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.
Young Fresh 'n' New
KELIS Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You're wasting your time on her
The good stuff's right here
I seen you when you walked in
Stealing all the light
You're the type of guy
That makes them fly girls fuss and fight
Not the way you're wishing for
They go about it all wrong
Experts get it right
(Ooh, ooh)
I'm telling you now boy
Put your eyes on me
(Ooh, ooh)
And if you call now boy
I'll throw my heart in free
(Ooh, ooh)
I can love you
In one million ways
(Ooh, ooh)
And if you don't like it
Send it back in thirty days
I know you're sick of them
Knowing who you are
All they wanna do is
Ride around in your fancy car
Gimme this, gimme that
And yeah I know it's so whack
All they wanna do is be seen with a superstar
(Ooh, ooh)
I'm telling you now boy
Put your eyes on me
(Ooh, ooh)
And if you call now boy
I'll throw my heart in free
(Ooh, ooh)
I can love you
In one million ways
(Ooh, ooh)
And if you don't like it
Send it back in thirty days
This is the good stuff
This is the good stuff
You don't know this is that good stuff
This is the good stuff
Bulletproof under the suit, no need for alarm
The way I flow through the club call me Disco Don
But my name, still Terrar, still the world at my palm
You chicken, heat front passenger seat load in my arm
Who she with next?
One of two Clipse intended specs then
Dance floor, hot sex
My hands rubbing her breast
What am I saying baby?
Discotech or discotheque?
Either way to miss my spray just swish your neck
Now that you've seen
You really wanted me
And those girls wasted their time
Thinking they could possibly (yeah right)
You want this you don't want that
Here girls he don't want it back
And if you want the next one
You should repeat after me
This is the good stuff
This is the good stuff
You don't know this is that good stuff
This is the good stuff
(Ooh, ooh)
This is the good stuff
(Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh)
Yo you looking at stars
Yeah, you know who we are
(You don't know)
Clipse, Kelis, Neptunes
Star Track I'll be back baby
Good stuff
This is the good stuff
This is the good stuff
You don't know this is that good stuff
Kelis's song "Young Fresh 'n' New" is about the desire to live life to the fullest and break away from societal norms and expectations. She questions why people look down upon those who choose to have fun and enjoy life, asking if they remember being young and carefree. She acknowledges that adulthood and responsibilities may eventually catch up with her, but for now, she wants to stay young and continue to have fun. She encourages listeners to leave behind what's holding them back, whether it's family pressure or material possessions, and embrace a free and spontaneous life. Ultimately, the chorus repeats the desire to run away from home and start anew, while asserting the importance of remaining young, fresh, and new.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm young and living fun, huh
Being youthful and enjoying life is important to me.
Sure look down and call it dumb, huh
Some people may judge me for my carefree attitude, but I don't care.
I can still see the sun, huh
No matter what happens, there is always hope and positivity to hold onto.
Do you remember 21, huh?
Do you remember what it was like to be young and carefree?
Can I stay the way, huh?
I hope to maintain my youthful spirit and attitude.
Grow up today, huh
Despite the pressures to act more maturely, I want to hold onto my youthful energy.
Can you really blame, huh
Is it fair to criticize me for wanting to enjoy my youth?
Shit you can leave or stay, huh
Regardless of what other people think or do, I will continue to be myself.
When the world feels like its closin' in
And you don't know what you know
And you think about what's holdin' you
It's relatives and clothes
Just leave it all behind
You got to get away
You got to get away
Everybody
When life feels overwhelming and it seems like our family and possessions are weighing us down, it's important to take a break and escape to find some peace and clarity.
See the look in my eye, huh
I am determined and focused on achieving my goals.
I got to get it out, huh
I have a lot to express and I refuse to hold back.
I don't care if they stare, huh
I will not be intimidated or influenced by other people's judgment or opinions of me.
I learn life's not fair, huh
Through my experiences, I've come to realize that life is not always fair or just.
I'm gonna play while I'm here, huh
I want to enjoy my life to the fullest and not waste it on things that don't matter.
I gotta get it out, huh
I have so much energy and creativity that I need to release.
Just watch me run away now, huh
I am not afraid to take risks or break away from conventions to pursue my dreams.
Hey
Run away from
Home
Run away from (Young, fresh n' new)
Home
Run away from
Home
Run away from
(Got to get)
I've got to get away (away)
Hey, hey hey hey
(I've got)
I've got to get away (away)
It's important to break free from familiar surroundings and seek new experiences and adventures.
But I've got to be
Young, fresh n' new
As I grow and change, it's essential to retain my youthful spirit and sense of adventure.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CHAD HUGO, KELIS ROGERS, PHARRELL WILLIAMS, PHARRELL L WILLIAMS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@goldenxronnie3739
Underrated. Groundbreaking. She single handily put The Neptune’s sound mainstream. There will never be another Kelis
@thepancakereviewer
As much as I like kelis, I feel like her putting the Neptunes into the mainstream is not true at all, Especially due to her first two albums having barely any hits (hell alot of people would probably consider her a one hit wonder) and even the songs she featured on which were big like What It Is or Got Your Money probably had more help from ODB and Busta already ebing incredibly respected. I'd probably say Mase did more for their mainstream sucess than Kelis given he gave them their first really big hit.
@goldenxronnie3739
Wanderland is arguably her best work and Young Fresh n New still sounds SO fresh. An innovator. Her and The Neptune’s were in their galaxy orbited bag
@laurisaarinen1126
Kaleidoscope and Wanderland are the best, hard to say which one is better. Tasty had many good tunes but it's a total shame she is mostly known for Milkshake... I have never liked that song to be honest. Then you have gems like Shooting Stars, Get Along With You, Suspended and so on... At least some people know Caught Out There.
@xxxTIN0xxx
@Lauri Saarinen Let's not forget "Get Even", "No Turning Back", "Mafia"...she has so many gems from her first two albums but I love everything that she did.
@kieana5
I remember I had to order this CD from the record store and wait over a month for it to come in from the UK to US. Best $25 plus shipping and handling I ever spent!
@chefnil
@kieana5 Nice!
@orlandoamaker3154
@Lauri Saarinen kelis was here at some Jams.....I'm sorry she one of my favorite artist
@UnreleasedUnderratedRnBgrooves
The public then and even now were never ready for Kelis’ innovation when she intertwined her signature melodies over Pharrell’s out-there beats. Little did we know dubstep would later take off as a key element to mainstream pop success years later throughout the 2010s. Thing was Kelis and other contemporaries like Aaliyah & Missy had already set that tone ages prior in r&b. I hate when advanced, futuristic gold like this goes unsung.
@feleciaclemons5074
💯