Kehlani is definitely one of the coolest artists in R&B, not only being a vocal powerhouse, but also boasting a catalog full of emotional honesty and sultry lyricism backed by the best modern production has to offer. (It Was Good Until It Wasn’t is probably my favorite album from the artist.) Keeping her continued evolution as a person and an artist over the course of her discography in mind, her fifth official studio album being self-titled and releasing on her birthday were definitely intentional creative choices, signifying a landmark in her personal growth and fully establishing her unique sound in the modern R&B space. This sentiment comes across throughout the record. The album has its fair share of playful tracks such as Oooh and Call Me Back, but from the Intro to the album’s final cinematic track, Unlearn, the album also delves into themes that represent the artist’s willingness to be vulnerable in love, such as when she’s expressing lingering feelings for a former lover on tracks such as Out The Window or the Grammy award winning record Folded. These themes and lyrics are accompanied by incredible vocals, along with a sound and album structure heavily inspired by R&B of the 90s. Speaking of 90s R&B, along with the production emulating the time period’s sound (shoutout to producer Khris Riddick-Tynes who brought his talents to almost every track on this album), there is also a plethora of artists featured on many of the tracks that are known for the impact they’ve had on R&B and hip-hop in the 90s and the early 2000s, adding to the theme of this project. These features include Brandy, Clipse, Lil Wayne, Usher, Missy Elliott, T-Pain and Lil Jon. (Lil Jon’s adlibs always make me laugh.) Even the more modern artists featured on this project such as Leon Thomas, Big Sean, and Cardi B added to the classic and nostalgic feel of this project rather than take away from it. Overall, this album is arguably Kehlani’s best work, being narratively and sonically cohesive, portraying the artist’s growth and vulnerability by combining modern sensibilities with the sound and charm of the best 90s R&B records. I definitely recommend giving this a listen. Favorite Songs: Still, Shoulda Never (feat. Usher), I Need You (feat. Brandy), Out The Window
Noah Robinson 