Basic Information:
Name: Kehlani Ashley Parrish
Date of Birth: April 24, 1995
Nationality: American
Profession: Singer, Songwriter, and Dancer
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Biography:
Kehlani Ashley Parrish, known professionally as Kehlani, is an American singer, songwriter, and dancer. Born in Oakland, California, their early life was marked by significant challenges. Kehlani's father passed away when they were a toddler due to complications from drug addiction, and their mother struggled with substance abuse, leading to periods of incarceration. Consequently, Kehlani was raised by their aunt, who exposed them to R&B and neo-soul artists such as Lauryn Hill, Erykah Badu, and Jill Scott, which became major musical influences.
Initially, Kehlani pursued dance at the Oakland School for the Arts, training in ballet and modern dance. They aspired to attend the Juilliard School, but a knee injury in junior high redirected their focus to singing. At 14, Kehlani joined the local pop cover band, PopLyfe, as the lead vocalist. The band's music was produced by D'Wayne Wiggins, a former member of Tony! Toni! Tone!. PopLyfe gained prominence after performing throughout the Bay Area and other cities before auditioning for the sixth season of America's Got Talent in 2011, ultimately finishing in fourth place. Judge Piers Morgan suggested that Kehlani had the talent to be successful as a solo artist.
Following their stint on America's Got Talent, Kehlani left PopLyfe due to managerial and contractual issues. For a time, they experienced homelessness, moving between houses and often sleeping on couches. During this period, Kehlani also briefly resorted to stealing food and other necessities from grocery stores to survive. They released their first solo track, "ANTISUMMERLUV," on SoundCloud in 2013, which caught the attention of Nick Cannon, who provided them with an apartment and studio time in Los Angeles. This marked a turning point, and their solo career began to flourish.
Kehlani released their debut mixtape, Cloud 19, in 2014, which was listed as one of Complex's "50 Best Albums of 2014". This release established Kehlani as a solo artist, and they continued their journey with the release of their second mixtape You Should Be Here in 2015, which reached number 5 on Billboard's Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and earned a Grammy nomination for Best Urban Contemporary Album. They subsequently signed with Atlantic Records. Kehlani's debut album, SweetSexySavage released in 2017, peaking at number three on the Billboard 200 chart and their second album, It Was Good Until It Wasn't (2020) peaked at number two. In 2022 their third album Blue Water Road peaked at number 13 and their fourth album Crash (2024) peaked at number 25. Kehlani라이브 바카라 music often explores themes of love, heartbreak, resilience, and personal growth, solidifying their position as an influential voice in contemporary R&B and pop music.
Career Timeline:
2009-2013: Lead vocalist for PopLyfe, a Bay Area pop cover band.