Kehlani Continually Makes Creative U-Turns Across the R&B Landscape on New Album ‘CRASH’

Restricting Kehlani to R&B always felt wrong, especially when their three previously released albums all distinctly stand on their own, not bleeding over into the other. On Kehlani’s fourth studio album CRASH, released June 21 via Atlantic, to say they experimented is an understatement when each of the 13 tracks is unique to one another. However, the singer-songwriter, taking on sonic styles new and old to them, plays to their strengths by showing off a penchant for writing melodies on instrumentals constantly ebbing and flowing.

“To an album that changed lives,” said Kehlani in a statement posted to Instagram. “An album that freed me, unlocked me, and double dog dared me. We made this album in many cities, from sun up till sun down. Each creator crafting out of pure joy, passion & the hunger to carefully craft a new sound. We didn’t know what to call this album, what genre it was, where it would land. We only knew we arrived.”

Amid all the shifting genres ranging from the Christina Aguilera sample on “What I Want” to brushes of operatic rock on “Chapel,” the album offers a buffet of sounds for Kehlani to dive into. In the spirit of the title, CRASH cashes on the element of surprise as Kehlani searches for love and pleasure.

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Lead single “After Hours” starts to the familiar tune of Nina Sky’s 2004 hit “Move Ya Body” but leads into a dance-pop realm marked by anthemic backing vocals in the second half. If there was any doubt, Kehlani could still produce an infectious single, “After Hours,” and its chorus is more than enough proof to put any second-guessing to rest.

Similarly, “Sucia,” featuring Young Miko and Jill Scott reciting some seductive spoken word, lures you in through the hypnotic rhythm of the drums. The song itself reflects how patience is rewarded by the album, where open-mindedness to different sounds serves as a gateway for Kehlani to do something different while carrying over the pop-sensibilities on projects like It Was Good Until It Wasn’t.

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Prior to the album’s release, Kehlani raised more than $555,000 of proceeds from her “Next 2 U” t-shirts going towards Palestine, Congo, and Sudan, with her support of Palestine seen in the visuals for “Next 2 U.”

With the world seemingly crashing into a brick wall every day, it only makes sense that CRASH, having been “birthed from pure fire,” seeks to celebrate despite everything that’s going on.

Words: David Sosa

CRASH by Kehlani is out now on all streaming services. For more on new music and upcoming shows, including two dates on July 21 and Aug. 2 at LIV inside the Fontainebleau Las Vegas, follow them on Instagram and their website.