Kehlani
Kehlani
Kehlani Parrish, Kehlani Ashley Parrish
Oakland R&B singer Kehlani Parrish, better known as just Kehlani, first found fame on America’s Got Talent in 2011. Her group Poplyfe reached the final, losing to Landau Murphy.
Kehlani left Poplyfe after the show, but her solo career stalled for contractual reasons. She finally released her début solo project, Cloud 19, in 2014. A breezy, poppy mixtape, Cloud 19 flew largely under the radar, although Complex described it as “outstanding.”
2015 was Kehlani’s break-out year. Her sophomore mixtape, You Should Be Here, featured Chance The Rapper and BJ The Chicago Kid. It earned her national attention and even a Grammy nomination for Best Urban Contemporary, although it ultimately lost out to Beauty Behind the Madness by The Weeknd.