Reports have been made that Kelis has been dropped from Jive, the label that houses such artists as Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, and R. Kelly. Formally signed to Pharrell William’s Star Trak Music, with distribution through Virgin Records, rumors are that Kelis has been dropped due to disappointing numbers on her 2006 release, Kelis Was Here, despite plenty of guest spots, including a collaboration with her husband, Nas.
This doesn’t come as a surprise though. Kelis has been complaining about Jive for a while in recent interviews. Even though Star Trak’s distribution was through Virgin, it was later moved to Arista and, through the SonyBMG merger, she ended up with Jive.
“It was a case of being in the ever-shrinking world of the record industry and finding herself on a label she wasn’t signed to and without a champion,” says Kelis’ manager, Jeff Rabhan. “She’s a different kind of artist — very image and style-driven. It’s either something you get or you don’t.”
We’ll see though. Kelis hasn’t been able to do good numbers for quite some time. 2003′s “Milkshake” was a huge single, but the album Tasty only managed to be certified gold. Meanwhile, Kelis has been working on an indie dance record with Cee-Lo, which should be interesting (they collaborated on her last single, “Lil’ Star”), as well as a pop record with Guy Chambers that will be shopped around soon.
NEW N*E*R*D* ALBUM
Producer Pharrell Williams had some words with MTV News last week regarding N.E.R.D.’s new album, N*R*3*D, tentatively due out Spring ’08.
“It’s a Red Bull with growth hormones in it,” he told MTV News a couple of weeks ago of the album, “You know how artists do interviews, and they’ll be like [he impersonates an indie-rocker], ‘It’s, like, weird, really crazy.’ I wish I could really go there and do that, but I can’t.”
According to Pharrell, N.E.R.D.’s last effort, Fly Or Die was way too consistent and lacked the spontaneous unpredictability of their debut record, In Search Of…, which was critically acclaimed mixture of hip hop, rock, pop, alternative and R&B.
Pharrell stated that the album is complete, but wasn’t really keen on giving too many details about the new project.
CLIPSE SIGNS WITH COLUMBIA
While their former labelmate Kelis lost a deal, Clipse has inked a new one with Columbia. They struggled with Jive in a long battle to be released from their contract, and were basically caught up in the same cycle as Kelis, when Star Trak’s distribution left Virgin, went to Arista, and then was split up between J. Records and Jive, and the Clipse were bound to their contract. The duo wished to follow Star Trak to its new home, but Jive refused, resulting in a lawsuit that sought to break the Clipse’s four-album deal.
I hope Pusha-T and Malice got a good deal this time around, because I’m a huge fan of Clipse. I’m sure that this means they’re working on a third album. Both Lord Willin’ and Hell Hath No Fury were great albums in my opinion. I think they can make it work and get out some good new material.
I don’t care about anything here but the CLIPSE….I LOVE THEM
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Clipse is the sh-t Kelis on the other hand……………..
damn kelis..some ppl dont know good \music
@PeaceKeeper00 finally someone with common sense.
kelis USED to be original, when she first came out but “milkshake” and “bossy” were commercial as hell. i do like the raspiness in her voice but i don’t understand the hype. ppl act like she’s the only “eclectic” person out there. go listen to bjork if you want real originality. besides bjork, there are MANY female artists that aren’t like bee, shani, riri, or cici. ppl keep complaining about how everyone is the same but that’s a mirage. most female artists are not like those girls it’s just that those women are being pushed down your throats so they’re all you see but if you opened your eyes/expanded your musical tastes, you would see that
Well Kelis really isn’t that talented, just “different” (so they say)…
so Jive drop kelis but couldn’t drop Brittiny spears??
Nooo… I love Kelis. She’s my third favorite singer.
I hope she can find a new label. “Tasty” and “KWH” are both very, very good albums and I still listen to both of them regularly. This sucks.
Cnt wait to hear some new material from the clipse…..
Blah at the rest…
Milkshake & Bossy did not represent either of those albums….They were put out there because those were radio friendly singles…
I love Kelis, but I’m not too surprised she’s been dropped. Her last album (although I love it and still bump it today) didn’t sell too well in the US and Jive doesn’t seem to know how to promote/market her. Kelis’s music doesn’t fit into just one box or genre. She’s a mix of many different sounds and far from the traditional artist.
Yeah shes unique and stylish but in my opinion she isnt the best or even one of the best vocalist by a long shot! Shes more of a one/two hit per album wonder and that has pretty much been the case with mostof her albums .
Who cares about the Clipse man I remember when B2K was out they was talking shit on I wanna thank my mama the one with the Harriet Tubman braids was hating Kelis come out with 1 hit every 5 years so im not surprised
ok for the peopel who say shes not in the same league as beyonce ashonti, and rihanna are no fans cause her videos and music is so sexual .. she is even more sexual the those 3 artist .she is no different !!!!!!!!
Yall are trippin…Kelis is one of da best female artist!!!!
@37 and 65
Please don’t turn this into a black/white thing. Britney’s been with Jive for nearly 10 years, and every time she shakes her ass money falls in their pockets. It’s about cold hard cash, nothing less and nothing more. Kelis has been with them only a short time and all of her material has fallen flat on the charts. When and if Britney flops then JIVE will drop her just as fast as Kelis, but until then she’s still considered an asset.
I’m not really surprised by Kelis getting dropped because her music has been rather commercial lately. The only person who’s sold out harder than Kelis is Will.I.Am and the other TWO Black Eyed Peas.
Pharrell, Chad, and the other guy – I hope the album sounds more like the first one…instead of the second one..Side Note – It’s nice to see a sea of black people at a rock concert..I’ve only seen that twice in my lifetime and they were both at N*E*R*D concerts in the ATL.
Clipse – They had the best rap album last year and I’m happy they ain’t with those jokers from Jive.
Kelis – When corporations merge, ISH happens.. She will probably sign with someone within the next couple months..If not, you will probably see her on a show or two.
Kelis got dropped because JIVE is pouring as much money as they can into Britney’s new album. They got scared after the backlash from her horrible VMA performance and I guess they’re doing “damage control” by sloughing off as many under-performing artists as they can. Kelis’s four albums are really good, but all of her labels have dropped the ball on promoting her and that’s the way the cookie crumbles.
LOL @ Get Me Bodied
Yes, you should’ve gotten Kelis album instead of Kelly’s. Her last album was my first Kelis album and I love it to death, but Kelly’s shyt was trash. I was tooootally disappointed.I was really rooting for Kelly too.
@ Mimi Renee, that’s so true. Her first single be rocking but then she don’t drop a second single. I wonder what that’s about?? I guess if you don’t do big numbers in ur first week they don’t even bother.
Nice post Brian.
I’m sure somebody will snatch Kelis up. Some people just don’t understand her artistry.
India’s No.1 Music Director AR Rahman – ar rahman music | Pop Songs | Albums | Latest Music | Gallery | Movies | News
I concur about the N.E.R.D albums. I have both of them as well. But I actually think Fly or Die was a better album then In Search of…. Reguardless i’ll get this album…and i rarely buy anything these days.
to Carlissa,
Kelis is sexual, but when you see her in candids, you understand that this girl is so freakin free. She doesn’t care if she looks a HAM, she is not conventional as Bee, Cici or ashanti, bekoz these girls will always show the perfect aspect of them. Do you really think, beyonce can give her long ass fake wig to have a hair cut like kelis ?!!! Hum, She is too afraid to be normal or even ugly but kelis does not care!! and kelis is sexual because she probably like sex. When i see a video of bee or ashanti, I see a girl who is TRYING too much to be sexy and she looks like a little girl perfect daughter out of stage or in her regular life , but kelis is sexy no matter what she does. She has a personnality, which is probably what NAS love about her!!
All I have to say is…….. F@#% Jive! ….When will REAL music get the respect it deserves? I’m tired of listening to this water-downed mess…Everyone sound alike or is copying someone else!…WTF? I find it interesting how alot of these artists are copying Kelis but manage to surpass her in sells! This makes me want to visit UK even more because it appears that they know what’s up!
52.
Valennea NYC
Monday, October 29, 2007
Oh by the way, so many people say kelis should give it up but nobody is calling them HATERSI wonder why? maybe because Kelis fan (if i dare use this word) are adult lol, she sure does not make music for teenagers!
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lmao, aint it just?
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