by GERARD DEE

Kelis Roger has a knack for recognizing a solid hook. Back in '99, she delivered the tongue-in-cheek chorus on Ol' Dirty Bastard's "Got Your Money," but she really took off when her debut single "Caught Out There" caught the attention of the industry and public alike. With its unforgettably angry chorus of "I hate you so much right now," the lead single from her album Kaleidoscope turned into the ultimate scorned-woman's anthem and a rallying cry against docility.

Since then, her name and voice have been paired up with figures from one end of the pop-music spectrum to the other. Just try pigeonholing a lady who's worked with No Doubt's Gwen Stefani, Korn's Fieldy, Busta Rhymes, Basement Jaxx, trance deity Timo Maas and of course the hallowed Neptunes. The latter have brought their signature production style to a stack of Kelis tracks, including her outstanding sophomore joint Wanderland, which due to a label shift never saw the light in the U.S. Conversely, she tossed them a remake of her own "Popular Thug," with a cameo from her boyfriend Nas, for their excellent Clones compilation.

With the suggestive come-on of "my milkshake brings all the boys to the yard," her latest single "Milkshake," from her new album Tasty, also has an attention-grabbing hook. With an edgy groove, the song is part of a diverse set that features a variety of beats, including rock steady and rock. Now three albums deep into her career, the eclectic singer is set to go on tour, opening for Britney Spears later this year as well as doing a series of upcoming solo gigs. The Mirror reached the singer in L.A. and asked her about life, love, music and milkshakes.

Mirror: How has life changed for you since "Caught Out There" blew up?

Kelis: It's been real busy, lots going on. I mean, it's always better to be busy than not. It has its ups and downs, though.

M: When "Caught Out There" came out, you were pigeonholed as that angry female singer. Is that in the past now?

K: Yeah, I think it is. But I think you're always going to get that. Any woman who's outgoing or assertive - if she's not crooning about the loss of her man all day, then she gets a reputation.

M: Are you still having difficulty with the whole role-model thing?

K: I think it's hard. It's not really what I want to be. I'm aware that that's what I am, so I try to be cautious at times. But there's a very fine line between artistic integrity and, I guess, just crossing that line. Especially with the business that we're in and the way things are today.

Executive sweet

M: Tell me about working with the Neptunes. Do they bring a lot to the table?

K: Musically, yeah. I think they're really talented musicians.

M: So they produced most of your first two albums. They produced some cuts on this one, but you actually went with a variety of producers. Why?

K: I just think variety is healthy and important in all things, especially in music.

M: A couple of the tracks on this album are produced by Raphael Saadiq. How was it working with him?

K: He's wonderful, he's a really talented guy. Of course we've been listening to him forever, throughout his career. But he brings so much to the table. He does so many different things. I love it. He plays so many different instruments. He's just a multi-talented person.

M: You also collaborate with OutKast's André 3000 on "Millionaire. What you have in common with OutKast is that you both take chances. Do you think that the music industry makes it hard for more artists to take risks?

K: The industry is definitely complicated. It's hard to do the things that you want to do. I think that's in any art, though, it's not just music.

M: There don't seem to be a lot of risk takers in hip hop these days. Do you think the music is somewhat stagnant?

K: Yeah, but I think that's not just in hip hop, I think that's in music, period. It's the same in rock and alternative, it all sounds the same.

M: Do you think it's hard for singers in a rap-dominated music world?

K: No. I find it hard to be a female. Not in hip hop, but in music, in business. I mean, just because it is a male-dominated world and it continues to be a male-dominated industry and you're reminded of that every day. I mean, it is what it is, it's just that you have to adjust accordingly so that you can get what you need out of everybody.

M: Do you think that female artists are still under more pressure to use sex to sell their music?

K: That's obvious, but the real catch is that once you do that, it's hard for people to view you as a businessperson. It's kind of a catch-22.

M: You're listed as executive producer on this set. Is control important to you?

K: I think it's important for any artist. It should be.

Tasty talk

M: You have a very public relationship with rapper Nas. Is it hard to have a relationship with another artist because it's so public?

K: With everything else, it's hard because we are in the same business together. But we're on the same level. We have an understanding of each other, and it's exciting to see someone else create music that you really love.

M: He's actually featured on the track "In Public." Was it cool working with him?

K: Definitely.

M: The track "Rolling Through the Hood" is a really interesting song about betrayal. Tell me about the writing process for this. Did it come from a personal experience?

K: It's just a story. I like telling stories, I think that there's a little bit of truth in everything. And as far as the process goes, I don't really have a process, honestly.

M: Did you think that "Milkshake" would be as large as it is?

K: I was definitely thrilled by it. You never know how people are going to receive you, especially just coming out after so long. It's always good when things finally work.

M: So do you like milkshakes?

K: (Laughs) Yeah, I do. A lot less now than I did before.

M: What's your favourite flavor?

K: It depends on the day, I guess.

M: So you'll be touring with Britney, and you've already toured with U2 and Moby. These artists have completely different styles, different sounds and different audiences. Is it a different vibe for you every time?

K: It's always different, and no situation is identical to anything else. I mean, I always love the audience. You've just got to take everything for what it is. I always have a good time.

M: So how did you like performing on Saturday Night Live?

K: I always wanted to do it, but it just sort of happened and I just love the show. I was really happy to be able to do that.

M: What do you think of touring?

K: More than anything else, it's hard to keep track of all your stuff. But it's a lot of fun.

M: So what's next for you? Any movies or other projects on the horizon?

K: Yeah, there's all kinds of stuff. Writing - just everything, but I just take it day by day. Right now I'm just focusing on this tour and that's kind of the most important thing for me right now.

With Melanie Durant at La Boom (1254 Stanley) tonight, Thursday, Feb. 26, 10pm, $15

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