Kid Sister
Encyclopedia
Melisa Young better known by her stage name Kid Sister, is a rap artist
based in Chicago, Illinois, well known for her single "Pro Nails
", featuring Kanye West
.
, Illinois. Kid Sister started to rap in October 2005, becoming an MC at monthly dance parties hosted by DJ duo Flosstradamus
who were featured in MTV
's My Block that same year. She made URBs "The Next 1000" cover in April 2007, and was signed to Kanye West's DJ A-Trak
's label, Fool's Gold, who released her first single "Pro Nails
", which features Kanye West
. Kid Sister later signed with Downtown Records, who re-released "Pro Nails" to critical acclaim.
Kid Sister also appears on Tittsworth's "WTF", from his debut album 12 Steps, with Pase Rock. She had also finished a mixtape
with A-Trak
.
In Fall 2009, Kid Sister finished recording her debut studio album . The title has been changed from Dream Date to Ultraviolet
. The tracks were produced by dubstep
artist Rusko, The Count & Sinden, XXXChange, and Disturbia
producer, Brian Kennedy
and the album includes a feature with British musician Estelle
. The two have collabrated on a remake of Queen Latifah
's acclaimed track, "Step" (formerly "Ladies First") off her debut album
. It is titled "First Ladies".
Also, her single "Control" is featured in the new video game "DJ Hero," combined with Rihanna's Disturbia. The first single off is titled "Right Hand Hi", which is produced by Steve Angello
and Sebastian Ingrosso
of house DJ group, Swedish House Mafia
.
"I think a lot of people are going to be surprised with the fact that there’s a bunch of raw hip-hop records on there," according to A-Trak. "It's not all up tempo clubby stuff. I think a lot of people are going to be impressed with her growth also because when she made a lot of the records that people have heard by now, she was just starting to rap."
In late 2010, Kid Sister released a mixtape, entitled Kiss Kiss Kiss.
Kid Sister has also been working on her second album and on an EP. Scoop DeVille
, who worked on Kiss Kiss Kiss, and The Neptunes
are producing a large amount of the songs.
Kid Sister has a degree in film from Columbia College Chicago
and worked on two independent feature films during her studies: 9/11 drama The Guys (2002) starring Sigourney Weaver
and Anthony LaPaglia
; and Best Thief In the World (2003) starring Mary Louise Parker and Audra McDonald
. Kid Sister for a time concurrently worked for the retail chain Bath & Body Works
, Little Threads, a children's clothing store, and Wild Hare, a reggae bar in Wrigleyville.
Rapping
Rapping refers to "spoken or chanted rhyming lyrics". The art form can be broken down into different components, as in the book How to Rap where it is separated into “content”, “flow” , and “delivery”...
based in Chicago, Illinois, well known for her single "Pro Nails
Pro Nails
"Pro Nails" is the second single by American hip hop artist Kid Sister from her debut album Ultraviolet . The song is better known for its remix, which features a verse by Kanye West...
", featuring Kanye West
Kanye West
Kanye Omari West is an American rapper, singer, and record producer. West first rose to fame as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records, where he eventually achieved recognition for his work on Jay-Z's album The Blueprint, as well as hit singles for musical artists including Alicia Keys, Ludacris, and...
.
Background
Melisa Young was born July 3, 1980 in MarkhamMarkham, Illinois
Markham is a city in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 12,620 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Markham is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
, Illinois. Kid Sister started to rap in October 2005, becoming an MC at monthly dance parties hosted by DJ duo Flosstradamus
Flosstradamus
Flosstradamus is the stage name of Chicago-based DJs J2K and Autobot .They have performed at events such as the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, Pitchfork Music Festival, Rothbury Music Festival, Lollapalooza, and South by Southwest...
who were featured in MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
's My Block that same year. She made URBs "The Next 1000" cover in April 2007, and was signed to Kanye West's DJ A-Trak
A-Trak
A-Trak is a Montreal-born DJ, turntablist, and owner of the record label Fool's Gold.- Career :...
's label, Fool's Gold, who released her first single "Pro Nails
Pro Nails
"Pro Nails" is the second single by American hip hop artist Kid Sister from her debut album Ultraviolet . The song is better known for its remix, which features a verse by Kanye West...
", which features Kanye West
Kanye West
Kanye Omari West is an American rapper, singer, and record producer. West first rose to fame as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records, where he eventually achieved recognition for his work on Jay-Z's album The Blueprint, as well as hit singles for musical artists including Alicia Keys, Ludacris, and...
. Kid Sister later signed with Downtown Records, who re-released "Pro Nails" to critical acclaim.
Kid Sister also appears on Tittsworth's "WTF", from his debut album 12 Steps, with Pase Rock. She had also finished a mixtape
Mixtape
A Mix Tape or Mixed Tape is a compilation of songs recorded in a specific order, traditionally onto an audio Compact Cassette.A Mix Tape, which usually reflects the musical tastes of its compiler, can range from a casually selected list of favorite songs, to a conceptual mix of songs linked by a...
with A-Trak
A-Trak
A-Trak is a Montreal-born DJ, turntablist, and owner of the record label Fool's Gold.- Career :...
.
In Fall 2009, Kid Sister finished recording her debut studio album . The title has been changed from Dream Date to Ultraviolet
Ultraviolet (Kid Sister album)
Ultraviolet is the debut album by Chicago rapper and singer Kid Sister, it was released on November 17, 2009. It was initially to be titled Dream Date but was changed during the recording process, along with the removal of three tracks and addition of five new ones...
. The tracks were produced by dubstep
Dubstep
Dubstep is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in south London, England. Its overall sound has been described as "tightly coiled productions with overwhelming bass lines and reverberant drum patterns, clipped samples, and occasional vocals"....
artist Rusko, The Count & Sinden, XXXChange, and Disturbia
Disturbia (song)
"Disturbia" is a song by Barbadian recording artist Rihanna, taken from the re-release, Good Girl Gone Bad: Reloaded , of her third studio album Good Girl Gone Bad . The song was released as the third single from the reloaded edition of the album, and seventh overall...
producer, Brian Kennedy
Brian Kennedy (producer)
Brian Kennedy Seals is an American songwriter, record producer and musician from Kansas City, MO. Revered as a piano prodigy, he has been making music tracks since 2001...
and the album includes a feature with British musician Estelle
Estelle (musician)
Estelle Fanta Swaray commonly known as Estelle, and formerly as Est'elle, is an English R&B singer-songwriter, rapper and record producer.-Early Life:Estelle was born 18 January 1980 in Hammersmith, London, England...
. The two have collabrated on a remake of Queen Latifah
Queen Latifah
Dana Elaine Owens , better known by her stage name Queen Latifah, is an American singer, rapper, and actress. Her work in music, film and television has earned her a Golden Globe award, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, two Image Awards, a Grammy Award, six additional Grammy nominations, an Emmy...
's acclaimed track, "Step" (formerly "Ladies First") off her debut album
All Hail the Queen
All Hail the Queen is the debut album by hip hop artist Queen Latifah, released on November 7, 1989 on Tommy Boy Records. The album was unusually successful for a hip hop record at the time, buoyed by the single "Wrath of My Madness"...
. It is titled "First Ladies".
Also, her single "Control" is featured in the new video game "DJ Hero," combined with Rihanna's Disturbia. The first single off is titled "Right Hand Hi", which is produced by Steve Angello
Steve Angello
Steve Angello is a Greek-Swedish DJ, producer, and record label owner. He is part of a three person group dubbed the Swedish House Mafia.- Background :...
and Sebastian Ingrosso
Sebastian Ingrosso
Sebastian Ingrosso is a Swedish DJ and producer of Italian descent. Born in Grahamstown, South Africa but raised in Solna, Sweden. Sebastian spent his teenage years in his fathers studio learning how to make music, with his first official remix released on Mega Records in 1999...
of house DJ group, Swedish House Mafia
Swedish House Mafia
Swedish House Mafia is a Swedish House Music group consisting of the three disc jockeys and producers; Axwell, Steve Angello and Sebastian Ingrosso. The group officially formed in late 2008....
.
"I think a lot of people are going to be surprised with the fact that there’s a bunch of raw hip-hop records on there," according to A-Trak. "It's not all up tempo clubby stuff. I think a lot of people are going to be impressed with her growth also because when she made a lot of the records that people have heard by now, she was just starting to rap."
In late 2010, Kid Sister released a mixtape, entitled Kiss Kiss Kiss.
Kid Sister has also been working on her second album and on an EP. Scoop DeVille
Scoop DeVille
Elijah Blue Molina, better known by his stage name Scoop DeVille, is a Hip hop producer and rapper from Los Angeles, California, who has produced songs for artists including Snoop Dogg, Baby Bash, Fat Joe, Game, and many others...
, who worked on Kiss Kiss Kiss, and The Neptunes
The Neptunes
The Neptunes are a record production duo consisting of Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo, who are credited with contributing the sound for many successful hip hop, R&B and pop artists in the late-1990s and 2000s...
are producing a large amount of the songs.
Personal life
Kid Sister's ethnic background includes African American, Native American, and Caucasian. In numerous interviews and magazine articles, she has revealed that she has struggled financially for years before becoming Kanye West's protege. Recently she has admitted to being 215 pounds at one point in her life. She continues in this interview that she has been "thick" her whole life but explains that this has had no bearing on her self-esteem because at her core she is not a passive person.Kid Sister has a degree in film from Columbia College Chicago
Columbia College Chicago
Columbia College Chicago is one of the largest art colleges in the United States with nearly 12,000 students pursuing degrees within 120 undergraduate and graduate programs...
and worked on two independent feature films during her studies: 9/11 drama The Guys (2002) starring Sigourney Weaver
Sigourney Weaver
Sigourney Weaver is an American actress. She is best known for her critically acclaimed role of Ellen Ripley in the four Alien films: Alien, Aliens, Alien 3 and Alien Resurrection, for which she has received worldwide recognition .Other notable roles include Dana...
and Anthony LaPaglia
Anthony LaPaglia
Anthony M. LaPaglia is an Australian actor. He is known for his role as FBI agent Jack Malone on the American TV series Without a Trace, for which he won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Drama and was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama...
; and Best Thief In the World (2003) starring Mary Louise Parker and Audra McDonald
Audra McDonald
Audra Ann McDonald is an American actress and singer. She currently stars in the ABC television drama Private Practice as Dr. Naomi Bennett. She has appeared on the stage in both musicals and dramas, such as Ragtime and A Raisin in the Sun...
. Kid Sister for a time concurrently worked for the retail chain Bath & Body Works
Bath & Body Works
Bath & Body Works, LLC, is an American retail store under the Limited Brands umbrella. It was founded in 1990 in New Albany, Ohio and has since expanded across the United States and Canada. It specializes in lotions, bath items, personal care items, and home fragrances.The company launched both a...
, Little Threads, a children's clothing store, and Wild Hare, a reggae bar in Wrigleyville.
Solo
| Year | Title | Peak chart positions | Album | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Hot 100 | U.S. Single Sales Hot 100 Singles Sales The Hot Singles Sales chart is a chart released weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States. It measures sales of commercial singles and is one of three component charts, along with the Hot 100 Airplay and the Hot Digital Songs, that determine the chart positions of singles on the... |
UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
UK Dance Chart UK Dance Chart The UK Dance Chart is a chart compiled by The Official Charts Company from sales in record stores and digital downloads. Although the chart does not currently receive any airplay on the radio or television, the chart can be viewed on the BBC Radio 1 and The Official Charts Company website.Digital... |
UK R&B Chart UK R&B Chart The Official UK R&B Chart is a forty-position R&B/Hip-Hop chart compiled by The Official UK Charts Company. Although the chart does not receive any airplay, its compilation is viewed on BBC Radio 1's website and publications such as ChartsPlus and Music Week... |
|||
| 2007 | "Control Control (Kid Sister song) "Control" is the debut single by American hip hop artist Kid Sister from her album Ultraviolet. The song was released via Fool's Gold Records in 2007 and is included in the Android operating system for mobile devices.... " |
— | — | — | — | — | Ultraviolet |
| 2008 | "Pro Nails Pro Nails "Pro Nails" is the second single by American hip hop artist Kid Sister from her debut album Ultraviolet . The song is better known for its remix, which features a verse by Kanye West... " (featuring Kanye West Kanye West Kanye Omari West is an American rapper, singer, and record producer. West first rose to fame as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records, where he eventually achieved recognition for his work on Jay-Z's album The Blueprint, as well as hit singles for musical artists including Alicia Keys, Ludacris, and... ) |
— | 21 | — | — | — | |
| 2009 | "Get Fresh Get Fresh (song) "Get Fresh" is the third single from Kid Sister's debut studio album Ultraviolet.-Track listing:... " |
— | — | — | — | — | |
| "Right Hand Hi Right Hand Hi "Right Hand Hi" is the fourth single taken from the album Ultraviolet by Kid Sister.-Critical reception:Aylin Zafar of URB described the song as "an undeniable club banger."-Live performances:... " |
— | — | 97 | — | 31 | ||
| 2010 | "Daydreaming Daydreaming (Kid Sister song) -Charts:... " (featuring Cee Lo Green) |
— | — | 132 | 14 | — | |
| "Big 'n Bad" | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2011 | "Look Out Weekend" (featuring Nina Sky Nina Sky Nina Sky is an American musical duo composed of identical twins Nicole and Natalie Albino .-Early life and career:Albino's parents moved to New York from Puerto Rico and were divorced when the girls were younger... ) |
— | — | — | — | — | Kiss Kiss Kiss |
| "Kiss Kiss Kiss" | — | — | — | — | — | ||
As featured performer
| Year | Title | Peak chart positions | Album | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Hot 100 | U.S. Single Sales Hot 100 Singles Sales The Hot Singles Sales chart is a chart released weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States. It measures sales of commercial singles and is one of three component charts, along with the Hot 100 Airplay and the Hot Digital Songs, that determine the chart positions of singles on the... |
UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
UK Dance Chart UK Dance Chart The UK Dance Chart is a chart compiled by The Official Charts Company from sales in record stores and digital downloads. Although the chart does not currently receive any airplay on the radio or television, the chart can be viewed on the BBC Radio 1 and The Official Charts Company website.Digital... |
UK R&B Chart UK R&B Chart The Official UK R&B Chart is a forty-position R&B/Hip-Hop chart compiled by The Official UK Charts Company. Although the chart does not receive any airplay, its compilation is viewed on BBC Radio 1's website and publications such as ChartsPlus and Music Week... |
|||
| 2008 | "Beeper Beeper (song) "Beeper" is the debut single by British music producers The Count & Sinden, featuring vocals from American hip hop artist Kid Sister. The song was released via Domino Records in April 2008 .-Background and release:... " (The Count & Sinden featuring Kid Sister) |
— | — | 69 | 1 | — | Non-album single |
| 2010 | "Do Do! Do!" (Carte Blanche featuring Kid Sister) | — | — | — | Black Billionaires - EP | ||
| 2010 | "Im'ma Get It" (Paul Wall Paul Wall Paul Michael Slayton , better known by his stage name Paul Wall, is an American rapper. He is currently affiliated with Swishahouse Records, having released several albums under the label as well as... featuring Kid Sister and Bun B Bun B Bernard Freeman better known by his stage name Bun B, is an American rapper and was one half of the southern hip hop duo UGK . He is also a guest lecturer at Rice University located in Houston, Texas... ) |
— | — | — | — | — | Heart of a Champion Heart of a Champion (album) - Chart positions :... |