Reissued by
Atlantic on its seventh anniversary (minus "Act a Fool"),
Cloud 19 seemed like a favorable introduction to
Kehlani upon its original August 2014 release. The EP-length mixtape was eclipsed only eight months later by the Grammy-nominated
You Should Be Here, yet it wasn't a typical prelude, especially considering that it contained one of the year's most memorable contemporary R&B singles, "FWU" -- a track in a class with
Tinashe's "2 On" and
Usher's "Good Kisser."
Cloud 19 demonstrated that
Kehlani could draw inspiration from pop-R&B and neo-soul with equal finesse, write about complicated relationships in detail, and seduce with brazen slow jams. ~ Andy Kellman