Kelis

Kelis Rogers, born on August 21, 1979, is a multifaceted American artist known for her work as a singer-songwriter, chef, and rapper. She honed her musical talents at New York's prestigious Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts, where she played the saxophone and was a member of the Girls Choir of Harlem. After graduation, she began her career as a backing vocalist for the hip hop group Gravediggaz, which paved the way for her collaboration with the renowned production duo, Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo, known as the Neptunes.

In 1999, Kelis released her debut studio album, Kaleidoscope, which drew inspiration from the jazz and disco sounds of the 1970s. Although the album received critical acclaim, it struggled commercially in the United States, achieving greater success internationally. The lead single, "Caught Out There," marked her first entry as a lead artist on the Billboard Hot 100, while the album itself peaked at number 43 on the UK Albums Chart and earned gold certification from the British Phonographic Industry.

After parting ways with Virgin Records following the release of her second album, Wanderland, Kelis found her commercial breakthrough with her third album, Tasty, in 2003. This album featured the hit single "Milkshake," which reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100. Her subsequent album, Kelis Was Here, released in 2006, included the top twenty single "Bossy" and solidified her status in the music industry. Following this success, she took a hiatus to explore her passion for culinary arts, studying at Le Cordon Bleu.

In 2010, she returned to music with her fifth album, Flesh Tone, which showcased her exploration of electronic music. The album produced successful singles such as "Acapella" and "4th of July (Fireworks)." Her sixth studio album, Food, released in 2014, further intertwined her culinary interests with music, featuring singles like "Jerk Ribs" and "Friday Fish Fry." Throughout her career, Kelis has collaborated with a diverse range of artists across various genres, selling six million records worldwide and achieving significant success in the UK.