Not a lot of people can captivate their listeners in the realm of R&B anymore. Do you remember when Mary J. Blige soulfully wowed us on Jay Z’s “Can’t Knock The Hustle”? Do you remember when Jamie Foxx channeled his inner Ray Charles on Kanye West’s “Gold Digger”? Times like that were special. Despite R&B becoming a genre that just about every rapper thinks he can take on these days, a bevy of true R&B artists have found ways to engrave themselves into our minds and hearts. Jhene Aiko has provided us with records to sit back and marvel at. Whether we journey back into her debut mixtape Sailing Soul(s), her Sail Out EP, or her debut album Souled Out, Jhene’s storybook on detached relationships and promising love captured us. Not only has she proven she can hold her own, she has also showed listeners her ability to help instill that R&B feel into rap records. From collaborations with TDE’s Kendrick Lamar and ScHoolboy Q, to records with Big Sean, Wale, Casey Veggies, Logic, and more, she has left her stamp on hip-hop. While we anxiously await new music (or even better, a new album) from Jhene, we've decided to sit down and break down her top five features.
What are your favorites?
Childish Gambino Featuring Jhene Aiko - “Pink Toes”
Childish Gambino is one of the many rappers who engages in both singing and rapping. Despite many artists delving into that realm of artistry, he beats out a good percentage of them. For a long time, many speculated on a possible budding romance between Gambino and Jhene after she tapped him for a feature on her single “Bed Peace.” In 2013, she returned the favor and assisted him on his track “Pink Toes” from his Because the Internet album. The chemistry between the two was apparent, as Gambino and Jhene both glided together seamlessly over the smooth production. Rather than be reserved to hook duties, Jhene laid out a verse for Gambino, which worked out perfectly for both parties.
Kendrick Lamar Featuring Jhene Aiko – “Growing Apart”
It’s honestly totally awesome looking back at this track because both Kendrick and Jhene were just getting their feet wet. Both artists weren’t known by the masses at the time, and were working diligently in hopes of one day being recognized. Jhene can somewhat be considered an honorary TDE member and has been featured on many tracks including Ab-Soul’s “Terrorist Threats” and ScHoolboy Q’s “Sex-Drive.” Her feature on “Growing Apart,” was on Kendrick Lamar’s 2010 Overly Dedicated mixtape. Here, Jhene was assigned hook duties, while Kendrick valiantly rapped three verses, including this gem, “I hope to stay faithful, focused, and sanctified.” Jhene would later flip the record into a song of her own with the same title and use it for her mixtape Sailing Soul(s), which featured a verse from Kendrick.
J. Cole Featuring Jhene Aiko – “Sparks Will Fly”
Both J. Cole and Jhene shined on this record. Despite it being a stand-out collaboration, the record ended up being merely a bonus track on J. Cole’s Born Sinner album. Bonus track or not, this record was flames. Here, Jhene was on the cusp of stardom, having just been featured on tracks with Big Sean, Wale, and Ab-Soul. While J. Cole provided some potent bars – which is the norm for the Carolina rapper – Jhene masterfully owned the hook and bridge, leaving listeners wondering why the song wasn’t a single. This kind of airy and calm production allowed Jhene to thrive and enabled Cole to do what he does best. Who doesn't know a girl that was singing this on the train and dedicating it to her lost flame? Hopefully, these two can reunite again. Time will tell.
Schoolboy Q Featuring Jhene Aiko – “Fantasy”
The honorary TDE singer, Jhene, once again teamed up with a crew member here. "Fantasy" stemmed from ScHoolboy Q's 2011 project Setbacks. "Fantasy" served as one of her better guest appearances simply because the chemistry between her and Q is undeniable. That whole “Ride or Die” and “Bonnie and Clyde” demeanor was evident on that record. ScHoolboy scripted his verses in such a way that it sounded like he was conversing with Jhene the whole time. Jhene was able to woo us on the hook by responding to Q’s advances and referring to him as that "ni**a."
Drake Featuring Jhene Aiko – “From Time”
After people unearthed “July” – the first collaboration between Drake and Jhene – many clamored for a reunion. Their chemistry on “July” had a lot of people amazed. While many thought “July” was a potential single for Drake’s debut Thank Me Later, it actually lived on Jhene’s mixtape Sailing Soul(s). Of course, Drake and Jhene heard the echoes and linked back up. This time, she appeared on Drake’s third album Nothing Was The Same in 2013. Their effort, “From Time,” found Jhene delivering a conversational flow on Drake’s record. With Jhene lamenting on Drake’s indecision and fear of commitment, he responded back elegantly with two narrative verses detailing his strained relationships. The record became so popular and was highly received by the masses. On numerous occasions, Drake and Jhene performed the record together, including during his “Would You Like A Tour,” where she served as a supporting act.
