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Ya Kid K (born Manuela Barbara Kamosi Moaso Djogi, ^[1] 26 January 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 life

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), ^[2] and later moved to Dallas, Texas.

Music career

After moving back to Belgium from the US, ^[2] Ya Kid K helped form a hip hop label called Fresh Beat Productions. She was part of the dance project Technotronic, ^{[2] [3]} which debuted with a major worldwide hit in 1989, " Pump Up the Jam". ^[2] 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. ^[4]

Although Ya Kid K wrote the lyrics and sang vocals on " Pump Up the Jam", ^[5] 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. ^[2] 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. ^[2]

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.

In 1997, Ya Kid K also provided fresh vocals for the 2 Skinnee J's cover of " Pump Up the Jam" entitled, "BBQ". She sang "Pump up the gas grill" as the chorus. ^[6]

In October 2005, Ya Kid K made a guest appearance on Public Warning the debut album of English female rapper Lady Sovereign.

In 2011, she returned with the song "DO UC ME Standing". Ya Kid K also released the song "Comes Love".

In 2014 she released some new tracks and an album called Stalled Constructions.

Personal life

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". ^[2]

Discography

• 1992: One World Nation (The Kids Shall Overcome) SBK/ EMI
• 2014: Stalled Constructions (digital download)

References

External links

• Ya Kid K Discogs.com
• Ya Kid K channel YouTube