If no one has chosen an “it girl” for 2014 yet, then we nominate Jhené Aiko. From releasing her successful EP “Sail Out” last year to achieving chart-topping success and multiple BET Awards nominations for her single “The Worst,” the sun couldn’t be shining brighter on the L.A. native.
As she preps for release of her debut album, Aiko serves sinless beauty on VIBE Magazine’s dual Summer 2014 cover. In her cover story, she shares why she felt compelled to make singing a career after performing 702’s “I Still Love You” at her second-grade talent show. She explains how she had to mature quickly after having her daughter at 20 and expounds more on her debut album “Souled Out.” In addition, the feature story reveals that Aiko’s lyrical rawness could have been pioneered from Lil’Kim’s debut album “Hardcore” where she would recite the lyrics to Queen Bee’s raunchy tune “Dreams” in the schoolyard.
NEW SONG: Jhene Aiko Feat. Cocaine 80s – ‘To Love And Die’
Earlier today, Aiko released “To Love and Die” as the official first single to her debut album, which is expected to arrive later this summer.
Check out Jhené’s beauty photoshoot from the VIBE Summer issue and read excerpts from the interview.
On making singing a career after talent show:
“That was the first time that people heard me sing and they were like, ‘Oh, you should be a singer when you grow up.’ From that point on, I started singing every day and practicing.”
On maturing quickly after birthing her daughter, Namiko Love:
“I felt like an old woman trapped in a child’s body. I realized how much responsibility I had. Little things like going to the store to get toilet paper or dishrags makes you realize that you’re an adult.”
On debut album:
“This album, from top to bottom, sounds like you’re on a journey. Once you get to the last songs with my daughter, the songs where I’m talking about what life means.. it’s just enlightenment.”
Read the full entire interview here
