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.
Get Even
KELIS Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I saw it coming
I watched her watch me
The girl wanted what I had
Isn't that the story?
I'm not mad
I'm not mad
Pursuin' you, knowing that you were blind
And that's a bummer, babe
It left me under, babe
And it's true
Her tits were blinding you
While I had a hard enough time finding you
And that's a bummer, babe
But I still love you, baby
(Get even)
Don't you hate when you lose your man to a chick?
(Even)
And she does it in your face to make sure you feel lit
(Get even)
So the story draws out like some long-ass skit
(Even)
And, bitch, you knew that I like him
Get even
She wants to change her mind
And make sure you don't ever end up mine
And that's a bummer, babe
She's so annoying, babe (God)
But over my dead body
Will you not see that the grass is sure enough more green?
And that's a bummer, babe
Don't you ever wonder, baby?
This is no new phenomenon
This always has been going on
When some punk bitch just does you wrong
And she keeps going on and on
This is no new phenomenon
This has been going on and on
When a relationship is going wrong and you just want to fucking get even
I'm a survivor
I'm getting older and wiser
I'm gonna live now
And nothing can change my mind
I'm a survivor
I'm getting older and wiser
And nothing can change my mind
I'm gonna live now
(Get even)
Don't you hate when you lose your man to a chick?
(Even)
And she does it in your face to make sure you feel lit
(Get even)
Some story draws out like some long-ass skit
(Even)
And, bitch, you knew that I liked to get even
(Get even)
Don't you hate when you lose your man to a chick?
(Even)
And she does it in your face to make sure you feel lit
(Get even)
Some story draws out like some long-ass skit
(Even)
And, bitch, you knew that I liked to get even
I'm a survivor
I'm getting older and wiser
I'm gonna live now
And nothing can change my mind
I'm a survivor
I'm getting older and wiser
And nothing can change my mind
I'm gonna live now
(Get even)
Don't you hate when you lose your man to a chick?
(Even)
And she does it in your face to make sure you feel lit
(Get even)
Some story draws out like some long-ass skit
(Even)
And, bitch, you knew that I liked to get even
Kelis’s song “Get Even” portrays a struggle between two women fighting over one man. The lyrics suggest that Kelis saw the other woman (referred to as “the chick”) coming and watched as she pursued Kelis’s man relentlessly. The other woman seems to have been successful in getting his attention, hence Kelis expresses her annoyance with the woman’s tactics of constantly flaunting her assets. Kelis is clear in stating that she is not angry, even though the other woman's strategies caused her emotional pain. She believes the other woman knew exactly what she was doing, including trying to make Kelis feel inferior. In the face of the situation, Kelis decides to get even and not feel defeated.
Although the subject matter of the song is relatable to many who have found themselves in similar love triangles, Kelis’s approach to the situation is one of a survivor, showing that she is getting older, wiser, and will not let the situation keep her down. Kelis reiterates that struggling over one man is not a new phenomenon and women have been partaking in this behavior for a very long time. The song’s overall message is about resilience and survival, encouraging the listener to stand up for themselves and not feel like a victim.
Line by Line Meaning
You know
I am aware of the situation.
I saw it coming
I anticipated what was going to happen.
I watched her watch me
I noticed her observing me closely.
The girl wanted what I had
She desired something that belonged to me.
Isn't that the story?
Isn't this how it always goes?
I'm not mad
I am not angry about what happened.
She spent so much time
She devoted a significant amount of time.
Pursuin' you, knowing that you were blind
She pursued you even though you were oblivious.
And that's a bummer, babe
That's disappointing.
It left me under, babe
It left me feeling down.
And it's true
That is a fact.
Her tits were blinding you
You were distracted by her physical appearance.
While I had a hard enough time finding you
Meanwhile, I struggled to connect with you.
But I still love you, baby
However, I still have affection for you.
(Get even) Don't you hate when you lose your man to a chick?
Do you not despise losing your partner to another woman?
(Even) And she does it in your face to make sure you feel lit
And she rubs it in your face to ensure you feel humiliated.
(Get even) So the story draws out like some long-ass skit
Thus, the plot continues like an extended, tumultuous play.
(Even) And, bitch, you knew that I like him
And, woman, you were aware that I had affection for him.
She wants to change her mind
She desires to have a change of heart.
And make sure you don't ever end up mine
And ensure that you never become mine.
She's so annoying, babe (God)
She is extremely irritating.
But over my dead body
But only if I'm deceased.
Will you not see that the grass is sure enough more green?
Won't you acknowledge that the other side seems better?
Don't you ever wonder, baby?
Are you never curious, my love?
This is no new phenomenon
This is not a recent event.
This always has been going on
This has been happening for a long time.
When some punk bitch just does you wrong
When some unkind woman mistreats you.
And she keeps going on and on
And she continues her actions incessantly.
When a relationship is going wrong and you just want to fucking get even
When a romantic partnership is failing, and you simply desire vengeance.
I'm a survivor
I have survived and will continue to survive.
I'm getting older and wiser
I am becoming more experienced and astute.
I'm gonna live now
I am going to live my life to the fullest at this moment.
And nothing can change my mind
And nothing can alter my thoughts or reasoning.
(Get even) Don't you hate when you lose your man to a chick?
Do you not despise losing your partner to another woman?
(Even) And she does it in your face to make sure you feel lit
And she rubs it in your face to ensure you feel humiliated.
(Get even) Some story draws out like some long-ass skit
Thus, the plot continues like an extended, tumultuous play.
(Even) And, bitch, you knew that I liked to get even
And, woman, you were aware that I enjoyed seeking retribution.
I'm gonna live now
I am going to live my life to the fullest at this moment.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CHAD HUGO, PHARRELL WILLIAMS, PHARRELL L WILLIAMS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind