Crash (Kehlani album)

Crash
The artist sat on the roof of a red car.
Studio album by
Kehlani
ReleasedJune 21, 2024
GenreR&B[1]
Length42:59
LabelAtlantic
Producer
Kehlani chronology
Blue Water Road
(2022) 		Crash
(2024) 		While We Wait 2
(2024)
Singles from Crash
  1. "After Hours"
    Released: April 4, 2024
  2. "Next 2 U"
    Released: May 31, 2024
  3. "Crash"
    Released: June 21, 2024

Crash is the fourth studio album by American singer-songwriter Kehlani. Released by Atlantic Records on June 21, 2024, the album features guest appearances from Jill Scott, Young Miko, and Omah Lay. Production was handled by Dixson, Mamii, Khris Riddick, Alex Goldblatt, Oak Felder, Jack Rochon, Aidan, Aaron Paris, Ant Clemons, Darhyl Camper, GuiltyBeatz, and Etienne. Serving as the follow-up to Kehlani's previous album, Blue Water Road (2022), Crash was supported by three singles: "After Hours", "Next 2 U" and "Crash". The album is nominated for Best Progressive R&B Album at the 67th Grammy Awards.

Recording

Kehlani and Atlantic secured the sample for the song titled "What I Want" at the last minute. It reuses a portion from Christina Aguilera's 1999 single "What a Girl Wants". Kehlani noted: "She's [Aguilera] the shit. She's super kind and she was, like, 'I'm down,' instantly."[2]

Singles and promotion

The lead single of the album, "After Hours", was released on April 4, 2024.[3] On May 15, 2024, Kehlani announced the album, along with its cover art and release date.[4] The second single, "Next 2 U", was released on May 31, 2024.[5] On June 14, 2024, Kehlani revealed the tracklist of the album.[6]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic?6.8/10[7]
Metacritic73/100[8]
Review scores
SourceRating
Clash8/10[9]
Exclaim!7/10[10]
Pitchfork6.8/10[11]
Rolling Stone[12]
The Independent[13]
The Observer[14]

Crash was met with positive reviews from music critics. On Metacritic, which assigns a normalized score out of 100 to ratings from professional publications, the album received a weighted mean score of 73, based on seven reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[8] The review aggregator site AnyDecentMusic? compiled eight reviews and gave the album an average of 6.8 out of 10.[7]

Track listing

Crash track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."GrooveTheory"
4:07
2."Next 2 U"
Dixson2:41
3."After Hours"
  • Riddick-Tynes
  • Goldblatt
3:22
4."What I Want"
Oak3:47
5."Crash"
  • Parrish
  • Riddick-Tynes
  • Goldblatt
  • Jack Rochon
  • Aidan Carroll
  • Aaron Cheung
  • Reginald Becton
  • Upchurch
  • Riddick-Tynes
  • Goldblatt
  • Rochon
  • Aidan
  • Aaron Paris[a]
2:36
6."8"
  • Clemons
  • Dixson
2:30
7."Sucia" (featuring Jill Scott and Young Miko)
Camper4:22
8."Better Not"
  • Parrish
  • Felder
  • Upchurch
  • Belanger
  • Becton
  • Destin Conrad
  • Alexander Ben-Abdallah
Oak2:44
9."Tears" (featuring Omah Lay)
  • Rochon
  • GuiltyBeatz
  • Etienne
3:33
10."Vegas"
  • Parrish
  • Camper
  • Clemons
  • Rochon
  • Boggs
  • Upchurch
  • D. Scott
  • Belanger
  • Becton
  • Camper
  • Clemons
  • Rochon
3:46
11."Deep"
  • Parrish
  • Rochon
  • D. Scott
  • Belanger
  • Rochon
  • Dixson[a]
2:48
12."Chapel"
  • Parrish
  • D. Scott
  • Rochon
  • Upchurch
  • Belanger
  • Becton
  • Alexander Graham
  • Prince-Phabian Iman
  • Dixson
  • Rochon
3:57
13."Lose My Wife"
  • Parrish
  • Rochon
  • D. Scott
  • Rochon
  • Dixson[a]
2:46
Total length:42:59

Notes

  • ^[a] signifies an additional producer
  • "What I Want" contains a sample from "What a Girl Wants" performed by Christina Aguilera.[15][16] This song does not appear on physical versions of the album.

Personnel

  • Kehlani – vocals
  • Colin Leonard – mastering
  • Jaycen Joshua – mixing
  • Mike Seaberg – mix engineering
  • Chris Bhikoo – mixing assistance
  • Jacob Richards – mixing assistance
  • Jonathan Lopez Garcia – engineering assistance (tracks 3, 9, 10, 11)
  • Patrick Gardner – engineering assistance (tracks 5, 7, 9–12)
  • Danforth Webster – engineering assistance (track 9)
  • Terena Dawn – engineering assistance (tracks 9–11)
  • Hayden Duncan – engineering assistance (tracks 10, 11)
  • Aaron Paris – violin (track 5)
  • Dixson – drums (tracks 11, 13)
  • Mamii – background vocals (track 12)

Charts

Chart performance for Crash
Chart (2024) Peak
position
Australian Hip Hop/R&B Albums (ARIA)[17] 38
Hungarian Physical Albums (MAHASZ)[18] 8
UK Albums Sales (OCC)[19] 25
UK R&B Albums (OCC)[20] 1
US Billboard 200[21] 25

References

  1. ^ Muggs, Joe (June 17, 2024). "Album: Kehlani – Crash". The Arts Desk. Retrieved June 19, 2024.
  2. ^ Veloso, Lea (July 31, 2024). "Kehlani Is Radically Delusional". StyleCaster. SHE Media. Archived from the original on August 1, 2024. Retrieved August 1, 2024.
  3. ^ Saponara, Michael (April 4, 2024). "Kehlani Makes Magic on the Dance Floor for Vibrant 'After Hours' Single: Listen". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 5, 2024. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  4. ^ Mamo, Heran (May 15, 2024). "Kehlani Announces Fourth Studio Album 'Crash': Here's When It Artives". Billboard. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  5. ^ Gonzalez, Alex (May 31, 2024). "Kehlani Finds Their Peace 'Next 2 U' On Their New Single". Uproxx. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  6. ^ Gonzalez, Alex (May 31, 2024). "Kehlani's 'Crash' Album Tracklist Features Jill Scott, Young Miko, And Omah Lay". Uproxx. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  7. ^ a b "Crash by Kehlani". AnyDecentMusic?. Archived from the original on June 26, 2024. Retrieved July 2, 2024.
  8. ^ a b "Reviews for Crash by Kehlani". Metacritic. Archived from the original on June 21, 2024. Retrieved July 2, 2024.
  9. ^ Smith, Niall (June 20, 2024). "Kehlani - CRASH". Clash. Archived from the original on June 20, 2024. Retrieved July 2, 2024.
  10. ^ Gormely, Ian (June 25, 2024). "Kehlani is Living Well on the Careening Crash". Exclaim!. Archived from the original on June 28, 2024. Retrieved July 2, 2024.
  11. ^ Torres, Eric (July 1, 2024). "Kehlani: Crash". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on July 1, 2024. Retrieved July 2, 2024.
  12. ^ Reeves, Mosi (June 21, 2024). "Kehlani is Looking for Love in a World on Fire". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on June 22, 2024. Retrieved July 2, 2024.
  13. ^ Vassell, Nicole (June 20, 2024). "Kehlani review, Crash: R&B star is at their sizzling, seductive best on an eclectic fourth album". The Independent. Archived from the original on June 23, 2024. Retrieved July 2, 2024.
  14. ^ Cragg, Michael (June 21, 2024). "Kehlani: Crash review - the perfect sexy summer soundtrack". The Observer. Archived from the original on July 1, 2024. Retrieved July 2, 2024.
  15. ^ Reeves, Mosi (June 21, 2024). "Kehlani is Looking For Love In a World on Fire". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on June 23, 2024. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
  16. ^ Unterberger, Andrew (June 21, 2024). "Friday Music Guide: Peso Pluma, Gracie Abrams, Post Malone & More". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 21, 2024. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
  17. ^ "ARIA Top 40 Hip Hop/R&B Albums Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. July 1, 2024. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
  18. ^ "Album Top 40 slágerlista (fizikai hanghordozók) – 2024. 26. hét". MAHASZ. Retrieved July 4, 2024.
  19. ^ "Official Albums Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
  20. ^ "Official R&B Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
  21. ^ "Debuts on this week's #Billboard200..." Billboard on X. Retrieved July 2, 2024.