Leon Thomas & Kehlani, Dirt On My Shoes

In the seventh edition of Dazzling Duets (2025), R&B standouts Leon Thomas and Kehlani collaborate on “Dirt On My Shoes.”

Sometimes, two is better than one! That is the case when it comes to Dazzling Duets! On Dazzling Duets, we highlight ear-catching songs performed by two artists collaborating. These duets can be from any musical style, making Dazzling Duets a flexible, versatile column on The Musical Hype. In the seventh edition of Dazzling Duets (2025), Leon Thomas and Kehlani collaborate on “Dirt On My Shoes.” Let the dazzle begin!

R&B has cooled off, or so they say 😏.  They can’t sing like they used to, or so they say 😏. Well, folks, MAYBE the cure for what ails the genre is a duet between two of its freshest, most talented artists within the genre, Grammy winner Leon Thomas and Grammy nominee Kehlani (Kehlani Parrish). Thomas taps ‘Lani for the dazzling “Dirt On My Shoes”, the penultimate track from MUTT Deluxe: HEEL, released in 2025. “Dirt” features lots of cooks in the kitchen. Thomas and Parrish co-wrote the gem with Khris Riddick-Tynes, Alex Goldblatt, D. Phelps, Joseph McCue, and Freaky Rob (Rob Gueringer). From the production side of things, Thomas and Parrish co-produced with Goldblatt, Phelps, Riddick-Tynes, Freaky Rob, and Jester Beats.

Kehlani draws first blood, singing the first verse, pre-chorus, and chorus. She sounds amazing, wooing and wowing us with her angelic tone and expressiveness. Parrish asserts he deserves the truth, singing, “Can you just close your eyes / So you don’t see the mess I hide.” The lyrics resonate in the pre-chorus as Kehlani characterizes him as “damn mature” and admits, “And I didn’t think to pack / On the first night that we had / Came back with some baggage / The reason that I’m damaged.” Leon Thomas has a tough act to follow – Kehlani is beastly. But guess what? He brings it in the second verse, pre-chorus, and chorus.  She joins him sparingly during his verse and fully collaborates in the pre-chorus and chorus.  Like Parrish, Thomas has his shortcomings.  Brilliantly, he highlights, “You got post-therapy clarity / And I got good sex and sincerity.” He adds vulnerable lines like, “You saw my heart and said you wasn’t scared of me,” and “‘Cause I been playing this terribly, uh / Forget what’s fair to me / But you deserve serenity.” Like Parrish, Thomas sounds top-notch, bringing the melodies to life and impressing with his nuances. Their vocal chemistry is electrifying when they sing together, particularly on the centerpiece, the chorus:

“And I knew I messed up the room

I had dirt up on my shoes

And I still walked into you

I still walked into you (Oh)

Oh, it’s such a mess (A mess)

We can make it up in bed

Dirt all on my shoes (My shoes)

And I’m tracking it all over the house

Tracking it all over the house

Tracking shit all over the house (Oh)

Would you still want me walking around?

Still got me walking around (Oh).”

Ooh-wee, that is fire 🔥! Leon Thomas and Kehlani put their foot into “Dirt On My Shoes”.  The vocals are elite, the songwriting sumptuous, while the musical backdrop is utterly sublime – lush and chock-full of soul.  R&B is NOT dead. It is in good hands with Thomas and Kehlani, NO CAP!