Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones, known professionally as Nas, is an American rapper and entrepreneur. Rooted in East Coast hip hop, he is regarded as one of the greatest rappers of all time. The son of jazz musician Olu Dara, Nas began his musical career in 1989 under the moniker "Nasty Nas", and recorded demos under the wing of fellow East Coast rapper Large Professor. Nas first guest appeared on his group, Main Source's 1991 song "Live at the Barbeque".
Monica Denise Arnold is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. Born and raised in College Park, Georgia, she began performing as a child and joined a traveling gospel choir by the age of ten. Monica signed with record producer Dallas Austin through his label Rowdy Records in 1993, and gained prominence following the release of her debut studio album, Miss Thang (1995). Her follow up releases were met with further commercial success; her second, The Boy Is Mine (1998) remains her best-selling album and spawned three Billboard Hot 100-number one singles: "The Boy Is Mine", "The First Night" and "Angel of Mine".
Kelis Rogers, known mononymously as Kelis, is an American singer-songwriter and chef. She attended New York's Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts, where she learned to play the saxophone and won a spot in the Girls Choir of Harlem. Upon graduation, Rogers soon landed a role as a backing vocalist for the hip hop group Gravediggaz. She then began working with music producers Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo, collectively known as the Neptunes, who led her to sign with Virgin Records in 1998.
Tasty is the third studio album by American singer Kelis, released on December 5, 2003, by Star Trak Entertainment and Arista Records. As executive producer, Kelis enlisted previous collaborators the Neptunes to produce the album, as well as new collaborators such as Raphael Saadiq, Dallas Austin, André 3000, Rockwilder, and Dame Blackmon "Grease". It also features guest vocals from Saadiq, André 3000, and then-boyfriend Nas.
God's Son is the sixth studio album by American rapper Nas. It was released on December 13, 2002, by Ill Will and Columbia Records. Production took place during 2001 to 2002, and was handled by several producers, including Salaam Remi, Chucky Thompson, Ron Browz, Eminem, and The Alchemist. The album also includes guest appearances from artists such as Alicia Keys, Kelis, and a posthumous feature from 2Pac. Musically, God's Son blends hardcore hip hop with elements of soul and jazz. Partly inspired by the death of his mother in early 2002, God's Son covers lyrical themes such as religion, violence, grief, redemption and his own emotional experiences. It has been recognized by critics as some of Nas' most personal work.
Wanderland is the second studio album by American singer Kelis, released on October 17, 2001, by Virgin Records. The album's only single, "Young, Fresh n' New", peaked at number 32 on the UK Singles Chart. As of October 2004, Wanderland had sold 17,000 copies in the United Kingdom.
Marsha Ambrosius-Billups is an English singer and songwriter. She began her musical career as a member of the R&B duo Floetry. Ambrosius released her debut solo album Late Nights & Early Mornings in 2011. It was followed by Friends & Lovers (2014), Nyla (2018), and Casablanco (2024).
"In Public" is a song by American singer Kelis, featuring American rapper Nas, taken from the former's third studio album, Tasty (2003). It was released as the album's fourth and final single on April 4, 2005. Kelis co-wrote the song with its producer, Rockwilder.
Kelis Was Here is the fourth studio album by American singer Kelis, released on August 22, 2006, by Jive Records. Originally titled The Puppeteer, the album features production by Bangladesh, Raphael Saadiq, Max Martin, Sean Garrett, and Scott Storch, among others, and also features collaborations with will.i.am, Nas, Cee-Lo, Too Short, and Spragga Benz. It is Kelis's first album not to feature longtime collaborators the Neptunes. Kelis Was Here received a nomination for Best Contemporary R&B Album at the 2007 Grammy Awards.
"Bossy" is a song by American R&B singer Kelis featuring American rapper Too Short. The song features a Roland 808 drum machine and interpolates "Diamonds on My Neck" by Smitty, which in turns uses a sample of "Dangerous MC's" by The Notorious B.I.G. "Bossy" was released in the United States in April 2006 as the lead single from Kelis' fourth studio album, Kelis Was Here (2006). The song peaked at number 16 on the US Billboard Hot 100, making it the singer's second-biggest Hot 100 hit as well as Too Short's first top-40 hit. "Bossy" also entered the top 10 in Finland and the top 20 in Australia, New Zealand, and Spain and top 30 in UK. On December 11, 2006, the song was certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
Jamal Fincher Jones, known professionally as Polow da Don, is an American record producer and rapper from Atlanta, Georgia. He began his career as a recording artist in the late 1990s, leaving college to pursue a career with the short-lived hip hop group Jim Crow. They signed with Epic Records in 1999 and released two albums—Crow's Nest (1999) and Right Quick (2001)—before being dropped from the label.
"Promise" is a song performed by American recording artist Ciara from her second studio album, Ciara: The Evolution (2006). It was written by Ciara, Jasper Cameron, Polow da Don and Elvis Williams and produced by Polow da Don and Nealante. The song was released as the album's official lead single on October 16, 2006, through LaFace Records. The song was selected as the first single as Ciara wanted to put out a single with a slower pace, noting that her previous releases had been up-tempo. According to Ciara, the song represents the album's theme of evolving and symbolizes her growth as a songwriter and artist.
"Lil Star" is the second international single from Kelis' fourth studio album, Kelis Was Here (2006). Released outside US, the single features Cee-Lo, who was at the time half of the duo Gnarls Barkley. Following the moderate success of "Bossy", the single has proven to be a return to form for Kelis; it debuted at number eight in Ireland and was also a huge hit in the United Kingdom reaching number three on the UK Singles Chart. The track was hailed by many music fans and critics as Kelis' "comeback" single, despite the fact "Bossy" was written specifically for Kelis' return to music.
Marece Benjamin Richards, better known by his stage name Rich Boy, is an American rapper from Mobile, Alabama. He is best known for his 2006 hit single "Throw Some D's", which peaked at number six on the Billboard Hot 100. It served as the lead single for his eponymous debut album, which was released in March of the following year through Polow da Don's Zone 4, an imprint Interscope Records.
"Young, Fresh n' New" is a song by American singer Kelis from her second studio album, Wanderland (2001). Kelis co-wrote the song with its producers, The Neptunes. It was released on September 25, 2001, as the only single from the album. The single peaked at number 32 on the UK Singles Chart. In the United States, however, it became her third consecutive single to miss the Billboard Hot 100. Nevertheless, German producer Timo Maas' remix of the song managed to chart on Billboard's Hot Dance Club Play at number 15 in January 2002. The accompanying music video was directed by Diane Martel and filmed in Los Angeles over the weekend of June 9–10, 2001.
In a Perfect World... is the debut studio album by American singer-songwriter Keri Hilson. It was released on March 24, 2009, through Zone 4, Mosley Music Group and Interscope Records. Originally planned for a 2007 release, it was pushed back numerous times into 2008, amid her label's budget issues and minor single releases. The production on the album was handled primarily by Timbaland, Polow da Don and Danja, among others.
"Whatever U Like" is the debut solo single by American singer Nicole Scherzinger, featuring rapper T.I. and Sean Garrett. The trio, along with Polow da Don, composed the song for Scherzinger's planned debut studio album Her Name Is Nicole. "Whatever U Like" was released on July 28, 2007 on Interscope Records.
A Different Me is the third studio album by American singer Keyshia Cole. It was released by Geffen Records in association with Imani Entertainment and Interscope Records on December 16, 2008 in the United States. Cole reteamed with producers Toxic, Ron Fair and The Runners to work on A Different Me, but also worked with a variety of additional collaborators on new material, including Polow da Don, The Outsyders, Kwamé, Carvin & Ivan, Tank, Theron Feemster, and Poke & Tone. Guest appearances include Amina, Nas, Monica and 2Pac.
"The Way You Love Me" is a song recorded by American R&B singer-songwriter Keri Hilson featuring rapper Rick Ross from the former's second studio album No Boys Allowed (2010). It was written by Stanley Benton, India Boodram, Paul Dawson, Hilson, Kesia Hollins, Jazmyn Michel as well as William Roberts, and was produced by Polow da Don. "The Way You Love Me" surfaced online on November 7, 2010; its explicit lyrics fueled controversy, with music critics accusing the singer of swerving into a racy lane. However, Hilson clarified in several interviews that the song was not just sexual but also had a message for empowerment of women. She added that "The Way You Love Me" was not a song "meant for children".
"Stuck with Me" is a song by Canadian recording artist Tamia. It was written by Rachel Assil, Kesia Hollins and Jamal Jones for her sixth studio album Love Life (2015), while production was helmed by Jones under his production moniker Polow da Don. "Stuck with Me" is a silky, romantic R&B slow jam in which the singer professes her undying love for her significant other. Musically, the light and airy groove is built upon a liquid, pulsing bass line over which Tamia sings with smoky vocals, also making use of her falsetto range.
