Kehlani, named the 2026 Billboard Women in Music Impact Award recipient, shared how her hit song 'Folded' marked a turning point in her career. In a new interview, she detailed the bedroom sessions and personal challenges behind her self-titled album. The track has sparked varied fan reactions, from calling it toxic to a bold statement on relationships.
Kehlani described recording much of her self-titled album in her bedroom between tour dates. 'Every single break I had in between all the tours, I was living in an apartment at the time, and my engineer would come over,' she said. She processed personal chaos silently through writing to beat packs during those months. A trip to Hawaii led to a song she initially dismissed as not right for the moment, prompting a shift toward her self-titled project after a major tour amid external turmoil. This 'redemption tour' helped her gauge true supporters, she explained. Kehlani noted the album evolved through multiple iterations before 'Folded' emerged. Collaborations with artists like Ludacris, Lil Wayne and Clipse featured in the project. The song's lyrics, including 'can you come pick up your clothes? I had them folded,' captured a pivotal emotional release. Fans interpret 'Folded' diversely. 'There are some people who are like, “I can’t wait for y’all to stop listening to this toxic song. Like, this song is so toxic.” And other people are like, “Oh, girl, it’s a sex song. Like, she just wanted to get cracked.”,' Kehlani recounted. Others see it as folding under pressure in a relationship. The unexpected success underscores her commitment to authentic R&B artistry amid industry challenges.