Last month, Keyshia Cole went head-to-head with Ashanti for the first “Verzuz” battle of 2021. Despite the delays both prior to and during the actual stream, it proved to be a huge success — not only did 6 million Instagram viewers tune in, both artists amassed more than 11 million streams post-event.

Shortly thereafter, Ashanti used the momentum to release a new single titled “2:35 (I Want You),” along with an accompanying visual to match. Now, Keyshia Cole makes her big return with the emotionally charged ballad “I Don’t Wanna Be In Love,” which initially premiered during the aforementioned battle and sees production from Ron Fair, Brian Vincent Bates, and Cole herself.

Keeping with the theme of previous efforts, “I Don’t Wanna Be In Love” sees Keyshia crying her heart out to an apparent close friend with benefits that has a committed relationship of their own:

“We both got a situation, hesitation, whenever we hook up, it’s all love, never any expectations, I know you went much further/

I met your girl, never wanna hurt her, never wanna be that chick, but lately, this is really feeling like torture…/”

Keyshia Cole’s last full-length effort, 11:11 Reset, was released back in 2017 and boasted 11 cuts with additional features from DJ Khaled, Remy Ma, French Montana, Young Thug, Kamaiyah, and Too $hort. The project was also her first under a new deal with Epic Records at the time — 11:11 Reset’s predecessor, 2014’s Point Of No Return — made landfall via Interscope. Now, it looks like she’s going the independent route, having released “I Don’t Wanna Be In Love” through her own Hearts and Stars imprint.

Press play on Keyshia Cole’s “I Don’t Wanna Be In Love” below. As she hinted at via social media, her eighth album is on the way.