Kehlani’s parents struggled with drug addiction and her mother served time in prison. She was adopted by her aunt and was raised in Oakland, California. She grew up training at the Oakland School of Arts as a dancer. But a knee injury caused her to pursue singing.
She was influenced by R&B and neo-soul musicians like Lauryn Hill and Erykah Badu. She was recruited at the age of 14 to join a local pop cover band called Poplyfe.
Kehlani was born on April 24, 1995
Kehlani is a Grammy nominee singer, songwriter, and dancer. She began her career as a member of the teen pop band PopLyfe, and later released an independent album on SoundCloud. The album was a success, and the artist signed with Atlantic Records in 2016.
Kehlani’s father died when she was a toddler, and her mother served time in prison for drug abuse. She was adopted and raised by her aunt, and she has spoken about her complicated childhood in several interviews.
She attended the Oakland School for the Arts, and specialized in ballet and modern dance. She wanted to become a professional dancer, but a knee injury caused her to redirect her focus towards singing.
Her father died when she was a toddler
Kehlani’s father died when she was a toddler, and her mother served time in prison for drug use. She was placed in foster care, and her aunt adopted her. Her aunt later had two daughters of her own, and Kehlani helped her raise them. They lived in a small duplex, and would sometimes have to cut the water or heat.
Kehlai’s music is inspired by her personal experiences, and she has been open about her struggles with depression and self-image. She has also been an advocate for women’s rights and LGBTQ+ issues.
She has a large following on Instagram, and she often posts photos from her private life. Her recent posts have caused quite a bit of controversy, but she maintains that her views are her own. She counts Lauryn Hill, Erykah Badu, and Jill Scott among her early influences. She has released several mixtapes, including Cloud 19 and You Should Be Here. Her latest, While We Wait, was released in 2019. She has also appeared as a performer on many popular music channels, such as Calvin HarrisVEVO, DisclosureVEVO, ZEDDVEVO, and Trap City.
She was adopted by her aunt
The Grammy nominee rose to prominence as a member of the band Poplyfe and placed fourth on America’s Got Talent. Her debut mixtape Cloud 19 and the second You Should Be Here earned her global recognition and a record deal with Atlantic Records. Her song Gangsta was featured in the film Suicide Squad and the singer became one of the most popular artists in contemporary pop.
Kehlani’s father died when she was an infant and her mother spent time in jail. Her aunt adopted her and raised her in Oakland, California. She credits Lauryn Hill, Erykah Badu, and Jill Scott as her earliest musical influences.
She is of African-American, European, Native American, and Hispanic descent. Her Native American tribe is Blackfoot Cherokee and she has small amounts of Mexican and Spanish ancestry. She has two younger cousins, who she considers her siblings, and often helps them with their schoolwork. She also has a passion for dance and dreams of attending the Juilliard School as a dancer, but a knee injury forced her to focus on singing.
She is the daughter of Javaughn Young-White
Kehlani’s father is Javaughn Young-White, an Oakland-based guitarist. He has a large social media presence and is an avid supporter of the singer’s music. He has been a pillar of strength and stability for Kehlani, helping her through difficult times in her life.
Kehlani grew up in foster care, and her drug-addicted mother spent time in prison. She was eventually adopted by her aunt, and she grew up with two cousins who she considers siblings. Her aunt was a huge fan of R&B and neo soul artists, so Kehlani developed a similar taste for music.
She aspired to train as a dancer at the Juilliard School, but a knee injury forced her to focus on singing. Her aunt encouraged her to audition for a local pop cover band called PopLyfe, and she became a member. The group achieved some initial success, and she went on to release her first mixtape Cloud 19. She has received much acclaim for her work.
