Kelis

Kelis Rogers-Jones is an American R&B and soul singer-songwriter, a BRIT Award winner and she was nominated for two Grammy Awards. Kelis became a worldwide known star in 2003 after the release of the best her album so far titled Tasty. Kelis Rogers started her musical career in her childhood – Kelis’ father was a jazzman, and her mother was a designer. That was Kelis’ mother, who inspired the young singer. As a child, Kelis sang in a church choir, also she played the violin, piano, and even saxophone. Later she met Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo, and due to their collaboration she managed to sign a record deal with the label.

Kelis started working on her debut record in late 1998, and the album was ready in 1999. It was titled Kaleidoscope and in its first week of release more than ten thousand copies were sold. The composition Caught out There peaked at #9 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, and the video for that song became a real hit on the television. In Europe Kaleidoscope turned out to be popular as well: Kelis managed to attract attention by her music and the bright image. Singer’s second album Wanderland was released in 2001. However, it appeared to be not so successful: only 80 thousand copies were sol worldwide.

The third studio work Tasty was issued in 2003, and only in two months more than 400 thousand copies were sold. One of the brightest compositions from that record Milkshake peaked at number three in Billboard Hot 100 in the USA and at number two of the UK Singles Chart. Later the album Tasty was certified Gold in the US. The fourth album titled Kelis Was Here was released in 2006 and debuted at number ten in Billboard 200 chart. The sales were not so high, nevertheless the lead single Bossy was certified platinum. In 2005 Kelis married rapper Nas. In 2009 Kelis gave birth to a baby boy. The couple named him Knight. Unfortunately, in 2009 Kelis had to file for divorce, and in May 2010 Kelis and Nas were no longer a wife and a husband.

Besides the music, Kelis finds the strength to get busy with other kinds of activities: she is working on a cookbook with Robert Teamer. The singer also creates her own line of fashion accessories – Cake. In 2010 Kelis collaborated with DJ Benny Benassi: they recorded his new single Spaceship, which will be included into his album of 2010. Their collaboration was very fruitful: Benassi also remixed Kelis and David Guetta's new song Acapella.

In 2008 Kelis’s discography was enlarged by the compilation album titled The Hits. Fans did not have to wait long for a new record: in 2010 Kelis released her new studio work Flesh Tone. That was the first album, recorded with the Interscope Records. While creating Flesh Tone, Kelis collaborated with Benny Benassi, David Guetta and will.i.am. That fact proves the slight movement towards electronica and dance music sound. The new album has all the chances to become a real hit: new, fresh sound and the wonderful vocals are the strong arguments.