Who is she? Where did she come from? In the last few years, you've heard her angelic voice either on the hook or in the background of numerous hip hop songs. Collaborating with everyone one from Kendrick Lamar, to Drake, to Childish Gambino, to Common and so on. Meet Jhené Aiko. Technically speaking she not "new". She's been in the music industry for close to a decade. But as of late, she has become the new "it" girl in R&B. Her gorgeous looks, her calm and mellow demeanor and her overall laid back down-to-earth ora instantly pulled people in. Including myself. So it's easy to understand the overwhelming anticipation for this. Her major label debut Souled Out. Late last year she dropped an EP titled Sail Out which pretty much propelled her further into the spotlight. One of the songs featured on it was "The Worst", which was one of this years biggest R&B hits. I myself thought the EP was fantastic. I mean there's no way she could top that right? Wrong! This album is just as fantastic if not more. Everything from Jhene's vocals, to her lyrics, to the outstanding production just made this album so enjoyable on all levels. She gives us a perfectly done concept album chronicling her journey from sadness and depression to happiness and joy. Which explains why the album cover kinda shows her ascending from darkness to the light. It's an album filled with tons of story and emotion and will move you. Here's the song by song break down:
1. Limbo Limbo Limbo
Like any story telling concept album, she starts off by taking you back to the beginning. Detailing (in third person) how her life then was nothing but an emotional roller coaster. She describes it in the hook as her "life being on a ride". Then she gets into talking about a guy I'm assuming she was involved with and how he's changed into something he wasn't before and how much she hates it. I loved the slow drums and the bass on this production. Well produced by Dot Da Genius. This was a great way to start this album.
2. W.A.Y.S.
This is pretty much a dedication to her brother who passed away. She talks about an angel that comes to her at night and tells her to basically fight off all the negativity and the evils around you because things are gonna get better. Your future will be brighter. Again, another outstanding production with dope crashing, echoing drums. Very powerful song. (FYI: The title is an acronym that stands for "why aren't you smiling?". A saying her brother always used to tell her).
3. To Love & Die (featuring Cocaine 80s)
When a woman is head over heels in love, no telling what she may do or say. That's the message I get here from this song. She talks about fighting until the death to get "his" love and affection. In the hook she says "where I'm from we live by the love die by the love". Which is a play on the saying "live by the gun die by the gun". I really loved the dark hypnotic sounds of this production. It kinda gives you that trippy feel. I also like the little sampling she did of 50 Cent's "Many Men (Wish Death)". Definitely one of my favorites.
4. Spotless Mind
I like the very relaxed, tropical island vibe this gives off. Like your just laying in a hammock basking in paradise. Anyway, this song finds herself in a day dream where she talks about different places of love she's visited. Calling herself (and him) a wanderer in the hook. Quite fitting seeing as how this song does make you feel like your in some sort of dream state. I like it.
5. It's Cool
I have to give major props to No I.D. He put in foot into this album with the production. Seriously. This has a vintage smooth jazz sound to it that sounds excellent. Here she talks about a guy who at first she only had a sexual attraction for but in grew into fully falling in love with him. To the point where she's always thinking about him and showing up to his door all the time and so on. Sounds like she's thirsty to me. But overall this is a good song to. I'm sure plenty females will relate to this struggle.
6. Lyin King
Right when I read the title I already knew what this would probably be about. Some "ain't shit nigga" she used to be with that treated her wrong. I was right. Apparently dude lied to her, played too many games and was just straight up immature. Another one females will strongly relate to. Another great song despite the male bashing.
7. Wading
This has another one of those slow, dreamy "bedtime" beats that just relaxes you. Judging by the lyrics, she's talking about a guy who's interested in her but is too afraid or intimidated to approach her. So she just lowly drifts away from him. Once again another relatable topic. Cool song.
8. The Pressure
This hand down my favorite beat on the entire album. It's the only one that has a true hip hop sound. Much props to Fisticuffs on the production. It's a bit hard to make out what she' talking about here. Seems to me like she's discussing the pressure of keeping it real with her significant other. Or in relationships in general not just her. As pretty and sweet as she is, let's not forget she's from Los Angeles and I just love how she flexes her gangsta in the lyrics: "major weed smoke in the air/pass it like you just don't care/have you seen my fucks to give/I have none I cannot live with". Love it.
9. Brave
This was a pretty cool song. The acoustic-like guitar on here is dope. She sings as if she's speaking to her man. Telling him that she's not perfect and she can be difficult to deal with. In short, he's a brave man for stepping up, being a man and just deal with it because the love is so strong. A bit complicated to understand at first but it makes sense after a few listens. Good to see a woman admitting her flaws when it comes to relationships. Not many like to. Anyway this song was cool.
10. Eternal Sunshine
It took me a minute to jump on this song mostly because it's a bit difficult to make out what she's discussing here. However, I do like the enchanting pianos on the beat. Sounds very soulful and spiritual. Nice song overall.
11. Promises (featuring Miyagi and Namiko)
I can guarantee you no song on this album will touch your heart more than this one. This song is a dedication and/or message to her late brother Miyagi and her daughter Namiko. She begins talking to her daughter telling her how much she always misses her when shes away and just basically tells her that she will always be there for her to protect her and keep her safe. Just a loving message from a mother to her little girl. If that wasn't enough, her daughter actually sings on the hook. It's rather...adorable. Then she begins talking about her brother and how much she and her daughter misses him so much. You can just feel the strong love and emotion in this song. If you're a very emotional person it might be enough to make you break down and shed a tear. Absolutely beautiful song.
12. Pretty Bird (freestyle) (featuring Common)
This song closes out the album in perfect fashion. It basically describes her as a pretty song bird finally being free and flying into the sky. Free from all the pain, heart break and depression. She has made it. Common's spoken word-like verse really brings it to home towards the end. It's a great song and a great way to end such a triumphant album and story.
Overall, I absolutely loved this album. It's the best R&B debut maybe since Frank Ocean's Channel Orange. The overall radiant and spiritual vibes of this album just makes you fall in love with it. I give it a final grade of an A+. Jhené Aiko is most certainly a breath of fresh air not just to R&B but to music as a whole. Her lyrics, her voice, her topics. There's just not many others in the industry like her at all. Between this album and Sail Out I have indeed become a fan. This without a doubt is a start to what I believe could become a legendary career. I don't throw that L word around often but in this case, there's just no other way to describe it. She is without a doubt, in every way, a living angel. I hope she's here to stay. End.
Final Grade: A+
CREDITS
Executive Producers
Jhené Chilombo
Ernest Wilson
Ketrina Askew
Lead Artist
Jhené Chilombo
Production
Ernest Wilson
Oladipo Omishore
Brinton Ewart
Stephen Bruner
Michael Volpe
Brian Warfield
Mac Robinson
Dwane Weir II
Collaboration
James Fauntleroy
Svein Berge
Torbjorn Brundtland
Lonnie Lynn
Label
Artium/Def Jam Recordings
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