Kelis- 'Tasty'
It's been five years since the Neptune's favourite nineteen year old hip-hop princess Kelis burst onto the scene with her debut album Kaleidoscope back in 1999. Now twenty-four years old, Kelis appears to have grown up a lot, and with 'Tasty' she is certainly not afraid to show it.
After some brief foreplay in the fridge we are served up 'Trick Me' and immediately hear a transformation from the angry rainbow haired girl of 'Caught Out There' to a sexy siren intent on seducing the listener with a feast of funky R 'n' B production and sexy lyrics.
After the subtle seduction of 'Trick me' Kelis ups the sexual ante with boasts of her now infamous milkshake. If you were to put ice cream, strawberries, booty shaking and a large dose of sex into a blender, mix it up and serve it, then you may get something similar to the flavour of Kelis' distinctive and delicious brand of milkshake. Next is a Dallas Austin produced classic. 'Keep it Down', with it's heavy rock beats, sounds like the rock and roll cousin of N.E.R.D's 'Lapdance' and is definitely not an ugly relation.
If you had any doubts as to Kelis' new, more sexual, direction then 'In Public' will expel them. Kelis and her boyfriend Nas get down and very dirty, inviting you to watch as they act out all their favourite exhibitionist tendencies, with Kelis' sensual and explicit vocals steaming up windows quicker than you can say "dogging".
We pass through more slick production a la Neptunes on the Timberlake-esque 'Flashback' and 'Protect My Heart' before the album reaches it's climax on 'Millionaire'. Here Kelis teams up with Andre 3000, the beats tingling of Outkast's B.O.B. providing an electric backing to the pair's thoughts on the downside to the fame game with Andre musing: Mama I'm a millionaire, but I feel like a bum. Mama I'm a millionaire, I feel like the only one.
After the climax Kelis relaxes back with a post coital fag and a cup of tea on the laid back and dreamy 'Glow' and 'Sugar Honey Iced Tea' displaying an enchanting R 'n' B side to her character after the raunchy beginnings.
However, Kelis doesn't allow the listener the liberty of nodding off after the earlier high energy efforts, calling them back with the seductive and raspy 'Attention' before 'Rolling Through The Hood', 'Stick Up' and 'Marathon' bring the album to a relaxed and gentle finish.
'Tasty', is an unruly, bold, profane, unapologetic, flirtatious, intimate and fun sexual marathon which leaves you begging for more. It was good for me, was it good for you? |
DFA Records: Holiday Mix 2005
Kelis - London Astoria
