T.R.U. Tunez R Us

Hey everybody! I know it’s been a while, but I’m finally back with #newmusicmonday, and on a new platform! I’ve been silent for a bit because I was working on building this blog and I’m finally ready to share it with you all. So without further ado, let’s jump right into it.

This week’s feature is the lovely Kehlani, who just dropped a dope mixtape While We Wait. The project is pretty short, but sweet nonetheless. Due it’s length, and well the title, we can assume it’s meant to hold us off in the interim until she drops her sophomore album. Kehlani is no stranger to mixtapes, this being her third one in the course of her career, with SweetSexySavage being her official debut album. The tape serves as a great tease for what she might be toying with for her next album, leaving me wondering how hard she’s going to come with it! 

The Grammy-nominated R&B singer explores life and love on both sides of the fence, whether it be wanting space from an ex (“Nunya”), or wanting to be closer to a present lover (“RPG”). She also digs into the giddy feelings of new love, on tracks “Feels,” “Butterfly,” and “Love Language.” As for the other side of that fence, she touches on the more messy, confusing parts of love - or lack thereof -  on tracks “Too Deep,” “Nights Like This,” “RPG,” and “Footsteps.” (Side note, can y’all believe this girl got a Musiq Souldchild feature?! Like where has he been! And an interpolation from Omarion’s “Ice Box” on the same track? AND that 6LACK feature as well, never knew we needed the both of them together until we got it! Yes ma’am, come through with this heat now!) While exposing her vulnerabilities surrounding love and relationships, Kehlani still showcases her savage side on track “Morning Glory,” where she says “I know I’m fine, I don’t need outer conformation from a man, who uses 2-in-1 and thinks he’s a sensation,” and on “Too Deep,” singing “You just wanna talk, I don’t wanna listen.” Then there’s “Nunya,” but to pull a single line from that song is just too hard honestly, as the entire track drips with attitude from our favorite sexy savage. Clearly, lyrically this mixtape has a nice range of depth and emotion all around. 

The production is just as great as the lyrical content, but could we really expect less from Miss Kehlani? Relaxing R&B synths, guitars, and keys give us the chill vibe Kehlani always serves, but the punchy Hip-Hop 808’s underneath still give us that bounce so we’re not entirely sulking in our feelings. Of course in each individual track one might overshadow the other, but both still similtainouusly provide an overall “feel-good” vibe to the project. The opening track “Footsteps” begins with a rather soothing sample of rushing water and a simple airy guitar melody, and ending with the beautiful harmonies between Kehlani and Musiq Soulchild. The last song, “Love Language” finishes out the mixtape strong with a unique xylophone melody, and underlying 808’s providing a rather colorful rhythm.

Overall I would have to say I’m very much in love with this mixtape! Kehlani really went hard and gave her fans something great to sit on until she decides to provide her next album. Being that she is very much pregnant (congrats mama Lani!) at the moment, we’re not sure when that will be but I’m sure we’re ready to wait! We wish Kehlani positive vibes, a happy birth, and wonderful experiences with her first born daughter as a new mommy, while we relish in this mixtape to give her as much time as she needs before she comes back. What’s your favorite song from the tape? I really do love them all, but my favorite would have to be “Nights Like This,” let me know!

Thank you to everyone who read my first post back in forever on my new blog! It means so much to me, as I really wanted to provide strong content on this new platform, and I really poured myself into this piece. If you like what you’ve read, please follow us to keep up with more reviews, and even more exciting projects in the future! Remember, it only goes up from here! Happy #newmusicmonday :)

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