Kelis Biography

Harlem-bred vocalist Kelis left her parents’ home at 16 and landed a deal with Virgin four years later. In mid-1999, Kelis was singing alongside rap troublemaker Ol’ Dirty Bastard on his cut “Got Your Money,” and her signature Technicolor spiraled Afro sparked critics’ interests. Kelis captured feminist desires on her debut, Kaleidoscope, released in December 1999. Two years later, she teamed up with the Neptunes once again for Wanderland. The sophomore effort was only released in Europe — due to political reworkings within the U.S. wing of Virgin — which compelled Kelis to leave for Arista. 2003’s Tasty followed and yielded the Top Ten hit “Milkshake,” another Neptunes production. In 2006, her fourth album, Kelis Was Here, was released through Jive, led by the duly assertive “Bossy.”

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