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.
Handful
KELIS Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ain't ready for me, oh no, oh no
Hey you ain't ready for me
Ain't ready for me, oh no, oh no
I'm known around the block
To keep my weight up like the big guys
I know I want too much, I got big eyes
So I seek how to get it with these big eyes
Catch me flossin' with my working pumps on
Work ?em dress, work ?em lipstick on
Your spoon ain't ready for this honeycomb
If you a handful sing along
Ba, ba, ba
I'm a handful
Ba, ba, ba
Hear me beating down the block in my grey Porsche Cayenne
Gotta be hot red like Cayenne
See them dudes hittin' switches in them low lows
I know how to hit them switches in them low lows
You might see me with a 3 piece on
Pin stripe, holla fitted cap on
You ain't ready for this honeycomb
If you a handful sing along
Na na, na boo boo
Is it overwhelming?
Can't stand the drama
Just can't help it
Na na, na boo boo
If you having problems
This how you solve ?em
Tell ?em you a handful
(Ba, ba, ba)
Hey you ain't ready for me
Ain't ready for me, oh no
I'm a handful
(Ba, ba, ba)
Hey you ain't ready for me
Ain't ready for me, oh no, oh no
Na na, na boo boo
Is it overwhelming?
Can't stand the drama
Just can't help it
Na na, na boo boo
If you having problems
This how you solve ?em
Tell em' you a handful
Ba, ba, ba
I'm a handful
Ba, ba, ba
(Ba, ba, ba)
Hey you ain't ready for me
Ain't ready for me, oh no
I'm a handful
(Ba, ba, ba)
Hey you ain't ready for me
Ain't ready for me, oh no, oh no
The lyrics to Kelis's song "Handful" are all about a woman who knows what she wants and isn't afraid to go after it. Kelis's confidence shines through in the lyrics as she describes herself as someone who is "known around the block to keep [her] weight up like the big guys." She is someone who demands attention and isn't afraid to show off her assets, as seen in the lines "Catch me flossin' with my working pumps on, work 'em dress, work 'em lipstick on."
The chorus of the song repeats the line "Hey you ain't ready for me, ain't ready for me, oh no," emphasizing the fact that this woman is not someone to mess with. The lyrics encourage listeners to embrace their own strength and power, as seen in the lines "If you a handful sing along" and "Tell 'em you a handful."
Overall, "Handful" is a song about owning your confidence and not being afraid to go after what you want, even if others may not be ready for you.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey you ain't ready for me
The singer is telling someone that they aren't prepared to handle her.
Ain't ready for me, oh no, oh no
The singer emphasizes that the other person is not ready for her.
I'm known around the block
Other people in the area recognize who the singer is.
To keep my weight up like the big guys
The artist maintains her strength and power like the men around her.
Know how to throw my weight like the big guys
The artist knows how to use her strength to her advantage.
I know I want too much, I got big eyes
The singer is ambitious and seeks to achieve more than others.
So I seek how to get it with these big eyes
The singer is determined to find a way to achieve her aspirations.
Catch me flossin' with my working pumps on
The artist is showing off her stylish, but practical footwear.
Work ?em dress, work ?em lipstick on
The artist is fully dressed up and ready to go.
Your spoon ain't ready for this honeycomb
The person the artist is addressing is not ready to handle her.
If you a handful sing along
The singer invites others who are also confident and strong-willed to join in.
Hear me beating down the block in my grey Porsche Cayenne
The artist is describing the sound of her flashy car.
Gotta be hot red like Cayenne
The singer's ideal color for a car is a bright, bold red.
See them dudes hittin' switches in them low lows
The singer is familiar with low rider cars and the hydraulics that make them bounce up and down.
I know how to hit them switches in them low lows
The singer knows how to operate these types of cars.
You might see me with a 3 piece on
The artist might be dressed in a three-piece suit.
Pin stripe, holla fitted cap on
The artist's suit might have pinstripes and she might be wearing a fitted cap.
Na na, na boo boo
The singer is using a childish taunt to express her disregard for others.
Is it overwhelming?
The singer asks if her confidence is too much for others to handle.
Can't stand the drama
The artist prefers to avoid conflict.
Just can't help it
The artist can't change who she is.
If you having problems
The artist acknowledges that others might have difficulty dealing with her.
This how you solve ?em
The singer suggests that being honest about oneself is the solution to problems.
Tell ?em you a handful
The artist advises others to be straightforward about their challenging personality.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: SHONDRAE L CRAWFORD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind