Music Review: Kelis & Too Short "Bossy"

Kelis & Too Short

Bossy

Album: Kelis Was Here

Year: 2006

        Kelis wants some recognition for being on trend in the  aching  “Bossy.”

        A monochromatic beat opens the single, setting a modish tone.  In the intro, she tells everyone she doesn’t care what they think of her. However, she isn’t some disposable teenage pop star princess. She’s a grown woman who knows what she’s doing. (“Hey ya, you don’t have to love me/You don’t even have to like me/But you will respect me/You know why?/‘Cause I’m boss!”)

          She “uh huh’s” over a sharp beat as a male voice whispers “watch the beat go” four times.

       In the chorus,  She says she’s willing to take chances. She became famous with a song that fused electronic dance with R&B. She has legions of fans. People may think she’s egotistical. However, she has people in the music industry wondering why she was able to have such a huge hit. She recommended one of her friends to work with Bape to get his fashion out there. Now, he has made a name for himself based on of her ideas. (“I'm bossy/I'm the first girl to scream on a track/I switched up the beat of the drum/That's right I brought all the boys to the yard/And that's right, I'm the one that's tattooed on his arm/I'm bossy/I'm the bitch y'all love to hate/I’m chick that raised the stake/I told young stuna he should switch to Bape /I'm back with an 808 cause I'm bossy.”)

           She says produces her song, helping to create a beat that people will remember. She understands music and how to make a hit. She’s going to keep the clubs busy with her songs that everyone will love. (“Oh lemme slow it down for ya so you can catch the flow/Screw it up make it go extra slow/Real girls get down on the flo (on the flo get down, on the flo)/Oh I gave you a taste you want some more/Touch down on it like a pro/I ride the beat like a bicycle, I’m icy cold/Oh from the 6-4 hoppers up in Crenshaw
The money makin’ playas up in Harlem/Don't want no problem/We gon; keep it bumpin’ while the 808 is jumpin’”)

           In the pre-chorus, she says she has the credibility. (“Diamonds on my neck, diamonds on my grill/Diamonds on my neck, diamonds on my grill.”)

             The chorus is sung again.

             She says she offers something unique. People are enjoying themselves in the club because of her. She’s the epitome of glamour and street, blending the two into a fashionable trend. (“Oh (I bet I bet I bet) I bet ya never heard it like this before/My baby be cruising them phantom doors/Got the bar popping this that you can't afford (can't afford)/Oh I'm drinkin’ blasting the crowds,  it's all smoking/All the while I'm all open/Me and my girls we stay fly and we love to stay high/Oh from the 6-4 hoppers up in Crenshaw/To the money makin’ playas up in Harlem/Don't want no problems/We gon keep it bumpin’ while the 808 is jumpin’”)

          The pre-chorus and chorus are sung again.

            In the bridge, Too Short says Kelis is hot. However, she’s tough and can handle herself. He tells her he has her all figured out. He’s the guy she wants. A guy starts telling her to shut up. He says she has to got to say something to defend herself. (“It's ‘bout time that she get with me/Can't stop starin’, she's fine and she's pretty/Damn girl, don't hurt em/If ****** don't back, you gon work em/Put your mack down, I know your background/What chu want girl, you getting mad now/That's how you do it, huh?/Well I'm the coolest one/In fact, it's in the back bring 'em to the front (bitch)/Tell that man you's a boss, bitch/Make some noise, raise your hand if you's a boss, bitch/I don't think he understand you's a boss, bitch/Get some help if you can cause he lost it/Ain't no refunds, she spent the cash mayne/In your Benz with her friends in the fast lane/Flossin’, you say "how much it cost me?"/About a million dollars playa, she's bossy.”)

                 The chorus is sung again.

         The sharp beat returns as Kelis “uh uh’s” and the male voice whispers again “watch the beat go” four times to end the single.

                Kelis’ hurt vocals really want to be seen. She’s been shunted aside in favor of pretty girls who can’t sing or she’s in Beyonce’s shadow.. She wants to be known as more than a one-hit wonder. The usual lecture on narcissism is going to be skipped. Her brand of R&B is electic and raunchy with a jagged edge. It’s unfortunate in R&B (and pop in general) that it’s either Beyonce or Rihanna. There is plenty of talented women within the genre who should be And those beats aren’t Wal-Mart, either.

            Too Short’s supportive rap balances the fine line of rugged and respectful. He stands up for Kelis, saying she has paid her dues. He inserts a couple “bitches” in there but it’s in the fun, catchphrase way.

                 The  distinctive “Bossy” may not be Beyonce but it shouldn’t have to be.