Review Kelis
Kelis Was Here

1. Year: 2006
2. Style: R&B
3. Rating:

Kelis’ lyrics have become more open and frank

American hip-hop singer and songwriter Kelis Rogers, known to the audience as simply Kelis, has released her fourth full-length album Kelis Was Here. The work is the first to be done without the participation of the Neptunes, the producers with whom Kelis has been co-operating since the beginning of her career at the end of the 1990s. At that time her hit single Caught Out There was one of the most popular songs in Europe, then followed Milkshake. These songs brought Kelis the fame of an unselfconscious extravagant artist, also noted for the sexy image and colorful clothes. Today Kelis is married to a hip-hop icon Nas, and has collaborated with a great amount of stars including Basta Rhymes and Foxy. Kelis Was Here boasts a top quality production for such professionals as will.i.am from The Black Eyed Peas, Scott Storch and Linda Perry has worked on a significant number of songs. Kelis’ lyrics have become more open and frank, at times aggressive and more often very personal. The lead single Bossy has already turned into a new hip-hop hit in Europe and the US, and there are enough other lucky songs on Kelis Was Here ready to join it.

Kelis Was Here is able to refine any party

As always, Kelis keeps experimenting with the possibilities of her powerful vocals, which makes Kelis Was Here an interesting album rich in variety of the works presented. As for the instrumentation, it has never been as dynamic and exciting as on the new record, probably due to the influence of the invited producers. The infectious rhythm on the single Bossy featuring Too Short is achieved with the help of the combination of hard drums and light keyboards, and on the impetuous track Till The Wheels Fall Off the guitar riffs are added, making the song one of the album’s highlights. The hot track Blindfold Me serves a kind of the guarantee that Kelis has not lost her sass and sensuality, while on such songs as Circus and Handful the singer demonstrates she can do the rapping just as good as sing in her alto. Will.i.am contributes his tough verses to the stylish song Weekend, and Kelis’ singing skills are revealed to their best on the melodious composition Like You. Kelis Was Here is not devoid of a thought-provoking ballad – Lil Star with Cee-Lo dilutes the flow of sharp-edged tracks and prepares to the feminist rebuff I Don’t Think So. On the whole, excluding a couple of quite mediocre songs, Kelis Was Here is a worthy hip-hop album able to refine any party.

The beginning of a new period in the singer’s career

Despite some of its drawbacks, Kelis Was Here does not disappoint and to some may even seem a better work than the previous material from Kelis. Because of the breakup with the Neptunes, many have predicted the end of the singer’s best times but she has made an album that proves just the opposite. Due to the support of real experts in arrangement and sound and her talent of songwriting Kelis has released a record that surprises with the maturity and novelty at the same time. This is an original music, created by a rebellious and independent young woman, having her own firm values. The lyrics contain a lot of wise observations concerning the relations between people of different status and a number of sharp judgements, witnessing Kelis’ personal growth and natural wit. The title Kelis Was Here means her ambition to leave a mark in the music industry, to send a message that she has reached her goal, inspiring other young people not to give up on their dreams. Now that a new period of the singer’s career is beginning she needs the support of her fans more than ever, and since the album pleases in many respects, they are sure not to let her down.