Kehlani
Biography
Kehlani Ashley Parrish, born on April 24, 1995, in Oakland, California, is an American singer, songwriter, and dancer. They were raised by their aunt as their mother was incarcerated and their father passed away when they were a toddler. Kehlani describes their ethnicity as a mix of Black, white, Native American, Filipino, and Spanish. They attended the Oakland School for the Arts, initially focusing on dance until a knee injury prompted a shift to singing. Early musical influences included R&B and neo-soul artists like Lauryn Hill, Erykah Badu, and Jill Scott.
Career Beginnings
At 14, Kehlani joined the pop cover band PopLyfe. In 2011, the group competed on the sixth season of "America's Got Talent," finishing in fourth place. Following the show, Kehlani left the group due to contractual disputes and experienced a period of homelessness. A pivotal moment came when Nick Cannon, the host of "America's Got Talent," reached out to them about joining a rap group, which ultimately did not pan out. Kehlani then began releasing music on SoundCloud, with their first solo track being "ANTISUMMERLUV".
Rise to Fame
Kehlani's 2014 mixtape, "Cloud 19," was recognized by Complex as one of the best albums of the year. This was followed by the 2015 mixtape, "You Should Be Here," which debuted at number 5 on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop chart and earned a Grammy nomination for Best Urban Contemporary Album. This success led to a record deal with Atlantic Records.
Studio Albums
Kehlani's debut studio album, "SweetSexySavage," was released in 2017 and peaked at number three on the Billboard 200. Their sophomore album, "It Was Good Until It Wasn't," released in 2020, reached number two on the same chart. This album was noted for its more mature and emotionally profound sound. Their third album, "Blue Water Road," was released in 2022, followed by "Crash" in 2024. They have collaborated with numerous artists, including Cardi B, Justin Bieber, and G-Eazy.
Personal Life and Activism
Kehlani is a vocal advocate for social issues, including speaking out against racism, sexism, and homophobia, and promoting mental health awareness. They have been actively involved in supporting the Black Lives Matter movement. Kehlani identifies as queer and has spoken about the privilege they experience as a light-skinned, queer artist in the music industry. They have a daughter, Adeya Nomi, born in 2019.