American singer-songwriter Kelis is well-known for her distinctive fusion of different musical genres. Throughout her career, she has frequently been placed into particular genres according to the kind of music she creates or the persona she presents. This can be restrictive because it prevents artists from freely expressing their creativity and instead forces them to live up to predetermined standards.

At one point, Kelis asked why her song titles and race were being used to categorize her rather than her true artistic abilities. She was annoyed that people frequently attempt to categorize her into a particular musical genre based solely on the color of her skin or the title of a well-known song, such as "Milkshake." Kelis emphasizes how constricting it is for artists to feel they have to fit into preconceived notions by asking if she could just be herself.

The quote captures the larger problem in the music business, which is that musicians are frequently categorized into genres that don't adequately represent their varied musical personalities. It's like trying to fit a square peg into a round hole; every artist has a distinct sound and style, but society tends to group them into categories based on what they believe to be the most appropriate based on surface-level traits.

The idea that creating music should be easy and fun, but it frequently gets too complicated when people try to impose labels on artists, is another source of Kelis' annoyance. She views the creative process as simple and organic, similar to breathing or singing a tune, rather than a complex surgical operation requiring control and precision.

Her declaration encourages both listeners and critics to enjoy her music free from preconceived ideas and to acknowledge that she is free to explore new musical horizons based on her true artistic expression rather than being constrained by outside forces.