Kehlani is about to have the summer on lock. Last month, they released a new single, “After Hours,” a sexy ladies anthem sung over the Coolie Dance riddim — popularized in songs like Nina Sky’s “Move Ya Body,” Pitbull’s “Culo,” and Elephant Man’s “Jook Gal.” Today (May 14), Kehlani has announced their new album, Crash.
Set to arrive this summer, Crash marks Kehlani’s fourth studio album. On the cover art, they are seen seated on top of a car with a broken windshield, wearing a dress made out of shiny glass.
While the look of the album’s cover and the title itself may sound ominous, Kehlani revealed in an interview with Apple Music 1’s Zane Lowe last month that recording Crash was the most fun they’ve ever had making music.
“I wanted to make things for once that didn’t feel reminiscent,” Kehlani said. “For once, I’m not attached to some story or some public thing or some trauma or some deep explanations. As we go out this process and we have to talk to each other a bunch to all these people, I have nothing but joyful things to say to you. I’m in such a happy place. I’m ready to be outside.”
You can see the Crash cover art below.
Israel Riqueros
Crash is out 6/21 via Atlantic. Find more information here.
Over the past few years, it’s become common practice for NBA and WNBA teams to kick off their seasons with hype videos, often narrated by hometown artists from the cities where the franchises are situated. For instance, GloRilla narrated a video for the Grizzlies a couple of years ago.
So, when the WNBA’s newest franchise, the Golden State Valkyries, posted a hype video announcing their launch, it only made sense they would tap a Bay Area artist to do the narration. Their choice, Kehlani, turned out to be perfect in more ways than one.
— Golden State Valkyries (@wnbagoldenstate) May 14, 2024
While Kehlani was already involved in the WNBA thanks to their 2023 All-Star Game performance, you may remember that the show inspired a certain amount of, well… thirst among both fans and players, as there is a lot of overlap between the target audiences of the W and Kehlani (“the girls, the gays, and the theys,” as the saying goes).
The response to the Valkyries’ launch video was no different. “Kehlani” trended on Twitter (which I am never calling “X,” sorry, Elon) as fans fell in love with the SweetSexySavage tones of Kehlani’s delivery and the possibility of seeing future draft prospect Paige Bueckers suiting up in the new franchise’s apparent black and purple.
“Sharing a name with a bisexual Tessa Thompson character and getting the announcement narrated by Kehlani??” wrote one fan. “That’s called REALLY knowing your audience.” You can check out more of the impassioned responses below.
Paige loves kehlani, kehlani loves Paige, kehlani’s fav team is UConn, kehlani posted the girlies on their draft night, kehlani is friends with them, kk said one of her fav artists is kehlani… this is meant to be idc pic.twitter.com/sMCGacr6lv
Kehlani has finally released the official music video for her summer smash, “After Hours.” Shot at the Fontainebleau in Las Vegas and directed by Amber Park, the video boasts a special appearance by Cordel “Scatta” Burrell. Notably, Burrell’s iconic “Coolie Dance Rhythm” is sampled in the track, produced by Khris Riddick and Alex Goldblatt. The eagerly anticipated visual adds another layer of vibrancy to the chart-topping anthem, promising fans a captivating visual experience to accompany the infectious beats of “After Hours.”
Multi-platinum and GRAMMY-nominated artist Kehlani returns with her latest single, “After Hours.” The dance anthem, featuring a sample from Cordel “Scatta” Burrell’s “Coolie Dance Rhythm,” is produced by Khris Riddick and Alex Goldblatt. This release marks Kehlani’s first solo track since her 2022 album Blue Water Road, which featured collaborations with industry stars like Justin Bieber, Jessie Reyez, and Thundercat.
Kehlani stands out in the music industry not only for their undeniable talent but also for their candid approach to life and love. With their soulful voice and introspective lyrics, she has secured the love of fans worldwide. Yet, it is not just Kehlani’s music that keeps people talking. It’s also their intriguing dating history that has been the subject of much attention and fascination. From public romances to private affairs, Kehlani’s romances have been notably popular.
Previously, Kehlani has been in relationships with individuals of various genders, identifying as queer and pansexual. However, in a now-deleted TikTok video she posted in 2021, she openly acknowledged the realization that she identifies as a lesbian. “I’m just gonna fucking say it because everyone keeps bringing it up to me,” she started. “They’re like, ‘Kehlani, what’s new?’ I’m like, ‘I finally know I’m a lesbian.’ Well, it’s fucking true. I am gay, gay, gay, gay, gay.” So from PartyNextDoor to Kiara Russell, let’s take a closer look at all of Kehlani’s romances.
PartyNextDoor (2013-2016)
PARTYNEXTDOOR at Billboard Presents The Stage at SXSW held at the The Four Seasons on March 14, 2024 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Karl Walter/Billboard via Getty Images)
Kehlani’s romances have often played out in the public eye. Among their early relationships was the one with fellow singer-songwriter, PartyNextDoor. The two were first linked in 2013 but chose to keep things under wraps. The couple’s relationship was short-lived however, as they reportedly broke up in 2015 before the R&B singer began dating Kyrie Irving.
In March 2016, PartyNextDoor infamously posted an Instagram photo that seemingly showed him and Kehlani interlocking hands. He captioned it: “After all her shenanigans, still got the r&b singer back in my bed.” While it was unknown when the photos were taken, the post ignited rumors that Kehlani was cheating on Irving, and she soon became embroiled in rumors of infidelity. Fortunately, she emerged stronger and more resilient.
SANTA MONICA, CA – JUNE 16: Professional baskbetball player Kyrie Irving attends the 2018 MTV Movie And TV Awards at Barker Hangar on June 16, 2018 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic)
Following their relationship with PartyNextDoor, Kehlani found love with NBA star Kyrie Irving. In February 2016, Kehlani revealed to ILY Magazine that they had been friends for some time before their relationship turned romantic. “I think this is the first time that I’ve ever been able to really be myself at all times,” she said. “In the sense of being incredibly goofy with someone and being based on a best friendship.” This relationship was short-lived as well. Irving also emphasized just a month later that he was not dating Kehlani at the time of PartyNextDoor’s post.
Shaina Negrón (2017)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JANUARY 12: SexxyStaceFace, Mapy, Katherine Nunez and Toushai attend “Scream” Advanced Screening Dinner & A Movie Hosted By DJ Suss One on January 12, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/WireImage)
Despite the setbacks she faced in past romances, Kehlani remained open to the possibility of finding love again. This time, she found companionship with the talented painter and tattoo artist, Shaina Negrón. The relationship, though mostly private, occasionally emerged into the public eye, notably through Instagram Live and joint appearances at award shows. It is even rumored that Negrón served as the muse behind Kehlani’s “Honey.” While the details about their breakup are vague, Kehlani revealed during a 2018 interview on Nicki Minaj’s podcast, Queen Radio, that they are still friends. “We’ve been just friends since then,” she said. “That relationship actually wasn’t very long, but me and her are super cool now.”
PASADENA, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 22: (L-R) Jaboukie Young-White and Javaughn Young-White attend the 51st NAACP Image Awards, Presented by BET, at Pasadena Civic Auditorium on February 22, 2020 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
Alongside Kehlani’s pregnancy announcement came news about the romance she shares with guitarist Javaughn Young-White, whom she collaborates with often. During a Queen Radio appearance, when questioned about the father of their child, she provided some context on why Young-White was the perfect partner. “When I found out that I can get a break from touring because I’ve been primarily a touring artist, that’s when I planned for it for this time,” she said.
“It was planned so we had a short time frame of having to actually have sex every day. And we were excited that it didn’t start feeling like a chore,” she continued. “I started dating women before I ever dated men. Then, I was lucky to find a partner who was a bisexual male. And he really understands my queerness and my fluidity, and I really understand his. It’s very awesome to be understood.” Despite their breakup, she revealed to British Vogue in 2020 that she and Young-White maintain a close friendship and continue to co-parent.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 12: YG and Kehlani attend the 5th Annual Diamond Ball benefiting the Clara Lionel Foundation at Cipriani Wall Street on September 12, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Taylor Hill/WireImage)
Kehlani and YG’s brief relationship was one of the more memorable romances in both artists’ dating history. Their memorable hand-in-hand entrance at a September 2019 New York Fashion Week show significantly made headlines. However, their whirlwind romance was marked by several breakups. Their final split occurred on Valentine’s Day in 2020, coinciding with the release of their joint track, “Konclusions.” In response, she released “Valentine’s Day (Shameful),” which delved into the pain of discovering infidelity after checking YG’s phone. During a May 2020 appearance on The Breakfast Club, she described the song as literal, capturing the breakup “word for word.”
Victoria Monét (2020)
TOPSHOT – US singer-songwriter Victoria Monet poses in the press room with the Grammys for Best New Artist, Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical and Best R&B Album for “Jaguar II” during the 66th Annual Grammy Awards at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on February 4, 2024. (Photo by Frederic J. Brown / AFP) (Photo by FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images)
One of Kehlani’s hidden romances was with none other than Victoria Monét. There had been speculation about the two women dating for years, but not until 2023 did Monét confirm that they were an item in 2020. During her appearance on Emily Ratajkowski’s podcast High Low, Victoria Monet recounted an anecdote concerning her boyfriend, John Gaines’ lack of jealousy. She stated: “While pregnant, I did a ‘Touch Me’ remix with Kehlani, and the song is about her. We went in the studio, [and] there was no jealousy.” Monét also said that although things between Kehlani and her had ended, they were still friends.
070 Shake (2021-2022)
DETROIT, MICHIGAN – OCTOBER 21: (L-R) 070 Shake and Kehlani attend the Bottega Veneta Salon 03 Presentation at Michigan Theater on October 21, 2021 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Craig Barritt/Getty Images for Bottega Veneta)
Rumors about Kehlani’s relationship with 070 Shake began when they were seen getting cozy with each other. The relationship was subsequently confirmed in May 2021. The pair had been friends for six years and took the leap to becoming partners. However, the couple eventually broke up in 2022. Breakup rumors began when fans noticed that they had unfollowed each other on social media and had deleted all their shared photos. To add fuel to the fire and confirm the breakup, the singer posted on Instagram, “Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.”
Speculation suggests that Kehlani and Kiara Russell’s relationship began shortly after the singer’s breakup with 070 Shake. In late 2022, Kehlani introduced their new partner, basketball star Kiara Russell, to the public through a now-deleted TikTok video, showcasing intimate kisses. Confirmation followed as Russell shared a collection of photos on Instagram titled “love n happiness dump,” which featured a moment of her and Kehlani eating together. They’ve been a couple since then.
Although Kehlani dropped her last album Blue Water Road in 2022, it seems she might have some new music on the way. A recent video finds her potentially teasing a new track that samples Nina Sky’s “Move Ya Body.” After a groovy instrumental, Kehlani can be heard singing “You gotta take it slow” at the end of the clip.
Is Kehlani’s New Album Coming Out In 2024?
In a separate Instagram Story post, Kehlani also shared that her next album will be more upbeat and full of club anthems. “We couldn’t dance to the last album,” she captioned. “We outside this go around.”
Last year, Kehlani was thinking back about her 2017 debut album Sweet Sexy Savage, and shared with fans that this next record would be a similar energy. “sweet.Sexy.Savage. 2.0. back in my bag. tour over, it’s album time,” she captioned a now-deleted Instagram post of some throwback photos, as she revealed she was getting back to work.
Considering she’s now cleared her profile to just five photos, with the preview of a new song being among them, it seems likely that something is coming very soon. Only time will tell what Kehlani has in store. As of right now though, there is not an official release date.
Until then, check out Kehlani’s snippet of her new music above.
Kehlani is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
Though Hollywood power couples can often be incredibly messy, rappers and R&B singers can sometimes go together like peanut butter and jelly. Artists such as A$AP Rocky and Rihannahave proven success in this field, while the likes of YG and Kehlani were only officially dating for a few short months. Though the “Konclusions” vocalists stunned media outlets with their undeniable charisma, their brief fling ultimately failed to last long enough to join the ranks of Jay-Z and Beyoncé. Here’s a full timeline of YG and Kehlani’s short-lived relationship.
2014: The Pair Meet As Their Careers Begin To Reach New Heights
Although the precise details of their initial encounter are unclear, rumors suggest YG and Kehlani first connected during music industry events in 2014. Kehlani confirmed this once the pair began dating in 2019, stating she had known the rapper for over five years, since the respective releases of their 2014 albums Cloud19 and My Krazy Life.
In fact, Kehlani stated that YG hollered at her long before they started seeing each other. However, she had no interest in dating him at the time due to her aversion to celebrity couples and “industry people.”
September 6, 2019: YG & Kehlani Confirm That They Are Dating
The pair stepped out at New York Fashion Week in September 2019, holding hands and showing each other affection in front of the cameras. When asked if they were an official couple, Kehlani coyly offered an affirmative response. This shocked some fans, as each of the musicians had recently welcomed children with other people. Kehlani gave birth to her first child in March 2019, whom she shares with guitarist Javie Young-White. YG conversely welcomed his second daughter with Catelyn Sparks in July of the same year.
October 2019: YG Is Caught Cozying Up With Another Woman
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 12: YG and Kehlani attend Rihanna’s 5th Annual Diamond Ball Benefitting The Clara Lionel Foundation at Cipriani Wall Street on September 12, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Diamond Ball)
After unveiling their relationship to the world, the Compton, California rapper caught attention by canoodling with a female fan on camera in Los Angeles. Reps for YG took to The Shade Room to make a statement on his behalf, while the rapper himself shared a now-deleted Instagram story that read, “I love Kehlani I would never.” According to his PR team, YG “was drunk, got carried away and it was very regretful for putting himself in that situation and hurting Kehlani. He has no romantic connection to the girl, just a drunken moment carried away.”
Though Kehlani didn’t comment publicly about the situation, she took to social media to delete several images of the pair spending time together. However, the controversy didn’t end their relationship, as they continued to see each other without problems for at least another month.
In early December, roughly a month and a half after the Los Angeles incident, Kehlani announced her breakup to the world. The singer, who was 24 years old at the time, took to social media to assure fans, “I am single. and focused.” This announcement came after some fans speculated Kehlani had become romantically involved with Tory Lanez, which she voraciously denied. Kehlani clarified that she met Lanez to collaborate on a song, though the two never shared a romance of any kind.
YG and Kehlani would get back together shortly after this time, though the exact date is unknown to the public. Suffice it to say, their December breakup didn’t last long, as the couple were once again in each other’s arms before February.
February 13, 2020: The Pair Reconcile & Release A Song Together
YG and Kehlani got back together and released a lovey-dovey song titled “Konclusions” on February 13, 2020, just in time for Valentine’s Day. The song confirmed to the public that their relationship was officially back on, substantiating earlier rumors that the rapper had gotten Kehlani’s name tattooed on his wrist just a week before. The song features lyrics such as “When I say I love you, that means I love you. No matter what conclusion we come to, I’m the one you run to” highlighting their dedication to one another.
February 17, 2020: Kehlani Announces Her Breakup From YG With A New Song
Just days later, Kehlani released a heartbreaking song titled “Valentine’s Day (Shameful),” which features lyrics regarding infidelity in a relationship. The singer would go on to express to fans that the lyrics are very literal to her relationship with YG and describe the events leading to their ultimate breakup. Further, Kehlani has since clarified that she and YG ended on good terms and have agreed to not make things awkward when they cross paths in public or at music events. Though the pair made such a splash as a couple, they are no longer close following the breakup.
January 16, 2024: YG Flirts In Kehlani’s Instagram Comments
Now, nearly four years after the split, YG has ignited rumors that the pair might get back together. This news comes as reports stated YG and Saweetie have split, though the rapper now denies that this is the case. During the time these reports were circulating, YG commented on a gym selfie from Kehlani, using just the “OK” hand emoji. Though this flirtatious comment aroused confusion from fans, YG claims he and Saweetie are still together, so nothing ultimately came of the interaction.
Earlier this week reports first emerged that YG and Saweetie had broken up. The pair had been dating for 7 months and details on the situation are still a bit murky. A statement made explaining the situation saw both rappers claiming that they were mutually parting ways. It included statements about how they thought they’d work better as friends and both wanted to focus on their careers. But one particular part of the statement was getting new attention from fans today.
Part of the statement that reps for both artists shared included a part about how they aren’t focusing on finding new partners. That claim was back in the limelight after YG showed up in the comment section of one of Kehlani’s Instagram posts earlier today. The picture she posted is a mirror shot in some kind of gym and the “FDT” rapper used it as an opportunity to shoot his shot in the comments. In the comments, fans took some shots at the rapper for his reply. “Kehlani got a whole girlfriend, YG giving thirsty vibes now,” one of the top comments on the post reads.
Just a few days ago, YG was featured on a newly released single. He teamed up with Stunna Girl for the song “Stand Up.” The track saw the pair jumping on a hard-hitting beat and delivering some sexually charged bars. They’ve both been known to do just that pretty well in the past so the results felt like a perfect match.
Last year YG teamed up with Tyga for a full new collaborative project. The album was called Hit Me When You Leave The Klub. It also featured appearances from Lil Wayne, Busta Rhyme, and Blxst. The pair were supposed to go on tour together alongside Saweetie, but the dates were canceled. What do you think of YG shooting his shot in Kehlani’s Instagram comments just a day after his breakup from Saweetie? Let us know in the comment section below.
(@babymarri11) 
” – Kehlani 