Steffany

“Way up, I feel blessed” is the only apt way to describe the week I’ve been having. The past couple of days have consisted of me checking my phone constantly, in hopes of catching catch the NPR giveaway of Pharrell tickets. It was very important that I win, if not for me, then for the fam. I grew up listening to Pharrell. My parents were relatively young during the reign of the Neptunes, Missy, and Timbaland and the records they produced. So, these are the sounds I heard at home. The futuristic production and metallic pings blared through the stereo system, and became indicative of it being clean up time as well as a dance party. I’d say my first brush with Pharrell’s music was his production of “When Boy Meets Girl” by Total or “Superthug” by Noreaga, maybe it was “Give It To Me” by Jay-Z. They surely produced a lot of good shit. However, I’m here to talk about the Neptunes & their contribution to Kelis’ career.

I’m a huge Kelis fan, my fangirling doubling and tripling as I get older, because of newfound ability to articulate her significance in my life. Kaleidoscope came out in ’99, “Caught Out There” was the lead single, so I missed the initial impact of the Kelis era. Although, I grew up enamored of the video. However, I felt her presence was in my household and she became a great influence on me. She definitely doesn’t get her just due. Her singing is brimming with attitude. Like, on the song “Good Stuff,” when she sings, “Give me this, give me that, aw yeah, so wack,” she’s clearly eye rolling & can communicate that expression vocally. On “Ghetto Children,” she’s so genuine, it’s like your big sister sitting you down giving you life advice. Also, it’s important to note that she told the girl she’s addressing in the song to study math and her sciences. Kelis is a pioneer even outside the realm of music, fashion, and food. That lyric dropped long before Black Girls Code existed, she birthed everything. Don’t try to dispute this, ’cause it’s FACTS. We are all Kelis’ sons and she don’t want custody.

Pick an era of Kelis’ career and I can get into its influence in my life. Like when “Bossy” ft. Too Short came out and my cousin had the Kelis short bob done. I mean she cut off all her hair to replicate this style, and when everyone would see her they’d just go, “I’m bossy!” In retrospect, she probably could’ve gotten a quick weave but Kelis’ powers will have you cutting your hair off hoping to look half as cute. Flesh Tone is also really good. I copped that with my own money, and told all my friends to buy it too cause I’m like a one-woman Kelis street team. It’s an electronic dance music album but the production is really accessible. It includes cuts like “22nd Century” in combination with an album cover where she looks like a high priestess?! She contributed to Afrofuturism, too. Does it ever stop? No, not with Kelis. I’m not even going to delve into the Food album, just go listen to “Floyd” with your eyes closed, please. Get your life.

Of the conversation at NYU, Pharrell’s Kelis-centered answers were the best part for me. Pharrell acknowledged that Kelis is an extremely talented woman who doesn’t take no for an answer. Oh, and she got him on to brands like Prada: My girl is stylish, too. She made pocketbooks out of throwback jerseys. She had wild hair long before Tumblr was inundated with pictures of Black girls with a range of curl patterns and hair colors. She embodied this alternative black girl rebellion, and that resonated with me in a way riot grrrl never could. Kelis is one of a kind. I like no nonsense bitches. I am a no nonsense bitch. I love that she exuded confidence on her albums like Kaleidoscope, Tasty, and Kelis Was Here. And I like that when I play “Suga Honey Iced Tea” or “Glow” on the Bluetooth speaker and I see my Mama in her zone jammin’. The relationship I have with music is extremely personal. Lately, I’ve been reaching back and really making sense of my influences and they’re mostly fly ass black girls. There’s never a Kelis picture I see where I’m not like, “Damn. That’s a look.” And then I notice that my edges have been snatched away.

I keep saying I will make music, but time hasn’t allowed me to. Given my recent existential crisis after someone asked me, “What do you do?” the whole Pharrell NYU talk has put a little pep in my step. I know this was supposed to be about Pharrell but Kelis, though. She made all this good fucking music and now she’s making good fucking food. She has a cookbook and everything. She refuses to be put in a box, she does it all. Skateboard P said this is his favorite thing about Generation Z. Our inability to stick to one thing is looked down upon by some, but who says you have to remain stagnant in one career? Pharrell doesn’t think so. I don’t think so. Kelis doesn’t think so. They’re the only people who matter anyway.

Kelis is mad influential, y’all. Give her a retrospective at the MoMA. ♦