Kehlani - It Was Good Until It Wasn’t

Kehlani releases with It Was Good Until It Wasn't an album where the voice maps the erosion of romantic bonds. Released on May 8, 2020, via Atlantic Records, this second studio project prioritizes immersion in emotions over direct autobiography. The work, running a total of 39 minutes, transforms dark moments into musical compositions through production that juxtaposes laid-back beats with jazz piano motifs and Spanish guitars. Each track functions as a step in the decline of a relationship.

An introspective writing style where collaborations with Tory Lanez, Jhené Aiko, Masego, Lucky Daye, and James Blake redefine lyricism

The album revolves around writing and lyricism as the primary vectors of its artistic message. Featuring artists enriches the emotional palette of each track, serving as vocal catalysts for exploring themes of collapsing relationships. The presence of a male artist on Can I, with Tory Lanez, introduces a contrasting narrative dynamic that adds a layer of complexity to the love story. Similarly, the collaboration with Jhené Aiko on Change Your Life brings the validation of a gentle voice known for her R&B style, reinforcing the track's emotional aspect through natural complementarity between the two performers. The intervention of a male artist on Hate The Club, with Masego, continues this logic of vocal register densification to explore facets of a crisis relationship. The collaboration with Lucky Daye on Can You Blame Me also brings a specific masculine presence to the track, while James Blake's involvement on Grieving introduces unique atmospheric depth through his experience and distinct voice. Each intervention is therefore a precise choice to redefine the album's lyricism, transforming the simple addition of names into a true architectural exploration of feelings.

The vocal architecture of a 39-minute album marked by jazz piano motifs and Spanish guitars

The construction of a sonic universe where jazz piano motifs and Spanish guitars define the vocal timbre of the project lies at the heart of the listening experience. This laid-back production allows Kehlani's voice to flourish within a framework reminiscent of 21st-century slow R&B reboots, offering a succession of concise and focused tracks. The album thus reveals itself as an immersive showcase where vocal architecture is framed by a massive list of historical producers including Kehlani herself, Fwdslxsh, J.R. Rotem, The Rascals, Akeel Henry, Ness, Bizness Boi, T-Minus, Skrillex, David D.A. Doman, and K. Roosevelt. Key tracks Toxic, Can I, Grieving, and Change Your Life embody the emotional power of the project by serving as pillars for this thematic exploration of relationships that are crumbling. Each essential track, whether solo or collaborative, contributes to total immersion in the album's central theme, validating the concision of the tracks which enhances the experience of slow R&B with abandoned sequels. The 39-minute runtime allows a succession of 21st-century slow R&B reboots with total immersion in the theme of crumbling relationships without ever diluting the strength of the compositions. The exploration of relational themes through a series of key tracks like Toxic, Can I, Grieving, and Change Your Life shows how the album maintains strong conceptual coherence. These tracks, whether accompanied or not by collaborations, serve as anchor points for the project, embodying the emotional power of the record through their ability to capture the nuances of a declining relationship. The presence of Real Hot Girl Skit and Lexii's Outro in the tracklist completes this narrative architecture, offering moments of breathing room or transition that structure the overall listening experience.