Jhené Aiko

R&B singer Jhené Aiko Efuru Chilombo was born on March 16, 1988, in Los Angeles, California. She began her career as a teenager, contributing vocals to B2K releases and appearing in several of the group’s music videos. After signing with Epic Records, she recorded the planned debut album My Name Is Jhené, but asked to leave the label before its release to continue her education. Jhené Aiko resumed her recording career independently with the mixtape Sailing Soul(s) in 2011 and subsequently signed with No I.D.’s ARTium Recordings, distributed by Def Jam. Her appearance alongside Lil Wayne on Big Sean’s “Beware” in 2013 gave her a Top 40 entry on the Billboard Hot 100, while the EP Sail Out reached number eight on the Billboard 200 and produced “The Worst,” which earned a Grammy nomination for Best R&B Song. Her debut studio album, Souled Out, followed in 2014, reaching number three on the Billboard 200 and topping the R&B Albums chart. In 2016, she reunited with Big Sean as the duo Twenty88 for their self-titled collaborative album, then issued her second solo album, Trip, in 2017. Preceded by “Triggered (Freestyle),” Chilombo arrived in 2020 and featured Nas, Future, Miguel, H.E.R., John Legend, and Big Sean. The album reached number two on the Billboard 200 and received Grammy nominations for Album of the Year and Best Progressive R&B Album, while “Lightning & Thunder” earned a nomination for Best R&B Performance. Jhené Aiko returned in 2024 with “Sun/Son” and “Guidance,” the latter receiving another Grammy nomination, and completed 27 sold-out North American arena dates on the Magic Hour Tour. The 25-track retrospective The Magic Hour Collection followed in November 2024, marking the tenth anniversary of Souled Out. During 2025, she appeared on Lil Durk’s “Can’t Hide It” and Playboi Carti’s “Backd00r,” joined Chris Brown’s Breezy Bowl XX stadium tour, and released the solo single “Break.” Her fourth studio album, Westside Whimsy, arrived in September 2026 with contributions from Kendrick Lamar, Ab-Soul, Larry June, Tyga, and OHMA. The Los Angeles-inspired record debuted at Number 1 on both the Billboard 200 and Top R&B Albums charts, becoming Jhené Aiko’s first US chart-topping album.

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