Ya Kid K
Ya Kid K (born Manuela Barbara Kamosi Moaso Djogi,[1] 26 January 1972) is a Congolese–Belgian hip hop recording artist. Ya Kid K, besides being a solo artist, is also known for her works for the dance/house act Technotronic. Her sister is Karoline 'Leki' Kamosi.
Ya Kid K | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Manuela Barbara Kamosi Moaso Djogi |
| Born | 26 January 1972 Kinshasa, Zaïre |
| Genres | Hip hop, electronica, house |
| Occupation(s) | Rapper, singer, songwriter |
| Associated acts | Technotronic, Hi Tek 3 |
Early life
At the age of 11, Djogi moved to Belgium, later moving to Chicago (where she explored hip-hop, and the emerging sounds of house music), and later moved to Dallas, Texas.
Music career
After moving back to Belgium from the US, Ya Kid K helped form a hip hop label called Fresh Beat Productions. She was part of the dance project Technotronic, [2] which debuted with a major worldwide hit in 1989, "Pump Up the Jam". Although she did not appear in the video, she was finally credited as vocalist on the track on the US reissue of the group's debut album.[3]
Although Ya Kid K wrote the lyrics and sang vocals on "Pump Up the Jam",[4] Technotronic had the fashion model Felly Kilingi perform in the video, without Ya Kid K's consent. The second single "Get Up! (Before the Night Is Over)" was Ya Kid K's debut music video with Technotronic. In 1992, Technotronic and Ya Kid K had a hit with "Move This," another single from 1989's Pump Up the Jam: The Album.
She also lent her voice to Hi Tek 3, a dance project whose only single, "Spin that Wheel", appeared on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles motion picture soundtrack.
While Jo Bogaert hired new singers for Technotronic's third album, Body to Body, Ya Kid K returned after limited success of her own album, One World Nation. This album contained many different musical and, in particular, vocal styles.
In 1995, Technotronic re-emerged in the U.S. with Ya Kid K as its front vocalist, again with limited success of the album Recall. On the track "Are You Ready" she teamed up with Daisy Dee, who already did a cover version of "This Beat is…" with MC B. In 1996, a Ya Kid K single titled "Rock My World" was released. She appeared in June 2000 on Technotronic's single "The Mariachi." In 2002, she released Take a Trip on Semini Records.
In 1997, Ya Kid K also provided fresh vocals for the 2 Skinnee J's cover of "Pump Up the Jam" entitled, "BBQ". She sang "Pump up the gas grill" as the chorus.[5]
In October 2005, Ya Kid K made a guest appearance on Public Warning the debut album of English female rapper Lady Sovereign.
In 2011 she returned with the song "DO UC ME Standing". Ya Kid K also released the song "Comes Love" on Baronic Arts.
In 2014 she released some new tracks and an album called "Stalled Constructions". Also she worked with the German dance project Maviic for the single release "Moja Mbili Tatu".
Personal life
After the single "Rockin’ Over The Beat," Ya Kid K had a child with MC Eric who performed a Technotronic hit titled "This Beat is Technotronic."
Discography
- 1992 One World Nation (The Kids Shall Overcome) SBK/EMI Records
- 2014 Stalled Constructions (Digital Download)
References
- O'Callaghan, Mary Anne (2 April 1990). "Group'beats' club music into US mainstream". The Deseret News. Retrieved 6 February 2010 – via Google News.
- T. Jones IV, James (4 May 1990). "Pumping up the jam; House music builds on its funky beat". USA Today. Retrieved 6 February 2010 – via PQ Archiver.
- Images for Technotronic Featuring Felly - Pump Up The Jam Discogs.com; Retrieved on 26 April 2012
- Freedberg, Michael (29 April 1990). "You Can Dance to It, But Is It Worth a Listen?". New York Times. Retrieved 6 February 2010.
- 2 Skinnee J's-BBQ YouTube; Retrieved on 6 April 2012
