Maps of Music

SweetSexySavage (2017)

Where the lyrics of SweetSexySavage take you, and where it was really made.

Recording sessions started in Philadelphia around Halloween 2015, but the album did not come out until January 2017, more than a year later.

Key places

Philadelphia recording sessions (2017)

Recording site Scottish Rite Temple — New recording sessions for the album started in Philadelphia around Halloween 2015. This point is set at city-centre level, so the exact studio building is not located. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Engineering credit at Atlantic Studios (2017)

Recording site The Music Grinder (Hollywood) — The recording engineering credit names Atlantic Studios in Hollywood. This point is set at city-centre level, so the studio building itself is not located. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Mixing at Larrabee Sound Studios (2017)

Recording site Larrabee Sound Studios — The album was mixed at Larrabee Sound Studios in Los Angeles. This point is placed at the studio's building coordinates. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• SweetSexySavage is the debut studio album by American singer and songwriter Kehlani
• Released January 27, 2017 by Atlantic Records
• Kehlani wrote every track except "Intro", which was written by Reyna Biddy
• Production handled by Pop & Oak, Jahaan Sweet, Charlie Heat, among others
• Kehlani described the album as having three elements: Sweet, Sexy and Savage
• These three elements were meant to show up in both the lyrical content and the production
• The deluxe version has 19 tracks

Background

• Work started shortly after the mixtape You Should Be Here and continued into 2016
• New recording sessions began in Philadelphia around Halloween 2015, after the North American leg of the You Should Be Here Tour
• Kehlani announced on Twitter that the album would arrive 'soon' in mid-2016
• Before the title was announced, Kehlani promoted the album using the initials 'SSS'
• Pop & Oak handled the bulk of the production
• Jahaan Sweet, the musical director and producer from the earlier mixtapes, also worked on the album
• The album was inspired by TLC's CrazySexyCool
• Natasha Bedingfield, Colbie Caillat, Gwen Stefani and Pink were cited as the biggest inspirations
• Kehlani described the album as 'more fun and aggressive' than earlier work

Recording

• The recording process began with the Philadelphia sessions
• Mixing is credited to Larrabee Sound Studios in Los Angeles
• An engineering credit names Atlantic Studios in Hollywood

Cover

• Kehlani revealed the album cover on November 30, 2016
• The album title was announced on November 27, 2016 via Twitter

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Tracklist

Sources: musicbrainz.org

Artist

Formation

• Kehlani Ashley Parrish, born April 24, 1995, in Oakland, California, an American singer, songwriter and dancer.
• Started as a member and lead vocalist of the teen pop group PopLyfe in 2011, after appearing on America's Got Talent.
• Left PopLyfe after management and contractual disputes and began releasing solo mixtapes.

Career

• Self-released the mixtapes Cloud 19 (2014) and You Should Be Here (2015), both critically acclaimed.
• Signed with Atlantic Records; debut studio album SweetSexySavage (2017) peaked at number three on the Billboard 200.
• It Was Good Until It Wasn't (2020) peaked at number two; Blue Water Road (2022) peaked at number 13.
• Crash (2024) peaked at number 25; the single "Folded" (2025) peaked at number six on the Billboard Hot 100 and won Best R&B Performance and Best R&B Song at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards.
• Self-titled fifth studio album Kehlani released April 24, 2026.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Reception

At release

• Metacritic weighted average of 76 out of 100 based on 17 reviews, indicating 'generally favorable reviews'
• The Metacritic score ranks as Kehlani's third-highest, after You Should Be Here (2015) and before While We Wait (2019)
• Shahzaib Hussain of Clash gave 7 out of 10, saying the production can become repetitive but Kehlani's versatility lifts the more formulaic songs
• Nick Levine of NME gave 4 stars out of 5, saying the album is cohesive without feeling too samey
• Ryan B. Patrick of Exclaim! gave 8 out of 10, pointing to the intensely personal approach as a human side to the recordings
• Andy Kellman of AllMusic gave 4.5 stars out of 5, praising the vivid display of lows and highs, grief and pleasure
• Katherine St. Asaph of Pitchfork gave 7.0 out of 10, saying the album is at its best when it is most exuberant
• Barry Walters of Entertainment Weekly gave a grade of B, naming Piece of Mind and Everything Is Yours as standout tracks

Records

• Debuted at number three on the US Billboard 200
• First tracking week: 58,000 album-equivalent units, including 32,000 traditional album sales
• Kehlani's first US top-ten debut on the chart
• RIAA gold certification on June 29, 2018, for over 500,000 units combined in the United States
• Lead single Crzy peaked at number 85 on the Billboard Hot 100
• Distraction also peaked at number 85 on the Hot 100
• Gangsta, featured in the film Suicide Squad, peaked at 41 on the Hot 100, Kehlani's highest-charting song

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• Piece of Mind features vocals from Little Simz
• Several tracks reuse earlier songs: Undercover interpolates Akon's Don't Matter, Personal samples Aaliyah and Tank's Come Over, Too Much interpolates Aaliyah's More Than a Woman, and In My Feelings samples New Edition's If It Isn't Love
• Kehlani announced a world tour in support of the album on December 2, 2016; the tour began February 21, 2017 in Montreal
• Part of the European leg was cancelled because Kehlani had surgery on their stomach
• Crzy was performed on Jimmy Kimmel Live! to promote the album

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

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