Previously we’ve seen a colorful new promo photo and a wild-like music video from Kelis but today we get our first look at the cover artwork for her new album Flesh Tone which is due for release in July … check it out:

I’m not certain but it appears that the cover art for Kelis‘s new album will be glittery and shiny. If it comes out as a cardboard and plastic digipack, it may even be translucent. Considering that Kelis is playing with ultra-bright colors in the promo materials for her new music, it would make sense that her album might have a bit more flair than the other more conventional album artwork of the day. I wouldn’t say I’m crazy in love with this cover but it’s very Kelis. I am crazy excited to hear the rest of the album. If her first single Acapella is any indication, Flesh Tone is gonna be an amazing album. I cannot wait for July 6th to get here.

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When last we checked in with Kelis she had just released a very cool-looking new promo pic to announce the release of her new album titled Flesh Tone … and today, we get our first look at the music video for the first single off her new album. Here are a few screencaps from Acapella:

The video for Kelis’ new single, “Acapella,” [premiered] today at www.iamkelis.com. Based on a treatment written by the GRAMMY-nominated singer-songwriter, the video was lensed in Los Angeles by co-directors Chris Cottam, Rankin and Nicole Ehrlich. Kelis performed at numerous events during last week’s Winter Music Conference 2010 in Miami, including shows with will.i.am, Benny Benassi and David Guetta. She’ll perform on “Jimmy Kimmel Live” on Tuesday, April 6th. “Acapella” topped Billboard’s Dance/Club Play Songs chart earlier this month and is now No. 1 on Music Week’s Pop Club Chart in the U.K., where it’s been added by the BBC’s Radio 1. The track, which appeared in People’s “Hot Downloads” column and on Entertainment Weekly’s “The MustList,” was produced by David Guetta (producer of The Black Eyed Peas’ hit single “I GOTTA FEELING”). “Acapella” is the lead single from Kelis’ upcoming album, Flesh Tone, which will be released this summer by will.i.am Music Group/Interscope Records. Flesh Tone, her first album in nearly four years, was singled out as one of 2010’s “Best Bets” by Billboard. In addition to working with Guetta, Kelis recorded Flesh Tone with several other influential producers, including Free School, Boys Noize, Burnz, DJ Ammo, Benny Benassi and label head will.i.am, who called Kelis “a best kept secret,” in a recent interview with Vibe.com, noting: “She can be big…As big as the Peas.”

OMG … I love this track and the music video is a trip! There’s even a cameo by Kelis‘s baby boy Knight. After the jump, check out the video in full and see what you think …

Kelis, who’s Milkshake famously brings all the boys to the yard, has recently released a new single titled Acapella (currently #1 on the Billboard‘s Dance/Club Play Chart), is about to release a new album titled Flesh Tone and shares with us today a new promo photo that was shot by famed photographer Rankin. Here is our first look at Kelis‘s new photo along with the full text of a press release announcement of the new music she will be releasing later on this year:

GRAMMY-nominated singer-songwriter Kelis topsBillboard’s Dance/Club Play Songs chart again, taking “Acapella,” the lead single from her forthcoming album, Flesh Tone, to No. 1 this week. Her hit “Milkshake” topped the same chart in 2003 and sold over 1.2 million digital singles. Flesh Tone, which Billboard singled out as one of 2010′s “Best Bets,” will be released this spring by will.i.am Music Group/Interscope Records. “Kelis has always been a best kept secret. The cool people know Kelis,” will.i.am told Vibe.com in a recent interview. “She can be big…As big as the Peas.” People selected the new single for its “Hot Downloads” column, noting: “Kelis brings her milkshake back with ‘Acapella,’ a frenetic techno groove from her forthcoming disc, Flesh Tone.” “The ‘Milkshake’ temptress returns with another tall glass of delicious – and this disco-tipped track from her upcoming album is a feathery dance-floor delight,” said Entertainment Weekly, placing “Acapella” on “The MustList” while accesshollywood.com said, “this track is the Jam.com!” The single – produced by David Guetta (producer of The Black Eyed Peas hit single “I GOTTA FEELING”) – is available on the iTunes Store, at Kelis’ website (www.iamkelis.com), where fans can stream it first, and at www.masterbeat.com. Sherecently shot the video for “Acapella” in Los Angeles with the director team of Chris Cottam and Rankin. She will launch Flesh Tone, her first album in nearly four years, with a promotional tour that kicks off at the Winter Music Conference in Miami, FL in late March. Additional details will be announced shortly. In addition to working with Guetta, Kelis recorded Flesh Tone with several other influential producers, including will.i.am, Free School, Boys Noize, Burnz, DJ Ammo and Benny Benassi.

I do love her new single and I really love this photo. In the past year, Kelis has had a lot of things going on in her life. She split from her hubby Nas, she gave birth to a baby boy and she got into a public scuffle with PETA. Now, at long last, Kelis is gettin’ back to the music … where she belongs. I’ve been jammin’ on Acapella for weeks now … I’m dying for the new album. I hope it’s as hot as I think it’s gonna be … Kelis is back, y’all! It’s about damn time.

[Photo credit: Rankin; Source]

Fur lover and R&B singer Kelis posted a blogpost on her official MySpace profile this week altering her fans to the fact that she received a critical letter, personally addressed to her, from the animal rights organization People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. As you might imagine, PETA took great issue with Kelis‘s penchant for openly wearing and proclaiming her love for fur and decided that she needed a stern talking-to to try and get her to change her ways. Kelis, instead, responded to the PETA letter with an official statement of her own. Here is the full text of Kelis‘s response to PETA regarding her decision to wear animal fur:

Good morning all!

Ok, so you’re gonna love this. The other day I got a personalized letter from PETA! Lol so after some thought I’ve decided to write one back. Goes a little something like this:

There is no humane way to kill anything, let me start there. It’s unfortunate but it’s part of life. With that being said, I would eat pterodactyl if you found some and you told me it was meaty and delicious. And after doing a very minimal amount of research……. I found out that the founder Ingrid Newkirk is completely batty. I had a feeling but she far exceeded my expectations. I mean certifiably insane! Lol this chicks will is nuts, google it – it’s a riot! Beyond the fact that I think she’s a diabetic, which means she needs insulin, which is taken from lab pigs (I know this because my sister happens to be in veterinary school), which would be completely hypocritical. It’s like don’t abuse animals unless it can help me.

I feel very strongly about a lot of things such as the sweatshops that spin cotton and the blood on their hands. Btw it’s not just the look of fur. It’s warm as hell and feels glorious, ever rubbed faux fur on your body? Nothing luxurious about that. Then the letter proceeded to name artist and designers who don’t wear real fur. Great! More for me! I don’t judge them, don’t judge me.

The rest of Kelis‘s letter to PETA continues after the jump …

It is being reported that Kelis gave birth to a baby boy today after she reportedly went into labor in NYC yesterday. As is her right, Kelis is keeping as much info about the birth of her child as quiet as possible until she can recuperate with her newborn son for a while. Apparently, Kelis barred her estranged soon-to-be ex-husband and father of her child Nas from the hospital yesterday (according to his lawyer) so, in possible retaliation, Nas is spreading news of the baby’s birth before Kelis has a chance to. According to the proud father, the baby’s name is Knight:

KELIS has given birth to a baby boy. The singer is believed to have delivered the tot in a New York hospital today after going into labour yesterday. The child’s father Nas – who is estranged from Kelis – was not allowed to be present at the birth. A source said: “Nas is in New York City, anxiously awaiting the arrival of his son. It was his intention to be there for the birth, but unfortunately he has not been allowed to be present. While this is clearly heartbreaking to him, Nas continues to offer his support and love to his new baby boy and his mother.” Nas’ lawyer has confirmed the 35-year-old rapper was not permitted to be in the delivery room as his son entered the world. No other details about the child have been released.

Well, no other deets have been released by Kelis … Nas, on the other hand, is talkin’ to any and everyone about the birth of his son:

Looks like Nas and Kelis’ divorce battle just got even more bitter. After receiving news that his soon-to-be ex-wife had gone into labor yesterday morning, Nas rushed to the hospital to be at her side — but was denied access to her room, his lawyer told MTV UK. Instead of getting mad, the rapper got even — announcing the birth of their son, Knight, before Kelis could release an official announcement … During a performance last night at Queensbridge — the public housing complex in Queens, NY, where Nas grew up — the rapper announced, “My son’s name is Knight. That’s what I named the young god, Knight! Y’all heard this first.” There’s no word whether “Knight” is the child’s official name — Kelis’ camp has yet to make any statements about the birth.

HMMM … how much do you wanna bet that Kelis will NOT name her child Knight. After the jump, check out video of Nas making the announcement of his newborn son’s name to the world wide web …

Sad news for one of the most beloved couples in Hip-Hop … Vibe magazine is confirming the news that Kelis has filed for divorce from rapper Nas after almost 6 years of marriage. No cause for the divorce has been reported just yet but we do know that famed celebrity divorce attorney Laura Wasser will be representing Kelis in the divorce (which ain’t good news for Nas). This split is even sadder since the couple are expecting a child together this July ;( They are dunzo, y’all:

One of hip hop’s most talked about married couples have split. VIBE has confirmed that Nas and Kelis are headed for a divorce. “I can confirm that she has filed for divorce,” a spokesperson for Kelis told VIBE. “We request the media to respect her privacy during this very difficult time.” At around 3:45pm PST, high-powered attorney Laura Wasser (who has also represented Britney Spears, Angelina Jolie, and Stevie Wonder) filed a divorce petition today on behalf of Kelis, citing irreconciable differences. The bombshell comes amid recent reports that the acclaimed rhymer and influential R&B vixen were expecting their first child together—a son. Kelis is currently seven months pregnant. It was only last February when Nas spoke excitedly to MTV about the prospect of having a baby with Kelis. “Yeah, man, I find out what it’s gonna be next week, so I’m happy,” said the multiplatinum rapper, who also has a 15-year-old daughter from a previous relationship. Nas and Kelis first met in 2002 at a MTV Video Music Awards afterparty thrown by hip hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs. “I wasn’t going to go, but I’m glad I did,” Nas told VIBE in June 2003. “Then at the afterparty, I met my girl.” Kelis remembered the meeting with her future husband vividly: “Everyone moves out of the way, and Nas stands up, and I put my hand out, and I’m like, Hey, I’m Kelis. And he goes, ‘Who?’… So I’m crawling into a fucking hole, and he’s like, ‘Wait-huh? What’s your name? And I’m like, Kelis, and he’s like, ‘Oh, well that’s great, because I’ve been waiting to make you my wife all these years.’” When Nas told her of his bold marital plans, she replied in typical Kelis form. “That’s great, because that’s all I wanna be.” After dating for two years, the pair married in a small ceremony in Atlanta on July 28, 2003. Their relationship even sparked artistic collaborations, with Nas appearing on Kelis’ sensual single “In Public,” featured on her 2003 release Tasty (Star Trak/Arista). Kelis returned the favor on the Queensbridge, N.Y., MC’s controversial 2006 work Hip Hop Is Dead (Def Jam) on “Not Going Back.” Yet, since March of 2008, rumors of the couple separating have been circulating on the Web. Nas’ spokesperson could not be reached for comment.

I always thought that Kelis and Nas made a great pair … they always seemed so happy and, as the Vibe report confirms, there was was no hint of unhappiness between them. I had heard brief whispers of discontent in March as well but I just chalked it up to idle gossip. Considering the couple seemed so happy about the impending birth of their child, I never dreamed they were headed for divorce. This is a real bummer … but I wish them both well.

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