History
Kehlani Ashley Parrish, known professionally as Kehlani, is an American singer and songwriter who first rose to prominence as a member of the teen pop group Poplyfe. Hailing from Oakland, California, Kehlani's early career was marked by a finalist finish on America's Got Talent, which served as a springboard for their subsequent solo success in the R&B and pop landscapes.
Early Mixtapes and Breakthrough
Kehlani's solo journey began in earnest with the 2014 release of their first mixtape, Cloud 19. The project received significant critical attention, ranking among the best albums of the year by major music publications. They followed this success in 2015 with You Should Be Here, a mixtape that Billboard described as the first great R&B album of that year. The project debuted at number five on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and featured collaborations with Chance the Rapper and BJ the Chicago Kid. The critical and commercial success of You Should Be Here earned Kehlani a Grammy Award nomination for Best Urban Contemporary Album and led to a sold-out North American tour.
Studio Albums and Commercial Success
In January 2017, Kehlani released their debut studio album, SweetSexySavage. Supported by singles such as "CRZY" and "Gangsta"—the latter of which appeared on the Suicide Squad soundtrack—the album was met with positive reviews and solidified their position as a leading voice in contemporary R&B. Following a brief hiatus, they released the mixtape While We Wait in 2019, which acted as a precursor to their second studio album.
Their second full-length effort, It Was Good Until It Wasn’t, arrived in May 2020. Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, which required music videos and cover art to be produced at home, the album received widespread acclaim and high chart positions. Kehlani continued this momentum with 2022's Blue Water Road, an introspective project featuring guest appearances from Justin Bieber, Blxst, Syd, and Jessie Reyez. The album was supported by the Blue Water Road Trip tour, which spanned North America and Europe.
Activism and Recent Projects
In 2024, Kehlani released their fourth studio album, Crash, featuring collaborations with Jill Scott and Young Miko. The lead-up to the album was marked by the single "After Hours" and the politically charged "Next 2 U." Through their music and public platform, Kehlani has been vocal about humanitarian issues, particularly expressing support for Palestine. The "Next 2 U" music video included a poem by Hala Alyan and was accompanied by a merchandise collaboration with the Nöl Collective, with proceeds benefiting families in Palestine, Congo, and Sudan.
Shortly after the release of Crash, Kehlani returned to their mixtape roots with While We Wait 2 in August 2024. Recorded in just two weeks at their home, the sequel featured artists such as Lucky Daye, Vince Staples, and Flo. The project’s aesthetic paid homage to the original 2019 mixtape while showcasing their evolving sound.
Recent Singles and Recognition
Kehlani's output remained consistent into 2025 with the release of the single "Folded." The track became a major commercial success, peaking at number seven on the Billboard Hot 100 and receiving Grammy Award nominations for Best R&B Performance and Best R&B Song. To celebrate the track's impact, they released the "Folded Homage Pack," featuring remixes with R&B veterans such as Brandy, Toni Braxton, and Ne-Yo. This was followed by the late 2025 single "Out the Window," further cementing their status as a prolific and influential figure in modern music.