Article Review: Fader cover story on emerging artist Kehlani

Journalism is a funny animal…sometimes it’s at peace with the world and delivers calm introspective insight and other times, it is adulterated with sensationalist ramblings and half-truths which create a foul stench from the cesspool of garbage it feeds the world. This is my shoutout to Fader Editor-in-Chief Naomi Zeichner for her awesome cover story on emerging artist Kehlani.

Covering a personality, in my humble opinion, is the media’s opportunity to give them a platform to tell their own story! We often times forget, we are the device used to disseminate information about a person place or thing to an information hungry audience and our RESPONSIBILITY, to our subject, readers, viewers, etc., is to give them the full untainted picture. Zeichner’s story on Kehlani for Fader issue 99 (Aug/Sept 2015) nailed it as regards the essence of real journalism. She had me hooked from the opening opening paragraph which gave me a mental visual from inside Kehlani’s high-rise digs which overlook downtown Los Angeles; set the tone for the surrounding characters present (including furniture and the LV bag sitting in the corner LOL); then directly onto a peek into the heart of Kehlani aka ‘…Mother Theresa!…’

Do yourself a favor, read this great story backed by striking visuals from Fader photog Joyce Kim…below are a few highlights, but make sure you read the full story here

KEHLANI COVERS THE FADER’S 99TH ISSUE (Photo Credit: Joyce Kim / Fader)
The Singer/Songwriter Joins Grimes on the Cover of the Publication’s Fall Fashion Issue

“Hard work always beats talent, that’s always been my thing,” says Kehlani, the rising R&B star appearing on the cover of The FADER‘s 99th issue, premiering today. “The girl that needs me is the outspoken, awkward tomboy,” she says. “She looks hard, but she’s very soft. She’s misinterpreted, coming into herself, openly growing.”

As she prepares to release her debut album next year, Kehlani is handling her music career much as she has the rest of her life — with focus and determination, and a refreshing honesty that makes her stand out from the crowd.

The FADER’s editor-in-chief Naomi Zeichner and contributing photographer Joyce Kim traveled to Los Angeles to spend time with the musician at home. In the cover story, she opens up about her rough childhood, how TV host Nick Cannon changed her life, her rumored relationship with PARTYNEXTDOOR, and how she’s forged an authentic bond with fans.

On her rumored relationship with PARTYNEXTDOOR: “Whether or not I’m in a relationship, I never want that to be the focus of what I’m doing and what I’m trying to accomplish. I prefer to focus on myself.”

On her childhood: “There were times where I really had to do shit like wait outside of a train station and snatch iPhones out of peoples’ hands and run and sell them,” she says. “I went through people’s houses. I ran through cars – all type of shit that I feel like made me grow up fast. I’ve been banned from Walgreens. I’ve been banned from Walmart for stealing fucking clothes and food. Lucky’s caught me with a box of Wheat Thins and some bread. I was like, ‘Can’t you tell I’m stealing because I’m hungry?'”

On her past relationships: “I got my first girlfriend in ninth grade. Then I told her I didn’t know what I wanted and broke up with her. I think I was always just, like, you have to be gay or you have to be straight–that those were conflicting. I learned that there’s really no wrong or right, that it was cool to like everything. But it was a lot for me.”

Also check out the opposite cover of F99, featuring Grimes, at the link.

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Tags: Article Review, Atlantic Records, Editor-in-chief, Kehlani, Los Angeles, Nick Cannon, Review, The Fader

About the Author

Dr. Jerry Doby Editor-in-Chief of The Hype Magazine, Media and SEO Consultant, Journalist, Ph.D. and retired combat vet. 2023 recipient of The President's Lifetime Achievement Award. Partner at THM Media Group. Member of the U.S. Department of Arts and Culture, the United States Press Agency and ForbesBLK.