Kehlani - While We Wait

2017's SweetSexySavage was one of the most accomplished debuts of the 21st century: a record that stamped Kehlani's identity into the world with authority and a whole lot of fun. It may have suffered from being a little overlong and could've been edited down into something simpler and portable, but it felt like the amalgam of an artist who wanted to get everything out and off her chest. That it'd been two years until anything would follow it would support that theory. Having a baby two months ago didn't fully dissuade her from the music scene though; 'While We Wait' is her third mixtape and she's made guest appearances on work by Charlie Puth, Cardi B, Hayley Kiyoko and Eminem in the past 12 months.

All of this is mighty impressive for a former graduate of America's Got Talent (at the age of 16, she finished 4th in the 2011 edition, as part of a group called PopLyfe). And whilst the world is certainly inundated with a whole host of excellent R&B females like SZA, Tinashe or Ella Mai, Kehlani is holding her own and making sure she isn't another flash in the pan.

Just over half an hour here for that wait she promises in the title, but she's capable of commanding it: 'Footsteps' is an ideal introduction to a blissful, sunkissed world, where her voice intermingles sublimely with that of Musiq Soulchild's. All is not perfect though: here she laments an argumentative relationship and makes the repeated declaration "here's to being honest". On the contrary, 'Too Deep' finds Kehlani wanting to reel away from "communication, conversation". It's a more rolling, punchy offering than the opener and feels more conflicted as a result, but the result is no less engaging. There is no more perfect example of Kehlani's assertive power than on 'Nunya', where she hands papers to all of her exes and potential partners.

Don't worry 'bout who it is now
Don't worry 'bout if he got kids now
If he's richer than you, slicker than you
His net worth bigger than you
And his dick game thicker than you
It's on me, not you (Not you)
Worry 'bout you go home to (Home to)
Worry 'bout if she gon' leave you (Leave you)
When she find out all that you do

 Most of the preamble above features Kehlani's singing and little else, so it's refreshing and indeed relieving to see her flow on 'Morning Glory', where she talks about being a "fountain of youth, raised on Arie and Badu" over one of those trite "if you can't handle me at my worst..." metaphors so often misattributed to Marilyn Monroe. The overly simple 'Feels' can come across as grating; rhyming "feels" with "real" over a repetitive chorus sells Kehlani a little too short, and the result is some disappointing filler. This is thankfully rectified with lead single 'Nights Like This', a fraught bisexual struggle with Kehlani's girl running back to another man, set by a masterful production from Sir Nolan and DannyBoyStyles (responsible for recent hits for The Weeknd, Selena Gomez and Nick Jonas).

Ty Dolla $ign and 6lack are two of many collaborations here that intrude but ever so slightly on what is very much Kehlani's project; on 'RPG' the latter serves as a fictional counterpoint to which Kehlani vents her frustrations and refusal to play games. "I think love is shown, you think love is spoken" he ventures, almost confirming Kehlani's need to be outspoken and forthright. Even when in the honeymoon phase, as on the understated, minimalist 'Butterfly', she's hesitant and simultaneously demanding:

I hope you take from this that it'll make you no less of a man
To break your walls and simply grab my hand
Love shouldn't be contraband
It shouldn't trample on your confidence

 Marimba rings through the closer, 'Love Language' and it's an immediate uplift of mood; here she just wants to be "fluent in your love language" and is in admiration of a partner that's a "sweet fantasy, singin' your ABCs".

I know it's beyond a parody at this point for me to summarise an album with an excuse along the lines of "it'd get a higher score if only it were longer" but While We Wait is another fine example of excellent blueprints not quite expounded upon enough for me. I think I used pretty much this same bargaining with DAWN's new breed a couple of reviews back. Forgive then, my identical score. I'll be waiting patiently for album #2.

Rating: 7.5/10
Highlights: Nights Like This, Footsteps, RPG, Morning Glory, Nunya
Avoid: Feels

Artwork Watch: Every ugly wallpaper can look lovely with the right lighting.
For fans of: caramel voices, breezy production, short and sweet albums

Coming next: Flume