Best of full interview: Kehlani Speaks On New Album, Motherhood, Mental Health, Fitness Journey + More

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Breakfast Club — Best of Full Interview: Kehlani Speaks On New Album, Motherhood, Mental Health, Fitness Journey + More

Date: January 7, 2026
Host(s): DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, Charlamagne Tha God
Guest: Kehlani

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Episode Overview

This spirited and candid episode of The Breakfast Club features singer-songwriter Kehlani, who joins DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, and Charlamagne Tha God for an in-depth conversation. The topics span her new album “Crash,” her evolving sense of self, motherhood, mental health, the music industry, and her outspoken advocacy. Throughout, Kehlani’s newfound confidence, vulnerability, and willingness to tackle difficult subjects shine through, making this interview both enlightening and entertaining.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Kehlani’s Current State of Mind and Growth

• Kehlani expresses feeling better than ever, emphasizing personal growth and contentment.
  • “I’m super good. I’m like probably the best I’ve ever been.” — Kehlani (01:11)
• Her confidence is described as markedly stronger by Charlamagne, attributed to both maturity and her mental health journey.
  • “I know how to prioritize and take care of myself differently now.” — Kehlani (02:33)

2. The New Album: “Crash”

• Concept and Reception:
  • The title refers to “the height and the peak of a moment...this clusterfuck… this thing that happens.” (03:00)
  • “I knew this album wasn’t going to make sense to most people. I knew that it would be something that you either loved or that you hated...that’s kind of been the reception.” — Kehlani (03:06)
• Creative Process:
  • Initially intended as a self-titled album to reflect her core, the sessions evolved with contributions from diverse locations and influences.
  • “Once it started taking its own life, I was like, oh, okay, it’s just me as an album.” (03:58)
• Variety of Genres:
  • “This album is pop, there’s country, there’s house music, there’s reggae music.” — DJ Envy (18:03)
  • Kehlani welcomes both positive and negative reactions to the album’s eclecticism, seeing it as a genuine artistic pivot. (18:16, 20:30)
• Standout and ‘Toxic’ Tracks:
  • “Lose My Wife” described as “such a toxic record” by Charlamagne. Kehlani explains the album’s anti-hero narrative and letting her “shadow side” out in songwriting. (05:06–05:45)

3. Motherhood

• Kehlani shares joyful stories about her 5-year-old daughter’s personality, musical interest, and features on Kehlani's track “Deep.”
  • “She's on the album. She actually sounds so good that you can't really tell that is her.” (07:07)
• On industry exposure:
  • “I don't really post my daughter...if I'm just subjecting my child to her home video...being widely known all over the Internet...that’s on me as a parent.” (07:35)
• Open to more children:
  • “Whatever God wants to bless me with, I receive.” (08:33)

4. Industry & Advocacy

• Collaborations & Features:
  • Kehlani discloses challenges with features due to timing, alignment, and, significantly, fallout from her open advocacy for Palestine.
  • “There were artists that I did reach to…someone on the team was like, we don’t fuck with her...” (26:05)
• Record Label Flexibility:
  • Kehlani praises her label for respecting boundaries and her needs around mental health. (14:12–14:50)
• Advocacy for Palestine and Social Issues:
  • The interview explores how speaking out cost her magazine covers, brand deals, and industry support.
  • “At the end of the day… I can go to sleep knowing that I did the right thing.” (25:24)
  • Recognizes that not all artists feel safe to speak out, and explains her nuanced understanding (27:48).
  • Stresses the impact of influence: “They can’t cancel all of us… The people united, that’s the quote.” (28:40)

5. Mental Health, Fitness & Self-Care

• Journey to Clarity:
  • Kehlani is open about her mental health—diagnosis, psychiatry, and medication—and how transformative proper psychiatric care has been for her.
  • “I got a psychiatrist and I got a proper diagnosis after what felt like years...and I’m able to get medicated help...the best thing I’ve ever done for myself.” (15:01)
• Substance Use:
  • She quit smoking weed five years ago for her health, especially vocal health, and channelled energy into fitness and self-care. (16:49–17:01)
• Body Shaming & Social Media:
  • Kehlani discusses being body-shamed, including rumors of cosmetic surgery and negative online scrutiny.
  • “I have diastasis recti and a hernia from being pregnant, so my muscles are split down the middle…” (21:27)
  • Over time, she’s developed thick skin and boundaries, using social media only selectively for positive interactions with fans. (23:41)

6. Artistry, Identity & Legacy

• Not every song or album is autobiographical; Kehlani enjoys playing with perspective and narrative for storytelling. (06:05, 12:06)
• “For the first time in my life, I’m not over here trying to prove anything different…I’m so at peace with who I know I am.” (36:19)

7. Memorable Moments & Quotes

• On fan response:
  • “These are actually the craziest signings I’ve ever had so far...it’s growing and that’s all you can pray for.” (01:51)
• On artistry and genre:
  • “If I make the same album again, I’m not an artist.” (20:30)
• On musical influence in politics and community:
  • “They keep showing us how powerful we are…people will learn about anything going on in the world if their favorite person tells them.” (28:00)

8. Tour and What’s Next

• Kehlani confirms a “Crash” tour, emphasizing live performance as the heart of her career. (33:28)
  • “Touring is the epicenter of my…career…my shows are huge, everybody has a great time, feels safe…” (33:32)
• Hints at a future, more R&B-rooted “Kehlani” album. (04:50)

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Notable Quotes (with Timestamps)

• Personal Growth:

  • “I know how to prioritize and take care of myself differently now.” — Kehlani (02:33)

• Album Theme:

  • “A crash is the height and the peak of a moment... just this clusterfuck.” — Kehlani (03:00)

• On Music Industry & Advocacy:

  • “At the end of the day…I did the right thing.” — Kehlani (25:24)
  • “They can’t cancel all of us… The people united, that’s the quote.” — Kehlani (28:40)
  • “I really do believe in our power as people with influence.” — Kehlani (27:58)

• On Mental Health:

  • “I got a psychiatrist and I got a proper diagnosis...and I’m able to get medicated help. I would absolutely recommend it...” (15:01)
  • “Now...I’m so at peace with who I know I am and my core foundation that it's not going to be rocked by anything else going on.” — Kehlani (36:19)

• On Tour:

  • “Touring is the epicenter of my…career…my shows are huge, everybody has a great time, feels safe…” (33:32)

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Segment Timestamps

• Intro & How Kehlani’s Feeling: 01:01–01:16
• Album “Crash”: Inspiration & Process: 02:19–04:50
• Album Tracks (“Lose My Wife,” toxicity): 04:53–06:11
• Motherhood: 06:27–08:33
• On Collaborations & Features: 11:00–12:05
• Mental Health Journey: 14:12–16:49
• Body Shaming & Social Media: 21:11–24:25
• Advocacy & Industry Pushback: 24:26–29:26
• Role of Artists in Social Change: 27:48–29:26
• Upcoming Tour Announcement: 33:28–34:18
• Kehlani’s Era — Self-acceptance: 35:19–36:35

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Conclusion

Kehlani’s interview with The Breakfast Club goes well beyond typical album promo, instead offering an honest and multifaceted portrait of an artist who has embraced growth, authenticity, and activism. She speaks openly about artistic risks, personal struggles, motherhood, and her commitment to both her fans and her values, leaving listeners with a resonant sense of self-possession and hope for what’s next in her journey.

Transcript

[Podcast Host]

This is an Iheart podcast.

[Kehlani]

Guaranteed human peace of the planet.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Charlamagne Tha God here. And the end of the year is the time to set the foundation for next year. New ideas, new product drops, new goals. And when I'm building anything meaningful, I need the right tools. That's why I always tell folks, especially black entrepreneurs and small black owned businesses, Shopify is the move. We use it at the Black Effect podcast network. And I've seen firsthand how it helps creators and business owners grow with confidence. Okay, Shopify is like having a whole team behind you. Your chief of staff, your personal assistant, your co founder, all in one platform. Wherever your people are, Shopify makes sure your business can meet them where they're at. So if you're ready to take the next step in your life, whether it's merch products or anything in between, get on shopify.com ben and make it happen. It is time to stop putting off your future and start your new role as your own boss. Today. Wake that ass up early in the morning.

[DJ Envy]

The Breakfast Club. Morning everybody. It's DJ Envy. Just hilarious. Charlamagne the guy. We are the Breakfast Club. We got a special guest in the building.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Welcome back.

[Kehlani]

Thanks for having me.

[DJ Envy]

How you feeling?

[Kehlani]

I feel good. I think the last time we did this we might have been on the on a zoom call. So it's cool to be in person.

[DJ Envy]

Yeah, it was.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

How's your spirit? How's your energy?

[Kehlani]

I'm super good. I'm like probably the best I've ever been.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Amazing.

[Kehlani]

Yeah.

[DJ Envy]

And why is that?

[Kehlani]

I think just life is really cool. I think I made something I'm stoked about. My fans are stoked. I got to do all these cool signings and see all of them in person and just like be back in the swing of things. So I'm good.

[DJ Envy]

They say you a project.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Oh, go ahead.

[DJ Envy]

I said they say you're a gym rap. They said you up at 6 o' clock this morning in the gym. They say every morning you don't miss the gym.

[Kehlani]

They might have lied about this morning. Oh, maybe not this morning. I was dead sleep this morning. But yeah, I'm up. I'm always about my fitness stuff. I'm super healthy. I'm the healthiest. I've also ever been.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

So yeah, I've been watching videos of you all weekend in New York and like, you know, a lot of people have been coming to your signings and your pop ups.

[DJ Envy]

Crowds have been crazy.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

How does that make you feel getting that type of love?

[Kehlani]

It's Been cool. I mean, I've been doing this for so long and I've been doing signings for so long and at some point, like my brain tricked me into being like, know they're probably going to lessen over the years because it's like, you know, we've seen her a bun. She dropped a bunch of projects. I'm on project seven or six. On project six. Is it seven? Seven. Oh, I was right. See so much music. I forgot that, you know, I didn't expect it to be getting bigger. So they're actually the craziest signings I've ever had so far because it's growing and that's, you know, that's all you can pray for.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

I will say, you know, listening to your new album and just seeing you over the last few months, several months, talking like there's a confidence and a sense of self that you have now.

[Kehlani]

Yeah.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

That you didn't have years ago.

[Kehlani]

Yeah, for sure.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Why is that?

[Kehlani]

I mean, I think it's been a long mental health journey. I think it's been a lot of contributing factors. New motherhood, different angles of like public being publicly aligned with certain things or publicly misaligned. They're just like not stepping into myself. I'm 29, I'll be 30 next year. Like, I'm just, I'm. I'm growing up in a real way. So like I. I know how to prioritize and take care of myself differently now.

[Angela Yee]

So why did you name the album Crash?

[Kehlani]

So essentially a crash is the height and the peak of a moment. It isn't like the anxiety that comes before and it isn't like the overthinking that comes after. It's just this like, excuse me, clusterfuck. It's just this, this thing that happens. And I knew this album wasn't going to make sense to most people. I knew that it would be something that you either loved or that you hated. And that kind of just is a crash. And that's kind of been the reception is. Some people hate it, some people love it, some people think it's my worst and some people think it's my best. And I think that's really cool.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

It's a little bit of everything.

[Kehlani]

It's a crash. It's really a crash.

[DJ Envy]

It's a little bit of everything. Yeah. Was that what you wanted to do?

[Kehlani]

You know, I didn't start wanting to do that. It started as my self titled and I went on this mission to like make, finally make the Kehlani album because I haven't done that yet. And we started in, like, going to all these different cities and we got all these Airbnbs in different places, and it just kind of grew into this thing that resembled, I feel like me as a person. I feel like I've always been kind of this thing that doesn't make sense to everyone. They can't figure out, like, who I am, what I am, what my story is, how it's been, all of these things, like, can't figure me out in whatever kind of way, how, how I look versus how, what kind of music I make, how I sound. And once it started taking its own life, I was like, oh, okay, it's just me as an album. So. Yeah.

[DJ Envy]

What is the self titled Kehlani album supposed to be like? Because you said it was supposed to be a Kalani album. What was that supposed to.

[Kehlani]

Well, that album to me is more rooted in the core things that shaped why I sing. I feel like the Kehlani album will be much more referencing, like, my actual core musical references. It'll probably be a lot more R B. But this album really reflected all the things that I listened to, like, that I grew up listening to, but didn't necessarily shape my identity as an artist, but reflect, like, you know, worldly where I'm at.

[Angela Yee]

So basically, we're still getting Kehlani out.

[Kehlani]

Absolutely. That'll probably be my next album. Probably, yeah. Good.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Lose My Wife is such a toxic record. It is so toxic. Like, why, why, why would you make those choices and decisions knowing that it could cost you your wife?

[Kehlani]

Oh, you know, it's not a true story. I just wanted.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Oh, that's what you tell her.

[Kehlani]

No, it's true. It's true. So in my head, Crash is the story of this anti hero version of myself that goes to Vegas and has this crazy run in Vegas and ends with that lament of like, damn. I've like, oh, this is Crash instantly. And it's almost like the come down song of like, oh, these are the decisions that I've made. And like, this is what happened. So it's more of like a sonic story and an ending to the story than a true story that I needed to smack on there. It kind of feels like the Hungover song. It kind of feels like the next.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Day you're like, oh, this is your shadow side.

[Kehlani]

Exactly, yeah.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

So when you were in the studio writing these songs, you were like, I'm gonna let my shadow side.

[Kehlani]

I was like, you know, there is. There's been so many toxic Kehlani songs There really has. Yeah, there really has. And I feel like it's. They are moments that people don't. People maybe want to say in their head and been like, I've had that perspective or I've gone through that, or I've wanted to say that. And, like, I would never say it out loud. And to me, after I wrote that verse, I was like, this is kind of, like, stingy, and it is kind of harsh, but. But some people feel like that.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

But when I hear songs like After Hours or, like, Better not or Tears, it does feel like you're longing for a stable relationship.

[Kehlani]

Does it?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

A little bit. Yeah.

[Kehlani]

In those moments, yeah. I mean, I think everybody wants love. Everybody wants stable love. And we all just have different journeys through it, you know?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Yeah.

[DJ Envy]

Now, how has motherhood been?

[Kehlani]

Oh, it's the best.

[DJ Envy]

Through this journey.

[Kehlani]

It's the best. She's five. I can't believe it.

[DJ Envy]

Kobe, baby.

[Kehlani]

Yeah. And that is a whole.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Yes, it is.

[Kehlani]

That's all different type of breed. All their thing.

[DJ Envy]

I got one Covid, baby.

[Kehlani]

I'm literally like, I'll make the day seem so fun. I'm like, we're going to the aquarium and we're going here. We're going here. And then she's like, no. Kind of just want to stay in the house and play. I'm like, geez, what are we going to do? The other day I took her to the park, and she was like, I'm just letting you guys know I'm not playing with any of those kids. And I was like, I respect it, but maybe we should try. And she did, and she tried. And she made some friends and she's in school, so, like, she has friends.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

She still got musical interest. I heard you say one time she had some.

[DJ Envy]

She's on the album.

[Kehlani]

She's on the album. She's on deep. She actually sounds so good that you can't really tell that is her. Except for her tone is obviously, it sounds a lot younger than mine, but she's singing her ass off.

[DJ Envy]

Do you want her in industry?

[Kehlani]

I want her to do whatever she wants to do. If that means industry, sure. If that means she wants my help, sure. If that means she doesn't want my help, sure. If that means she wants to be a brain surgeon or rocket scientist, let's do that. It's her world. I'm just here.

[Angela Yee]

Yeah.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Is the industry good for kids? I mean, you're somebody who came in the industry young, right?

[Kehlani]

Um, I think that compare. Like, there's two different. There's there's pros and cons on both sides. One, I didn't have access to the proper, like, mental wellness type of regimen or care to have grown up in it the way that I did. And we're seeing the effects of people who, you know, adults now. And all these stories are coming out about them being like child stars or coming out young. And on the flip side, I feel like people now have access to that, but there's. It's also a different demon. Fame now is completely different. It's why I don't really post my daughter. I don't. There's too many creeps. I don't ever heard it ever look back and be like, I actually didn't consent to any of this. I didn't give any permission. We already get embarrassed when our parents play home videos for our friends when they come over. Like, if I'm just subjecting my child to her home video, her freaking growing up home videos being widely known all over the Internet. And she grows up one day and it's like, I didn't get to tell you if I wanted that or not. You know, that's on me as a parent.

[Angela Yee]

So. Yeah. Any more babies?

[Kehlani]

I would love to have more babies. Whatever God wants to bless me with, I receive. Yeah.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Can we talk about the record? What I want? Yeah, I want a. That look better than me. Get. Wow. Better than me.

[Kehlani]

Wow. You reading it so serious. Yeah, you should have had just read that one. Does it get better than me?

[DJ Envy]

You should have had just read that one. He was so excited to read that too.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

But it seems on that record, it seems like you're torn between wanting to be spoiled but also feeling comfortable being the one who spoils. Yeah. Okay. Okay.

[Kehlani]

I'm definitely, like. I fluctuate. Absolutely. I think I'm more of a giver than a receiver of, like, spoiling. I think that's just my nature. But I. It's just a classic song about naming all the things that I want. I don't think any of them are even cohesive. I think they're just like, here's a list of all the. All my dream things that I want.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

But if you're having a wild weekend in Vegas, why would you lie to a woman like that? Why would you make her feel like she's so special?

[Kehlani]

Isn't that what you do in Vegas? Doesn't Vegas make you. No, not like that. But I'm saying, does it? Is Vegas not like some adult Disneyland and like all your vices and you don't Talk about it when you get home. Actually, actually, I have a tiny residency in Vegas. Thank you. I have a show. Thank you. I have a show at the end of next month and in August. That's what I do in Vegas.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Cause even on the song Vegas, maybe I'm tripping. It didn't sound like you was actually in Vegas. You just said what we do is like Vegas.

[Kehlani]

Exactly. The only. I made a couple songs, actually. I made part of what I Want in Vegas. I made part of Susian Vegas. I mean, actually, I made most of Susian Vegas and a part of Groove Theory in Vegas, but the song Vegas I made in Los Angeles.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Okay.

[Angela Yee]

And then nobody go to Vegas to fall in love. Like, they go to creep. Have fun, you know?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

But that's why you ain't gotta lie.

[Kehlani]

To the person who said, I'm lying, y'.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

All.

[Kehlani]

I don't know what I got going on.

[Podcast Host]

Right?

[DJ Envy]

We don't know.

[Kehlani]

Right.

[Podcast Host]

Hello.

[Kehlani]

The record.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Sushi Sushi. Doesn't that mean. Isn't that Spanish slang?

[Angela Yee]

But dirty, right?

[Kehlani]

Sushia, Sushia, Susia.

[Angela Yee]

No, it's.

[Kehlani]

There we go.

[DJ Envy]

Here's a list.

[Angela Yee]

And that's dirty, right?

[Kehlani]

Yeah.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Dirty girl, period.

[Kehlani]

There we go. Bilingual.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Is that what the record symbolizes?

[Podcast Host]

Yeah, basically. Okay.

[Kehlani]

I mean, Young Miko's versus crazy, if it's translated. And Jill Scott is freaky Auntie Max Extreme. She is the. The Freak Lord, honestly. The original freak. So I had to tap her in. Yeah. Yeah, she. That was an honor.

[Angela Yee]

I noticed that you don't have a lot of features.

[Podcast Host]

Yes.

[Angela Yee]

Was that intentional?

[Kehlani]

No, I tried to get more features. There was a couple of things that were going on. Different time things and not necessarily being aligned at the time. Different people not aligning with me and just things not making sense. But the ones that did stick around for me and really, you know, held me down. I'm super appreciative. And they killed it. Yeah.

[DJ Envy]

Now, After Hours, were you surprised of how fast that took off, especially on social media?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Crazy.

[Kehlani]

Yeah.

[DJ Envy]

It was like a huge dance.

[Kehlani]

And, yeah, honestly, have to give a lot of credit to Darius Hickman, who's an incredible dancer and he was in the After Hours video, and he left rehearsal for one of the. For the After Hours video. I went home and just, like, made this little dance on Tik Tok, and it just, like, it took it on one. I think it's such a testament to how powerful, like, dance is and how, like, dancers are like DJs. Like, they could really break songs. Like, it's I give him all the credit for that because it's crazy.

[DJ Envy]

Did you know who Lumi D was beforehand?

[Kehlani]

Yeah.

[DJ Envy]

Okay.

[Kehlani]

Of course.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Why you disrespect her like that?

[Kehlani]

I'm just asking.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Damn, that's a classic record.

[Kehlani]

I'm like, of course. The one song.

[DJ Envy]

Lumi D had one song, so, you know, maybe people. Did she have one?

[Kehlani]

I think she had one.

[DJ Envy]

Yeah, she had one.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Now, you also mentioned that this album isn't rooted in your personal experiences or relationships like your previous albums. Are you saying that just so you don't get in trouble and people be like, damn, Kalani's so toxic. No, I think running through these chicks.

[Kehlani]

I think anytime a running, they want.

[Angela Yee]

You to be a pimp so bad.

[Kehlani]

So bad. You know what's so funny is I think people would be surprised if they sat down with me to. To actually ask and inquire about my experiences because they might look one way, but it's so many different scenarios that lead to why my love life looks the way it does. And so many that you'd be surprised who. What's happened with this and what's happened with this. And it's just, it's my business and it's my world and I'm pretty much in good standing with anybody ever. So, like, running through these chicks is extreme. You do really want me to be a pimp? You know, maybe I'll just. Maybe I'll just start embodying it. Maybe I'll just. Maybe I'll just live in it. Maybe I'll just accept it.

[DJ Envy]

Jesus.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Yeah.

[DJ Envy]

Does that bother you, people in your, in your, in your regular business, not just your music business all the time?

[Kehlani]

No, I think it came. It comes with the territory. I think I at one time you.

[DJ Envy]

Didn'T feel like that.

[Kehlani]

Oh my God, I hated it so bad. But I also, I have been again, your mental health journey and your journey in being a public facing person. Those have to be in lockstep like those if you are ever having poor mental health. There are so many times I could say I've been at a table with y' all and been in the worst states of my life. And I was like, okay, that interview is going to be whatever. And times I've been like, I'm actually not doing interviews this year because all of this.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

You set a boundary.

[Kehlani]

Yeah, absolutely. But I've also was not in a positive space to even be able to walk in a room and like hold that. Granted, I think the interview at the time that caused things like that was it My favorite experience with someone, no, But I also, at multiple times in my career, just have not been just aligned with where I needed to be to be able to show up in that way. So now I can hold that. You could probably say anything to me and I'd be like, all right, cool.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Have record labels gotten to the point where they actually respect the artist's mental health? Meaning, like, if you wake up one morning and you say, look, I'm not doing no interviews today. I'm not doing no interviews for the next six months. But they, like, no, you to have, have to, like, they'll push you to do it anyway.

[Kehlani]

Well, I've been signed to the same label since I was 19 years old, and I'm 29, and they have seen me through everything. So I think they're at the point with me where they're like, we get it, and we also know what you are going to show up and show out for. And that's, you know, your fans. Like, I, I, I never, I never play about my fans. I never play for showing, you know, showing up for them. And we've always been super transparent and developed a really good relationship with people in media to where, like, I've been able to call people personally and been like, it's not, you know, I promise, like, I'm not doing well, or I've been on a run and going and going and going for six days, and I just need to come in a little later. I need to reschedule this. And people have been super gracious with.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Me, so I'm a huge mental health advocate. So what got you to that place where you are now? You know, And I mean, and I know it's a journey. I know it's ups, I know it's downs. But what got you to this?

[Kehlani]

Yeah, this sense of, honestly, I'm gonna use this moment to be really transparent and to really advocate for people, you know, getting psychiatric care. And I got a psychiatrist and I got a proper diagnosis after what felt like years of getting soft. Diagnosis and misdiagnosis is. And I'm able to get medicated help. And it keeps my mood stable. And I'm here, and it keeps me, like, I would absolutely recommend it to anybody that feels like they need it because it's not something that anybody needs to shame or, like, be nervous about. And it's probably the best thing I've ever done for myself, for sure.

[DJ Envy]

What got you there? Because most people, like you said they feel like they can't talk about it, they can't Discuss it. They can't get the help because they don't want to be shamed, especially a celebrity. You feel like somebody will see me do this? That never. What got you to the point was like, f this, I need to get help.

[Kehlani]

You know, I was medicated when I was a kid, and I remember not having the most proper experience with it just because I was really young. And, like, you're in school and, like, every kid has ADHD and, like, is hyperactive.

[DJ Envy]

And what age were you first medicated? You remember?

[Kehlani]

I had to be in, like, the third grade on Ritalin, and it really messed with my personality. And my mom was like, yeah, no, like, you can't be a zombie. Like, I'll take hyperactive. Turned up, you know, over, like, whatever, this zombie, you know? And then on top of that, still I just remained with a psychiatrist. And then I, you know, went into teenage hood, and I didn't have that anymore. And then I became an adult. And just, like, my experiences in the music industry and the amount of, like, honestly, PTSD that that causes, paired with, you know, all your childhood trauma and, like, all these things, you kind of get to a point where you're like, all right, I'm not an expert. Like, I can't keep being the one to dictate this or to supplement or, like, to. To try to fix it. I used to smoke a lot of weed. Can't do it. Won't do it.

[DJ Envy]

So you don't smoke anymore?

[Kehlani]

Oh, I. I haven't been a smoker in five years.

[Podcast Host]

Wow.

[Kehlani]

Because people bring me weed all the time, and I'm like, dang.

[DJ Envy]

That's the old what about Indigo?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Indigo kind of calms your anxiety. Sativa, makes you have panic attacks.

[Kehlani]

You know, it. It was because I got pregnant and I couldn't. And then I got. I went to a throat doctor, and he was like, oh, you don't want to sing for the rest of your life. The looks, because I was smoking backwards. I was smoking blunts. Like, I was what you can find pictures of me with, like, backwoods, like, packs spread out, like. Like. Like a money spread. Psychotic and just nasty. Just nasty. And I just. I couldn't do it anymore. And I'm just. I got to a point where I was like, okay, I'm doing all the things that I can possibly do. I'm going to the gym. I'm developing good hobbies. I'm not going out. I'm not doing this. And I'm still struggling. It's to the point where I need to you know, I need to ask for help.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

So does your art when you're on whatever medication.

[Kehlani]

No. No, it doesn't. It. I. It honestly is the first time maybe ever in my life that I feel like I have been. I have. I'm clear. Yes.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Well, congratulations. Like I told you when we first started, you can really see it's a different level of confidence. It's a different level. A sense of security, I would say.

[Kehlani]

Yeah, absolutely. Thank you. I appreciate it.

[DJ Envy]

Now we're doing this album. You know, usually people see Kehlani as an R and B artist, but this album is pop. There's country, there's house music, there's reggae music. Were you nervous at all? And be like, my fan fans, my core won't get it.

[Kehlani]

I actually felt the opposite. I felt like my core fans, my actual core fans would get it because there's been hints of all these things. When my mixtape was nominated for a Grammy, it wasn't nominated for R and B. It was nominated for, like, contemporary, you know, R and B. So there's been hints of things my whole life, and I felt like they would really understand. I felt like everybody else who really loved one really R& B project of mine or like, R and B soundcloud drops or features would be like, what is this? And so far, for the most part, that's kind of what I've seen. Plus, this little subgroup of people who are going like, wow, I didn't even know she had this in her. This is what's going to make me fuck with her. So it's. Honestly, it's been cool. I'm kind of really liking the polarity of the response at this point. If I make the same album again.

[Podcast Host]

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[Kehlani]

I'm not an artist. If I make the same project after seven projects, this is my chance to pivot, and I took it. And I'm just. I'm stoked to be here.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Isn't this what art is, though? Yeah. Some people won't like it. Some people not gonna like.

[Kehlani]

Exactly. Exactly. Some people are like, this is the best thing I've ever heard you do. And some people are like, this is chicken scratch. And it sounds like noise and I hate it.

[Angela Yee]

No, it's universal.

[Kehlani]

It's like, oh, I don't listen to anyone. I made the album I wanted to make, and I'm happy with it.

[Angela Yee]

Yeah, it's a bunch of different genres within. It's so different.

[Kehlani]

It was so fun to make. I had. It was the funnest process. It was so many people involved that were all feel the exact same way about it. It felt like our album, not just mine. We got to celebrate it. Like, I'm happy.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

I keep hearing you talk about your. Your fitness journey.

[Kehlani]

Yeah.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

And. But then they said recently you were body shamed on.

[Kehlani]

On that one.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

I didn't. I didn't see.

[Kehlani]

You know, it was an interesting body shame because what it was was the accusations that I got ab etching, but.

[Angela Yee]

Girl be so sick of people.

[DJ Envy]

Yeah, she got the same.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

She got the same pregnant.

[Kehlani]

Yeah, it's. It's really interesting. The thing is, I have diastasis recti and a hernia from being pregnant, so my muscles are split down the middle. So I have. I have this space right here, and this. I have, like, a lump because it's my intestine. It's a hernia, and it kind of looks like an extra ab randomly above my belly button. Everybody was like, that's the proof.

[DJ Envy]

Like, oh, boy.

[Kehlani]

And then they were like, yes, proof. Because she's not super muscly anywhere else but just her core. And one. If you go back, like, genetically, I have. My dad is super buff. Like, I'm damn near built like my father. And then I've always kind of had. Right. You can really see it. And I. And I've always had abs. And then upon, like, just really training my core to, like, make up for the fact that I. My muscles aren't connected and I have to get my core together to be able to do anything. That's the center of everything. I have to go a little hard on that. And I honestly thought it was hilarious. And then people just being like, is that a man? And I was like, do you want me to be Jesus? Would you like me to be?

[Angela Yee]

But what I love is, like, you didn't get mad and, like, go get online and start going crazy back.

[Kehlani]

It doesn't do anything. Yeah, I used to do that a lot. And then you just realize, like, there's crazy shit every day. Like, people talk about some new shit the next day. I remember when the Internet used to destroy me. Like, it. You what? I remember the other day, maybe last week, somebody might have tweeted, like, oh, like, y' all don't call Kehlani dirty. And she has tattoos. And someone said, oh, you must be new here. And everybody was like, yeah, because 2016 to 2018, that was it. Everybody was calling me ugly dirty, all everything. And I used to be. What I was up about it, like, consistently. And then I just got to a point where I was like, well, life kind of goes on. And, like, I know myself and, like, there are people that know me and love me deeply and care about me and, like, you know, you wash. Hello? Yeah. Yes. If you guys would like to come to my house for a week and double check if I shower twice a day. And the levels of aftercare, like, that's on you guys. But, you know, you don't have. You can't prove those things to people. People who already want to be like that are going to be like that anyway.

[DJ Envy]

Are you still on social media or you got off because of that?

[Kehlani]

No, I had got off for a second. I actually didn't have Twitter for two years. I just got back on because it's just. Why'd I get back on?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

I haven't been on in six, seven years. It's not good for my mentor.

[Kehlani]

Oh, it's a terrible place. It's a terrible place. But the people That I need to speak to my fans. Once I learned how to really put blinders on, and not theoretical blinders, but, like, actual blinders, to be consistently like, this is what matters, and these are the people that love me. It's been the best thing in the world. Sometimes I have my moments. Someone yesterday said some shit to me, like, I think Kehlani is confused by her sexuality. And I was like, I've been exclusively dating women for three years. And, like, the music's really gay, but sure. And then somebody was like, how am I confused? I think I'm the least confused I've ever been. But, like, sure, I left the Tweet up for 10 seconds and deleted it. You have. You know, you have your moments.

[Angela Yee]

Yeah.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Now, how. How did your record label, and I guess just the industry, period, react to your. Your advocacy for Palestine?

[Kehlani]

You know, I think. I think we're in a. In a kind of a loop for so long of, like, what's safe to speak about and what's not safe to speak about, especially with the powers that be being so powerful and that running so deep. Obviously, my music came out, and obviously I'm super supportive, so absolutely no problem from my record label. I have experienced a lot of pushback. I've experienced a lot of loss. I've experienced a lot of things that were promised and set up for this rollout and album to happen that were supposed to be a lot of firsts, really. Yeah. Magazines and. And these things, and those have brand deals and opportunities that were sad to lose. But at the end of the day, like, I don't. I don't regret doing something that I. I can go to sleep at night. I can go to sleep knowing that, like, what I learned to be as an artist, I'm aligned with because I grew up fully understanding, you know, the role of art in liberation. And. And that's not to place myself in alignment with, you know, those artists and those revolutionary acts. But that's to say, like, I understood what it meant to not be silent. Even if I never, you know, put it with the song in the video. Even if just me speaking out, I always knew what it meant to have a platform and that responsibility in that way. And, like, I can go to sleep knowing that, like, I don't. I can look myself in the mirror, you know, and know that I did. I did the right thing.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Do these magazines and stuff. Tell your people. Why do they say, you always heard advocacy of Palestine?

[Kehlani]

Those are really big buildings with a lot of people involved. So it always makes its Way back. Back.

[Angela Yee]

Yeah, yeah.

[DJ Envy]

Now you speak.

[Kehlani]

Hold on.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

You also mentioned that your advocacy for Palestine caused a lot of artists to ignore your collaboration.

[Kehlani]

So I was talking very fast on a live, very caffeinated early in the morning, and I wasn't able to like really elaborate on that. There are a lot of more people involved on artist teams than just the artists. And it also wasn't every single feature. There were certain people who didn't get it back in time or it wasn't aligned with like the timing of their album. I didn't mean every single artist, but there were artists that I did reach to and someone on the team was like, we don't fuck with her. Or they said this. And then another thing made its way to me. Or like a nut. Like, things you. We know, we know things, travel, we know people have conversations and those people have conversations. And people were respectful enough to not, you know, text me back and say, girl, fudge you, I'm a Zionist, you know, things like that. But I wasn't able to really elaborate that when I. And I would never. I would never sit here and name names because it's not about that. It's more about how insidious these, the industries are and that we can be so afraid to lose what we've built because so many of us have come from nothing to where we have this scarcity mindset of like, I have to protect what I have going on so hard that I will do anything to stay in that world to protect it. Because I have to keep feeding my family. I have to keep, you know, building my legacy. I have to do that. I don't want to chance that. And it's sad because that thing that does get dangled in front of our faces when it comes to really important political matters that people don't align with. It's sad, it's unfortunate. And I don't. I'm not mad at anyone. I'm not holding anything against anyone. I was definitely on that live. Like, yeah, and by the way, let me tell you all about that. But I definitely have those moments where I'm like, this shit is fucked up. But typically I'm a. I'm a longer thinker and I have more to the thought and it was just unfortunate, really.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

So you understand when artists don't want to speak out about political or social.

[DJ Envy]

Issues or how do you feel about it?

[Kehlani]

Coming from particular background, I am the type of person that is very nuanced. Like, I understand how people got to most things. It's unfortunate. I feel like, it's unfortunate. I am saddened by. It does make me sad because I really do believe in our power as people with influence. This is why the presidents involve music artists. What they've got. They've got all type of music artists campaigning for the president, save God. They bring it. They bring us out to sing out all the. All the campaigns, all the events. Whenever there's anything going on, they want us to all get together and drop a song for it. Like, they keep showing us how powerful we are. There's people, there's a younger generation who don't know what a policy is, but they would. They know their rappers favorite songs, they know their R and B singers favorite songs, and they will learn about anything going on in the world if their favorite person tells them. And I may have expressed it super, like, angrily every single time I've talked about it online, but that's because I understand that also sometimes shame works as a teacher. So if I gotta come on there and say all of y', all, because wake your ass up, you. If you want to sit and have a longer conversation with me, we can get to this point. But it. It has made me viscerally angry so many times to feel like, look what we could do. And they also wouldn't be able to hold us back anymore if we all banded together. They can't cancel all of us. They could cancel me, and they'd be like, okay, we got somebody out of here, that's cool. They could cancel the couple people that speak up, but if everybody spoke up, that power imbalance wouldn't exist anymore. We're just the people united. That's the quote. So we have to, like, stand on that.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

And you raised over a half a million dollars for Gaza, Sudan, and the country. Do you think money is the only way people can help?

[Kehlani]

Absolutely not. I think in every single issue, the idea is that you're supposed to listen to the requests of the people at the core of the issue. You're supposed to abide by the request of the most oppressed. And they have asked us to literally speak. Like, that's the thing about this whole, like, social media doesn't do anything. Speaking doesn't do anything. Awareness doesn't do anything. But those. There are people in Congo who are just saying, make our stories heard. There are people in Sudan who go, just speak about us. They're not talking about us on the news. They're not talking about us in these magazines. They're not talking about us anywhere. But you guys are. Gaza opened the door for People to even be aware of Congo and Sudan on a global scale, because those issues have. Have preceded this genocide. Those genocides have been. Have been happening. Those famines that extreme, like displacement, those have already been existing. And Gaza has opened up the world to. To Haiti, to Yemen, to all of these places as that all this is going on. So the least we can do is share things here and there. And you don't have to have money, but if you do, you should put it where your mouth is, for sure.

[DJ Envy]

I was gonna ask, with Kamala Harris being from. From your side of town, did y' all ever have a conversation? Did you ever reach out to her for everything that's going on? Not at all. No.

[Kehlani]

I'm not really big on presidents or. They're. They're folks, not a governmental girl. Really? Yeah.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Like, there's not really. I mean, there's power in government, but the real power is with the people.

[Kehlani]

It's in the people. Absolutely. Yeah.

[Angela Yee]

You are a West coast girl.

[Kehlani]

Yeah.

[Angela Yee]

What you think about Kendrick?

[Kehlani]

I knew where this was going.

[Angela Yee]

I just wanna be about.

[Kehlani]

Who was rooting for Drake. What.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Wasn't you rooting for Drake?

[Kehlani]

I haven't publicly rooted for anyone, but have you not seen me at the.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Club, dancing in the hall? You was humming.

[Kehlani]

Oh, you could hear me through the sound. Very much respect, both artists. Drake actually named my album. It was good until it wasn't. He showed me a lot of love over time, like, publicly, privately. So has Kendrick, like, that album? He did. We were having a conversation, and I told him what I wanted to name it, and then he was like, no, what's going on in Life? And I told him, and he was like. And I was like, yeah, it was. Honestly, it was good. Until it wasn't. He was like, if you don't use it as your album title, I am. And I was like, okay. Right. You're right. It is a very Drake album title. I think it's. It came down to, if I'm on some west Coast, I'm from the West. Like, I know. I know what. How important this unity is of all of us, and I know how imperative this representation of us is. Like, I love Kendrick. I. That's the only artist I've ever stood in a line and, like, waited to get something signed for when I was in high school. Like, soundtrack to my life. So I have no, like, personal entrances in anything. I'm just as a fan of the music west, big west. Just musically, though, music, I mean, we have to respect what we. What we saw.

[DJ Envy]

He's making fun of us beige people ever since, though.

[Kehlani]

Oh, my God. Hilarious.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

So listen, when you sing Not Like Us, do you feel bad because it's so catchy.

[Kehlani]

I have had moments where I was, like, in the club, and I've seen that it. It's a club thing. And I was like, damn, this is crazy. But I also remember every single big diss track in history being able to be played for massive groups of people gathering and it being a thing that everybody is like, I was too young for, like, the Ether era, but, like, everybody talks about it and they're like, this was crazy.

[DJ Envy]

Like, this. This is in the club every night, though. Ethan wasn't in the club. It was more.

[Kehlani]

I mean, back to back was in the club.

[DJ Envy]

Back to back was in the club.

[Kehlani]

Yeah. So it's eras, it's moments. Honestly, I'm. I'm not in hip hop, so I can't speak to the sport of it, but, like, it's a sport, I guess.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

You ever text Drake like, yo, man, you did your thing. Nothing to be ashamed about. It was all good.

[Kehlani]

Well, I feel like he has real people around him who hold him down, and I feel like it's taken that moment to be like, hey, by the way, let me make sure, you know, I support you. Yeah, he's got his folks.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Damn.

[Angela Yee]

You mentioned a tour. Are we getting a crash tour?

[Kehlani]

Absolutely. I made this album, two tours specifically. Like, there was so many sounds where I was like, this is gonna be so fun to sing. It's gonna be so fun to dance to. It's gonna be so fun to play with a band. So. Absolutely. Well, I think for me, touring is the epicenter of my, like, my career, to the point where sometimes you don't even see. You can't even really tell what's going on with the music streaming and charting. Wise people are like, what? And then you come to the tour and it's these huge venues, and people are like, I actually had no idea. Because when I look at how it's doing over there, and it's just a classic example for me of, like, impact versus, you know, numbers. And my shows are huge. My shows are a blast. Everybody has a great time. Everybody feels safe. Everybody has fun. Like, they. That. That is what's important to me. So we're gonna do it again for sure.

[Angela Yee]

That's what's up. Because by then, I would have had my baby and I can get big high.

[Kehlani]

You miss it very much. Okay.

[Angela Yee]

Yeah. I'm not like you, girl. I'm gonna smoke okay, but enjoy. Not backwards though.

[Kehlani]

Yeah, yeah, that's good. Yeah, I'm trying to. I'm starting to get off the backwoods movement with all the friends. Take care of yourself.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

You don't like no plant based medicines?

[Kehlani]

I like CBD a lot. I like mushrooms. I ate a lot of mushrooms making this album. You might could tell there's some drippiness on here.

[Angela Yee]

Yeah, that one that you played me. Oh my God.

[DJ Envy]

Which one?

[Angela Yee]

It was that when she. Oh my God. It sounds like a. Oh my God. It sounds like if we was.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

No theory next to you.

[Angela Yee]

I don't know. But he had played it and I was like, damn. If I stream I'll probably be like.

[DJ Envy]

After hours going crazy.

[Angela Yee]

No, not after hours. I can dance to that one. But this one just seemed like I have no idea. I forgot. But he was playing it. Playing the whole album earlier. But it was one particular song. I was like, oh yeah, I'm g. Can't wait to get how to listen to that.

[Kehlani]

I was probably on mushrooms when I made it for. Yeah.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Are you. Are you aware of like the journey in life that you're going through and if so what. What era would you define this.

[Kehlani]

This era so comparatively to where I was at with my last album? I feel like my last album I had reached the ending of what was like toxic positivity and like toxic spirituality. Like almost psychosisy. Being like really in my like and not accepting that also what comes with that is like they're really getting into your shadow and really getting into also like every single part of myself. And now I'm in this. I feel like this era is just really standing in it. I feel like I'm down to be whatever everybody thinks I am. For the first time in my life. I'm not over here trying to prove anything different. I'm not over here. Like I. I don't care to clear up anything. I don't care to address anything. I have nothing to say about any of that. If you think I suck, let's do it. If you think I'm a terrible person, let's do it. If you think I'm the best person in the world. Thank you. I appreciate you. And I think that that truly speaks to the. What you were saying about how different I feel is that I'm settled in a way where I'm so at peace with who I know I am and my core foundation that it's not going to be rocked by anything else going on.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Yeah.

[Angela Yee]

Damn.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

K. Great answer, Kalani.

[Kehlani]

Thank you.

[DJ Envy]

Well, the album. Crash is out now.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Yeah.

[DJ Envy]

What you want to hear? Don't say after hours. We play that already. So what you want to hear besides that?

[Kehlani]

Play deep. That's a fun one.

[DJ Envy]

Deep. All right, well, let's get into deep right now. Make sure you pick up the album if you haven't got it already. And congratulations on everything.

[Kehlani]

Thank you.

[DJ Envy]

I love the fact that you're just happy. You just look happy.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

That's the most important thing. That's right. Happy that you are in a place of peace.

[Kehlani]

Thank you. I'm super happy.

[DJ Envy]

Well, it's Kalani. Ladies and gentlemen, it's the Breakfast Club.

[Kehlani]

Good morning.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Wake that ass up early in the morning.

[DJ Envy]

The Breakfast Club.

[Podcast Host]

This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.