You Should Be Here

Released in 2015, You Should Be Here served as Kehlani's major breakthrough, earning a Grammy nomination and solidifying their place as a leader in the 'new R&B' movement. Recorded primarily in Los Angeles but deeply rooted in the artist's Oakland upbringing, the project moves away from the bubblegum pop-soul of their debut toward a more sophisticated, textured sound. The album features production from Jahaan Sweet and features from Chance the Rapper and BJ the Chicago Kid, blending hip-hop rhythms with neo-soul depth. Critics praised the album for its 'unflinching honesty,' particularly on tracks like 'The Letter,' which addresses parental abandonment. It is widely considered the project that defined Kehlani's signature 'conversational' style, where the lyrics feel less like written songs and more like overheard thoughts, establishing a blueprint for the vulnerable, identity-focused R&B that would dominate the late 2010s.