Kelis Rogers (1979- ), better known as just Kelis, is an American R&B singer. She is best known for “Milkshake” (2003): “My milkshake brings all the boys to the yard, and they’re like, it’s better than yours. Damn right, it’s better than yours. I can teach you, but I have to charge.”
Her two other top ten hits on the American R&B charts are: “Caught Out There” (1999), the one where she says “I hate you so much right now!” over and over, and “Bossy” (2006).
No one knows why, but her music does way better in Britain than in America. Maybe it is her hair. I first heard her on Virgin Radio from London (the same is true for Macy Gray). Not only did “Milkshake” and “Caught Out There” make the top ten in Britain, so did “Trick Me” (2004), “Millionaire” (2004) with Andre 3000 and “Lil Star” (2007) with Cee-Lo of Gnarls Barkley, songs largely unknown in the States.
Her next album comes out later this year (2009).
She has been married to rapper Nas since 2005, but separated from him in May 2009 and filed for divorce. This came just two months before she is expected to give birth to their son! She suspects him of seeing other women. They met in 2002 at a party after the MTV Video Music Awards. Before that she was just a fan of his.
She grew up in Harlem in New York. Her father was a jazz musician and her mother a fashion designer. Her father is black, her mother is Puerto Rican and Chinese. Her name comes from putting their two names together: Kenneth + Eveliss = Kelis. It rhymes with “police”.
She went to a private school in Manhattan where most people were white and did not understand her. At 13 she cut off her hair and when it grew back she started colouring it blue, green, platinum and pink, something she is known for even now. Her natural hair is Type 3 (pictured above).
Growing up she sang at church and learned to play the piano, violin and saxophone. At 16 she got in to the La Guardia High School for the Arts, a magnet high school in New York. But just then she was kicked out of the house for reasons unclear and had to support herself.
At high school she formed a singing trio, BLU (Black Ladies United). It did not go anywhere but one thing led to another and it brought her to the attention of the Neptunes – Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo. With them she was able to land a recording contract with Virgin in 1998. They wrote and produced her first two hits, “Caught Out There” and “Milkshake” and much of her early music.
Kelis about her music:
Am I R&B because I’m Black? Am I pop because I have a song called “Milkshake”? Or can I just be who the hell I am? Good Lord, people make it seem like we’re doing heart transplants here, but we’re just making music!
See also:
- Kelis: Milkshake
- Harlem
- Sheila Ferguson – another American R&B singer (from the disco era) better known in Britain.
O man I love me some Kelis
Yeah, she’s a superstar in the UK but not in the US. Similar to Neneh Cherry before her. Interesting.
She and Pharrell were a couple. She also dated the incarcarated rapper Shyne.
I like her but I feel that she’s somewhat of a disappointment compared to what she could have been. Her image is very visual and edgy yet her music never went beyond standard-issue mainstream pop/R&B. At the end of the day, she’s more image than anything else. Much like many of her peers in the industry.
I ADORE Kelis! Love her and her music.
Caught Out There, Young Fresh n New, Get Along With You, Got You Money(ft ODB), Trick Me, Millionaire(ft Andre 300)
I thought her and Nas made a good couple so it’s kinda sad hearing about them now, esp with a baby on the way.
*Got Your Money
*Andre 3000
Oops!
I love Kelis! the chick represents for weird black girls lol
mynameismyname said:
Her image is very visual and edgy yet her music never went beyond standard-issue mainstream pop/R&B.
I have to disagree with you. Her music in the beginning did go beyond standard-issue mainstream Pop/R&B. From listening to albums like “Kaleidoscope” and “Wanderland” I don’t recall many female R&B singers going that route with their music. Alot of it did have to do with the neptune sound, but her voice mashed well with them that made Kelis sound very unique from other women. However, Kelis does not really have a pop/R&B sound though. She has a lot of different sounds because her voice is versatile. She can go Pop, R&B, Alternative Rock, electronic, Hip-Hop, etc. Kelis is a black chick you can’t really box in. Due to the fact that she is of color, it was hard for labels to market her image and sound, because she is not of the stereotypical black female artist. You know what that is. They either sing, Neo-soul, Hip-Hop/R&B, Pop/R&B, and gospel. Nothing outside of those genres. Kelis can go either way and has been. Artist like Santigold can only get some shine through some damn commercials lol. Which supports that black women have it really hard doing music outside of their expected genres.
“I love Kelis! the chick represents for weird black girls lol” Too true!
And I agree with every word
i like kelis. she’s beautiful and she does represents weird black girls but in a good way.
Dani,
You’re absolutely right. Black artists who go outside of the pre-ordained “urban” box have a hard time. Although there’s examples of black females, namely Tracey Chapman, Tasmin Archer (UK singer, early ’90s), Macy Gray and others, who have had commerical success following their own quirky, non-traditional niche.
Kelis, however, outside of her edgy image, does not qualify for the same ‘status’. I also owned her first two albums. Outside of her deadpan vocals and some quirky hooks, the music didn’t deviate too far away from the radio-friendly pop/R&B that the Neptunes did for everybody else.
Kelis, however, outside of her edgy image, does not qualify for the same ’status’. I also owned her first two albums. Outside of her deadpan vocals and some quirky hooks, the music didn’t deviate too far away from the radio-friendly pop/R&B that the Neptunes did for everybody else.
What songs have the Neptunes done for everyone else that are far away from radio friendly? Are talking about mainstream sound? Most of the songs on “Wanderland” and “Kaleidoscope” weren’t radio friendly at all. Hint why her record lable argued that “Wanderland” didn’t have any singles that were radio friendly to release. I have to agree with them on that. Listening to “Wanderland” front and back. I do agree that she has some quirky hooks that are catchy, but once again most neptune fans will argue that this album is the most experimental neptune sound ever. Experimental for most is not radio friendly because it is unfamiliar to people. Most of the artist that they have worked with gave radio friendly “safer neptune sounds” to not have their fans become to unfamiliar with the artist. You also have to keep in my mind when these albums released.
“Kaleidoscope” came out in 1999. Destiny’s Child, TLC, Blaque, and 702 came out that year with alot of Pop/R&B songs and were working with alot of the same producers like Rodney Jerkins and Shake’Spere and Kandy from Xscape. The Neptune sound is totally different from these Hip-Hop/R&B producers and Kelis’ quirky hooks were also different from what is acceptable in the urban market. “Wanderland” came out in 2001. Those songs then is hard for people to listen to because it was too different from what the neptunes were producing for others. The songs they were producing for others were a different sound because of the neptunes furturistic sound, however, it was radio friendly and made those artist money and the neptunes as well. I had people listen to Kelis first two albums and they couldn’t connect to her songs. “Mr. U.F.O. Man” “Little Suzie”, “Perfect Day” are songs that are quirky(which is apart of Kelis image and personality) but it was too different because she is black portraying a non-traditional black woman sound and image. If her quirkeness was radio friendly, miss Kelis would’ve had sold better here in America. I think that when she did “Bossy” she had to mainstream her sound to sell records to stray away from “weird Kelis” lol
I think she does better in Britain than in America because what the Americans see as “weird” the British see as interesting. Americans are more conformist and try to fit you in a box, but Kelis does not fit in any box.
True, Aba and Dani.
But explain why most modern UK R&B sounds like a poor imitation of American pop/R&B?
I think my opinion about Kelis’ music is shaped by my own frame of reference. See, I listen to a lot of music that TRULY is “out there” and inventive. So, Kelis’ first two albums sound like radio-friendly pop/R&B that’s only mildly left-of-center. But that’s based on my wide array of musical knowledge. I don’t think Kelis’ earlier work was bad at all. Some of it was pretty catchy, just not as edgy, interesting and forward-thinking as her image.
mynameismyname:
But explain why most modern UK R&B sounds like a poor imitation of American pop/R&B?
This we can agree on. I don’t see how Amy Whinehouse gets so much recognition for sounding like a broke down version of Dinah Washington then have people praise her because she sound like Lauryn Hill. Duffy sounds like she has helium in her voice. Adele is just average. Joss Stone tries too hard. Estelle has some nice songs but she is okay too. The only modern uk talent I like is Jamiroquia and Floetry (when Marsha was in it). Now back in the 90′s uk R&B artist had nice stuff.
I think my opinion about Kelis’ music is shaped by my own frame of reference. See, I listen to a lot of music that TRULY is “out there” and inventive. So, Kelis’ first two albums sound like radio-friendly pop/R&B that’s only mildly left-of-center. But that’s based on my wide array of musical knowledge. I don’t think Kelis’ earlier work was bad at all. Some of it was pretty catchy, just not as edgy, interesting and forward-thinking as her image./b>
Trust me I listen to artist who are more weirder than Kelis lol. Yes, compare to those artist she is milder. However, from R&B black female artist that were out when she was coming out you couldn’t say her stuff was radio friendly lol. I figured that’s where you were going with your argument.
I like Amy Winehouse! Her two albums were brilliant. A rare time where quality music reached mainstream omnipresence.
There’s many brillant UK soul talents (Loose Ends, Soul II Soul, Young Disciples, Incognito, Jamiroquai, Brand New Heavies, Lisa Stansfield, Omar, etc., etc.) from yesteryear. Yet, most of the top R&B stars and starlets of recent memory aren’t really carrying the torch.
Yep Yep I liked the Brand New Heavies, Soul II Soul, Jamiroquia (still do but mostly with Stuart Zender the former bass player), and I love! Lisa Stansfield.
I rather listen to Sharon Jones and the dap kings and Amy but its all good.
Wow, I always thought the Brand New Heavies were American.
Yes, Dani! When Stuart left Jamiroquai, the sound was never the same. I love the crap out of the first four albums, but after that they went downhill.
I like Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings too. Although, they can come off self-consciously retro at times.
Aba,
The BNH are British. However, their most famous lead singer, N’Dea Davenport, is from Atlanta, GA. She was the lone American in the band. For a brief time (late ’90s), Siedah Garrett, the Quincy Jones protege-another American-also fronted the band.
Because in the uk the american alternative is lauded as truthful and best, whilst british acts are told they are the poor relations to anything american and must imitate the safer elements of the american r’n'b market.
Her first couple albums that the Neptunes produces were classic. They still sound good after god knows how many plays.