"Folded" became her first song to enter the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100, becoming her most commercially successful song as a solo artist.[2] The track received critical acclaim by contemporary music critics and won both Best R&B Performance and Best R&B Song at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards.[3]
Background
“Folded” was created during a recording session in Miami, originally intended for a feature that ultimately did not materialize. To make use of the studio time, Kehlani and a team of producers experimented with new material. The beat of the song was originally intended for rapper Wale. Kehlani said: “The next day, we were listening to it and we realized, ‘Oh, this is so serious. This is such a crazy song.’ We almost had no idea, because we were just in the zone, it was so natural. There was no deep thought. It just happened.”[4][5]
Composition and lyrics
"Folded" is an R&B song that critics have noted shows inspiration from singer Brandy (who would later feature on a remix).[6] Over an instrumental composed of strings, guitar and drums,[5][7] Kehlani hopes to rekindle a romantic relationship with her lover.[5][7][8][9] The singer acknowledges that she may have overreacted in leaving her ex ("I know I didn't have to walk away / All I had to do was ask for space"),[9] before asking them to come pick up their clothes that they had left behind, which have also not been folded, yet.[5][8][9]
Critical reception
Upon its release, "Folded" received critical acclaim by contemporary music critics, who singled out the song’s lyricism and vocals for praise. Pitchfork, Los Angeles Times, Billboard, Rolling Stone and Complex listed it among the best songs of 2025.[10][6][11][12][13] Robin Murray of Clash called it "sensual and alluring".[14] Zachary Horvath of HotNewHipHop commented "Not only is it well written and conveys the proper emotions, the rhythm on it is infectious. The guitar melody hanging underneath the drums adds a sensual element that takes things up a notch. Of course, the vocals are buttery smooth making this a complete record overall."[7] Zsana Joyelle of Soul Bounce wrote "Lyrics like, 'I know it's getting cold out, but it's not frozen,' and, 'I don't need roses / Just need some flowers from my garden / Can't you go back to how you loved on me when you started?,' aren't just poetic, they truly capture the theme of longing. Sonically, the strings and the guitar loop under the beat complement Kehlani's voice perfectly. As always, the Oakland native brings smooth, captivating vocals and layered backgrounds that sound heaven-sent." She added, "A standout moment comes on the second hook. Kehlani makes a few changes to make this one different from the first with new riffs and runs, changes in rhythm and even holding out some notes longer than others. They even flirt with a key change as they shift tones on the lyrics, 'Meet me at my door while it's still open.'"[5]
Remixes
American rapper Max B released a remix to the song on his 2025 mixtape Public Domain 7.[15]
Remix EP
On October 22, 2025, Kehlani announced an EP of remixes, titled "Folded Homage Pack" featuring remixes with singers Brandy, JoJo, Mario, Ne-Yo, Tank, and Toni Braxton. The EP was released on October 24, 2025.[16]
Performances
In November 2025, Kehlani performed the song on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, featuring laundromat-inspired visuals.[17] In January 2026, she performed the song on video as part of Spotify's Live Room series.[18]
Music video
The music video for the song, directed by City James,, was released on June 26, 2025 through the singer's YouTube channel.[19][20]
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