Best of full interview: Kehlani Talks New Music, AI 'Artists', Strategic Activism, Motherhood + More

In this powerful episode of The Breakfast Club, Kehlani opens up about her evolution as an artist, mother, and activist, reflecting on her journey to mental health stability, artistic authenticity, and strategic advocacy. She discusses the accidental creation of her hit song 'Folded,' which symbolizes her emotional maturity and nuanced approach to relationships. Kehlani shares how turning 30 and undergoing a Saturn return catalyzed deep personal growth, supported by a year of consistent therapy and medication for bipolar disorder. She reflects on the emotional toll of speaking out for Palestine, including death threats and professional backlash, but emphasizes that true change comes from strategic, sustained activism rather than reactive anger. She also speaks candidly about the rise of AI-generated artists, expressing deep concern over the commodification of human creativity and spirituality, calling music a divine gift that should not be reduced to algorithmic output. As a mother, she emphasizes raising her daughter with truth, community, and human connection in a hyper-surveilled digital world. The conversation closes with reflections on her vocal idols—Brandy, Beyoncé, Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, and Aretha Franklin—celebrating the lineage of Black female vocal power and artistry.