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.
Stick Up
KELIS Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've been lovin' you for here long knowin' I was never clear
But I have no fear today 'cause I'm gonna say
What I gotta say, I don't want to play the role
Bustin' through the door, I'm gonna take you're heart fo' sure, oh
Put you're hands up in the air, it's a stick up
Put you're hands in the air, in the air, in the air
I'm gonna play my cards from here
And take this gamble sure
My words are gonna fumble, but this beat is mighty humble
Ain't goin' nowhere, sure I'm scared but my life's a dare
And baby you just got so much flare, we'll be the perfect pair
I'm gonna share my mind with you, you've been blinded
My life's been blue, I'm takin' you, I'm takin' you
Put you're hands up in the air, it's a stick up
I'm gon' take you're heart from here, now let's fix up
Put you're hands in the air, in the air, in the air
Put you're hands up in the air, it's a stick up
I'm gon' take you're heart from here, now let's fix up
Put you're hands in the air, in the air, in the air
In the air, in the air, in the air
When I first met you, I wanted to wet you
Not a gun but a different content, sexual
You tried to run, I still get you
Steel metal not needed, a whole 'nother meaning
Don't want you're gold, want you're soul
Control you're heartbeatin', cause when I start squeezin' that muscle
That's the trigger, than I got you nigga, in ya
Chopper spinners, got you're bodyguards wit cha
Diamond dog tag chain swingin', I had them thangs ringin'
This is a robbery, no one's gettin' free
Till that man, he comes with me
Put you're hands up in the air, it's a stick up
I'm gon' take you're heart from here, now let's fix up
Put you're hands in the air, in the air, in the air
In "Stick Up," Kelis sings confidently over a classic hip-hop beat, challenging her love interest to give her their heart. She admits that in the past she may have been hesitant or unclear about her feelings for them, but she is no longer afraid to speak up. She calls it a "stick up" and demands that they put their hands in the air, surrendering their heart to her. The lyrics are playful and humorous, using vivid imagery of a robbery and a gun instead of a more traditional love song.
Kelis's confidence shines through in the chorus, where she repeats the demand for her love interest to give her their heart. She suggests that they will make the perfect pair and promises to share her mind with them. She acknowledges that they may have been blinded and that her life hasn't been perfect, but she is willing to take a gamble on love with them.
The second verse adds a bit of a sexual element to the song, with Kelis describing her attraction to her love interest. She assures them that she doesn't need their material possessions, just their soul. She uses gun-related metaphors to describe the way she will take control of their heart, and then she paints a picture of a robbery in progress complete with chopper spinners and bodyguards.
Overall, "Stick Up" is a fun, lighthearted song about taking charge in love and being confident in your feelings. Kelis's playful lyrics and attitude make it a unique addition to the hip-hop and R&B genres.
Line by Line Meaning
I've been lovin' you for here long knowin' I was never clear
I've been in love with you for a long time, but I never expressed my feelings directly.
But I have no fear today 'cause I'm gonna say
But today, I am not afraid because I am going to tell you how I feel.
What I gotta say, I don't want to play the role
I don't want to pretend to be someone else or play games. I want to express my genuine feelings.
Bustin' through the door, I'm gonna take your heart fo' sure, oh
I am going to express myself honestly and directly, and I expect you to reciprocate. I am confident in the potential for a romantic connection between us.
Put your hands up in the air, it's a stick up
Get ready for a surprise because I am about to take control and surprise you.
I'm gon' take your heart from here, now let's fix up
I am going to win your heart over, and we can work on nurturing a strong relationship together.
I'm gonna play my cards from here
I am going to be honest and straightforward in my behavior and communication.
And take this gamble sure
I am willing to take a risk and invest my time and emotions in you.
My words are gonna fumble, but this beat is mighty humble
I may not be the most articulate speaker, but I have confidence in this romantic connection.
Ain't goin' nowhere, sure I'm scared but my life's a dare
My feelings are genuine, and I am willing to take risks to pursue what I want, even if it scares me.
And baby you just got so much flare, we'll be the perfect pair
I am drawn to your unique qualities and feel that we complement each other well.
I'm gonna share my mind with you, you've been blinded
I am going to open up to you and be vulnerable, despite feeling guarded in the past.
My life's been blue, I'm takin' you, I'm takin' you
I have been feeling down and lonely, but I believe that a relationship with you could bring me happiness and fulfillment.
When I first met you, I wanted to wet you
When I first saw you, I was physically attracted to you and wanted to engage in sexual activity.
Not a gun but a different content, sexual
I am using a metaphor comparing my desire for you to that of a robbery with a gun, but instead of taking something tangible, I want to engage in sexual activity with you.
You tried to run, I still get you
You may have resisted at first, but I was able to win you over.
Steel metal not needed, a whole 'nother meaning
I don't need force or violence to get what I want; my tactics involve emotional manipulation and charm.
Don't want your gold, want your soul
I am not interested in your material possessions, but rather your personality and character.
Control your heartbeatin', cause when I start squeezin' that muscle
I am confident in my ability to control your emotions and manipulate your heartstrings.
That's the trigger, than I got you nigga, in ya
Once I get inside your heart, I will have complete control over you.
Chopper spinners, got you're bodyguards wit' cha
I am aware that you have people protecting you, but I am confident in my ability to overcome any obstacles and win you over.
Diamond dog tag chain swingin', I had them thangs ringin'
I am well-equipped and prepared to win you over, and I am willing to use my charm and material possessions to do so.
This is a robbery, no one's gettin' free
I am making a metaphorical comparison to a robbery, implying that I am taking control and that nobody can escape from my influence.
Till that man, he comes with me
Until I have won you over and gained control over your heart, you are not free to leave my presence.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DAMON J BLACKMAN, KELIS ROGERS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind