Kelis has been dropped by her record label, it has been reported.
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The Milkshake singer was released from her contract with Jive Records because her 2006 album Kelis Was Here failed to match up the success of her 2003 LP Tasty, according to Entertainment Weekly magazine.
Although Kelis Was Here featured several high-profile collaborations, including a duet with her husband Nas, it only sold around 150,000 copies in the US – making it her least successful album to date.
Kelis’ manager Jeff Rabhan claims Jive Records didn’t “get” the singer’s music and failed to support her.
Rabhan said: “It was a case of being in the ever-shrinking world of the record industry and finding herself on a label she wasn’t signed to and without a champion.
“She’s a different kind of artist – very image and style-driven. It’s either something you get or you don’t.
“We’re not opposed to another major label deal, but it would have to be non-traditional.”
Kelis was originally signed to Pharrell Williams’ label Star Trak Entertainment, which has a distribution deal with Arista. She ended up with Jive Records following a merger between Arista and Sony BMG.
Kelis has now teamed up with songwriter Guy Chambers, who previously worked with British singer Robbie Williams, and the pair are said to be working on a pop record.
The Bossy star is also set to collaborate with rapper Cee-Lo on an indie-dance track.
