Brandy, Ne-Yo, Toni Braxton & More

A true remix in every sense of the word, Tank’s version completely reimagines Kehlani’s original: Not only does Billboard’s No. 67 Best R&B Artist of All-Time deliver entirely new verses, he also completely rejuvenates the song’s production with an original composition comprised of moody drums, somber woodwinds, and finger-picked guitar. “I can give ’em (Folded)/ All your linen (Folded)/ Damn, I’m wishing you (Folded)/ When I tried to get 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 ballsy sing and mostly successful, but stripping “Folded” of its original production is a risk that he might not have needed to take.

Brandy, who’s currently soldiering through her and Monica’s joint The Boy Is Mine Tour, was one of the first artists to tease a “Folded” remix from a recording booth, and the final project is as meticulously layered as one would expect from a Vocal Bible rework of an already heavily Brandy-inspired song. Instead of giving her own verse of advice or affirmation, Brandy delivers what she’s always done best: seemingly endless stacks of pristine counterharmonies filtered through her gloriously raspy tone. From the a cappella moment at the very top of the song to the way her additional harmonies ground the bridge, Brandy’s “Folded” remix is for the people who obsess over vocal arrangements from dusk till dawn.

This year, Toni Braxton celebrated her birthday by giving a gift to Kehlani: yet another generation-bridging “Folded” remix. “Lil big sis advice,” she croons in her trademark goosebump-inducing voice, before warning, “No matter what you do or say, they’re gonna build a story up/ They’re gonna lie to you, cheat on you, and that’s not even the craziest part.” Stepping into an advising role was a smart choice for Toni, whose husky contralto pairs brilliantly with Kehlani’s honeyed tone. Adding some lyrical and tonal tension to the mix, Toni’s take 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 mid-performance, Ne-Yo is still flexing the inimitable pen that made him one of R&B’s shining stars across the ’00s. For his take on “Folded,” Ne-Yo employs the same slightly toxic, but ultimately well-meaning, hope for reconciliation that grounds Kehlani’s original. “I would be lying if I told you I didn’t miss you/ Said that I didn’t wanna kiss you right now,” he croons, his tone still as bright and as warm as ever. The only thing his version is missing is a few ad-libs sprinkled throughout the outro.

JoJo is known to turn up on a remix or two; we all remember where we were the first time we heard her version of Drake’s “Marvin’s Room.” For her take on “Folded,” JoJo assumes the role of peer, commiserating with Kehlani as she recounts her own battles with no-good men. “Somehow with you I forgot all my rules/ You made me feel safe/ With fabrics off now on the sheets, when we laying/ In the bed where we made love and this house a home,” she croons, holding onto picturesque memories of times when loving was easy. Whether she’s creeping into the edge of her whistle register or nailing the mind-bogglingly effortless runs and riffs that she first enchanted the country with 20 years ago, Jojo is firmly in the driver’s seat for her “Folded” remix. In fact, it almost feels like it’s a whole new JoJo song.

Out of all the guests on the Folded Homage Pack, Mario is the one who most perfectly matches Kehlani’s lyrical frankness, underlying apprehension, and vocal conviction. While others completely transform the song, zero in on amplifying specific elements, or introduce new characters to the narrative, Mario does justice to the EP’s title, helping round out “Folded” as the ultimate homage to 2000s R&B. From the swift agility of his cadence to the deliciously crunchy harmonies in their first joint chorus, Mario infuses “Folded” with his innate Y2K-ness, without ever sacrificing the emotional intimacy and romantic tension at the center of it all. “I’m givin’ space, but patiently I’ll be waitin’ for you to tell me,” he sings, before entering a chorus that houses some of the steamiest vocal chemistry across the whole EP.