Kelis

Kelis Rogers is an American singer whose genre-spanning career has made her one of the UK's most successful recording artists of the 21st century. Born August 21, 1979, Rogers attended Manhattan's prestigious Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts, where she honed her musical abilities on saxophone and through membership in the Girls Choir of Harlem. After a stint as a backing vocalist for hip hop group Gravediggaz, Rogers caught the attention of producers Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo — collectively known as The Neptunes — who signed her to Virgin Records in 1998. Her early breakthrough came via a featured appearance on Ol' Dirty Bastard's Neptunes-produced single "Got Your Money" in 1999, which marked her first Billboard Hot 100 entry.
Rogers's discography showcases her versatility across jazz, disco, electronic, and neo-soul influences. Her debut album Kaleidoscope (1999) earned critical acclaim and UK gold certification, while her commercial breakthrough arrived with Tasty (2003), anchored by the ubiquitous hit "Milkshake," which peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 and number two on the UK singles chart. Kelis Was Here (2006) further solidified her mainstream presence with the US top-20 single "Bossy" featuring Too Short. Following ventures into culinary arts at Le Cordon Bleu, Rogers returned with Flesh Tone (2010) and Food (2014), the latter becoming her second top-20 album in the UK and further intertwining her culinary passions with her musical output.
Throughout her career, Rogers has earned recognition at the Brit Awards, Grammy Awards, Q Awards, and NME Awards, while achieving particular success across the Atlantic — ten of her singles have reached the UK top ten. Her collaborative range spans R&B and hip hop legends like Nas (whom she married in 2003), alongside electronic producers Giorgio Moroder and Calvin Harris, and indie artists including Björk. With six million records sold worldwide, Rogers has cemented her legacy as a fearless artist unafraid to traverse musical boundaries while maintaining commercial relevance across multiple decades.