10 years ago,an overtly eccentric, saucy, retro-stylish r&b/pop singer exploded on to the pop scene, her name was [is] Kelis. Her first single, 'Caught Out There' gained some traction on TRL [Total request Live], a show on MTV that actual focused on videos, go figure. In a time when Britney, Christina, and Jessica, dominated the airwaves, Kelis emerged as the sort of anti-pop girl. She was in-your face, raw, and well, interesting. Her curly afro-esque orange hair, her tall model-esque stature, combined with an articulate and not so urban dialect made for a divergent artist, one people weren't sure how to categorize. She wasn't quite pop because her music had a distinctive hip-hop flair [she was one of the Neptune's first production] and she wasn't completely r&b either. Unique, and street wise, she found an audience in Europe, where he first album did considerably well. Her second album, 'Wanderland', didn't fair well in the U.S. The first single, 'Young, Fresh and New' received minimal airplay at best. However, once again, the Brits ate it up. Finally, in 2003, Kelis scored big with 'Milkshake', the first single off the 'Tasty' album was a worldwide hit. In part due to the infectious Neptunes beat and her sultry sexed-up vocals, Kelis gained some much deserved attention. Unfortunately, 'Milkshake' was the album's only hit. Three years later, she released 'Kelis was Here' a mundane title for another underrated album. She parted ways with the Neptunes on this disc. Still, even with help from hitmaker, Will.I.am, there were some high and low moments on the disk. It lacked any real top 40 radio ready songs. Now, Kelis is about to drop her 5th studio album, due in 2010. I'm a fan and I can't wait. The first single entitled, 'Acapella' is a David Guetta produced electro/disco treat. Anything with Guetta behind it and I'm sold.
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