Destination Jam: Our top 5 Jhené Aiko tracks that offer a relaxing rendezvous with the R&B singer's best work
With Jhené Aiko's new deluxe edition of her record-breaking LP 'Chilombo' causing a flood of comments on Twitter, it may be the perfect time for you to get acquainted with this enchanting R&B artiste. On today's Destination Jam, we have picked out five of her best tracks to satisfy your appetite before listening to the new album.
'The Worst'
One of our favorites, Aiko's 'The Worst', is a fitting first entry in today's playlist to highlight her ability to take the R&B genre up a notch with subtle mixologies. The track gets a jazzy piano groove, '80s-inspired dystopian synth over a snappy rhythm as Aiko sings of her regret towards falling in love with someone not right for her. The song also offers a sample from the 2003 single 'Excuse Me Miss' by Jay-Z.
'Sativa' ft Rae Sremmurd
Whether you use marijuana for recreational or medical purposes, 'Sativa', which features hip-hop duo Rae Sremmurd, manages to capture certain escapism that anyone can enjoy. The track's buttery nature is emphasized by beautiful harmonies between the collaborators, hypnotic visuals in the music video and minimalistic echoing music.
'While We're Young'
When it comes to the affairs of love and relationships, Aiko's lyrics offer something relatable and tangible. Over a soulful beat, Aiko effortlessly sings R&B vocal gymnastics with lyrics like, "Baby while we're young / I think we should do something crazy / Like say 'Fuck everyone' / And just run away from the daily routine / Yeah you know what I mean". The track featured on her sophomore album 'Trip' which released in 2017. The LP debuted at number five on the US Billboard 200.
Bed Peace (Explicit) ft Childish Gambino
If you haven't heard Aiko's music before, you may have noticed by now that her music is refreshingly relaxing. R&B generally adopts a sense of peace and crooning, but Aiko has a heightened sense of it. The breezy 'Bed Peace', featuring Childish Gambino explores the comforts of the bed and all the perks of sharing it with a partner. Aiko sings, "What I am trying to say is. That love is ours to make so we should make it. Everything else can wait. The time is ours to take so we should take it" in the melodic chorus. Kick back and hit play on the below music video.
'Spotless Mind'
Speaking of kicking back, 'Spotless Mind' takes relaxation a step further and gets a tropical holiday vibe. With silky smooth vocals and acoustic guitar riff-ing, 'Spotless Mind' will have you either nostalgic of days before the coronavirus quarantine era or fading into sleep with your earphones on to the sweet sound of this stunning track. The song appears on her debut studio album 'Souled Out' which released in 2014 and was written by Aiko in just 45 minutes using GarageBand during her tour with Lauryn Hill and Nas.
Destination Jam is a daily list of songs that will keep you entertained and grooving up top in lieu of feeling drained and losing the plot. Look out for a fresh selection of great tunes from MEA WorldWide to refresh your mood every day!
