Brandy, Ne-Yo, Toni Braxton and more

A true remix in every sense of the word, Tank’s version completely reinvents Kehlani’s original: not only Billboards No. 67 Best R&B Artist of All Time delivers entirely new verses, he also completely rejuvenates the song’s production with an original composition consisting of brooding drums, dark woodwinds, and finger-picked guitar. “I can give them (Folded)/All your laundry (Folded)/Damn, I wish you (Folded)/When I tried to put you back in the fold,” he sensually croons in the second half, maximizing the emotional weight of his churchy riffs and delicate falsetto. Tank’s version is a bold and mostly successful song, but stripping “Folded” of its original production is a risk he perhaps didn’t need to take.

Brandy, who is currently on her joint tour with Monica The Boy Is Mine, was one of the first artists to tease a remix of “Folded” from a recording booth, and the final project is as meticulously layered as one would expect from a vocal Bible rework of a song already heavily inspired by Brandy. Instead of dishing out her own advice or affirmations, Brandy delivers what she’s always done best: seemingly endless stacks of pristine counter-harmonies filtered through her gloriously raspy tone. From the a cappella moment at the very top of the song to the way its added harmonies anchor the bridge, Brandy’s “Folded” remix is ​​for people obsessed with dusk-to-dawn vocal arrangements.

This year, Toni Braxton celebrated her birthday by giving Kehlani a gift: yet another “Folded” remix that bridges the generations. “Advice from a little big sister,” she croons in her goosebump-inducing voice, before warning: “No matter what you do or say, they’re going to make up a story/They’re going to lie to you, cheat on you, and that’s not even the crazy part.” Taking on an advisory role was a wise choice for Toni, whose raspy contralto blends beautifully with Kehlani’s honeyed tone. Adding some lyrical and tonal tension to the mix, Toni’s version tastefully elevates Kehlani’s hit.

When he’s not giving us a glimpse into his life with four girlfriends or shoving fans who rush the stage in the middle of a performance, Ne-Yo still uses the inimitable pen that made him one of the shining stars of 2000s R&B. For his version of “Folded,” Ne-Yo uses the same slightly toxic, but ultimately well-intentioned, hope for reconciliation that grounds Kehlani’s original. “I’d be lying if I told you I didn’t miss you/I said I didn’t want to kiss you now,” he croons, his tone still as bright and warm as ever. The only thing missing from his version are a few ad-libs scattered throughout the outro.

JoJo has been known to appear on a remix or two; we all remember where we were the first time we heard his version of Drake’s “Marvin’s Room.” For her version of “Folded,” JoJo takes on the role of peer, empathizing with Kehlani as she recounts her own battles with low-quality men. “Somehow with you I forgot all my rules/You made me feel safe/With the tissues now on the sheets, when we lay/In the bed where we made love and this house a home,” she croons, clinging to quaint memories of the days when loving was easy. Whether she’s slipping to the limits of her whistle range or pulling off the mind-blowing, effortless runs and riffs with which she first enchanted the country 20 years ago, Jojo is firmly in the driver’s seat on her “Folded” remix. In fact, it almost feels like it’s a brand new JoJo song.

Among all the guests of the Folded Tribute PackMario best matches Kehlani’s lyrical directness, underlying apprehension, and vocal conviction. While others completely transform the song, focus on amping up specific elements or introduce new characters into the narrative, Mario does justice to the EP’s title, helping to complete “Folded” as the ultimate homage to 2000s R&B. From the rapid agility of its cadence to the deliciously crunchy harmonies of their first shared chorus, Mario infuses “Folded” with its innate 2000s edge. 2000, without ever sacrificing the emotional intimacy and romantic tension at the center of it all. “I’m giving space, but patiently, I’ll wait for you to tell me,” he sings, before breaking into a chorus that’s home to some of the steamiest vocal chemistry on the entire EP.