Food | ||||
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Studio album by Kelis | ||||
Released | April 18, 2014 | |||
Recorded | 2013 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 50:13 | |||
Label | ||||
Producer | Dave Sitek | |||
Kelis chronology | ||||
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Singles from Food | ||||
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Food is the sixth studio album by American recording artist Kelis, released on April 18, 2014, becoming her first album released under Ninja Tune Records. In 2007, Jive dropped Kelis, and she later signed to Interscope and will.i.am Music Group in 2009, through the label she released her fifth studio album, Flesh Tone, which saw Kelis experiment with a dance sound. In 2011 Kelis began work on the follow up to Flesh Tone, however she left Interscope and signed to Federal Prism, before officially signing to the British independent label Ninja Tune for the release of Food.Food is an R&B and soul album with a diverse musical style that incorporates funk, Afro-beat, Memphis soul, R&B and neo-soul. Its songs feature crackling horns, brass, earthy guitars, simmering electronics and vocals from Kelis that were noted as being breathy, smoky and sultry.
The album was viewed as a return to Kelis' previous music prior to Flesh Tone, and was described by Kelis as, "a kind of unspoken lovefest". The album was written by Kelis, alongside David Andrew Sitek, and Todd Simon, and was entirely produced by Dave Sitek and features guest performances by CSS and Priscilla Ahn. Upon release the album received mostly positive reviews from critics, who commended the album's production, composition and Kelis vocals. Commercially the album fared well making appearances on numerous charts worldwide, the album also entered the UK Albums Chart at number twenty, becoming Kelis's second highest peaking album after Tasty in 2004. The album was promoted with the release of three singles—"Jerk Ribs", "Rumble", and "Friday Fish Fry"—and was promoted with a mini-concert.
In late 2007, Jive dropped Kelis, and she was signed to Interscope and will.i.am Music Group in 2009. She released her fifth studio album, Flesh Tone, in May 2010. The album saw Kelis departing from her previous R&B sound, and adapting a new dance sound. The album was preceded by the lead single, "Acapella", the album spawned three singles that achieved moderate success in the charts; "4th of July (Fireworks)", "Scream" and "Brave". Following the release of her album she collaborated with Scottish producer Calvin Harris on the song "Bounce", the lead single from Harris' third studio album, 18 Months. The song was released in June 2011 in the United Kingdom and debuted at number two on the UK Singles Chart.