The Top 5 Moments From Kehlani's Barclays Center Concert

Months after unloading her stellar self-titled album, Kehlani pulled up to Barclays to let fans experience her version of a baddie's night out last Friday (Aug. 21). Themed partially around a futuristic spaceship, it was a performance that felt interactive and immersive in a way that her biggest fans could appreciate. I know I did.

In the chance you didn't get the chance to go for yourself, here's a look at the highlights. 

5. Dance Party With the Homies

Kehlani’s concert had all the “hang with the girls” appeal of an actual ladies’ night, so it’s only right she grounded the performance in that atmosphere — even if it was set in a futuristic space milieu. To reach that effect, she introduced each of her dancer friends before letting them get their own solo. It was a bit of world-building that gave some fun context to the choreography. 

4. “After Hours” Extravaganza

Much of Kehlani’s performance was sleek, sexy, and futuristic. But while performing “After Hours,” the red lights flickered more frequently, her hips moved more fervently, and her vocals soared into the rafters of the arena for a moment that felt like the climax of a festival. Of course, there was still much more to come.

3. Kehlani Brings Her Teenage Past to Life

Some of the best parts of Kehlani’s Barclays performance involved the symbiosis between her childhood influences and the actual music from her latest album. For the 112-sampling “Lights On,” she had some of the group’s original “You Already Know” overlaid on the track, and she incorporated similar flourishes throughout the night. 

2. Cardi B Pulls Up 

In what should’ve been an expected move, but wasn’t for me, Cardi B pulled up right after Kehlani introduced her as her bestie. The two performed Cardi’s Kehlani-assisted 2018 track, “Ring.” Full disclosure: I’m glad they didn’t perform “Safe,” because that particular track is a good bit worse. Bardi stayed out to perform “Ah Ha,” too, and it was a cool little micro-intermission to the whole night. 

1. Crowd Sings “Folded” A Cappella

Look, Kehlani has bops for days. Obviously. That’s why I went and brought my homegirl in the first place. But even among bops, “Folded” is the one. So much so that Kehlani began singing the song a cappella before the track even dropped. Naturally, the crowd took over before following her faithfully once the actual instrumental dropped. It was a cool moment of communal music appreciation that felt like a perfect bookend for a night that felt like an intergalactic space party.