I knew Kehlani before the album dropped. Her radio stuff and mixtape joints were super jamming so I was ready for the album. As usual, I did a little peeping her background BEFORE dedicating the time, energy, yada yada yada..
I was NOT ready for the background! Oakland, CA? 🤔 BOTH parents addicts? 😑 Adopted by aunt? 👍🏾 Took up singing AFTER high school dance injury ended that dream? 😐 The Kyrie Irving/PartyNextDoor bullying caused her to attempt suicide? 😭 Pulling herself together as a NEW, SINGLE mother? 💪🏾🖤
Shhhhhiiiiiiiiiid…. I was a fan before the album downloaded bases on her stories of survival & THRIVING. I always am. I wanted to hear, feel her music now.
The first two tracks, Can I and Toxic, were WELL known to me because of radio play. I needed to hear some of her non-radio, non-mixtape, non-pop stuff. The girl is from Oakland, parents were addicts, I mean, her story is the definition of survival. I was FIENDING to hear what she had to say and come away super impressed. Yes, it’s a lot a sex and hard core lessons of heartbreak over damn near adulterous melodies but in those lyrics is a constant struggle of pushing others. Yoooo. 😑🤜🏾🤛🏾👍🏾 I feel that. Song 3, Bad News, kicks it off, she’s speaking to past love (I’m guessing) and from there, it’s a moshpit of her exoeriences, perspectives and advice on love, shitty relationships, sex, sexual orientation, friendships and the usual. That last track? The one where spits FIRE game to the young ladies? Wow. I really, REALLY enjoyed the album, wordplay, tunes, beats, EVERYTHING. It’s either #2 or #3 of my Best R&B Albums of 2020.
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