Kelis' "Kelis Was Here" (July 11 Street Date)



Funk Diva Kelis to Get "Bossy" on New Album
R&B goddess collaborates with Too Short, "the ultimate O.G.," on fourth effort
ONLINE EXCLUSIVE

Source: http://www.rollingstone.c..._new_album

Eclectic R&B singer Kelis -- known for proudly professing her rage on 1999's "Caught Out There" ("I hate you so much right now!") and boasting about her, um, "milkshake" on 2003's Tasty -- is plotting her return this summer. The lady unleashes her fourth album, Kelis Was Here, in August.

The funked-out diva has collaborated with a roster of impressive hip-hop artists in the past, including the late Ol' Dirty Bastard, OutKast, the Neptunes and her hubbie, Nas. But when she was searching for talent for her new single, "Bossy," she wanted to reach into the annals of West Coast rap.

"I did the record, and I thought, 'Who would be perfect for this track? Who's the real boss?' I wanted Too Short, and everybody was saying, 'We can't find him,'" Kelis says of her search for "the ultimate O.G." "No one really supported that move, but when I put him on there everyone thought it was crazy."

Kelis continued to trust her instincts while working on the rest of the album, cross-breeding her diverse inspirations, from old-school R&B to funk punk. "I never do just one thing," she says. "It's from one spectrum to another. It goes from really punk and fun and glam-ish to 1970, Roberta Flack, Chapter 2."

The singer's favorite tracks represent both ends of that spectrum. "'Fire' has, like, a dance-party vibe to it," says Kelis. "But 'Appreciate Me' -- that's a really grown-up, woman's song."

The latter, softer track also finds the feisty performer digging just a bit deeper. "There's a lot of storytelling on the record," she says. "It's just my life."

TRACEY FORD

Posted May 18, 2006 6:11 PM

Bossy is a fucking hideous song. The video honestly made me sick to my stomache. I kept waiting for her to do something to indicate that the entire video/song was a joke. Like the real music was gonna start at any minute and she would ungrease her self, and get on with the realness. But it never happened. She honestly committed 3 minutes and some change to this bullshit.

Has anybody else seen this video?

Mara said:

She must've reached really deep...with both hands.
[Edited 5/23/06 6:49am]

I couldn't watch it. Hate the song and the bit of video I saw. I remember she visited a radio station when the song was first released and the majority of the listeners called to tell her how crappy the song was. She just said 'you don't have to love it' but I hoped she was taking into account that fans were not feeling the new direction. I hope there's better stuff on the album.

So the video is somehow repulsive? I haven't heard the song or seen the vid.

CinisterCee said:

i don't think it's repulsive at al. i like it. it's a cute song and her new look is dope. kelis is the shit!

I don't think it was repulsive I'm just hella disappointed in the song and didn't care to watch the video.

JackieBlue said:

what don't you like about it?

dancerella said:

To be honest with you Dancerella, I don't know if I have a legit reason. She's not really singing and I don't want to hear Too Short. It just sounds bland and slow. I guess she’s going for something completely different now that’s she’s broken from Neptunes. But I like her songs with Raphael Saadiq. Maybe the rest of the album will be different.

CinisterCee said:

I thought the song was by some lil kid artist coming up with them weak ass south coast casio beats.

I wish the next single be off the chain though. I was upset I admit.

Uh oh...."diamonds on my neck...diamonds on my grill"....

http://youtube.com/watch?...arch=kelis

Ima be skipping this song on the album fo sho...
[Edited 5/23/06 10:43am]

paisleypark4 said:

That's it!

I know Milkshake was no masterpiece but it was catchy as hell and I'm a fan from day one so I know she can do better than Bossy.

CinisterCee said:

Maybe repulsive is a bit strong. I just expected more from her. Bossy sounds like a Lil MO reject, and thats never a good thing. You just have to see it for yourself, I guess. I dig Kelis, and I think she got a unique "something" about her. This one just doesnt do it for me, though. Hopefully the rest of the album is better than this song.

JackieBlue said:

It being prduced by the Neptunes really worked too..

I also was a fan from day 1. No one payed attention when "Caught Out There" came out and people were like, "you like that weird girl?" and shit.

JackieBlue said:

damn, you guys think they sound like cheap casio beats? oh well. to be honest i wished she would have stayed with the neptunes but what can you do? i hope this album will be good. i hate when she does generic r&b crap. stick with the crazy shit!

dancerella said:

yeah..if u gonna come with some crazy R&B stay with it...dont subdue ya self...let your freak flag fly!!

paisleypark4 said:

i agree! it seems like she does random generic r&b tracks just to either fit in and hopefully get a hit or so people won't think she's completely nuts. i wish she would just go all out with the freakiness.

I'm not feeling the first single either. If it was by another artist, I would have ignored it altogether.

sextonseven said:

no love for kelis!

dancerella said:

Well come on...this is a 360 for her...

Kelis is sexy as F$%kin' all outdoors!

well..... at least she looks good.

CinisterCee said:

hate the song... but i like the video... she looks Hot as hell !!!

banks said:

Hell yeah! I'm thinking of cutting my hair asymmetrically because of her.

Ooh maybe I have heard it. I think it's a fun track!

paisleypark4 said:

Kelis is known for pulling 180s.

I expect the same on this upcoming album.

dancerella said:

That style is hot!! I'm noticing a lot of asymmetrical dos nowadays. Post-punk is back!!

Mara said:

Love the haircut yes...

her whole new image sucks. she's cheapened herself.

JPW said:

I know.

Imagined if Janet did this? I'd be cooked...dark
[Edited 5/23/06 18:13pm]