On the basis of her association with production superstars the Neptunes and her 2003 smash single "Milkshake," Kelis became one of contemporary R&B's hotter commodities, so the artist's third album, 2006's KELIS WAS HERE, was met with great anticipation. Fans certainly weren't left wanting for length or variety: there are 17 tracks (plus a Neptunes-produced bonus track) and a host of producers (including Scott Storch, Will.i.am, and Raphael Saadiq) lending their craft.
Kelis's distinctively sassy singing is the glue that holds it all together. The album's lead-off single, "Bossy," featuring veteran rapper Too $hort, provides plenty of chant-along, head-bouncing groove, as does "What's That Right There," which employs a classic P-funk sample. "Trilogy" shows off Kelis's skill with ballads, which is sadly underrepresented on KELIS WAS HERE, one of the album's few drawbacks. Nonetheless, the album holds up, delivering a potent dose of attitude-heavy, hip-hop-flavored, female-fronted urban soul and funk.
Professional Reviews
Spin (p.106) - 3 stars out of 5 -- "[H]er most streamlined effort yet....[With] sleek slow jams..."
Entertainment Weekly (p.85) - "On the will.i.am-produced 'Till The Wheels Fall Off,' a slinky homage to early-'70s funk, Kelis sounds huskily terrific..." -- Grade: B
Q (p.143) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "Kelis is blessed with a unique voice.....KELIS WAS HERE is chock-full of surreal soul diamonds."
Mojo (Publisher) (p.101) - 3 stars out of -- "There's plenty of quality material here, such as the vulnerable 'Appreciate Me', the cute 'Bossy' and unrepentant 'I'm A Handful'..."