But the mixtape also showcased the young artist’s ability to candidly speak on themes of heartbreak and romantic relationships, too.
Navigating life amid tragedy and triumph is a focal point for You Should Be Here. On You Should Be Here, she expresses the resentment she felt toward not having her mother on “The Letter.” Her songwriting shines on the track as she sings, “And every girl needs a mother and damn it I needed you / Instead, you ducked for cover and ran from the truth.” Kehlani’s unflinching admission of feeling abandoned by her mother is felt even more by her audible crying, as if she’s confiding in the listener as a longtime friend. Written and released when she was 19-years-old, You Should Be Here showcased her ability to tell tales of self-realization in a way that was charming, candid, and vulnerable, propelling her career as an R&B singer and helping to solidify her as one of Oakland’s most promising stars.ĥ YEARS OF YSBH! HISTORY! 🎂 glory to God forreal 🧡 Released five years ago this week, You Should Be Here served as the follow-up to the singer’s 2014 debut mixtape, Cloud 19. I added the mixtape to my library and spent the rest of my high school days drowning in the project. I saw myself in Kehlani: a young woman sitting at the edge of the world before her, ready to face what’s ahead.
I had just subscribed to Apple Music when I came across its illustrated cover art - Kehlani overlooking her Oakland hometown and the Golden Gate Bridge as a plane flies above in the distance, the then-teenage singer surrounded by her essentials: a pair of Vans Sk8-Hi’s, an open laptop, and a MIDI controller. Kehlani’s second mixtape, You Should Be Here, dropped when I was in high school. Photo by Joseph Okpako/WireImage You Should Be Here showcased Kehlani’s ability to tell tales of self-realization in a way that was charming, candid, and vulnerable.
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