'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Kehlani is known for their honest lyrics that dwell on themes of passion, love, and desire. They became well-known as a member of the pop group PopLyfe and embarked on a solo career with the release of the mixtape, Cloud 19, which was listed among Complex’s 50 Best Albums of 2014.
Their sophomore album, You Should Be Here, was nominated for Best Urban Contemporary Album at the 2016 Grammy Awards. The 29-year-old's most recent album, Crash, was met with positive reviews from music critics and debuted at number 25 on the Billboard 200.
The album, released in June 2024, earned a nomination for Best Progressive R&B Album at the upcoming Grammy Awards 2025. This listicle explores the most popular songs from Kehlani’s discography.
Disclaimer: This article is ranked according to Spotify streams at the time of writing.
Trending
Night Like This, Gangsta, and 5 other popular Kehlani songs to add to your playlist
1) Nights Like This (617,618,467 Spotify streams)
Nights Like This features Ty Dollar $ign and was released as the lead single from the singer's mixtape, While We Wait, on January 10, 2019. Some of the writers credited on the song include the singer, Danny Schofield, Brandon Hollemon, and Nolan Lambroza.
While We Wait was certified platinum by the BPI and three times platinum by the RIAA. The lyrics of the song reminisce on a failed relationship as the California-born singer questions the intentions of their former lover. The pre-chorus reads:
"And I can't believe the lies that I went for/ Thought you was mine, but you decided to be with him though/ You took my feelings and just threw 'em out the window/ Feel like it's too hard to fall in love again, no"
2) Gangsta (481,482,218 Spotify streams)
Gangsta explores themes of love, want, and need. The alternative R&B song was released on August 1, 2016, as a soundtrack for the Suicide Squad movie. Gangsta was written by the singer alongside Skylar Grey, Andrew Swanson, Jeremy Coleman, Jason Evigan, and Jacob Luttrell.
The song peaked at number 41 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was certified platinum by the RIAA. The hook reads:
"I need a gangsta/ To love me better/ Than all the others do/ To always forgive me/ Ride or die with me/ That's just what gangsters do"
3) Honey (247,294,536 Spotify streams)
Honey was written by the singer, Ambre Perkins, and Jean Deux, and was produced by Geoffro and Kehlani. The R&B song was released on October 6, 2017, and was first performed at the 2017 Billboard Women in Music Awards.
It was certified gold by the RIAA and was featured on Billboard's 2019 list of 30 Lesbian Love Songs. In the simple ballad, Kehlani sings about their adoration for women and how they use romance as an escape from pain.
The refrain reads:
"All, all, all, all the pretty girls in the world/ Colored out the lines/ I came to find, my fire was fate with you/ My heartache would stay with you/ Escape with you"
4) Toxic (186,082,753 Spotify streams)
Toxic is an introspective track that details the singer's experience in a toxic relationship. The breakup Ballad was released on March 12, 2020, as the first promotional single from the singer's second studio album, It Was Good Until It Wasn't.
Toxic was penned by FXXXXY, G. Ry, KBeaZy, and Kehlani. Toxic peaked at number 68 on the US Billboard Hot 100. The chorus reads:
"All of this love is toxic/ All of this love is toxic/ All these kisses and hugs is knock sh**/ You a damn drug, you're toxic,"
5) Distraction (157,588,196 Spotify streams)
Distraction was released on July 23, 2016, as the second single from Kehlani’s first studio album, SweetSe*ySavage. The R&B song was written by the singer, Andrew "Pop" Wansel, Warren "Oak" Felder, Daniel Klein, and Matthew Campfield.
The song copped a Grammy nomination under the category of Best R&B Performance and was certified platinum by the RIAA. Distraction is a thought bubble through which the singer expresses that they are interested in a casual and not-too-serious relationship.
A part of the chorus reads:
"Are you down to be a distraction, baby?/ But don't distract me, let me ask you, baby/ Do you, do you, do you, do you wanna be a distraction, baby?/ Do you, do you, do you, do you wanna be— (Yeah-yeah-yeah)"
6) The Way ft. Chance the Rapper (146,137,087 Spotify streams)
The Way was penned by the singer, Chance the Rapper, and Jahaan Sweet who also handled the production. The Way marks Kehlani and Chance the Rapper’s first official collaboration although the former had provided background vocals on the rapper’s Lady Friend track in 2015.
The Way was released on April 26, 2016, and is the seventh track from the singer's album, You Should Be Here. The song explores themes of love and respect.
A part of the first verse reads:
"You so da** important/ Everything you do shows me you know it/ Behind it all you are the motive/ Don’t tell you enough, but baby I'll show it, show it"
7) Can I (145,988,221 Spotify streams)
The R&B neo-soul track features Canadian rapper Tory Lanez. It was released on June 3, 2020, as the fourth single from Kehlani's second studio album, It Was Good Until It Wasn't. Some of the writers credited on the song include Kehlani, Daystar Peterson, Daniel Klein, Andrew Wansel, and Jacob Dutton.
Can I peaked at number 50 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 20 on the Billboard Hot R&B/ Hip Hop Songs chart. The ballad's lyrics and theme revolve around desire. A part of the first verse reads:
"This sh*** so good, should be illegal/ Need round two, I need a sequel/ Hit the backboard like a free throw/ You next level, you a cheat code,"
Other popular songs by Kehlani include CRZY, All Me featuring Keyshia Cole and After Hours.
