The album was seen as a return to Kelis' previous music before Flesh Tone, its music was described by the New York Daily News as being one of her, "most consistent and organic sound of her career", noting influence from Fela's Afrobeat, Memphis soul and classic R&B. According to the announcement on Ninja Tune's website reads, "the record mints a sound that's rootsy without ever being self-consciously retro, that pitches live horns and gospel-y organ against electronics, that for all its classic soul and funk influences, couldn't have been made any time but now." It is entirely produced by Sitek and was recorded at his house in Los Angeles.
The full details of the album were unveiled on January 28, 2014.
Kelis finished recording Food in late April 2013.
I wanted to find out how to get that feeling." She has spoken about the possibility of a follow-up release containing the 90s/trip hop-influenced material from the initial recording sessions for the album. Food is produced entirely by Sitek and contains influences of soul, funk, gospel, and Afrobeat-Kelis said of the album, "You know, those records in your life that your parents played and they resonate with who you are? They make you nostalgic. In late 2013, it was announced that Kelis had signed to British independent label Ninja Tune for the release of the album, titled Food, in April 2014.
In April 2013, following reports that Kelis had been working with producer David Andrew Sitek of TV on the Radio, it was announced that she had signed to Sitek's own record label Federal Prism and was going to release two albums. Kelis was featured on Skream's 2013 single "Copy Cat", which led to a dispute between the two after Kelis alleged that the producer refused to have her appear in the music video. The Skream-produced single "Distance" received its UK radio premiere in June 2012. She said of the album, "I've been on a real 1990s vibe with this record, it's kind of trip- hoppish it's more electro, it's a little deeper and darker". According to Kelis's management firm at the time, Three Six Zero Group, the album was to feature production from Skream, Burns, Tom Neville, Dan Black, and Caspa. In a September 2011 interview, Kelis said that her sixth studio album would be finished "in the next few weeks". Its songs feature crackling horns, brass, earthy guitars, simmering electronics and vocals from Kelis that were noted as being breathy, smoky and sultry. Food is an R&B and soul album with a diverse musical style that incorporates funk, Afrobeat, Memphis soul, and neo soul. In 2011, Kelis began work on the follow-up to Flesh Tone however, she left Interscope and signed to Federal Prism, before officially signing to the British independent label Ninja Tune for the release of Food. After parting ways with Jive Records in 2007, Kelis signed to Interscope and will.i.am Music Group in 2009, through the label she released her fifth studio album, Flesh Tone, which saw Kelis experiment with a dance sound. It was released on April 21, 2014, becoming her first album released under Ninja Tune Records. Recorded at Sitek's house in LA (and entirely produced by him), FOOD, mints a sound that's rootsy without ever being self-consciously retro, that pitches live horns and gospel organ against electronics, that for all it's classic soul and funk influences, couldn't have been made any time but now.Food is the sixth studio album by American singer Kelis. The latter has only improved with time and experience, and the album candidly explores pain, happiness and everything in between.
Littered with transcendent, Spector-esque lift, warm bottom ends and vast depth, the music is the perfect backdrop for Kelis' unique voice. FOOD is a startling combination of Kelis' most frank and vulnerable vocals to date, and Sitek's inimitable sonic imprint. on the other there is Dave Sitek, guitarist in acclaimed Brooklyn experimentalists TV on the Radio and producer to a certain kind of smart, indie band (the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Foals and Liars to name a few). This was the visually and sonically compelling 20 year-old whose debut album KALEIDOSCOPE helped usher in the wave of sharp, thrillingly futuristic R&B that dominated the charts in the early Noughties, as exemplified by her global hit, 'Milkshake'. On the one hand, there is Kelis Rogers, who first came to prominence singing the hook of Ol' Dirty Bastard's 1999 hit 'Got Your Money'.