On Sept. 17, I attended the 6th show of Kehlani’s current tour in Boston, Massachusetts. I originally planned to see them in Bridgeport, Connecticut on the 13th, but as an out-of-state student, it was not in the cards for me transportation-wise. It was my first time in general admission, and it was quite an experience. I loved the camaraderie of being on the floor, building alliances as people tried to push to the front, and bending down for the short girlies so they could get a good video. It was worth the wait, bumps and bruises, and every dollar!
The Openers
This tour had two openers: Atlanta rapper Anycia and British girl group, FLO. I’m familiar with all of the artists, so it felt like two concerts in one. Anycia came out first with her DJ, and though she’s still relatively unknown, you didn’t need to know all the songs to have fun. One of Anycia’s songs Back Outside featuring another south side rapper Latto trended during the summer and remains a staple for the baddies of TikTok. FLO went viral spring/summer of 2022 with their song Cardboard Box and has consistently released hits filled with awe-inspiring harmonies and a classic RnB vibe.
The Setlist
Lani played almost every song from the album Crash as well as a couple from their latest mixtape While We Wait 2. There was a perfect mix of the old favorites for longtime fans and the big hits for newer and more casual fans. They sang my personal favorite song, “Honey,” which I added to my playlist after the first listen around the time it came out, and my seventh-grade self was screaming. With so much on their discography, I didn’t expect Kehlani to hit every album. However, they did, and the fans greatly appreciated it. In addition to their own songs, they also performed some of their verses from features like “Ring” by Cardi B and “KEHLANI” by Jordan Adetunji. Kehlani even brought Adetunji out to perform his song, which took over TikTok this summer and gained a second wind when Kehlani remixed the track.
The performance
Kehlani opened up with “Next 2 U,” one of the singles from Crash, and proceeds from that merch were used to provide aid in Palestine, Congo, and Sudan. Lani is not someone who shies away from speaking out and has been a longtime activist of Palestinian liberation and other social justice causes. The next few songs were from Crash, including the infamous “Sucia” ft Young Miko and Jill Scott. Since I was a little far back from the stage, I did not see the crowd work Kehlani did but based on the reactions I am sure it was crazy. Despite having to cancel a show earlier on in the tour for sickness, there was no sign of fatigue on Tuesday night. Vocals were undeniable live and the choreography along with it made you forget how simple the stage setup was. Kehlani had about 8 dancers, many of whom were in the “Next 2 U” music video. One of their TikTok came up on my For You Page earlier that week, so it was cool to be able to recognize them. The show ended with “Cater 2 U” by Destiny’s Child and the “After Hours” interlude, which transitioned into a full-out performance of “After Hours,” the big single off of Crash.
Final Thoughts
I do not know if I have the right words to describe my experience at Kehlani’s show. It was refreshing to see unapologetic displays of queerness and queer love. The band’s performance was phenomenal, and the attention to detail with the transitions between songs was excellent. Kehlani hinted to another tour for their mixtape, so if you get the chance, definitely go.