Ranking the Best Kelis Albums

Last week the woman who inspired Chloe Bailey dropped a new single!

No Beyhive, I’m not talking about your queen. I’m talking about Kelis Rogers, one of R&B’s great innovators of the past 20 years – and one who rarely gets the credit she deserves. Sure, we know about the songs about dessert drinks, we know about her ties to The Neptunes and all the TMZ drama we won’t bother acknowledging here. But we don’t speak enough about how Kelis constantly pushed the boundaries of her sound LONG before it became commonplace.

So let’s look back at her eclectic discography, ranking them from bottom to top. As usual, we’ll be skipping compilations and live sets.

From creative force to R&B’s foremost foodie, you never knew where Kelis would take you next. That’s what makes her so great.

6. Flesh Tone (2010)

Soul In Stereo rating: 3 stars out of 5

Edd said: Under the watchful eye of Will.i.am, Flesh Tone was quite the departure from Kelis’ more R&B-fueled albums – but it was also a sign o’ the times. Everybody and their momma was obsessed with EDM in the early 2010s and this was no exception. Nothing here is awful (if hyperactive, glow-stick wavin’ rave music is your thing) but nothing stands out either. Much respect for trying something new I guess but it’s kinda weird that an artist who constantly carved her own path went along with the crowd on this one.

Forgotten favorites: “Song for the Baby,” “Acapella”

5. Wanderland (2001)

Soul In Stereo rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

Edd said: Kelis’ infamous second album has quite the dubious legacy. According to the woman herself, Virgin Records wasn’t feeling the direction on her sophomore effort. Since she bounced from the label around the time of its European release, it never officially made its way stateside until about two years ago. I’m with Virign on this one – while her debut was certainly in a league of its own, it was still a focused effort. True to its name, Wanderland kinda roams all over the place before finding itself by last few tracks. With a trim and a bit more direction this could have been a contender.

Forgotten favorites: “Little Suzie,” “Shooting Stars,” “Mr. UFO Man”

4. Kelis was Here (2006)

Soul In Stereo rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

Edd said: I remember there being a lot of doubt and skepticism when we learned that Kelis Was Here would be her first project without the Neptunes. Honestly, it was bound to happen eventually – Kelis has never shied away from experimentation and new sounds, so it’s pretty obvious that she’d branch out eventually. To that end, Will.i.am, Bangeldesh and others lace her with heavy synths and 808s, with lead single “Bossy” clearly trying to capitalize on the flavor of “Milkshake.” But the project suffers from Wanderland Syndrome – there’s a LOT going on but few songs stick with you after the record stops spinning.

Forgotten favorites: “Goodbye,” “Appreciate Me,” “The Weekend”

3. Food (2014)

Soul In Stereo rating: 4 stars out of 5

Edd said: Kelis’ most recent album might be her most soulful and funky dish yet. The horns are big, the atmosphere is warm and Kelis sounds rejuvenated after years of hit-or-miss releases. Food is quite the event, swaying from blaxploitation grooves to smoky juke joint blues – a far cry from the space odysseys that defined the early days of her career. It’s likely an acquired taste for fans who came up on the video game bleeps and bloops of the Neptunes era, but for those with a more mature palate, Food goes down easy.

Forgotten favorites: “Forever Be,” “Runnin,” “Biscuits n Gravy”

2. Tasty (2003)

Soul In Stereo rating: 4 stars out of 5

Edd said: MY MILKSHAKE BRINGS ALL THE …

Yeah, yeah it’s been almost 20 years and I’m still tired of it too. But props when it’s due – “Milkshake” was more than a hot song, it was a phenomenon. It went viral WAY before we had social media. Though it’s the defining release of this album, “Milkshake” is far from the only morsel here. Tasty is a sonic smorgasbord, blending hip hop, electronica, R&B, Latin grooves seamlessly. It’s a much more down-to-Earth release compared to Kelis’ intergalactic debut but it’s just as creative and boundless. I played this one a lot in 2003 and thought it was just OK at the time but it has aged much better than I expected.

Forgotten favorites: “Millionaire,” “Sugar Honey Iced Tea,” “Protect My Heart”

1. Kaleidoscope (1999)

Soul In Stereo rating: 4 stars out of 5

Edd said: I mean, what else would take the top spot? Angry R&B songs are all the rage today but in 1999, the “loud-screaming chick with the hair” (shout out to Pusha T) caught us all off guard, instantly carving out a name for both herself and her Star Trak compatriots The Neptunes. Kaleidoscope’s unapologetic approach to relationships was way ahead of its time, quietly becoming a milestone moment for 21st century R&B. When you think of Kelis, *you* might think of milkshakes. When *I* think of Kelis, I think of this intergalactic journey. It’s her greatest work by far.

Forgotten favorites: “Roller Rink,” “In the Morning,” “Get Along With You” (I know y’all remember that one but it’s my fave so I’m shouting it out anyway)

What are some of your favorite Kelis albums and moments? Let us know below.