For an artist who’s been in the industry for the better part of two decades, it’s curious to think of how little most people really know about Kelly Rowland: The conversation about the R&B chanteuse tends to revolve more around who she isn’t than who she is. But part of that, too, is the result of how many artistic identities Rowland has worn: First as the only other member of Destiny’s Child besides Beyonce to survive the line-up changes, then as a solo artist making tepidly inspirational pop-R&B, then as a flagging solo artist, then as a global chart-conquering dancefloor diva who teamed up with DJs like David Guetta and Alex Gaudino to win over the gays and the Europeans, and finally, back to urban radio with a more aggressively rhythmic edge and a burst of success.

After so many years of standing in Beyonce’s shadow and refusing to address it — valiantly trying on different artistic identities to try and find the right fit — she finally gave it attention in two pivotal ways: She roped in her Destiny’s Child cohort (as well as Michelle Williams) on a collaboration for the first time — it’s Kelly featuring Beyonce and Michelle, y’all! — which feels like a celebration of their sisterhood, a fond homage to their legacy. Simultaneously, she addressed her resentments on “Dirty Laundry,” a confessional ballad about domestic violence and her tortured relationship with Beyonce’s success; it’s the most bracingly direct song I’ve heard since Angel Haze‘s “Cleaning Out My Closet.” Instead of pretending that Beyonce doesn’t exist, she acknowledged both the good and the bad.

Those strides do fine work to make her feel more human and relatable than she’s ever been before. Accordingly, Kelly Rowland’s Talk a Good Game , out June 18, feels cohesive, versatile, and authentic; and most of all, it’s the first time I’ve ever felt like I know who Kelly Rowland is. More »