Biography
Kelis was born and raised in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City, New York. Her first name, {{pronEng|kəˈlis (she can be heard singing her own name in the song ''Blindfold me''), is a combination of her father's name, Kenneth, and her mother's name, Eveliss. Kenneth is a Jamaican jazz musician, Pentecostalism|Pentecostal minister of religion|minister, and professor at Wesleyan University.<ref name="guardian">{{cite web |url=http://music.guardian.co.uk/urban/story/0,,2003411,00.html |title=Question time: Kelis |accessdate=2007-03-05 |work=Guardian Unlimited |date=February 1, 2007</ref> Eveliss is a Chinese people|Chinese-Puerto Rican people|Puerto Rican fashion designer who inspired Kelis to pursue her singing career.