Will.I.Am SIGNS Kelis to His Interscope Distributed Label & Launches DJ Awards Show!

R&B singer Kelis has reportedly linked with Black Eyed Peas' frontman Will.i.am and become the latest artist to sign onto his Will.i.am Music Group, an Interscope Records imprint. According to reports, Nas' estranged wife is now on Interscope, home to artists including Eminem, Diddy, 50 Cent and Mary J. Blige.

After much speculation following the release of a song titled "Acapella" on the Internet last week, singer-songwriter Kelis has announced that she has signed to Interscope Records through Will.i.am Music Group. "I love that I am now a new part of the Interscope family," Kelis said via a statement. "2010 is around the corner and I can't wait to put out new music and spend time with real music fans on tour again." (Billboard)

The move marks her official departure from former record company, Jive Records.

Kelis' last label deal was with Jive Records, and she reportedly was dropped in late 2007. Her as-yet-untitled album features production from the Black Eyed Peas' Will.i.am as well as Free School, Boyz Noize, Burnz, DJ Ammo and David Guetta, who produced the above-mentioned retro-dance track. (Reuters)



She hinted at a new record deal late last month.
"My album is pretty much done. I signed a new deal and I'm madly in love with life and ready to share something with you," she said in a message. "My song is called 'Acapella' and I wrote it with love and life in mind. I hope that it finds you well and that you love it, cause honestly I do!" (All Headline News)

Kelis has over a decade of music to her name and is most known for working alongside The Neptunes.



Black Eyed Peas star Will.I.Am is launching the Data Awards next year to pay tribute to the art of DJ-ing. The I Gotta Feeling hitmaker will turn the spotlight on club DJs in an effort to honor their work at the inaugural ceremony on January 30th, 2010 - one night before the music industry's most prestigious awards ceremony, the Grammys.

Announcing the annual event at a press conference on Tuesday (01Dec09), will.i.am said, "There's a lot of things going on in music nowadays; record stores falling, the internet... One of the most important factors in this is that the DJs and artists are still very much active.

"During (Grammy) week we are celebrating and honouring the DJ by announcing the Data Awards and giving them the top awards. We're starting off small with four awards: Best DJ, Best DJ Solo/Group, Best Remix and Best Original Track. I'm really excited about that."

The Data Awards will coincide with will.i.am's new art exhibition, entitled Who Killed The Music?, and the rapper is turning the whole week of events into one big fundraiser by donating money from the sale of the artworks to two good causes - the Grammy Foundation and the star's own i am scholarship fund for cash-strapped students.

He is also teaming up with French DJ David Guetta to play a series of concerts in the lead-up to the two prizegivings - with all proceeds from the ticket sales benefiting his scholarship organisation.