Ya Kid K
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Ya Kid K (born Manuela Barbara Kamosi Moaso Djogi in 1973 in Zaire) is a Afro-Belgian hip hop artist. Her sister, Karoline 'Leki' Kamosi, is an R&B singer. Ya is a Lingala word meaning "older sibling," so Ya Kid K simply means "the older Kamosi child."
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[edit] Biography
At the age of 11 she moved to Belgium, later moving to cities in the U.S. such as Chicago, Illinois--where she explored the emerging sounds of hip hop and early house--and Dallas, Texas. After moving back to Belgium from the U.S., she helped form Fresh Beat Productions, a local Belgian label of fresh European hip hop.
[edit] Music career
Her stint in Fresh Beat Productions led to her becoming part of the new-beat and Eurodance project Technotronic, which debuted with a major worldwide hit in 1989, "Pump Up The Jam", although her contribution was initially uncredited.
[edit] Singles
Although she wrote the lyrics and sang vocals on "Pump Up The Jam", Technotronic had the blue-lipped fashion model Felly perform in the video. The second single "Get Up! (Before the Night is Over)" was her debut major public appearance with Technotronic. She additionally lent her voice to Hi Tek 3, a dance project who's single "Spin That Wheel" appeared on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles motion picture soundtrack.
After the single "Rockin´ Over The Beat", she suddenly disappeared to marry rapper "MC Eric" (born Eric Martin, 1970, Cardiff, Wales) who also performed a Technotronic hit: "This Beat Is Technotronic". While Jo Bogaert hired new singers for the third album, "Body to Body", Ya Kid K returned after medium success of her own album "One World Nation". This album contains many different musical and, in particular, vocal styles, and underlines Ya Kid K's high skills and power as a musician. However, the album was criticised for having too much political engagement.
In 1993 a renewed remix of Technotronic's "Move This" was released.
The birth of a child interrupted her plans and her projected solo career petered out with the release of an unsuccessful album, despite the inclusion of the US hit "Move This'.
In 1995, Technotronic re-emerged in the U.S. with Ya Kid K. as front singer, again with moderate success of the album "Recall". For the track "Are You Ready", she teamed up with Daisy Dee, who already did a cover version of "This Beat is…" with M.C. B.
In 1996 a Ya Kid K single should have been released: "Rock My World", and in 1997 people reported a Ya Kid K version of "Mary Go Round".
She appeared in June 2000 in Technotronic's single, "The Mariachi". In 2002, she released "Take A Trip" on Semini Records.
Most recently, in October 2005, Ya Kid K made a guest appearance on the debut album Public Warning by fellow female emcee Lady Sovereign. Ya Kid K appears on the track "Those Were The Days" and can be clearly heard growling at the opening of the song.[citation needed]
[edit] Discography
- 1992 One World Nation (The Kids Shall Overcome) SBK Records
