Kehlani isn’t sure she’s ready to let go of love in her new song “Folded,” out via Atlantic Records. The sentimental track was co-produced by Andre Harris (Jill Scott, Musiq Soulchild), D.K. the Punisher (Justin Bieber, SiR), Don Mills (J. Cole, Juice WRLD) and Khris Riddick-Tynes (SZA, Ariana Grande).
“Folded” finds Kehlani sorting through her complex feelings about a relationship at its near end. She acknowledges how she may have overreacted in wanting to call it quits, only to realize she wants to give it another spin: “I know I didn’t have to walk away / All I had to do was ask for space.”
Kehlani essentially leaves an open invitation to her estranged lover to collect what’s left — their folded clothes. But it’s not in a bitter “come get your sh–t” kind of way. Instead, Kehlani quietly hopes it will lure her former lover back and they can rekindle what once was.
“Folded” is layered in longing and sensuality, the latter of which is expressed in lines like “I’ll let your body decide if this is good enough for you.”
Kehlani co-wrote “Folded” alongside DIXSON, Kamal Wilson, and the aforementioned producers. The emotionally-charged song is Kehlani’s first release since dropping her While We Wait 2 mixtape in August 2024. The project featured collaborations with Lucky Daye, Lil’ Mo, kwn, Destin Conrad, DIXSON, FLO and more.
While We Wait 2, the sequel to Kehlani’s 2019 mixtape, arrived two months after dropping her Grammy-nominated album, CRASH.
The album was preceded by her summer anthem “After Hours,” also produced by Riddick-Tynes. It also included features from Jill Scott, Young Miko and Omah Lay.
CRASH debuted at No. 2 on Billboard’s Top R&B Albums chart and No. 25 on the Billboard 200. Kehlani supported her fourth album on her Crash World Tour with special guest FLO.
Stream Kehlani’s new song “Folded” below.
