Recommend Tracks: “Oooh”, “I Need You”, “Unlearn”, “Pocket”
Artists You Might Like: H.E.R, SZA, Jhene Aiko
The long-awaited self-titled album from Kehlani has finally reached our ears, and it does not disappoint in the slightest. Kehlani has consistently set the bar high, from fan-favorite songs like “Honey” to her record-breaking single “Folded” earning her not one, but two Grammys. This Oakland-raised singer has been a leading force in the R&B genre for the last decade, and there were definitely high expectations for this project following the large success of “Folded.” It finally broke her into the Billboard Hot 100 and was on seemingly every R&B playlist everywhere so the pressure was on, and she knew it — and she delivered.
The 17-track album blends together some of the biggest names in the genre. Kehlani features Lil Wayne, Clipse, Brandy, Missy Elliot, Usher, T-Pain, Lil Jon, Cardi B, Big Sean, and Leon Thomas. These features further encapsulate the concept of the album, playing into the success behind “Folded” using that nostalgic 90s/early 2000s feel that R&B and hip-hop fans consistently crave. These were intentional and further provided a seamless cohesiveness from the intro all the way to the last track, “Unlearn.”
You may look at that many features in one album and question why, especially after the amount of success and eyes that have followed her this last year, but it makes it that much better. This is purposeful, the showcase of true versatility in the genre cementing this to be a classic R&B album of the 2020s.
Kehlani opens the album with a powerful statement, narrating, “Growth doesn’t always sound pretty / Sometimes it cracks, sometimes it bends / But it always finds its way to the light. / You’re about to hear a heart that’s been stretched, healed and reborn / A voice stepping into its truth with no fear, no filters and no apologies / I am Kehlani.”
She follows it with the first song “Anotha Luva” ft. Lil Wayne, taking a page out of Latto’s book and going full “luva girl devotee” in this track. The song features the repetition of the catchy phrase “don’t want anotha luva” throughout, with Lil Wayne opening with an introduction of Kehlani’s smooth R&B jazz vocals.
“No Such Thing” features the recently reunited hip-hop brother duo Clipse, an iconic hip-hop feature. It’s followed by her biggest track yet, “Folded” — the single earning Best R&B Song and Best R&B Performance at this years Grammys speaks for itself.
“I Need You” featuring Brandy is arguably one of the top three on the album, and it’s because she manages to bring back the Princess of R&B and also blend in a modern sound and production that feels like a ode to the genre overall.
The following “Oooh” is a breathless showcase of Kehlani’s vocal ability. The song also features a sensual electric guitar right at the end, stamping it in your head to stand out among the rest. She follows with two more iconic features: “Back and Forth” featuring Missy Elliot and “Shoulda Never” featuring Usher.
Three more solo tracks, “You Got It,” “Call Me Back,” and “Still” are all heartfelt, vulnerable and reflective to the new, mature sound Kehlani carries throughout this album in comparison to her past projects. She’s recognizing her own growth, owning it, and doing it beautifully in her music, ultimately showcasing that her music is growing right along with her.
This project also has familiar names from past collaborations coming together once again. T-Pain is featured on “Call Me Back” with Lil Jon; the two had previously collaborated on “I Like Dat.” The following “Pocket” features Cardi B. Kehlani and Cardi B together create some of the best hip-hop/R&B songs, just like on Cardi’s newest album with “Safe.” We’re hoping for more future collaborations between the two.
And, of course, a Big Sean feature had to make its way into an album that consistently gives high quality throughout. “Lights On” is smooth and classic, but nearing the end of the album full of great songs, it gets harder and harder to stand out.
The album, being incredibly cohesive and intentionally curated, actually creates an issue that only happens when you have a no-skip album. Everything is good, so how do you carve out a special moment to end with?
Well, Kehlani figured it out and did exactly that with “Unlearn.” The slower tempo of the last track allows you to process the entire album, with a sting of nostalgia following you. Kehlani outdid herself with this album, showcasing her true love as a fan and artist of R&B. She proves that she is consistently evolving musically and reaching new limits in each era of her music.
