Listen: Kelis sings single 'Acapella,' scores a new label home

Kelis

With a hot new dance track available for the masses, plus a brand new label deal, it's safe to say that Kelis is back.

Billboard reports that the singer has signed with Interscope via will.i.am's Music Group, her new deal since parting ways with Jive in 2007.

The announcement comes on the heels of the "Milkshake" performer posting a new track, "Acapella," on her website last week (click there for the high quality stream). Superstar DJ and deft mixer David Guetta's fingerprints are all over this one, and to great effect: it's dance-ready, singable and evergreen. Listen to a stream of the track below.

Kelis has had a tumultuous year, even post-Jive: she filed for divorce from her famous husband, rapper Nas, while she was still pregnant.

"I suppose people assumed after the baby and divorce and all the time I took off (went to culinary school during my break which was amazing and another conversation) that it would be on to motherhood for me. And well that’s true…as I lay here with my perfect little won ton now writing you all this message," Kelis said on her site. "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."

No word yet when a new set is due, though it will also feature guests will.i.am, Free School, Boyz Noize, Burnz and DJ Ammo. Her last album was 2006's "Kelis Was Here."

Busy times for will.i.am, too: his band Black Eyed Peas just announced a 100-date world tour.

Katie Hasty
Managing Editor

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After five years as a columnist and editor at Billboard, Katie Hasty joined HitFix in 2009 for music and film reporting out of New York. The Midwest native has worked as a writer, music promoter and in A&R since 1999 and performs with her band Numbers And Letters.