In the summer of 2025, Kehlani found herself at a confounding crossroads: Just as the singer was being roundly criticized for following her moral compass, she was simultaneously being showered with praise for her then-new, fast-rising single that signaled a return to her R&B roots.
When Cornell University canceled Kehlani’s performance there due to her public comments about the war in Gaza, she responded by reaffirming her solidarity with Palestinians and stating, “I am anti-genocide”; days later, Central Park SummerStage called off her planned concert there for similar reasons.
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Around the same time, Kehlani dropped “Folded,” the throwback slow jam that slowly grew into the biggest hit of her career, reaching No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 (her first top 10 on the chart) and eventually winning Grammys for best R&B song and best R&B performance. “Folded” also earned her respect and plaudits from peers across the R&B world. “I was waking up and my favorite artists ever were covering my song, and I just remember being like, ‘What is happening?’ ” she says. Brandy covered it during her tour rehearsals; Toni Braxton posted a rendition as a “gift” to her fans on her 58th birthday; and the Jackson State University marching band played its own take during a halftime show performance.
The various covers inspired Kehlani to release the Folded Homage Pack in late October, an EP with remixes by Brandy and Braxton as well as JoJo, Mario, Ne-Yo and Tank. For Kehlani, 30, who released her debut full-length nearly a decade ago, “Folded” kicked off a new chapter — and proved that an R&B veteran can still reach new career peaks and score a crossover smash while speaking her mind freely. “You could think this is the furthest I’m ever going to go and this is the biggest it’s ever going to get,” says this year’s Women in Music Impact honoree, “and then God just surprises you and says, ‘No, I thought bigger for you always.’ ”
“Folded” has become the biggest hit of your career. What does that prove to you?
I’m just happy to be here. And this has definitely allowed me to reshape my framework in that way where now I can be like, “Wait, is it OK that I want to do bigger things? Is it OK that I have some things that I think I have the potential to do?” It completely rerouted me.
Why is “Folded” a good introduction to your music for new fans?
People keep asking me what I think the magic sauce is in “Folded,” and beyond it being a great R&B song, I have a deeper, longer theory that it’s just about where I’m at in my life. I don’t think that there was another time that I could have handled the success that I’m currently receiving and the way I’m receiving it. I’m ready now.
What has made you feel ready to meet this moment?
I’m just growing up. Something happens when you turn 30 — everything’s making sense. My motherhood is going incredibly well [Kehlani gave birth to her daughter in 2019]. My family life, my friends, my whole internal world is finally clicking.
In 2017, you received Billboard’s Women In Music Rulebreaker honor, and in your acceptance speech you said, “My entire career I’ve been very outspoken … I can’t help it.” How have you held true to that?
I’ve learned a lot about what it means to carry your morality and your humanity and be under a microscope for it. I’ve learned a lot about what that expectation of perfectionism looks like … what kind of pressure that comes with. I learned a lot about how to handle it correctly — and I’ve learned a lot of it through mishandling it and being contradictory and hypocritical, and it’s something everybody goes through when there is something you’re passionate about that involves two very opposing opinions. I think the most important thing for me was to learn how to be called in and let people teach me, but also to really just trust that I know my heart and trust that even in the instances when I can’t explain to millions of people why I’ve done something or what this meant, that there was a good reason because that’s who I am.
How has “Folded” shifted the tides in your career?
When you’ve experienced a lot of resistance that you are acutely aware is resistance … like, “Wow, nothing is working out … No matter which direction I turn, everything feels like pulling teeth. Making photo shoots happen is impossible. Getting people to call me back is impossible,” all of this is just like, “Wow.” I’m having these conversations and I’m like, “Wait, really? That’s it? You’re down?” I’m in a period of the least resistance. And it’s a really nice place to be.
Of all your tattoos, is there one that reminds you most of your impact?
Yes, because I run into people with it all the time. The paper plane that used to be on my face — it is no longer really on my face, I’ve been getting it removed. I run into people with it all the time and I’m always so curious, I’m like, “Why did you get that?” Because I barely knew why I got it initially, but the meaning kept unfolding — ha, ha — as time went on.
“Folded” will appear on your upcoming fifth album, Kehlani. What impact do you hope this album will have?
I want to do this album at Carnegie Hall with an orchestra. I really want some of these songs to make it into movies … and ultimately just have a really historical personal moment for me, and hopefully keep adding to the genre because that’s the coolest thing that “Folded” has done beyond anything — I’m watching the conversation change and I’m a part of it.
This story appears in the April 18, 2026, issue of Billboard.