American singer Kehlani shows celebrities how it’s done by dedicating song ‘Next 2 U’ to Palestine

In a bold display of solidarity, American singer-songwriter Kehlani released a new song titled Next 2 U which she dedicated to all those suffering in Palestine, especially since Israel's escalated violence after October 7. 

The announcement came via an Instagram post on Friday, accompanied by a poignant caption featuring a quote from author-activist Toni Cade Bambara: “The role of the artist is to make the revolution irresistible.” The post showcased stills from the music video, depicting Kehlani and her dancers performing against the backdrop of the Palestinian flag, clad in Keffiyeh suits.

In a candid note beneath her post, Kehlani confessed her apprehension as an artist, grappling with the dileMMA of releasing music amidst profound global crises. She vulnerably admitted, “As an artist, I was nervous, terrified, worried after losing so much of what I’d valued for an album I worked incredibly hard on, to my humanity. Paired with the crippling wonder of what music is appropriate to drop during the most historical tragedies of our generation. I remembered my favourite revolutionary poets, singers and filMMAkers. I remembered how much of an impact we have.” 

She continued to say, “I listened to this song enough to recognise a love song is a protector's song, is revolution.” Though the song's lyrics do not directly address Palestine, Kehlani imbues the work with a profound message by interweaving imagery of Palestinian resistance. The music video concludes with a solemn acknowledgement of the children killed by Israeli forces. “We tried to make a scroll honouring the names of thousands of deceased children,” it read. “The list was so long that our fastest scroll at three minutes was illegible.” Instead, the singer urged viewers to read the list of names “at your own pace”.

As she reflected on the making of the music video in her caption, Kehlani revealed that her creative partner and the creative producer of the music video, Sally Sujin Oh prioritised hiring Palestinians on set. “Thank you, my creative partner in crime for hiring Palestinians on set and for ensuring every person felt safe,” penned the singer. She also thanked her stylist, Briana Andalore, who was responsible for all the Keffiyeh suits made.

The Nights Like This singer ended her note with, “This was merely a reflection of pain, of anger, of support… A reflection of the pinkwashing, the silencing, the negative portrayal, the fear-mongering. There is gentle where there is fierceness. There is beauty in the radical. I’m scared by the way, but I’m just trying to be where my feet are. Here, now. Always and forever.”

Kehlani also made merchandise available for the song which can be found on her official website, the proceeds of which would be donated to Palestinian, Congolese and Sudanese families. The After Hours singer’s announcement immediately went viral as she received widespread recognition online and multiple netizens appreciated her unabashed support for Palestine. A user stated, “This is how you use your voice,” while another wrote, “That’s awesome! Kehlani always stays true to her beliefs.” 

Kehlani's outspoken stance on the issue echoes her previous criticism of fellow celebrities' silence on the Palestinian crisis. In a scathing tweet, she revealed she had “not an ounce of respect” for musicians who sought collaboration yet remained silent on pressing global issues, as reported by The Independent. 

In a video she posted on Instagram, she also called out those celebrities that were wearing ceasefire pins, but not taking any other substantive action. “Your little ceasefire pins aren’t enough either, there I said it,” said Kehlani. Her advocacy resonated deeply and reached those in Rafah when an image surfaced of Palestinian children holding a sign that read, “Thank you Kehlani for supporting Gaza children.” Her appeal came after Israel fired missiles into an encampment in Rafah, which was formerly a safe zone. Just days after Israeli forces were ordered to cease all activities in the region by the International Court of Justice, an assault claimed the lives of over 45 individuals, as per reports from Al Jazeera.

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