Kehlani tells it like it is. Whether in conversation or on stage, the Oakland-born R&B singer and songwriter gives the straight truth about her life, pain, passion, love, triumph, and everything in between with collected calm and confidence. It’s that type of honesty that makes her music resonate with the depth of classic Motown and a vividly confessional lyricism reminiscent of Neo Soul. At the same time, her 2015 mixtape, You Should Be Here, tells a story that distinctly belongs to her.
It all starts on the East Bay. Born a unique blend of ethnicities including African American, Caucasian, Native American, Spanish, and Filipino Native AmericanKehlani will casually tell you “You’re lucky if you make it out of Oakland.” However, in her case, talent usurped luck. Months after her birth, Kehlani lost her father, never properly meeting him. Mired in drug addiction, her mom shuffled her to an aunt. She initially found solace in dance—ballet in particular—but a knee injury sidelined her what might’ve been a budding career as ballerina.
Kehlani: Alive feat. Coucheron
Kehlani: Alive feat. Coucheron Lyrics:
Verse 1)
Rain is good for the soul
Crazy how I feel the most warm when it’s cold
Drops hit the window and I drop down to the floor
I assume this is when I would miss you the most
I’m lying down
I’ve got this notepad where you laid your head
We use to go round and round
Making love in my bed
We were in so deep
We could barely tread
But now I found a way to heal myself instead
(Chorus)
And damn I feel alive
Baby, damn I feel alive
It’s like something has to die
To help you realize
Damn I feel alive
(Verse 2)
We were in a weird place
Crazy how a person you love could just change
Now I am learning to realize we needed our space
I could never hurt you, we use to be great
And you use to say, what goes around comes around so fast
Now just look at the way
I’m moving on and you stuck in the past
I deserve a love that is gonna last
But until then I will just raise this glass
(Repeat Chorus)
(Bridge)
I feel, I feel
Turn this song up if you feel alive
I feel, you feel
Let it all go cause right now’s the time
Let go, live on
So you can be free, yeah free to fly
I know it’s hard but it’s worth it
(Repeat Chorus)
