In 2007, she made a return to music, in an interview she spoke on the choice saying “Shortly before I conceived my daughter, I stepped back into the field and took a meeting with a label head. She then began to focus on school and continue her education.
She released a video for her single " NO L.O.V.E" (re-recorded from Tha' Rayne version in 2002) which debuted on BET's 106 & Park when she was 15 years old.Īiko was set to release her debut album, then-titled My Name Is Jhené, however the album was never released due to tension at the record label Epic, which ultimately led to Aiko asking to be released from the label. Jhené also has songs featured on the soundtracks of Barbershop, The Master of Disguise, You Got Served, The Proud Family, and Byou. (Part 2)" featuring Lil' Fizz video and Morgan Smith's 2004 video " Blow Ya Whistle". Her song " Dog" appeared as a bonus track.Īiko also appeared in numerous music videos including O'Ryan's debut video, " Take It Slow", B2K's debut video " Uh Huh" and " Why I Love You", P.Y.T.'s " Same Ol' Same Ol' (Remix)" featuring Sarai, Play's " M.A.S.T.E.R. " Santa Baby", a cover she recorded, was also featured on their album Santa Hooked Me Up and she appeared as a guest vocalist on the song " Tease" from Pandemonium!.
She featured on tracks five through eight of the R&B group's remix album B2K: The Remixes - Volume 1. She served as the opening act for B2K on their Scream Tour 3.Īiko began her musical career contributing vocals to several B2K releases in 2002. When B2K signed with Epic Records, Jhené was signed as well. This led to Jhené’s first meeting with producer Chris Stokes when she was five years old, and eventually he heard her sing. And then everyone else is pretty much like mixed." Her older sisters Miyoko and Jamila were in the R&B group Gyrl and toured with Immature, who were signed to MCA/Silas Records. That’s the only percentage I know for sure because it’s my grandfather's. Aiko has also stated that she has French ancestry and has stated regarding her ancestry, "I’m a quarter Japanese. She often states her ethnicity as "Japanese, African American, Native American, etc." based on percentages but identifies with all parts of her heritage. She is of mixed race background-her mother is of Japanese, Spanish, and Dominican descent, while her father is of African American, Yaqui, Choctaw, Cherokee, Navajo, and German Jewish descent. Karamo Chilombo (birth name Greg Barnes), a pediatrician. Jhené Aiko was born and raised in Los Angeles, California, the daughter of Christina Yamamoto and Dr. She has been described as having gentle and pop-tinged vocals. 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. It was used as a marketing tool suggested by Sony and Epic to promote her through the R&B group B2K and attract an audience, though Aiko affirms that she and Lil' Fizz grew up together and were close like family. Aiko began her career being known as " Lil' Fizz's cousin", however she is not actually related to him. Formerly signed to The Ultimate Group and Epic Records, she left both labels in order to continue her education. I kind of went really hard, but don’t think that this is a personal letter to you.Jhené Aiko Efuru Chilombo (born March 16, 1988), better known as Jhené Aiko or simply Jhené, is an American singer-songwriter and recording artist from Los Angeles, California.
"You didn’t hurt anyone, you know? I feel like, especially because we have a personal relationship, and a true friendship, that’s why I could play it for him, and be like, ‘Yeah, sorry. “Those are the things that I may feel, and I know that they are irrational and coming from just an angry emotional place, but that’s what’s so beautiful about art is that you can just throw paint on a blank canvas, and do something crazy and that’s your release," she added. This is not 100 percent about you,'” Aiko said. “He was just like, ‘Wow, I’m not your friend.’ I was like, ‘Well, I was feeling that in the moment. She also shared Sean's initial reactions to the song. Many thought she was talking about Sean, and in a new interview with Essence, the singer revealed that while the breakup influenced the song, it wasn’t only about Sean. Jhené Aiko and Big Sean recently got back together after breaking up last year.Īround the time of their split, Aiko released the single “Triggered (Freestyle),” where she unpacked her grievances, sadness, and anger with an ex.