Kelis Rogers aka biography

Kelis was born and raised in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City, New York. Her first name, pronounced /kəˈlis/ (she can be heard singing her own name in the song Blindfold me), is a combination of her father's name, Kenneth, and her mother's name, Eveliss. Kenneth is an African-American jazz musician, Pentecostal minister, and professor at Wesleyan University. Eveliss is a Chinese-Puerto Rican fashion designer, who inspired Kelis to pursue her singing career.

As a child, she sang in church choirs and played violin, piano, and saxophone while attending Manhattan Country School, a private school. Kelis left home at age sixteen, but continued her education at age sixteen when she went to the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts, where she formed the R&B trio BLU (Black Ladies United). After graduation, she formed a band with The Neptunes and, with their support, landed herself a record deal.

Kelis has since worked with a variety of musicians including Gravediggaz, Busta Rhymes, Foxy Brown, Lil' Kim, OutKast, P. Diddy, Mondo Grosso, Usher, LFO, Moby, Richard X, Timo Maas, Björk, Enrique Iglesias Timbaland, Sean Paul, Too Short, and her husband, Nas. Her most notable duets were popular singles and music videos, even in the U.S., during 1999 and the early 2000s decade. These include the following: "What It Is" with Busta Rhymes, "Candy" with Foxy Brown, and "Got Your Money" with Ol' Dirty Bastard, with whom she was initially discovered beatboxing in a video of his.

Kelis is writing a cookbook and designing her own line of fashion accessories, called Cake. She is also working with Ashanti on a high-heeled shoes line called KeShany Heels.

Ford has chosen Kelis to help advertise the 2007 Ford Edge. She has recorded a theme song for the commercial, called "Push It to the Edge", with help from Grammy Award-nominated producer Scott Storch.

Also, Kelis and her husband Nas have signed a contract with MTV to record a reality show called Mr. and Mrs. Jones during his tour throughout the U.S. in support of his eighth studio album, Hip Hop Is Dead.

Kelis is set to be working with Annie Lennox on a duet for the Eurythmics' new album, due to release in late November. Artists such as Pink, Mary J. Blige, and Madonna will also appear on the album.

During the summer of 2007, Kelis toured in Europe, appearing in numerous festivals among the United Kingdom, France, and Germany.

Kelis is in talks to host a Project Runway-esque show for VH1, and is auditioning for various film and TV roles.

Her manager told Entertainment Weekly that the singer is working on an indie dance album with Cee-Lo Green. They are also shopping a pop album produced by songwriter Guy Chambers, who co-wrote hits such as Robbie Williams' "Angel". Scottish electronic producer Calvin Harris was also said to be collaborating with her.