vaughan (March 27, 1924 – April 3, 1990) was an American jazz singer. Nicknamed "Sassy" and "Jazz royalty, The Divine One", she won two Grammy Awards, including the Lifetime Achievement Award, and was nominated for a total of nine ...
, Ella Fitzgerald and Dinah Washington as major influences for the album. Several of the album's tracks were designed for clubs, and contained electro beats meant for dancing. Her second studio album ''
Wanderland ''Wanderland'' is the second studio album by American singer Kelis. It was released on October 17, 2001, by Virgin Records. The album's only single, "Young, Fresh n' New", peaked at number 32 on the UK Singles Chart. As of October 2004, ''Wanderl ...
'' resembles musically its predecessor while exploring more modern funk sounds, dabbling heavily into genres such as soul and rap. It carried on the same themes developed in ''Kaleidoscope'', and was criticized for doing so. Kelis's sixth album, ''Food'' (2014), contains influences of soul,
funk Funk is a music genre that originated in African American communities in the mid-1960s when musicians created a rhythmic, danceable new form of music through a mixture of various music genres that were popular among African Americans in the m ...
, gospel, and Afrobeat—Kelis said of the album, "You know, those records in your life that your parents played and they resonate with who you are? They make you nostalgic. I wanted to find out how to get that feeling."


Awards and nominations


Discography

;Studio albums * '' Kaleidoscope'' (1999) * ''
Wanderland ''Wanderland'' is the second studio album by American singer Kelis. It was released on October 17, 2001, by Virgin Records. The album's only single, "Young, Fresh n' New", peaked at number 32 on the UK Singles Chart. As of October 2004, ''Wanderl ...
'' (2001) * '' Tasty'' (2003) * ''
Kelis Was Here ''Kelis Was Here'' is the fourth studio album by American singer Kelis, released on August 22, 2006, by Jive Records. Originally titled ''The Puppeteer'', the album features production by Bangladesh, Raphael Saadiq, Max Martin, Sean Garrett, and ...
'' (2006) * ''
Flesh Tone ''Flesh Tone'' is the fifth studio album by American singer Kelis, released on May 14, 2010, by the will.i.am Music Group and Interscope Records. Recorded while the singer was unsigned and pregnant with her first child, the album is an ode to m ...
'' (2010) * ''
Food Food is any substance consumed by an organism for nutritional support. Food is usually of plant, animal, or fungal origin, and contains essential nutrients, such as carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, or minerals. The substance is inge ...
'' (2014)


Tours

Headlining *
Tasty Down Under Tour Tasty may refer to: *Taste, a sense Music * Tasty (band), a South Korean band * ''Tasty'' (Good Rats album), 1974, or the title track * ''Tasty'' (Kelis album), 2003 * ''Tasty'' (Patti LaBelle album), 1978 * ''Tasty'' (The Shadows album), 197 ...
(2004) * All Hearts Tour (with Robyn) (2010) * Intimate Venues Tour (2014) * Kaleidoscope 20th Anniversary Tour (2020) Supporting act * Area:One Tour (2001) * Elevation Tour (2001) *
MTV2 MTV2 (formerly M2) is an American pay television Cable television, channel owned by the Paramount Media Networks division of Paramount Global. The channel launched initially as an all-music video service, once the original MTV had started to sh ...
's Sisters for Hip-Hop & Soul Tour (2001) *
The Onyx Hotel Tour The Onyx Hotel Tour (billed as The Onyx Hotel Tour 2004) was the fifth concert tour by American entertainer Britney Spears. It showcased her fourth studio album, ''In the Zone'' (2003), and visited North America and Europe. A tour to promote the ...
(2004) * Hip Hop – Don't Stop (with
Missy Elliott Melissa Arnette Elliott (born July 1, 1971), better known as Missy Elliott or Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliot, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer. She embarked on her music career with R&B girl group Sista in the earl ...
and Talib Kweli)
(2004) *
Sugar Water Festival The Sugar Water Festival was a music festival founded by American recording artists Erykah Badu, Queen Latifah and Jill Scott. The trek played to amphitheaters and arenas in the United States during the summer of 2005 and 2006. It began in 2005 a ...
(2006)


Filmography


References


External links

* * *
Kelis at china-underground.com
{{Use mdy dates, date=August 2021 1979 births African-American women singer-songwriters African-American women singers African-American songwriters American women singer-songwriters Alumni of Le Cordon Bleu American chefs American dance musicians American women pop singers American hip hop singers American musicians of Chinese descent American musicians of Puerto Rican descent American rhythm and blues singer-songwriters Arista Records artists Brit Award winners Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School alumni Interscope Records artists Jive Records artists Living people American neo soul singers Ninja Tune artists People from Harlem Singers from New York City Virgin Records artists American cookbook writers Women cookbook writers American women in electronic music American female hip hop musicians American contemporary R&B singers 21st-century American women singers American women non-fiction writers 21st-century American singers Singer-songwriters from New York (state)