Grammy nominated R&B singer Kelis has given birth to a baby boy, who she has named Knight.
Kelis is one of the more unusual talents on the R&B scene. While many female singers use independence as a pose, Kelis is very much her own woman with her music criss-crossing from hip hop to jazz.
Born into a musical family – Kelis’ father was a jazz musician – the singer attended several private schools specialising in performance. Forming a teenage trio BLU (Black Girls United) the singer later fell under the spell of The Neptunes.
Then unknown, the Pharrell Williams led production team would later go on to dominate the recording industry. With their influence record labels began to pay attention to the unknown singer.
Debut album ‘Kaleidoscope’ was released in 1999 and became a global hit. Kelis’ boyfriend baiting single ‘Caught Out There’ became a female anthem, as the singer screamed “I hate you so much right now” sending a shiver down the spine of men everywhere.
Since then Kelis has enjoyed considerable praise yet has not quite matched the success of her debut. The singer married the rapper Nas in 2005, with the pair becoming one of the most recognisable pairings in black American music.
However the relationship floundered and earlier this year the pair divorced. In a typical show of independence Kelis was seven months pregnant at the time, having taken a break following her 2006 album ‘Kelis Was Here’.
Bizarrely, the singer is said to be working on a cookbook right now. However all that will be put on hold as Kelis adjusts to life with her new baby boy.
The singer gave birth in New York yesterday (July 21st) but Nas was not present. The pair’s divorce battle has become quite bitter in recent times, with the rapper claiming he was not allowed to attend the birth.
“It was his intention to be there for the birth, but unfortunately he has not been allowed to be present,” a source close to the rapper to American magazine Allhiphop.
“While this is clearly heartbreaking to him, Nas continues to offer his support and love to his new baby boy and his mother.”
