R+B beauty Kelis has stopped talking to Neptunes producer Pharrell Williams - because she's convinced he hates her.

The MILKSHAKE singer, who denies constant reports she once dated the musician, has been with Williams and partner CHAD HUGO's label STAR TRAK since she was just 17 - but she says their working relationship has been marred by tension.

She says, "Star Trak and I have a weird relationship. There's some tension right now.

"They're a new label. They're confused as to what they're doing. It's hard when a label head (Pharrell) is artist and CEO. You have to pick one because one is gonna suffer. The label is suffering and the artists are suffering.

"I think they hate me. They just do crazy s**t sometimes. We don't talk. I haven't talked to them in a while. I really don't have any hate (towards them) and I'm not bitter. I've been down with them and I support them. I signed with them because I think they're some of the most talented people in the game. I give credit where credit is due.

"I don't know why they hate me. They hate on me every possible chance they can. It does not stop.

"Star Trak is the most uninvolved label I've seen in my life... Them n***as (on the label) are not happy. I'm just the only one talking. It's taken me years to say it. I didn't want to put it out there, but that's how I've been made to feel.

"I'm excluded from everything. I don't feel like I'm a part of the family. It's been a long time, I'm just talking today. It wasn't peachy last year or the year before. That's life."

06/02/2004 09:05