Kehlani 10/21 @ UBC Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre - Vancouver

Grammy-nominated singer and songwriter, Kehlani brought The Crash World Tour to Vancouver on October 21st, reigniting R&B at her show and at the after-party she hosted at a local nightclub afterwards. The impressive 32-stop North American tour kicking off in early September brought choreo, set design and ambiance to the stage, highlighting the artistry of Kehlani, a well-known industry veteran who has been releasing music for the past decade.

Full gallery and review by Kianna Sumitani.

With an all-female lineup, fans were in for a treat, with Atlanta rapper Anycia bringing her charisma to kick off the night. With a relatively simple set, Anycia showcased her crowd control and on-stage personality in between performing hits including “BACK OUTSIDE” and “WIT ME.”

Next up was R&B girl group, Flo, hailing from the UK. Comprised of Jorja Douglas, Stella Quaresma, and Renée Downer showed class, vocality and dance throughout their 30-minute set. Formed in 2019 and signed to Island Records, this girl group has been turning heads as of late, even debuting their set in Canada this past summer in Toronto. With simple choreography and sharing of the centre stage, these artists are doing girl groups right, with each singer having their fair share of verses with the other two supporting their vocals throughout each song. Playing their hits, “Check”, “Cardboard Box” and “Caught Up”, Flo kept fans dancing and interacting throughout their entire set. It’s safe to say that we are eagerly awaiting the release of their album “Access All Areas”, set to drop on November 15th, 2024.

Kehlani’s Crash Tour has been a great showcase of musical and visual artistry, captivating fans at UBC Thunderbird Arena. Accompanied by a three-piece band and six dancers, Kehlani’s dynamic performances, smooth choreography, and engaging storytelling have kept audiences mesmerized. The setlist was a blend of new tracks from Crash with fan favourites, offering a 50-50 mix that includes everything from early hits like “The Way” to pandemic-era anthems like “Water.” As a way of fan interaction, the artist even brought up two younger attendees to dance on stage during “KEHLANI Remix (Featuring Kehlani)”, with the feature going viral online over the past few months.

Each performance is marked by Kehlani’s magnetic stage presence, with an effortless mix of style and strength that reflects her music’s duality—soft yet fierce, classic yet edgy. From the sultry opener "Next 2 U" to a nostalgic “Distraction” encore, Kehlani’s setlist balances emotional depth with high energy, creating an immersive, almost theatrical experience that resonates deeply with fans.

Highlights include the powerful, emotive rendition of "Crash," where Kehlani’s vocals and her dancers’ expressive moves create a near-cinematic moment, even surprising the Vancouver audience with a cover of Bruno Mars's "Marry You,". The show closed with “After Hours,” leaving fans on a high, as Kehlani thanked each city with genuine warmth and appreciation. As the tour nears its final dates, Kehlani continues to demonstrate her growth from a breakout star to a fully realized artist, leaving audiences curious and excited for what’s next for the 29-year-old talent.

All photographs were shot by Kianna Sumitani on behalf of The Hip-Hop Guru.

The night, however, was far from over for Kehlani, the singer hosting an after-party at Vancouver’s very own, Fortune Sound Club after the show. With a sold-out after-party, Fortune was packed with fans of the singer and those looking for a fun night out. Chels., a very well-respected local DJ played the whole night, sharing an incredible moment with Kehlani where the singer gave Chels. her flowers, praising her set to the crowd. While Vancouver’s music scene is undoubtedly smaller than Toronto's, it was admirable to see Kehlani and her team deciding to host an event while in the city, despite it being a Monday night. A recap and edit of this moment can be found below, with video and editing credits going to another extraordinary creative hailing from Vancouver, Mikeayes Terefe.