Kehlani facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kehlani
Kehlani in 2018
Background information
Birth name	Kehlani Ashley Parrish
Born	(1995-04-24) April 24, 1995 (age 30) Oakland, California, U.S.
Education	Oakland School for the Arts
Genres	R&B pop hip hop neo soul
Occupation(s)	Singer songwriter
Years active	2009–present
Labels	Tsunami Mob Atlantic HBK

Kehlani Ashley Parrish (born April 24, 1995) is an American singer and songwriter. They grew up in Oakland, California. Kehlani first became known as a member of the teen pop group PopLyfe in 2011.

Kehlani's first mixtape, Cloud 19 (2014), was named one of the "50 Best Albums of 2014" by Complex magazine. Their next mixtape, You Should Be Here (2015), was very popular. It reached the Billboard 200 chart and was nominated for a Grammy Award. Kehlani then signed with Atlantic Records. They released their first studio album, SweetSexySavage (2017), which reached number three on the Billboard 200. Their second album, It Was Good Until It Wasn't (2020), peaked at number two. Their third album, Blue Water Road (2022), was praised by critics. Their fourth album, Crash (2024), also did well on the charts.

Early Life and Musical Beginnings

Kehlani Ashley Parrish was born on April 24, 1995, in Oakland, California. As a teenager, they went to the Oakland School for the Arts. There, they focused on dance, especially ballet and modern dance.

Kehlani dreamed of becoming a dancer at the Juilliard School. However, a knee injury in middle school changed their path. They then started focusing on singing. While living with their aunt, Kehlani listened mostly to R&B and neo soul artists. These included Lauryn Hill, Erykah Badu, and Jill Scott. Kehlani says these artists were important early influences on their music. When they were 14, Kehlani joined a local pop cover band called PopLyfe.

Music Career Highlights

Starting with PopLyfe (2009–2013)

Kehlani's singing career began as the lead singer for PopLyfe. The band's music was produced by D'Wayne Wiggins. Within two years, the group performed in many cities. In 2011, they tried out for the sixth season of America's Got Talent. They finished in fourth place. During their final performance, judge Piers Morgan told Kehlani they had "real talent" and didn't need the group.

After America's Got Talent, Kehlani left PopLyfe due to disagreements with the group's management. For about six months, they avoided music to prevent legal issues. In 2012 and 2013, Kehlani often had no permanent home, staying with friends. During their last year of high school, they moved to Los Angeles without a guardian. In 2013, Nick Cannon, who hosted America's Got Talent, called Kehlani. He asked them to join a rap group. Kehlani agreed at first but didn't like the group's direction. They moved back to Oakland. Later, Kehlani released their first solo song, "ANTISUMMERLUV," on SoundCloud. Cannon heard it and helped them get an apartment and studio time in Los Angeles.

First Mixtapes and Album (2014–2017)

In 2014, Kehlani released their first mixtape, Cloud 19. It featured other artists like Kyle Dion. The mixtape was highly rated by Complex and Pitchfork. A song from late 2014, "Till the Morning," was named an "Emerging Pick of the Week" by Billboard. In 2015, Kehlani opened for rapper G-Eazy on his tour.

On April 28, 2015, Kehlani released their second mixtape, You Should Be Here. Billboard called it "the year's first great R&B album." It reached number 5 on the US Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. The project included songs with Chance the Rapper and BJ the Chicago Kid. A week after its release, Kehlani announced they had signed with Atlantic Records. To support the mixtape, they went on the You Should Be Here tour. All their North American shows and some European shows sold out. In 2015, Complex and Rolling Stone named Kehlani as an artist to watch. They were also nominated for a 2016 Grammy Award for Best Urban Contemporary Album. In March 2016, Kehlani was featured on English singer Zayn's song, "Wrong."

On November 26, 2016, Kehlani announced their first studio album, SweetSexySavage. It was released on January 27, 2017. In December 2017, Kehlani was featured on rapper Eminem's song "Nowhere Fast." Kehlani's third yearly Tsunami Christmas tour ended on December 18, 2017.

Recent Albums and Tours (2018–Present)

Kehlani was an opening act for Demi Lovato's Tell Me You Love Me World Tour in North America in 2018. They also opened for Halsey's Hopeless Fountain Kingdom World Tour in Oceania. In March 2018, Kehlani was featured on Charlie Puth's song "Done for Me." In April 2018, they were featured on Cardi B's song "Ring." This song reached number 28 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Kehlani's first song to enter the top 40.

On February 22, 2019, Kehlani's third mixtape, While We Wait, was released. It reached number nine on the Billboard 200. The mixtape included popular songs like "Nights Like This" with Ty Dolla Sign.

On September 27, 2019, Kehlani and DJ Zedd released the song "Good Thing." Kehlani and singer Teyana Taylor then released "Morning" in November.

On January 28, 2020, Kehlani was featured on Justin Bieber's song "Get Me." Kehlani was also set to open for Bieber's Changes Tour, which was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Kehlani released their second studio album, It Was Good Until It Wasn't, on May 8, 2020. It debuted at number two on the US Billboard 200 chart.

In September 2020, Kehlani started working on their third studio album, Blue Water Road. On September 14, 2021, Kehlani shared a preview for Blue Water Road. The album's first song, "Altar," was released on September 15. The second song, "Little Story," came out on February 24, 2022. On March 30, Kehlani released "Up at Night," featuring Justin Bieber. The album was released on April 29.

To support the album, Kehlani went on the Blue Water Road Trip tour in the US and Europe from July to December 2022. In 2023, Kehlani performed at the 2023 WNBA All-Star Game and the 2023 MLS All-Star Game.

On April 4, 2024, Kehlani released the song "After Hours" before their next album. Kehlani showed their support for Palestine in their music video "Next 2 U." The video began with a poem and a chant for Palestine. In the video's ending, Kehlani shared a message for the children affected by the Israel–Hamas war.

Kehlani's fourth album, Crash, was released on June 21, 2024. It featured collaborations with Jill Scott, Omah Lay, and Young Miko.

Personal Life

Kehlani announced they were expecting their first child, a girl, on Instagram on October 12, 2018. The father is Javaughn Young-White, who plays guitar for Kehlani. On March 23, 2019, Kehlani gave birth to their daughter at home. Kehlani is a vegan. In the summer of 2020, Kehlani bought a small farm in Simi Valley, California, where they live with their daughter. Kehlani also practices the African diasporic religion La Regla de Ocha.

Supporting Causes

Kehlani has shown support for Palestine during the 2023 Israel–Hamas war. They have spoken out about celebrities who stay silent on the issue. In October 2023, Kehlani signed an open letter called Artists Against Apartheid. In November 2023, Kehlani signed another letter asking for a ceasefire and an end to the blockade of the Gaza Strip. On May 27, 2024, Kehlani criticized other musicians for not speaking up about the conflict in Palestine.

Tattoos and Meanings

Kehlani in July 2016

Kehlani got their first tattoo when they were 16. They have many tattoos, including characters from Coraline and Regina "Reggie" Rocket. They also have tattoos of Mia Wallace and Vincent Vega dancing, Lauryn Hill, and Frida Kahlo. Other tattoos include a sleeve of roses, a sunflower, and face tattoos of a paper plane and four dots.

During a difficult time, Kehlani got a tattoo that says "perdida y encontrada," which means "lost and found" in English.

In August 2017, while in Australia, Kehlani received a "Kirituhi," which is a Māori tattoo. A New Zealand artist flew to Sydney to create it. Kehlani explained on Instagram that the tattoo represents their family. It has six koru symbols for their four living siblings and two who have passed away. It also has two mangopare (hammerhead sharks) symbols for guidance and strength during hard times.

On January 5, 2018, Kehlani shared a photo on Instagram showing that their "woke" hand tattoo was covered with a lotus flower. They said they felt their hand tattoo spoke for them before they could even open their mouth.

Business and Activism

When Kehlani released their song "Next 2 U" in 2024, they also launched special merchandise. This merchandise was created with Yasmeen Mjalli, a Palestinian designer. All the money from sales went to help Palestinian, Congolese, and Sudanese families. This was done in partnership with Operation Olive Branch.

Discography

• SweetSexySavage (2017)
• It Was Good Until It Wasn't (2020)
• Blue Water Road (2022)
• Crash (2024)

Film and TV Appearances

Concert Tours

Headlining Tours

• SweetSexySavage World Tour (2017)
• Blue Water Road Trip (2022)
• Crash World Tour (2024–2025)

Supporting Tours

• Demi Lovato – Tell Me You Love Me World Tour (2018)
• Halsey – Hopeless Fountain Kingdom World Tour (2018)

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Kehlani para niños