Kelis
Kelis
Kelis Rogersbetter known mononymously as Kelis, is an American singer-songwriter and certified chef. Kelis achieved moderate international success with her 1999 debut album, Kaleidoscope, but left her label Virgin Records after its follow-up, Wanderland, received little sales attention and no U.S. release. Her third album, 2003's Tasty, earned the singer commercial prominence and produced the hit single "Milkshake", her most well-known song. Kelis Was Here, her fourth album, was the subject of further label disputes and she took a hiatus...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionPop Singer
Date of Birth21 August 1979
CityNew York City, NY
CountryUnited States of America
My mom was concerned that us four little black girls have a really well-balanced life. She wanted us to be around people like us, but we also went to private school and traveled all the time. Now I fit in most places because I've been most places.
As a black artist in America, you know, it is so segregated as far as the radio goes and how they position music on the radio.
The album 'Kelis Was Here' sucked the life out of me, and so I went off and studied to be a Cordon Bleu chef. What's great about food is that it's less about who you know and what you look like, and more about if you're any good.
I had always been a fan of Nas, but I never met him. This is the one guy in the industry who's, like, the phantom rapper.
I'm a really emotional cook. Not violent, but I don't like someone coming in while I'm cooking. I'm notorious for themed dinner parties. The colour green, 'The Sopranos' last episode... any excuse. But if anyone arrives before I'm ready and walks through for a chat, I'm like: 'Just stand back. Stay there! In fact, just go - this is not for you.'
My desire was never to put out albums; it was to do musical theatre!
I'm a multi-platinum recording artist; my passion is food.
The music industry is a world of smoke and mirrors: they tell you exactly what they think you want to hear. And they are bare-faced lying. I tend to stay away from that.
In food, it's really, like, either you're right, or you're wrong. You know, people's taste buds kind of vary, but there's a technique. Either you do it right, or you don't.
I don't ever want to part with any of my shoes. They all have a special place in my heart because they say something about who you are today.
I needed a break, and going to culinary school turned a lightbulb on that I didn't have to make music. The people in the music business forget that not only is there an entire world of people out there who do not care what we do, we are not creating the wheel.
I don't think people know me at all. At the end of the day, if you see me in sequins and glitter out at a club, you might think that's all there is. But, you know, it's just glitter. My friends who I've known since I was 17 - they know who I am.
After 'Kelis Was Here,' I was done. I was like, 'I will never put out another record again; I hate this business; I hate all these people.' I was in this race that I didn't even realise that I was in.
The key to sauces is having patience. I'm not a patient woman, but I learned with sauces that you have to get everything on a slow roll and layer the flavors. That's where you get robust tastes: it starts one way and ends another.