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.
Trick Me
KELIS Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
This is it yeah
Wooo
Said I've paid all my dues for what I've done
And I showed you that I love you more than once
There's nothing left there to decide
Said you might trick me once
Freedom to us has always been a trick
Freedom to you has always been who ever landed on your dick
Seen it in your one to many times
Said you might trick me once
I won't let you trick me twice no
Might trick me once
I won't let you trick me twice
Might trick me once
I won't let you trick me twice no
Might trick me once
I won't let you trick me twice
No I won't let you trick me twice
Those days are old and overdone
And it's only cause I'm not with you that makes me number one
Though I may love you
I hurts me deep inside oh
Now you no longer have to hide
I used to be down with the late night hit
Started gettin' heavy when I really wasn't ready
Used my class to get in my mind
So I fell for your lies like all the time
I thought you were the shit to be playin' around
Call the police there's a mad girl in town
Couldn't get even here without a sound
It's not how I want to get down yeah you
Might trick me once
I won't let you trick me twice
Might trick me once
I won't let you trick me twice no
Might trick me once
I won't let you trick me twice
No I won't let you trick me twice
No I won't let you trick me twice
And I've paid all my dues for what I've done
And I showed you that I love you more than once
There's nothing left there to decide
Ooh trick me I won't let your trick me twice
You might trick me once
No I won't let me trick you twice no
You might trick me once
No I won't let me trick you twice
Woooo
Peace
Woooo
Woooo
Woooo
Kelis's song Trick Me is a song about not being fooled more than once in a romantic relationship. The song starts off with Kelis claiming that she has paid all of her dues for the things she has done and has shown her partner how much she loves them more than once. She then goes on to say that there is nothing left to decide and that if her partner tries to trick her once, she won't let them do it twice. Kelis believes that freedom is a trick to her partner and that for them, freedom has always been whoever landed on their "dick" while she has seen it happen one too many times. She insists that no matter what happens, she will not be fooled again.
Kelis then goes on to say that those days are over and that it is only because she is not with her partner that she has become number one. She remarks that even though she loves her partner, it still hurts her deep inside. Kelis then talks about how she used to be down for late-night hits but was not ready when things got too heavy. Her partner used their class to manipulate her mind, and that's how she fell for their lies all the time. She saw through her partner's games and called them out, saying she will not let them fool her twice.
The song's overall message is about being a strong and independent woman and not letting anyone take advantage of you. Kelis emphasizes that she knows what she wants and will not settle for anything less. The song also reflects on Kelis's personal experiences in relationships and the lessons she has learned along the way.
Line by Line Meaning
Said I've paid all my dues for what I've done
I have made up for my mistakes and taken responsibility for my actions
And I showed you that I love you more than once
I have proven my love for you multiple times
There's nothing left there to decide
We have come to a resolution and there is no more to discuss
Said you might trick me once
I am aware that you may deceive me occasionally
I won't let you trick me twice
However, I am not naive and will not fall for the same trick again
Freedom to us has always been a trick
Our perception of freedom has been manipulated to hide the truth
Freedom to you has always been who ever landed on your dick
You have used sex as a means of control and power in your concept of freedom
Seen it in your one too many times
I have observed this behavior from you on more than one occasion
Those days are old and overdone
Those days of manipulation and emotional abuse are in the past and no longer effective
And it's only cause I'm not with you that makes me number one
My independence and self-worth are a result of leaving our past relationship
Though I may love you
Despite still having feelings for you
I hurts me deep inside oh
It still pains me to think about
Now you no longer have to hide
You can no longer conceal the fact that you have hurt me
Might trick me once
You may still try to deceive me once more
No I won't let me trick you twice no
But I have learned from my previous experience and will not fall for it again
Peace
A final message wishing for peace after accepting the past and moving forward
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DALLAS AUSTIN, DALLAS L AUSTIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind