Image Credits: Album cover via Instagram
The last two years for Kehlani have been big, and some might even say career-defining. Back in February of this year, Wonderland Magazine wrote, “R&B force Kehlani has always spoken from the heart. After 15 years of hustle and now a two-time Grammy winner, she’s done justifying herself in public. Her new album speaks for itself. So stop asking questions and listen—she’s about to have you “folded.’”
On April 24, Kehlani released her highly anticipated self-titled album “Kehlani.” The album starts off with an intro as Kehlani proclaims what the listeners are going to be hearing and the certain themes that will be discussed in the songs. The first actual track on the album is “Anotha Love” featuring Lil Wayne. The song has a cool vibe as it continues the sounds we’ve been hearing from Kehlani a lot recently. The next track, “No Such Thing,” featuring the Clipse, draws me in a little more than the previous track. As both Kehlani and Pusha T sing and rap about giving the person they love the most everything they want from them.
The track that follows this is the Grammy Award-winning “Folded.” First released June 11, 2025, the record has put Kehlani into a part of mainstream success and attention she has never seen. In an interview with Zane Lowe for Apple Music, Kehlani breaks down the initial reaction to “Folded.” She says, “I like putting the teaser out, and like I just teased the intro, and then I teased the little ‘I’ll let your body decide’ part, and everybody was like, ‘Cute.’ We’re getting a little summer sex song, and then it dropped, and they were like, ‘This is emotional.’” We wanted a sex song. We don’t want this. And then, like, I kind of watch people be like, “Wait a minute, I can’t stop listening to this. Like what’s happening? I like this. It’s so sticky.” She goes on to mention how she’s very grateful for the song and owes her life to it. The song won “best R&B” and best “R&B Performance” at this year’s Grammys and won best “R&B song” at this year’s iHeartRadio Awards and has reached the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100.
The song has garnered many remixes and covers from a lot of R&B legends, with one of them accompanying her on the next track of the album. “I Need You” featuring Brandy: Since the album was released, this track has garnered a lot of praise and popularity from the public. The song shows both singers’ vocal abilities as they sing about not wanting to let someone go. “Oooh” is another popular record from the album but doesn’t move me personally. After that is Back and Forth featuring Missy Elliott, following the record, and the track has an upbeat sound but still feels consistent with the vibe of the album. “Shoulda Never” featuring Usher is okay to me; the lyrics and vocals on here are great from both, but overall it doesn’t feel like a standout to me. “You got it” is another one like that for me. “Out The Window” is my favorite track off the album; it blends 90s and 2000s R&B well with a modern sound and Kehlani’s vocals. She sings in the record, “I feel the tension even though you’re not around. One night of mistakes erased all the days I spent building up with you.” “Still” catches my attention quickly and stands out to me as one of the better solo songs on the album.
On “Call Me Back” it’s hard to have a record with T-Pain and Lik Jon and for it to not be a vibe. This record is not different. All three artists deliver a great song. “Pocket” featuring Cardi B is a cool record, and I think it does what it needs to do for the album. “Lights On” featuring Big Sean is another cool record, and Big Sean raps well on the record. “Sweet Nuthins” featuring Leon Thomas comes and goes. Then “Cruise Control” plays, and I’m immediately enamored with the record; it feels like a breath of fresh air and reminds me of a lot of warm, sunny days driving. “Unlearn” closes the album out and for good reason. It’s another beautiful record as Kehlani sings about being a work in progress and still having a lot to unlearn but how she will grow and change with the right love. She sings, “I got a lot to unlearn about me (Oh).
But I’ll do the work if you still believe.
I’ll keep trying to unlearn the hurt (learn the hurt). Give me your love; I’ll show what it’s worth (show you what it’s worth). Don’t go; stay right here.”
Overall, this is a solid project from Kehlani, as it signifies that the album has a curated sound that fans have been excited to hear a full body of work of after hearing “Folded.” The standouts to me are “Cruise Control,” “Unlearn” and “Out the Window.”
On release day for the album, Kehlani took to Instagram to write, “I love you, little one. I’m so proud you never gave up. I’m so honored to make this album for you. because of you. You inspired this. You sang this. You wrote this. You are walking in this. 31. I don’t take a single thing for granted, and I wouldn’t change a single thing no matter how painful. I love you Kehlani Ashley. Don’t ever stop thanking God. It’s all above us. Amen.”
Isaiah Ireland is a fourth year Media & Culture Major. II978280@wcupa.edu.