In 2013, Aiko appeared on Big Sean's single "Beware", also featuring Lil Wayne, which became her first top 40 single on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. On December 16, 2011, Aiko signed a recording contract with American record producer No I.D.'s record label ARTium, distributed through Def Jam Recordings. In 2003, Aiko was set to release her debut album, My Name Is Jhené, through her labels Sony, The Ultimate Group and Epic however, the album was never released, with Aiko eventually asking to be released from the label in order to continue her education.In March 2011, Aiko made her return to music with the release of her first full-length project, a mixtape titled Sailing Soul(s). It was used as a marketing tool, suggested by Sony and Epic Records to promote Aiko through group and cultivate her own following. At the time, she was known as B2K member Lil' Fizz's "cousin", though she is not actually related to him. But what makes “Twenty88” such a compelling listen is the startling honesty and rawness it captures - even if it’s just fantasy.Jhené Aiko Efuru Chilombo (born March 16, 1988) is an American singer and songwriter, who embarked on her music career contributing vocals and appearing in several music videos for R&B group B2K.
Sean and Aiko make for a convincing couple. “I need you to tell me every emotion like now or never,” he responds, “Only two times I ever needed you was now and forever.” “I don’t mean to sound hysterical, but baby if you left it would be a historical disaster,” she sings. “What’s the difference between real love and fake love … You can feel the difference / And even though it changes over time / It stays consistent, I ain’t gonna lie though, It takes persistence,” Sean tenderly raps before Aiko offers a jab: “Don’t act like just a couple weeks ago you wasn’t … out here, disrespecting me.”īy the time the pair get to the overly sweet “London Bridge,” you’re hoping for a reconciliation - even if it’s short-lived.
The tumult of their union comes to a head on “Talk Show,” a smartly written back and forth that sees the lovers opening up about their relationship on a late night show. The bickering always leads to makeup sex, as detailed on the steamy, explicitly intimate “Push It.” This is a self-destructive couple that fights and drinks too much but can’t seem to keep their hands off each other. “Can’t believe I stayed faithful to someone so ungrateful, don’t you know there’s a line for my love,” Aiko quips on “Selfish” after her lover berates her for not being available for those late night texts - “No pics, no calls, no sexting, how could you be so selfish,” they shout at each other throughout the chorus. It’s exhausting, but it paints such a vividly accurate portrayal of tempestuous love it’s hard not to fall for both characters. Their union is mostly one of conflict, with the two consistently challenging one another before falling into warm reconciliations and exploding again.