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
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
In “Young Fresh N’ New,” Kelis is singing to a guy who has been pursuing a certain girl who isn’t into him. Kelis tries to convince him that he’s wasting his time on that girl and the good “stuff” is with Kelis. At the club, Kelis catches the guy’s attention and makes it clear that she is interested in him. She believes that the other girls are after him only because of his money and status as a superstar, and not for who he really is. She bats away the other girls or disses them, and makes it clear to the guy that her love for him is genuine and his to keep if he wants it.
The song is a declaration of independence and confidence as Kelis encourages the guy to leave the past behind and embrace a future with her in which he will be truly loved. Kelis is telling him that he's looking for love in all the wrong places and that she has the true love he is looking for. She believes she will make him fall in love with her in the same way that she is falling for him.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah, I'm telling you boy
I am advising you, boy.
You're wasting your time on her
You are investing too much effort in her.
The good stuff's right here
The excellent things you desire are present here.
I seen you when you walked in
I noticed you when you entered this place.
Stealing all the light
You are attracting attention from everyone.
You're the type of guy
You possess the characteristics of a guy.
That makes them fly girls fuss and fight
You make young ladies have a fuss and fight for your attention.
They can't love you more
They cannot love you any further.
Not the way you're wishing for
Not in the exact way you desire.
They go about it all wrong
They are approaching romance in the incorrect way.
Experts get it right
Knowledgeable people comprehend and practice the correct way to approach romance.
(Ooh, ooh)
Sound effect indicating a change in the chorus or hook is approaching.
Put your eyes on me
Direct your attention towards me.
And if you call now boy
And if you reach out to me right away, young man.
I'll throw my heart in free
I will offer my heart to you without cost.
I can love you
It is possible for me to love you.
In one million ways
I can exhibit a million forms of love.
And if you don't like it
If you're not fond of it.
Send it back in thirty days
Return it in a time frame of thirty days.
I know you're sick of them
I am aware that you are tired of them.
Knowing who you are
Being aware of your identity.
All they wanna do is
All they desire to do is.
Ride around in your fancy car
Drive your luxurious vehicle around.
Gimme this, gimme that
Give me this, give me that.
And yeah I know it's so whack
And indeed, I am aware of how unappealing it is.
All they wanna do is be seen with a superstar
Their aim is to be observed with a celebrity.
This is the good stuff
This is the excellent quality.
Bulletproof under the suit, no need for alarm
Feeling invincible with confidence, no need to worry.
The way I flow through the club call me Disco Don
The path I traverse in the club resembles a disco therefore I am referred to as Disco Don.
But my name, still Terrar, still the world at my palm
Although my nickname is Disco Don, my true identity remains the same, with the world under my control.
You chicken, heat front passenger seat load in my arm
Coward, sit in the front seat, while holding whatever you carry in your arm.
Who she with next?
Who is the woman currently accompanying you?
One of two Clipse intended specs then
One of two expected choices then.
Dance floor, hot sex
The scenario of having sex on the dance floor.
My hands rubbing her breast
My hands holding and caressing her breasts.
What am I saying baby?
What message am I conveying, babe?
Discotech or discotheque?
Is it pronounced DiscoTech or Discotheque?
Either way to miss my spray just swish your neck
Either way, to avoid being hit by my perfume, simply move your neck away.
Now that you've seen
Since you have witnessed now.
You really wanted me
You really desire me.
And those girls wasted their time
Those young ladies fruitlessly invested their time.
Thinking they could possibly (yeah right)
Believing they could ever, (sarcastic tone).
You want this you don't want that
You desire this but not that.
Here girls he don't want it back
Girls listen, he is not returning any of it.
And if you want the next one
And if you desire the next woman.
You should repeat after me
You should copy me.
Yo you looking at stars
Hey, you are gazing at celebrities.
Yeah, you know who we are
You are aware of our celebrity status.
(You don't know)
Sound effect indicating contradiction.
Clipse, Kelis, Neptunes
Celebrity group names.
Star Track I'll be back baby
Music production company's assurance of more successful releases (likely Pharrell's Star Trak).
This is the good stuff
This is the excellent quality.
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
💯