Folded by Kehlani

Kehlani is hitting every single thing I need in music right now; she’s scratching that R&B itch in my brain, caressing it with her angel-like vocals and provocative lyrics that just do something to me.

For some reason, “Folded” was the song that made me understand Kehlani’s talent on a whole new level. Don’t ask me why it took that song to open the floodgates to her absolutely unreal vocal ability and emotional depth, but it did, and I’m so glad it happened. Honestly, “Folded” filled a void I didn’t realize had been empty for so long.

I’ve always been a broad listener. I love all kinds of music, but every once in a while, I feel that little ache that only R&B can fix. You know that feeling? When nothing hits quite right until you find that one track that’s beautifully written, perfectly produced, and emotionally charged? That’s what “Folded” was for me.

But before Folded, my introduction to Kehlani came years earlier through her song “Gangsta,” which was featured on the Suicide Squad soundtrack. I still remember sitting in the theater, completely unprepared for how entrancing that track would be. The moment her voice came in haunting, raw, and effortlessly powerful, I knew then she was pure talent. Gangsta was one of those rare songs that makes you stop and think, okay, whoever this is, she’s got it on lock.

Still, it wasn’t until Folded started blowing up on TikTok that Kehlani fully reeled me in. The song seemed to take over my entire For You Page, sneaking into every edit, every late-night post, until I finally gave in and listened. And that’s when it clicked; her talent wasn’t just undeniable, it was magnetic. Maybe my obsession also has something to do with my completely unhinged love for strings, but Folded didn’t just sound beautiful; it felt like it wrapped itself around you. That’s when Kehlani stopped being just a voice I admired and became an artist I couldn’t stop listening to.

“Folded” is the ultimate I-hate-you-but-I-still-love-you anthem. It’s that moment when you want to kick someone out of your life but still leave the door cracked open for a second, just to remember the good times. Even the title, “Folded,” feels symbolic, like giving back someone’s clothes neatly, separating your life from theirs while still holding onto the care you once had for that person. 

When Kehlani sings, “It’s getting cold out, but it’s not frozen,” it hits me like she’s describing that last bit of warmth before your heart finally freezes over. There’s still love there, but just barely, and you can feel the heartbreak in her delivery on this track. And when she admits, “It’s so silly for me to act like I don’t need you back,” that line alone captures the internal tug-of-war between self-respect and holding on to something that’s all too familiar but so bad for your healing. All of that storytelling and emotion, layered with those sweeping strings, that grounding bassline that feels like her conscience trying to steady her, and her ethereal harmonies weaving through it all, it’s just… unreal.

Now, am I a little embarrassed it took me this long to hop on the Kehlani bandwagon? Yeah, just a bit. But honestly, I’m so happy to be here. The more I dive into her discography, the more I realize I’ve been listening to Kehlani for years without fully appreciating her. Right now, I’ve got “After Hours,” “Distraction,” “Worst Behavior” (feat. Kehlani), and “Wish I Never” on a constant loop. With that being said, if you’re not listening to Kehlani yet, I hope these words convince you to give her a chance. And if her music doesn’t click for you right now, that’s okay. Just know that somewhere down the line, when you least expect it, you might find yourself falling into the same trap I did: the trap of insanely good, criminally good R&B that only Kehlani can deliver.