A Ranking Of All Kehlani's 2019 Features
It seems like 2019 might just be Kehlani’s year.
She began the year with the release of her third mixtape While We Wait, asserting her voice and range over a magical 9-track project. In the spring, she welcomed her beautiful daughter Adeya. But her talents have not been left to her own projects and creations. In 2019, Kehlani has certainly not disappointed on features and has without a doubt strengthened hit-tracks released this year.
Here are some of our favorites:
7: Eric Bellinger - Headline
On this track, Kehlani takes a pretty generic beat and makes it work well for her. Teaming up with fellow West Coast artist Eric Bellinger, Kehlani’s verse and harmonies add a nice feminine energy to an otherwise lackluster, albeit fun, track. My only wish is that the beat wasn’t so prominent so that Eric and Kehlani’s voices could get the attention they deserve.
6: P-Lo - Sneeze
Both Kehlani and P-Lo are from the Bay, and you can hear it all over this song. ”Sneeze” moves really quickly, and Kehlani does a good job of keeping up with the pace with a singsong flow. P-Lo and Kehlani create a nice West Coast vibe together, and I could see some dope choreography for this one.
5: YK Osiris- Ride
When I heard YK Osiris’ XXL cypher freestyle, I admittedly didn’t think he’d end up back on my radar, but “Ride” just might’ve changed my mind. YK Osiris had a lot of elements working in his favor that made the track stand out, including a Kehlani feature. The beat is reminiscent of mid-2000s R&B, and Kehlani adds some much-needed depth to the track. Together the two offer a song that feels especially modern with a tinge of nostalgia.
4: Zedd - Good Thing
The only thing I enjoy more than love songs are self-love songs. A waltz-like timing coupled with Kehlani’s soaring vocals sets “Good Thing” apart from more generic Pop songs, making it perfect for playing on repeat. As an added bonus, the video features Kehlani burning down a kitchen and publicly rejecting some rich guy—how could you not stan?
3: Arin Ray- Change
It took a few listens for me to get into this one, but once I did I realized how naturally Arin and Kehlani fit together. They both sing with a similar cadence, and their voices complement each other, offering an almost perfect duet. The highlight is definitely them flexing on all of us and trading bars before getting back to giving immaculate vocals. “Changes” sounds like it was a fun song to create, and it definitely is a bop.
2: Earthgang- Trippin
I am already a fan of Earthgang, and I think Mirrorland had a lot of standout moments—Kehlani’s verse on '“Trippin” being one of them. When she comes in, the entire mood changes. It suddenly feels like the song is cloaked in a heavy fog, giving Kehlani space to really make an entrance. She starts out singing and switches up halfway through to rap the second half of her verse without skipping a beat. And as I already said, Kehlani really is my favorite rapper.
1: Jean Deaux - Anytime
I will always be biased toward women, so the #1 spot obviously had to go to these two queens. Jean takes the lead with her own style of rapping and singing, and Kehlani’s verse fits in seamlessly. Both women do their own thing and play off of each other’s voices, which makes for a smooth and fluid listening experience.
