Kelis has been dropped From Jive Records

Damn! Jive records dropped Kelis and she no longer has an American record deal! Contrary to popular belief, it is obvious that Kelis is “not” an R&B singer. People wonder where did Rihanna get her fashion sense and sound from? It is obvious Rihanna’s stylists and record label Def Jam have been carefully copying Fefe Dobson and Kelis images and music. Rihanna is a Kelis and Fefe Dobson wannabe!

In my mind, I don’t consider Kelis to be “R&B” anyway. The problem is the USA music industry is so racially stratified that black artists are categorized and forced into very limiting boundaries. Kelis was trying to challenge the racist American music industry by basically being a “pop/rock” singer. I don’t think the R&B label does Kelis any justice at all she’s so much more then that. Kelis deserves our respect because girlfriend has been in the music business since 1999. Now how many artists from the 1990s are still around? So many artists have crashed and burned but Kelis is still here!

I was so hoping Kelis would have a new album released before the end of the year! I guess I will have to wait and pray that next year Kelis can get another record deal. Don’t worry Kelis fans Kelis will bounce back! Kelis fans know this is actually Kelis “fourth” yes “fourth” American label she’s on. Kelis is a very independent artist she has a clear vision and direction of her work.

For example, Kelis second album “Wanderland” was not released in North America because Virgin America didn’t think there were any “hits” on the album. Kelis fought with Virgin America because she really believed in that album she stands up for what she believes in.

I respect Kelis because she clearly is a very talented and unique artist. Kelis is not a puppet, like some singers out there she writes her own songs, she creates her own image, and she has her own style. Kelis does sell records its just that most of her success is outside of America. Kelis is an international superstar. If you compare the foreign record sales of Kelis albums and singles to the American sales and singles you will see a major disparity. Overseas people just love Kelis! Its sad that in America the Americans are so driven by stereotypes, by only one “way” of marketing and thinking. I guess that’s the American way?

Kelis still has her deal with Virgin in Europe and that’s a good thing.Even though Kelis had a gold album in 2003, Tasty selling over 500,000 copies, the single milkshake also went gold, and the single Bossy went double platinum wasn’t enough for Jive records. Perhaps it is time for Kelis to just focus on the international markets and forget about America? Kelis sells millions of records overseas anyways.

All Kelis fans know she has been poorly marketed in North America. Kelis fourth album only sold 157,000 copies in the United States. The American record business is all about instant gratification these days the labels want hits and they want them fast. Bossy was a hit in America climbing to number sixteen on the billboard hot 100 chart. The single also went multi platinum according to the RIAA. The problem for Kelis is, I feel was the choice for the second single in America. I think “blindfold me” was the wrong choice that song was meant for the night club its a club banger not for the radio.

I don’t understand why Jive didn’t release “Lil Star” that song has hit written all over it? In fact, Kelis European label Virgin was wise to release the single “Lil Star” sky rocketed to number three on the UK singles chart and also reached number two in Ireland. The single “Lil Star” sold over 118,000 copies alone in the UK. Jive should of releases “Lil Star” instead of “blindfold me”.

Kelis is a very special artist that unfortunately is trying to break into an American music business that has a very myopic viewpoint of how to market young black female singers. All the record labels right now are trying to recreate “Beyonce” and make a gazillion Beyonce wannabe’s right now. Its unfortunate for young black women that want to be serious artists there is so much sexism in the music industry. Black radio is garbage its pretty myopic its only going to play stereotypical R&B and hip hop. Where does this leave an artist like Kelis?

The only option a young black female singer has to “make” it in the USA is to be a soul or R&B singer. Isn’t that boring? Aren’t people tired of all the young black singers sounding the same? What’s the difference between Beyonce, Mya, Ciara, Alicia Keys, Ashanti? Kelis was always exciting because she totally was an individual. There are too many artists that out there that look the same and sound the same. Kelis is special because she takes risks with her image, her music, and her sense of fashion and style.

Yes Kelis uses “R&B” elements to her music but just because she’s black doesn’t mean she’s automatically R&B. I see Kelis as more of a rock/pop singer she clearly uses a hybrid of sounds from pop, rock, new wave, disco, and sometimes R&B.

The problem for Kelis as I have said before is the USA music industry is still so racially stratified. People overseas get Kelis the radio formats and TV formats aren’t so specific on forcing an artist into a “category” just based on race. I think maybe Kelis should focus on the foreign markets because that’s where her music really sells. Kelis albums always sell overseas. Kelis concerts also sell out very quickly overseas too.

I hear Kelis is shopping for a new label in America I sure hope she finds one soon. I also hope that Kelis tries to find a label that “really” understands her talent, personality and style of music. Kelis also needs an American label that believes in her and will really push hard to sell her music. Some people call Kelis “weird” and “different” but that’s what Kelis fans love her. Kelis isn’t trying to be the cookie cutter R&B singer because she’s not really R&B anyway she’s just Kelis.

Many artists such as Beyonce, Pink, Rihanna, and many more have copied Kelis music and style at one point or another in their careers. It sucks that Jive just didn’t care to promote Kelis properly or carefully but that’s how the American music industry is these days. Sure hope Kelis can comeback soon she is fierce!

Link to Billboard.com article: http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003664644