KELIS - KELIS DUMPED FROM JIVE

R+B star KELIS has been dropped by her record label. The Milkshake singer released just one album on Jive records, in 2006, having previously been signed to Virgin and Arista. Her manager Jeff Rabhan says, "It was a case of being in the ever-shrinking world of the record industry and finding herself on a label she wasn't signed to and without a champion. "She's a different kind of artist - very image and style-driven. It's either something you get or you don't." Kelis' 2003 album, Tasty, was certified gold, largely due to the hit Milkshake. But her latest effort, Kelis Was Here, didn't fare so well in the U.S., even with big guest spots including her respected husband, Nas. Though the disc debuted at No. 10 on the Billboard Charts, it barely sold 150,000 copies according to SoundScan. Kelis is now hoping to branch out into acting, however Rabhan adds, "We're not opposed to another major label deal, but it would have to be non-traditional."