Kehlani (album)

Kehlani
Studio album by
Kehlani
ReleasedApril 24, 2026
GenreR&B[1][2]
Length59:39
LabelAtlantic
Producers
Kehlani chronology
While We Wait 2
(2024)		 Kehlani
(2026)
Singles from Kehlani
  1. "Folded"
    Released: June 11, 2025
  2. "Out the Window"
    Released: November 7, 2025
  3. "Back and Forth"
    Released: April 10, 2026
  4. "Shoulda Never"
    Released: April 24, 2026
  5. "Cruise Control"
    Released: June 12, 2026

Kehlani is the fifth studio album by American singer-songwriter Kehlani. It was released through Atlantic Records on April 24, 2026, in tandem with Kehlani's 31st birthday. The album features guest appearances from Lil Wayne, Clipse, Brandy, Missy Elliott, Usher, Lil Jon, T-Pain, Cardi B, Big Sean, and Leon Thomas.[3][4] The album serves as the follow-up to their[a] previous projects, Crash (2024) and While We Wait 2 (2024), and is supported by three singles: "Folded", "Out the Window" and "Back and Forth".

Background and composition

After the publication of their fourth studio album Crash (2024), Kehlani confirmed a follow-up record project. On June 11, 2025, they published the solo single "Folded", for which they won their first two Grammy Awards for Best R&B Performance and Best R&B Song.[5] At the award ceremony the singer announced they were working in a recording studio for new material and closing their fifith record project.[6][7] Kehlani also revealed that during the two years spent recording and producing the project, they went through a difficult personal period, including being diagnosed with and treated for mental health issues.[8][9]

Singles and promotion

The lead single of the album, "Folded", was released on June 11, 2025.[10] The second single, "Out the Window", was released on November 7, 2025.[11] On March 17, 2026, Kehlani announced the album, along with its cover art and release date.[12][13] The third single, "Back and Forth", featuring Missy Elliott, was released on April 10, 2026. The fourth single, "Shoulda Never", was serviced to Italian radio on April 24.[14]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic82/100[15]
Review scores
SourceRating
Beats per Minute 7.6/10[16]
Clash7/10[1]
NMEStarStarStarStar[2]
Pitchfork7.8/10[17]

According to the review aggregator Metacritic, Kehlani received "universal acclaim" based on a weighted average score of 82 out of 100 from seven critic scores.[15]

Kyle Denis of Billboard wrote that the tracks "painstakingly mine '90s and '00s R&B for both inspiration and guidance, while still feeling totally singular" and although the reviewer noticed there are too many features, "Kehlani deftly uses her collaborations to flaunt her expert grasp on different R&B song archetypes", concluding the review by stating that "Kehlani stands as more of an examination of its creator’s relationship to R&B than a reflection of where the multihyphenate currently is in her personal life".[18] In a positive review, Steven J. Horowitz of Variety also explained that the singer "subsuming herself in the aesthetic and conventions of her influences while adapting them into one of her most powerful mission statements to date", finding Kehlani "at the peak of her artistic powers".[19]

Commercial performance

Kehlani debuted at number four on the US Billboard 200 with 69,000 album-equivalent units, which included 24,000 pure album sales in its first week. Also, this was their first No. 1 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, making it their 7th consecutive top 10 album on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums.[20] The album also accumulated 45.37 million on-demand audio streams in the United States.[20]

Track listing

Kehlani track listing[21]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Intro"
  • Riddick-Tynes
  • Dixon
0:31
2."Anotha Luva" (featuring Lil Wayne)
  • Riddick-Tynes
  • Harrison
  • Alex Goldblatt[a]
4:01
3."No Such Thing" (featuring Clipse)
3:40
4."Folded"
  • Harris
  • D.K. the Punisher
  • Don Mills
  • Riddick-Tynes
3:57
5."I Need You" (featuring Brandy)
4:03
6."Oooh"
  • Riddick-Tynes
  • Dixon
4:08
7."Back and Forth" (featuring Missy Elliott)
3:34
8."Shoulda Never" (featuring Usher)
3:06
9."You Got It"
  • Parrish
  • Felder
  • Oscar Linnander
  • Silverstein
  • D. Wilson
  • Riddick-Tynes
  • Oak
  • Silverstein[c]
4:37
10."Out the Window"
  • Riddick-Tynes
  • Dixon
4:16
11."Still"
3:33
12."Call Me Back" (featuring T-Pain and Lil Jon)
  • Pop & Oak
  • Silverstein[c]
3:19
13."Pocket" (featuring Cardi B)
  • Riddick-Tynes
  • Goldblatt
  • D. Wilson
  • Daniel Church
  • Dixson[v]
3:52
14."Lights On" (featuring Big Sean)
2:59
15."Sweet Nuthins" (featuring Leon Thomas)
  • Parrish
  • Thomas
  • Lazaro Camejo
  • Goldblatt
  • Ethan Polk-Trauman
  • Riddick-Tynes
  • Upchurch
  • Riddick-Tynes
  • Goldblatt
2:42
16."Cruise Control"
  • Parrish
  • Goldblatt
  • Norful
  • Riddick-Tynes
  • Upchurch
3:04
17."Unlearn"
  • Parrish
  • Kumasi Ade
  • Dixon
  • Riddick-Tynes
  • Riddick-Tynes
  • Dixon
  • Dixson[v]
4:17
Total length:59:39

Notes

  • ^[p] indicates someone credited for primary and vocal production
  • ^[c] indicates a co-producer
  • ^[a] indicates an additional producer
  • ^[v] indicates a vocal producer

Personnel

Credits are adapted from Tidal.[21]

Musicians

  • Kehlani – vocals
  • Johnny May – strings (tracks 2, 4, 8, 13, 14, 17)
  • Khris Riddick-Tynes – keyboards (2, 5, 7, 8, 13–17), background vocals (2, 7, 8, 13–15, 17), drum programming (2), drums (5, 7, 8, 13–17), synthesizer (7, 8, 15–17), guitar (7), instruments (10), bass (14)
  • Alex Goldblatt – bass (2, 8), guitar (11, 13, 15), programming (13); drums, keyboards, synthesizer (15)
  • Tom Levesque – horn (2, 8, 13)
  • Rich Harrison – background vocals, drum programming (2)
  • Ashton Norful – keyboards (2)
  • Lil Wayne – vocals (2)
  • Clipse – vocals (3)
  • Deanna Stewart – background vocals (5, 7, 8, 13, 14, 17)
  • Antonio Dixon – bass, keyboards, synthesizer (5, 17); instruments (10), drums (17)
  • Jimmy Jam – bass, synthesizer (5)
  • Brandy – vocals (5)
  • Erick Walls – guitar (6)
  • Jeremy Reeves – drums, guitar, keyboards, synthesizer (7)
  • Jonathan Yip – drums, guitar, keyboards, synthesizer (7)
  • Ray Romulus – drums, guitar, keyboards, synthesizer (7)
  • Missy Elliott – vocals (7)
  • Dixson – background vocals (8, 13, 15, 17); drums, string arrangement (11)
  • Usher – vocals (8)
  • Jayme Silverstein – bass, drums, guitar, keyboards (9)
  • Oak – drums, keyboards (9)
  • Camper – drums, keyboards (11)
  • Roy Cotton – string arrangement (11)
  • T-Pain – vocals (12)
  • Lil Jon – vocals (12)
  • Cardi B – vocals (13)
  • Allen Ritter – background vocals (14)
  • Big Sean – background vocals (14)
  • Leon Thomas – vocals (15)
  • Daniel Church – background vocals (16)

Technical

  • Jenna Felsenthal – engineering
  • Ronald "RD" Dominic – engineering (7)
  • Neal Pogue – mixing (all tracks), vocal mixing (7)
  • Brad Puette – immersive mixing
  • Zachary Acosta – mixing assistance
  • Harvey Mason Jr. – vocal mixing (7)
  • Mike Bozzi – mastering
  • Manny Galvez – vocal engineering (2)
  • Rob Ulsh – vocal engineering (3)
  • Dixson – vocal engineering (5, 8, 11, 13, 14, 17)
  • Todd Bergman – vocal engineering (5)
  • Ben "Bengineer" Chang – vocal engineering (8)
  • Evan LaRay – vocal engineering (13)
  • Milan Becker – vocal engineering (14)

Charts

Chart performance for Kehlani
Chart (2026) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[22] 18
Australian Hip Hop/R&B Albums (ARIA)[23] 1
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[24]63
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[25]75
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[26]14
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[27]32
French Albums (SNEP)[28]183
Hungarian Physical Albums (MAHASZ)[29] 12
Japanese Hot Albums (Billboard Japan)[30] 66
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[31] 10
Portuguese Albums (AFP)[32]112
Scottish Albums (Official Charts)[33]59
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[34]44
UK Albums (Official Charts)[35]28
UK R&B Albums (Official Charts)[36]2
US Billboard 200[37]4
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[38]1

Notes

  1. ↑ Kehlani uses both she/her and they/them pronouns and switches between them. This article uses they/them for consistency.

References

  1. 1 2 Hussain, Shahzaib (April 24, 2026). "Kehlani – Kehlani: fifth album honours R&B's grand lineage". Clash. Retrieved April 24, 2026.
  2. 1 2 Watson, Kayleigh (April 24, 2026). "Kehlani – 'Kehlani' review: drawing from every era of her past to emerge fully formed". NME. Retrieved April 24, 2026.
  3. ↑ Trapp, Malcolm (March 17, 2026). "Kehlani's "soul-baring" fifth studio album is almost here: See the release date for her self-titled LP". Revolt. Retrieved March 17, 2026.
  4. ↑ Saponara, Michael (January 31, 2026). "Kehlani Teases Clipse Collaboration on Upcoming Album: 'Track 2'". Billboard. Retrieved March 17, 2026.
  5. ↑ Tanaka, Stefanie (February 1, 2026). "Kehlani Talks On the True Meaning of "Folded," What She Loves About Bad Bunny & Who's She's Rooting For In Best New Artist | Grammys 2026". Billboard. Retrieved April 25, 2026.
  6. ↑ Jones, Okla (April 24, 2026). "GRAMMY Award-Winning Star Kehlani Returns With New Album 'KEHLANI'". Essence. Retrieved April 25, 2026.
  7. ↑ Cornish, Ricky (April 24, 2026). "Kehlani drops her highly anticipated sexy new album | Out.com". Out. Retrieved April 25, 2026.
  8. ↑ Turner-Williams, Jaelani (November 22, 2025). "Kehlani Reveals She's Been Diagnosed With 'Multiple Mental Illnesses'". Complex Networks. Retrieved April 25, 2026.
  9. ↑ Alston, Trey (April 25, 2026). "Kehlani Reflects on 'Dark Time' She Went Through Recording New Album". Complex Networks. Retrieved April 25, 2026.
  10. ↑ Williams, Aaron (June 11, 2025). "Kehlani's Yearning New Single 'Folded' Demands Commitment". Uproxx. Retrieved March 9, 2026.
  11. ↑ Trapp, Malcolm (November 7, 2025). "Social Media Is Convinced Kehlani Has Another Hit With "Out The Window" — See The Best Reactions". Rap-Up. Retrieved March 10, 2026.
  12. ↑ Mitchell, Gail (March 17, 2026). "Kehlani Announces Self-Titled Fifth Album: Here's the Release Date". Billboard. Retrieved March 17, 2026.
  13. ↑ Rossignol, Derrick (March 17, 2026). "Kehlani Follows Her Breakout 2025 By Announcing A New Album". Uproxx. Retrieved March 17, 2026.
  14. ↑ "Kehlani "Shoulda Never" | Radio Date: 24/04/2026". Radiodate.it. Retrieved April 24, 2026.
  15. 1 2 "Metacritic - "Kehlani"". Metacritic. Retrieved April 30, 2026.
  16. ↑ Chiney, Mary (April 27, 2026). "Album Review: Kehlani – Kehlani". Beats per Minute . Retrieved April 30, 2026.
  17. ↑ Soto, Alfred (April 28, 2026). "Kehlani – Kehlani: Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved April 30, 2026.
  18. ↑ Denis, Kyle (April 24, 2026). "Kehlani's Self-Titled Album: All 17 Tracks Ranked". Billboard. Retrieved April 24, 2026.
  19. ↑ Horowitz, Steven J. (April 24, 2026). "Kehlani Channels the Sound of Millennium-Era R&B for the Triumphant 'Kehlani': Album Review". Variety. Retrieved April 24, 2026.
  20. 1 2 Anderson, Trevor (May 6, 2026). "Kehlani Captures First No. 1 on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Chart". Billboard. Retrieved June 11, 2026.
  21. 1 2 "Kehlani / Kehlani / Credits". Tidal. Retrieved April 23, 2026.
  22. ↑ "ARIA Top 50 Albums Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. May 4, 2026. Retrieved May 1, 2026.
  23. ↑ "ARIA Top 40 Hip Hop/R&B Albums Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. May 4, 2026. Retrieved May 1, 2026.
  24. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Kehlani – Kehlani" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved May 3, 2026.
  25. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Kehlani – Kehlani" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved May 3, 2026.
  26. ↑ "Kehlani Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved May 5, 2026.
  27. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Kehlani – Kehlani" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved May 1, 2026.
  28. ↑ "Top Albums (Semaine du 1 mai 2026)". Syndicat national de l'édition phonographique. Retrieved May 4, 2026.
  29. ↑ "Album Top 40 slágerlista (fizikai hanghordozók) – 2026. 25. hét". MAHASZ. Retrieved June 23, 2026.
  30. ↑ "Billboard Japan Hot Albums – Week of May 6, 2026". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved May 7, 2026.
  31. ↑ "Official Top 40 Albums". Recorded Music NZ. May 1, 2026. Retrieved May 1, 2026.
  32. ↑ "Portuguesecharts.com – Kehlani – Kehlani". Hung Medien. Retrieved May 7, 2026.
  33. ↑ "Official Scottish Albums Chart on 1/5/2026 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 2, 2026.
  34. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Kehlani – Kehlani". Hung Medien. Retrieved May 4, 2026.
  35. ↑ "Official Albums Chart on 1/5/2026 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 2, 2026.
  36. ↑ "Official R&B Albums Chart on 1/5/2026 – Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 2, 2026.
  37. ↑ "Kehlani Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved May 5, 2026.
  38. ↑ "Kehlani Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved May 5, 2026.
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