Kehlani, While We Wait | Album Review 💿

Urban contemporary singer Kehlani returns after a two-year hiatus with a respectable, well-rounded, nine-track mixtape, ‘While We Wait.’

Grammy-nominated R&B singer Kehlani is back following a two-year hiatus.  In 2017, Kehlani released her official debut album, SweetSexySavage to rave reviews.  She’s back in 2019 with a tight, nine-song, 31-minute project, While We Wait.  Is this officially the urban contemporary singer’s sophomore album? No, it’s a mixtape, but it has its fair share of satisfying moments.

“Footsteps”

Kehlani commences While We Wait with the slick, sexy ✓ “Footsteps” featuring fellow Grammy-nominee Musiq Soulchild.  Vocally, she sounds as refined as ever, with an effortless delivery.  Likewise, Musiq remains smooth, never even breaking a sweat as he ‘brings the heat.’  “Footsteps” doesn’t rewrite the R&B script, but definitely keeps a cooling genre alive and well. “Too Deep” finds Kehlani being blunt, asserting on the first verse, “I thought we were just fuckin’ / I can’t fall in love for nothin’,” not to mention the centerpiece, the chorus.  Here, love is merely out of the question: “But this shit getting too deep / Too deep / Too deep for me.” Once again, marvelous vocals – more high-flying than the opener – and strong production work, idiomatic of contemporary R&B.

“Nunya”

“Why you askin’ ‘bout X, Y, Z? / Why you worried ‘bout who was fuckin’ me?” ✓ “Nunya” keeps While We Wait afloat, finding Kehlani enlisting DOM KENNEDY for the assist.  Even with DOM’s guest verse, Kehlani is easily in command.  Her vocals are smooth and rhythmic, while the lyrics are current and representative of the vernacular.  The centerpiece, once again, is the feisty chorus, where she asserts, “Ain’t nunya business / Ain’t nunya business/ To know who I’m with / Or none of my shit.” Oh snap!

✓ “Morning Glory” thrives off a throwback, old-school, soulful groove, not to mention more killer vocals, and another awesome chorus. Four tracks in, While We Wait is definitely a great way to whet listener’s palates while ‘waiting’ for her proper sophomore album. “Feels” maintains consistency, remaining sound to the nth degree.  That’s the story of While We Wait.  Perhaps “Feels” isn’t game changing – the concept and lyrics are pretty straightforward – but Kehlani delivers it successfully.  Has she ever served up a bad chorus?

“Nights Like This”

“But all that glitters isn’t gold, I was blinded / Should have never gave you my heart on consignment.” Kehlani gets the assist from the ever-ubiquitous Ty Dolla $ign on ✓ 🤩 “Nights Like This”, the crown jewel of While We Wait.  There’s plenty to sink your teeth into “Nights Like This.” Like everything that precedes “Night Like This,” her tone and overall performance are a massive selling point. In addition to a sensational, nuanced vocal, “Nights Like This” benefits from its production work. It’s idiomatic of a modern R&B record, yet also has the classical cues that had contemporary R&B popping in the 90s and 00s.  Adding to the excellence is respectable songwriting this is relatable.  The pre-chorus and chorus sections are among the highlights:

“On some nights like this, shawty, I can’t help but think of us
I’ve been reminiscin’, sippin’, missin’ ya
Can you tell me what’s with all this distant love?
If I called, would you pick it up?
On some nights like this, I just wanna text you, but for what
You gon’ say you want me, then go switch it up
Just gon’ play with my emotions just because, no.”

“RPG” 

“RPG” finds Kehlani trading Ty Dolla $ign for 6LACK.  Regardless of her featured guest, K remains the star, without question.  Once again, she ‘tears it up’ on this slow jam, with love continuing to fuel her fire.  6LACK does provide a welcome contrast, embracing rap as opposed to singing.  “RPG” is followed up by one of the most distinct-sounding joints, “Butterfly.” The production work is simplistic, but that’s part of its charm.  Kehlani paints over it effortlessly, continuing to flaunt those radiant vocals.  She caps off While We Wait solidly with “Love Language,” where she desires to “Be fluent in your love language.”  She highlights her unfamiliarity on the pre-chorus, before confirming the wishes of her heart, sigh.

Final Thoughts 

All in all, While We Wait is a well-rounded, enjoyable mixtape by Kehlani.  Arguably nothing stands out as being ‘transcendent’ per se, but this is a respectable set of nine new songs.  What makes While We Wait work are awesome vocals, relatable subject matter (love, love, and more love), and solid production work.  Definitely worth checking out.

✓ Gems: “Footsteps,” “Nunya Business,” 🤩 “Nights Like These” & “Morning Glory” 

Kehlani • While We Wait • Atlantic • Release: 2.22.19

Photo Credit: Atlantic