Solid, very content with not blowing hot and cold on the procession of mental athleticism — Kehlani Ashley Parrish is nowhere far-off being crowded or drowned by the annihilation of the world; yet, prompted by her in searing form euphony calling, the — Oakland, California sown as well as tilled — rose gold vocalist, songsmith and dancer, has never “by any strands of hair” been a cerebral midget. The veil is non-too-thin between always hitting an adenoidal ping on a beat, as well as relying on an encyclopaedic hum incubating her scales — to penetrate through clouts, from top to toe sou’westers, and conundrums.
With way over 265,170 hours under her clock; Kehlani would peel back the layers in the fall of last July, with the release of the sonic boom christened ‘(un)Folded’: a stripped-down, emotionally raw re-imagining of her scrumptious donut — Folded. Escorted by a nous means of telling through non-textual matter, the up-to-the-minute version reinstates the blues composition in its most intimate form; featuring minimal instrumentation as well as warm textures. Likewise, playing up Kehlani’s deeply expressive vocals — consequentially crossing the bridge, and clinging on the climax; to let slip new depth to the racy synchronisation blast.
She knows the significance of a well-crafted ditty; prior to that, June 13 of this 2025 time period — via Atlantic Records — witnessed the multi-platinum-certified singer-lyricist unloosen a scotching number named ‘Folded’. The spiny canon was produced by Los Angeles-based American composer Khristopher Riddick-Tynes, as well as Donovan Knight an American wordsmith, who has put in long shifts behind the boards — chipping in his love and expertise for smithereens of auditory sensation on Canadian songster as well as bard Justin Drew Bieber’s resistless arpeggio arsenal, and Jill Heather Scott — an American soloist, songwriter, model, poet, as well as actress’ elating shrill unsoiled triad.
Grappling betting odds, Canadian multi-platinum and Grammy nominated jam godhead Don Mills, who put his foot down on American rapper as well as record producer J Cole, known off-stage as Jermaine Lamarr Cole’s work of art, and Jarad Anthony Higgins — an American rhymer, vocalist, as well as versifier — who once held sway by the alias Juice WRLD’s tour de force; amply maximizes the potential in Kehlani — in his capacity as a co-producer.
Quenching all the sweltering darts, American composer and record producer Andre “Dre” Harris, who turned the screw on cozy loops affiliated to Alicia Augello Cook — an American singer, songwriter as well as classical pianist, known on-stage as Alicia Keys, and American songster, composer, as well as actress — Mary Jane Blige; also sport co-production credits on the thumping opus.
Bouncing around the whimsical necessities of remaining far from being stuck in the whimpering rot; last 12-month, Kehlani made a roused homecoming with sizzling ballads and so much more to infer. Initial control is nice as well as tight; her — punched into perfect bliss — fourth studio offering titled Crash; earned a 2024 Grammy Awards-nod for “Best Progressive R&B Album”.
After Hours — a standout banger taking the lion’s share on the hinged to dulcet nuts and bolts sculpt — samples acclaimed Jamaican-born music producer, audio engineer, artiste, lyricist, as well as marketing strategist Cordell “Scatta” Burrell’s iconic Coolie Dance Rhythm. Playing particularly great, the librettist’s bit of tweeting craft was nominated at the 67th Annual Grammy Awards, in the category for “Best R&B Performance”.
Done so great; the dance-worthy melody, was produced by absolute intonation genius Khris Riddick-Tynes as well as 4x Grammy-nominated producer, guitarist and music director Alex Goldblatt. What is more, the lilt bomb markedly calligraphies Kehlani’s first solo merchandise, since her toil of chords christened — Blue Water Road.
She has not produced anything insignificant yet; this would continue what has proven a triumphant late spring for the Bay Area-born cadence Almighty, who has been around the sun 30 times. Right on tune, after a bold, breath-taking appearance at the 2025 American Music Awards in Las Vegas — which saw her being acclaimed by WWD for her shimmering, sinuous fashion; Kehlani scythed two bulbous nominations at the BET Awards 2025 in the “Best Female R&B/Pop Artist” as well as “Video of the Year” (for After Hours) — categories.
Lethal at the top of her voice, slaughtering over 100 million streams as of this month on Swedish audio streaming as well as media service provider — Spotify; Kehlani’s salted lullaby Folded — made history in June of this 12-month, as her career’s biggest first-week solo debut. Grossing over 13 million global streams, thereupon, surpassing the record previously gript by her smoky sonic oeuvre After Hours.
Beyond blockbuster collaborations with Belcalis Almanzar — an American rapper-librettist using Cardi B as a moniker, American rhymer, soloist, songsmith, record producer, as well as actor — Austin Richard Post, universally known as Post Malone, as well as Marshall Bruce Mathers III — an American Hip-Hop knocker, composer, and record producer, famed by the soubriquet Eminem; Kehlani has painted a fantastic prospect by popping purring passes on absolutely crust motion picture soundtracks.
None of her tempi swinging spider’s webs are misunderstood on both the albums of 2016 American superhero film based on the super villain/anti-hero team from DC Comics — ‘Suicide Squad’, as well as ‘The Fate of the Furious’: a 2017 action flick directed by F. Gary Gray and written by Chris Morgan. Still alive at it again; Kehlani will open your eyes, mind, and heart. She is a big imposing figure, for as blunt as she may be about life, pining, lust, as well as love; her tonal pattern — lodges a preeminent state, above even the paramount tall, yet, accessible by solely listening.
Charging forward, Kehlani has hoarded more than 20 gold and platinum Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) certifications, as well as squirrelled over 5 billion streams. Powering painstaking history, captivating 150,000 enthusiasts from Land’s End to John O’Groats; she capped off her biggest tour to date — with sold-out shows at iconic venues.
From being the chief architects behind the cycle that gaily saw the rooters’ euphoria reaching a crescendo at Brooklyn, NY’s Barclays Center — to a boldly made known spell-bound confrontation with the frenetic assemblage at San Francisco, CA’s Chase Center; Kehlani and her team fabulously orchestrated the star display — that would leave the gaga bunch in wonderment at Los Angeles, CA’s Kia Forum.
In chorus, the inexhaustible dancer as well as performer would go on to feature on English-Northern Irish rapper and vocalist Jordan Adebowale Adetunji’s breakout “of strings as well as keys” advent — so-called ‘Kehlani’. Therewith, notching her third Grammy Award nomination in the “Best Melodic Rap Performance” category. Grasping her big moments, Kehlani hastened this high-volume ride with her censoriously hailed — magnum birdcall project, typically with looser constraints than that of an album or extended play — mixtape titled ‘While We Wait 2’.
Today, she is looking to build glorious funk jewels in a scattered industry, where indigenous narcissism bumps into international courtesy, with loads of up and rolling din joints magnified. Surfboarding ahead with a golden touch, the original version of ‘Folded’ continues to resonate with fans around mother earth.
Kehlani’s thought process having made a steadfast brave journey from her medulla oblongata, via the woman in question’s conscious heart, to this lady’s willing to press-on soul; everything takes a back seat as she channels all her energy to whipping chef-d’oeuvre after chef-d’oeuvre. Sponging soldiering, the nicely delivered jazzy croon vibe — ‘(un)Folded’ — follows a landmark year for the berceuse maven; who is pretty experiencing the longest durability on her “screening boundless appetite for the milestone moment” starry gallant quid pro quo!
- Grant Notho Khumalo is a prolific writer, innovative media personality, entrepreneur and a creative artist who is passionate about using his creative mind for the betterment of society. Follow him on X: @TotemGrant