Jhene Aiko

Jhené Aiko or simply Jhené, is an American singer-songwriter and recording artist from Los Angeles, California. Aiko began her musical career contributing vocals to several B2K releases in 2002. Jhene was set to release her self-titled debut album but the album was never released due to tension at the record label Epic, in which Aiko asked to be released from the label. 

Aiko then began to focus on school. She released a mixtape on March 16, 2011 entitled Sailing Soul(s) via her official website. In 2012, Aiko was also the opening act on the highly anticipated “Life Is Good/Black Rage” concert tour headlined by fellow American artists, rapper Nas and singer-songwriter Lauryn Hill. In June 2013, Aiko was featured on the Big Sean song “Beware”, which ended up reaching the Top 40 in the United States. 

This was her first song to chart on the US Billboard Hot 100. In October 2013, it was revealed Jhené Aiko would open for Canadian rapper Drake on his “Would You like a Tour?” concert tour. She had previously collaborated with Drake on his third album Nothing Was the Same (2013), lending her vocals on the tracks “Wu-Tang Forever” and “From Time”. Aiko then released her debut EP Sail Out, on November 12, 2013. “Bed Peace” featuring Childish Gambino was released as the album’s second single on September 17, 2013. 

The single’s artwork was inspired by John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s Bed-Ins for Peace protest against the Vietnam War. The EP features guest appearances from American rappers Vince Staples, Childish Gambino, Kendrick Lamar and Ab-Soul. The EP debuted at number eight on the US Billboard 200 chart, with first-week sales of 34,000 copies.