The twenty-year-old Kehlani has been doing music since she was barely a teenager, and since then has become a rising star in the pop world. In 2014, she released the mixtape Cloud 19, and followed it up last year with You Should Be Here. She was even nominated for a Grammy this year for Best Urban Contemporary Album, but ultimately lost out to The Weeknd.
Kehlani was recently in the news for all of the wrong reasons, but this isn't an article about personal lives. Instead we're here to highlight some of this young R&B singer-songwriter and her most essential tracks, with an emphasis on ones with collaborations from the likes of Chance the Rapper, BJ The Chicago Kid, G-Eazy, Lil B, etc.
"The Way" featuring Chance The Rapper
We'll start this off with something nice and palatable for the hip-hop crowd. Enlisting Chance The Rapper for the track "The Way," this is a definite stand-out track off last year's You Should Be Here. Chance rips it, of course, but Kehlani isn't out shined either.
"FWU"
Here's the lone single off 2014's Cloud 19, "FWU." Kehlani sings about being a good, loyal woman over a trappy beat from Swagg R'celious.
"Champion" featuring G-Eazy, IAMSU! & Lil B
Kehlani enlists a number of rappers for "Champion," a track that repeatedly praises her native Bay Area. Fellow NorCal rappers like G-Eazy, IAMSU! and Lil B join the party, which is soundtracked by P-Lo. It's got that hyphy tempo, and its blessed by the Based God. What more could you want?
"Did I"
Kehlani got bars too, and on "Did I" she kicks a flow that would fit right at home on an Atlanta trap smasher. "Did I" is the latest official single from the Oakland singer, and if its an indication of what to expect, she'll have a great 2016.
"The Way" (Remix) featuring Trey Songz
When Trey Songz jumps on the remix, you know its gonna be hot. The slow and sexy burning remix of "The Way" goes further into the R&B side of things as it repleaces Chance for Songz.
"Down For You" featuring BJ The Chicago Kid
"Down For You" is another one off last year's You Should Be Here. BJ The Chicago Kid rides along for the cut, creating a duet vibe as well as an Oakland-Chi-town connection as they express their devotion for another.
Pusha T - "Retribution" featuring Kehlani
As the featured artist, Kehlani really shines on a track like Pusha T's "Retribution." She lays the hook over the dark, Timbaland beat, and you know King Push comes correct on the verses.
"You Should Be Here"
Wherever Kehlani is in this music video is where we're trying to go. The young and beautiful songwriter dances around a surrealist landscape as she longs for someone to join her.
Justin Bieber - "Future" featuring Kehlani and Khalil
Collaborating with Bieber on a track is a pretty big deal. Not only are you getting exposed to a whole dedicated fanbase of Beliebers, but your price goes up almost instantly. While "Future" doesn't have all of the bells & whistles of an official single, it's a nice addition to the artists' catalogues.
G-Eazy - "Get Away" (Remix) featuring Kehlani
G-Eazy gets Kehlani back for the "Champion" feature by enlisting her for the remix of "Get Away." The Bay Area artists make a great duo, and Kehlani's parts are a great way to break up the verses from G-Eazy.