Kelis: 'Kelis Was Here' (2006)

[SHOOTER]

1. Intro
2. Bossy feat. Too $hort
3. What's That Right There
4. Till the Wheels Fall Off
5. Living Proof
6. Blindfold Me feat. Nas
7. Goodbyes
8. Trilogy
9. Circus
10. Weekend feat. will.i.am
11. Like You
12. Aww Shit! feat. Smoke
13. Lil Star feat. Cee-Lo Green
14. I Don't Think So
15. Handful
16. Appreciate Me
17. Have a Nice Day
18. Fuck Them Bitches [Hidden Track]

Kelis' fourth studio album was released on August 22, 2006. Her first album to include no contribution from The Neptunes, production was handled by Bangladesh, will.i.am, Raphael Saadiq, Polow da Don, Sean Garrett, Cool & Dre, Scott Storch, Knobody, Cee-Lo Green, Max Martin, Dr. L*ke and Damon Elliott instead. Led by the single "Bossy" (feat. Too $hort), the album debuted at #10 on the Billboard 200 with 58,000 in sales - her highest peak to date.

This album is definitely an "everything but the kitchen sink" kind of affair but I can't say the Neptunes were necessarily missed because Kelis' vibrant personality and distinct voice was able to handle all the different sounds, textures and styles (banal lyricism at times aside) and create some very interesting records. I maintain she's yet to make a bad album so, while this isn't her best work, it still holds up. I actually want her to revisit this beat-driven type of project and see what she can come up with now, especially since a reunion with the Neptunes ain't happening anytime soon.


(#16 Hot 100; #11 Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs; #8 Rhythmic)


(#91 Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)


(#3 UK Singles; #1 UK Hip-Hop/R&B)