Kehlani is demanding the next spot in this R&B game.
In an era where trap music has grown in its influence beyond imaginable measures, it’s refreshing to see someone successfully preserving the 90s-primed essence of the beloved sound. We’ve been given the much appreciated tri-fused new sound from the TrapHouseJazz Collective accompanied with Bryson Tiller’s molding of his own genre with Trap Soul. But now we can finally let go of that breath we’ve been holding hostage and be rest assured that someone is trying to hold it down for the prized genre.
The Tsunami ringleader is no stranger to sampling old school classics—which act as bait to hook you within the first :30 seconds of any song in her catalog—from Lauryn Hill’s “Ex-Factor” to Ginuwine’s “So Anxious.” Kehlani’s fashion sense and M.O. act as the quintessence of TLC in regards to their style and self-love and know-your-worth attitude, especially with songs like “Be Alright” and “Bright” from the singer’s You Should Be Here mixtape.
But the Oakland princess took it one step further and paid homage to Destiny’s Child’s hit video for “Say My Name,” with respect to their infamous color-scheme scenes that can be seen above. The Yashxana-directed visuals for her single, “Distraction,” features herself along with friend, model and, for purposes of this video, love interest, Jordun Love. The rendition features a unique spin on the color scheme adding meaning to the tones. At first look, it seems apparent that each hued room represents the variety of faces in a casual relationship: yellow for innocence and fun, blue for the security and confidence to express sexuality, red for passion and sensuality and white for fantasy. Take a peek at the four most glaring similarities between “Distraction” and the Joseph Kahn-directed, “Say My Name.”
FANTASY
Kehlani could be labeled any 20-something and younger’s dream. The YSBH vocalist adds a little more edge and fantasy to her emulation of the Destiny’s Child scene with mystical gray hair, in all white threads, surrounded by clouds, smoking a blunt. With the nearly elementary approach to her style, she can rock her unique tats, including a portrait of Lauryn Hill and “Woke” on her left arm, as accessories to any fit that’ll go with either sneakers or heels, who wouldn’t pick Kehlani as their fantasy chick?
SECURITY AND CONFIDENCE TO EXPRESS SENSUALITY
Here, the duo gets comfortable with each other sexually, as they engage in some groping that may prompt advised discretion for some viewers. This scenario touches base on the possible awkwardness that may be sensuality in the type of distractionship the Grammy-nominated artist describes in her single. Getting a little more up close and personal than the foursome-rule to the Destiny Child’s parent scene, the lovebirds clearly have no issues in that area.
PASSION AND SEXUALITY
In a breakdown of the song Kehlani did with Genius before the release of the video, she describes the nature of the bond between an ideal twosome in the type of relationship she portrays in the song and video. Being able to “call at anytime,” and just “kick it and chill” are key to the dynamics of the “dope, strong mental” connection that lays the foundation for the bond. Kehlani’s interpretation echoes the group-scenario evocative of DC’s original red room, but with an intimate focus on herself and Love, despite the two other girls who are already present in the bed with him as she crawls next to him. Jordun’s eyes are all on Lani Tsunami, highlighting the idea that no matter who he may be messing with, no one is breaking the bond between him and his girl.
FUN AND INNOCENCE
Finally, you can’t have all this passion and skip out on the goofy. In the vibrant-hued scene that steers away from the inquisitive aura in the similar orange room in the Destiny’s Child version, Love and the “Distraction” Queen take a break from their grinding and just enjoy each other’s comedic company. Creating a makeshift mustache with Jordan’s hair and making goofy faces as they dance and sing to each other, the couple makes you think about using them as their next #RelationshipGoals.
Check out the visuals below.