Ya Kid K
Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:BLP sources Template:Infobox musical artist
Ya Kid K (born Manuela Barbara Kamosi Moaso Djogi,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> 1972) is a Congolese–Belgian hip hop recording artist. She was the rapper for the dance/house act Technotronic. Her sister is Karoline "Leki" Kamosi.
Early lifeEdit
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,<ref name="LarkinDM">Template:Cite book</ref> and then to Dallas, Texas.
Music careerEdit
After moving back to Belgium from the US,<ref name="LarkinDM"/> Ya Kid K helped form a hip hop label called Fresh Beat Productions. She was part of the dance project Technotronic,<ref name="LarkinDM"/><ref name="usat1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> which debuted with a major worldwide hit in 1989, "Pump Up the Jam".<ref name="LarkinDM"/> 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.<ref>Images for Technotronic Featuring Felly – Pump Up the Jam, Discogs.com; Retrieved on 26 April 2012</ref>
Although Ya Kid K wrote the lyrics and sang vocals on "Pump Up the Jam",<ref> Template:Cite news </ref> 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.<ref name="LarkinDM"/> 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.<ref name="LarkinDM"/>
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 1991, Ya Kid K appeared on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze: The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, performing "Awesome (You Are My Hero)", continuing her work with the music of the film franchise. The partnership continued in 1993, when 2 versions of Ya Kid K's "Rockin' over the Beat" appeared on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack.
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.
Personal lifeEdit
After the single "Rockin' Over the Beat", Ya Kid K had a child with MC Eric, who performed the Technotronic hit "This Beat Is Technotronic".<ref name="LarkinDM"/>
DiscographyEdit
- 1992: One World Nation (The Kids Shall Overcome) SBK/EMI
- 2014: Stalled Constructions (digital download)
Charted singlesEdit
| Title | Year | Chart positions |
|---|---|---|
| AUS <ref name="ARIA history pages">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |
CitationClass=web
}} N.B. The High Point number in the NAT column represents the release's peak on the national chart.</ref> | |
| "Awesome" | 1991 | 111 |
| "Let This Housebeat Drop" | 1993 | 125 |
ReferencesEdit
External linksEdit
- Ya Kid K Discogs.com
- Ya Kid K channel YouTube