After a short spell working as a model, 5'10" Kelis began appearing on songs by Neptunes produced rappers such as 'Got Your Money' by the late rapper Ol' Dirty Bastard. Soon afterwards, she released her debut album, Kaleidoscope in 1999 of which the first single was 'Caught Out There,' a song based on the time she caught her boyfriend cheating on her, and she beat him. The video feautures Kelis leading a pack of angry women down the street screaming 'I hate you so much right now!'. The album was released in USA, Europe and Asia, but did not find much audience in the USA. Not a great success, it only sold 249,000 copies to date.
After finding her largest audience in Europe, Kelis released her second album titled Wanderland (2001) in Europe only, which like her first album did not fare well. It only sold 80,000 copies and was entirely produced by The Neptunes (Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo) again, similarly to her debut. Only one single was released 'Young Fresh N New'.
In 2003 Kelis finally found fame in her country with the single 'Milkshake,' which was a massive success in Europe, Asia and USA, and she began dating rapper Nas (born Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones). The single was from the album 'Tasty' which did not feature the Neptunes as heavily as her previous albums. Singles included the popular Dallas Austin produced 'Trick Me' and 'Millionaire', a collaboration with OutKast's Andre 3000. 'In Public's duet with Nas was the fourth single from the album, becoming a top twenty hit in the U.K. without a video.
In 2006, Kelis presented a new album to her fans, entitled Kelis Was Here, which was originally to be called 'The Puppeteer' which was released on 22 August but was due Fall 2005. No Neptunes tracks appeared on this album, but Kelis used other producers such as Max Martin, Will.I.Am (Black Eyed Peas) and Raphael Saadiq. Singles are the huge 'Bossy', 'Blindfold Me', and 'Lil Star'. Kelis wrote more of the material on this album than she did for Tasty, and carries off the sci-fi, electronica sounds so often considered Neptunes material without them. This is most evident on the brilliant 'Trilogy'. Kelis has said she wants to make her mark with this album, as it will be the last 'album like this' she will make.
In October 2007, Kelis was dumped by Jive Records, for poor sales of Kelis Was Here but a new album is in the pipeline. The Hits - a greatest hits collection - was released in March 2008, including tracks where she was a featured artist, eg, Got Your Money by Ol' Dirty Bastard , N.E.R.D's Truth or Dare, and Richard X's Finest Dreams.
Kelis then signed to Interscope Records, and released her fifth studio album entitled Flesh Tone in May 2010. The David Guetta-produced Acapella preceded the LP in February of that year. Other singles released from the album include '4th of July (Fireworks)', 'Scream' and 'Brave'. The following year, Kelis appeared on Calvin Harris' 'Bounce'.
In the beginning of 2010, Kelis received a letter by animal rights organization PETA, in which she was informed about the cruelty that comes along with the production of fur coats. She pointed out that the organization seems to have little concern about the treatment of people of color and that she will continue wearing fur and eating meat.
Songfacts reported that 'Distance', the planned first single from Kelis’ sixth studio album received its first play during the June 30, 2012 show of The Beatnik Mix on London's Reprezent 107.3FM. At the time, the album was set to be house/dance-inspired, but sessions with TV on The Radio's Dave Sitek led to it taking a soul-like direction.
Kelis completed her sixth album in April 2013, and her new label Ninja Tune confirmed details regarding the album in January the following year, 'Jerk Ribs' served as the lead single for the album; the track had however been previously released as a free download the previous year.
Food was released in April 2014 to critical acclaim. Kelis also appeared for the first time at the annual South by Southwest festival, both performing and serving meals to attendees from her food truck.
FEED THEM
KELIS Lyrics
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Used to say that it was more than dirt
All the kids would gather 'round, sitting on the ground
And she'd tell us what it's worth
She said teach them, it will feed them
Plant the seeds they can believe in, keep on breathing
Play the beat loud on the bass drum
Me and you, if we take action, we could start a chain reaction
Sound alarms for all our farmers, super heroes go beyond us
Every human for our children, give a hand now for our land now
That means you two over there, gather 'round, we got a plan how
She said, teach them, it will feed them
Plant the seeds they can believe in, keep on breathing
Play the beat loud on the bass drum
Spread the word, it's our world, I'm singing freedom, ooh-ooh
The lyrics to Kelis's song "Feed Them" depict a narrator reflecting on the lessons shared by their grandparent, Meemaw. Meemaw used to tell stories about the earth and its glory, emphasizing the importance of taking care of it. She taught the singer and other kids that the earth was more than just dirt, and that it was their responsibility to nurture it. Meemaw's lessons inspire the singer to take action, and they call on everyone to join them in spreading awareness about the need to care for the earth and make positive change.
The lyrics emphasize the importance of education and activism in creating change. Meemaw's lessons are described as seeds that can be planted and nurtured to grow into a healthier and more sustainable world. This idea is reinforced by the repeated refrain "Teach them, it will feed them / Plant the seeds they can believe in." The lyrics encourage people to get involved and spread awareness, suggesting that small actions by individuals can lead to a "chain reaction" of positive change.
Overall, "Feed Them" provides a powerful message about the importance of environmental stewardship and the need to take action to protect the planet. The song encourages listeners to get involved and take responsibility for the world around them, emphasizing the idea that everyone has a role to play in creating a better future.
Line by Line Meaning
Meemaw used to tell a story 'bout the earth and all the glory
Meemaw used to share with us beautiful stories about the planet and its wonders.
Used to say that it was more than dirt
She insisted that the Earth was more than just a pile of mud and rocks.
All the kids would gather 'round, sitting on the ground
We would gather around her and sit comfortably on the grass, eager to learn from her.
And she'd tell us what it's worth
She would share with us the value of the Earth and the importance of protecting it.
She said teach them, it will feed them
Meemaw urged us to educate others because knowledge is power, and it will nourish their minds and souls.
Plant the seeds they can believe in, keep on breathing
She encouraged us to spread ideas that people can trust and keep moving forward as we breathe life into our goals.
Play the beat loud on the bass drum
She suggested we make a big noise so that people notice and get excited about our message.
Spread the word, it's our world, we all stand now
Meemaw believed that we all have a responsibility to create a better world, and we should all step up and take action.
Me and you, if we take action, we could start a chain reaction
If we work together and take action, our small actions can create a ripple effect and inspire others to do the same.
Sound alarms for all our farmers, super heroes go beyond us
We should raise awareness about the challenges that our farmers face and celebrate the people who go above and beyond to help others.
Every human for our children, give a hand now for our land now
We should work together, regardless of our backgrounds, to create a better future for our children, and we should take action to protect our land.
That means you two over there, gather 'round, we got a plan how
Meemaw invited everyone to join us and share our ideas because we have a strategy to make a difference.
Spread the word, it's our world, I'm singing freedom, ooh-ooh
We should share our message of hope and freedom and celebrate the beauty of our planet.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Linden Berelowitz, Stephen Satterthwaite
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind