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. “That’s when I started singing,” she recalls. “When I was living with my aunt, she played me all of these powerful women and love songs. It was that Neo Soul-R&B, and I couldn’t get enough of it. It felt right to sing from the moment I began.”
In eighth grade, she became a member of the group Poplyfe produced by D’wayne Wiggins ofTony! Toni! Toné! fame. WithKehlani front and center, Poplyfe ended up becoming a finalist on America’s Got Talent—even performing with her idol Stevie Wonder during the final round. They didn’t win the competition, but she made an invaluable ally in Nick Cannon. A few industry pitfalls and detours derailed her musical momentum for six months until she decided to pick up the mic again. Without a home, she moved from couch to couch until Cannon got back in touch wanting to help however he could. Kehlani wanted one thing: studio time.
Kehlani: The Way feat. Chance The Rapper [Official Video]
Kehlani’s 2014 mixtape, Cloud 19, introduced her to the world. Immediately, tastemakers and audiences alike wholeheartedly embraced her.Complex showcased the songstress in a piece entitled “How R&B Saved 2014,” Pitchforkdubbed the mixtape one of the “Overlooked mixtapes of 2014,” Vice proclaimed her an “R&B Artist on the Verge of Blowing Up,” BuzzFeedpegged her at #4 on their “41 SXSW 2015 Artists You Need In Your Life,” and she ended up being one of SXSW’s “Top 5 Most Tweeted Artists.” In late April she shared You Should Be Herewith the world. Upon its release Billboard immediately called this project “The year’s first great R&B album”. Amongst their great review,You Should Be Here has seen quite a bit of success on the charts. Aside from being the top R&B debut of the week, it also came in at #1 on the iTunes R&B/Soul chart and #2 on both the Overall R&B Albums and Current R&B Albums chart. Signing to Atlantic Records in early 2015 and releasing You Should Be Here, Kehlani possesses the power to make an impact because she’s so unwaveringly honest.
Kehlani: The Way feat. Chance The Rapper Lyrics:
(Verse 1 – Kehlani)
You so damn important
Everything you do shows me you know it
Behind it all you are the motive
Don’t tell you enough, but baby I’ll show it, show it
He say the king where he come from
Take a young queen just to know one
So, baby, I’mma drive it like it’s stolen
I’mma fix it like it’s broken
We could catch a flight out to London
Go to the mall, spend a lump sum
They could try to catch up to us
But they’re too busy making assumptions
(Bridge – Kehlani)
Boy, you know all I do
Is stay up all night losing sleep over you
All I do is drive myself crazy thinking bout my baby
(Chorus – Kehlani)
It’s the way you walk, the way you talk, babe
It’s the way you love, the way you fuck, the way
It’s the way you are, you’re a star, babe
It’s the way you, it’s the way you
(Verse 2 – Chance The Rapper)
She said I ain’t even make my bed up
Watch your step, you gon wake my mama and dad up
Pssh, girl, didn’t I tell you at the damn club?
We gon wake your neighbors
Turn your block club to my fan club
And that happen so fast
Damn, I glad I strapped up
Ask her when she finish, if she came
She said I lapped ya twice
Run it back for the door, rematch
Flip the crib when we fought, rematch
It get hot then no more, last cup
You can ask her if I f**k, she gassed, huh
I gotta keep it a secret, I keep a key in my lower pocket
Inside a register below the lower octave
Dirty laundry in my closet, they be strung out on the street
Left to dry with dry sheets and no deposit
They don’t gotta worry, put my hand on your mouth
Put my hands in your mouth, girl
We got plans at my house, you know the way up
(Repeat Chorus)
(Verse 3 – Kehlani)
This thing we got is crazy
Only thing I know is you’re my baby
Forever down, I am your lady
Always for sure, never a maybe
Never met someone who spoke my language
Never met a ni**a done with playing
You the type of ni**a make me lane switch
Hand me the brush and say paint it
Give me your heart and I hold it
Show me your soul and I’ll mould it
Baby boy, you gotta be the dopest
Gotta be to f**k with the coldest
(Repeat Bridge)
(Repeat Chorus)
