Jhené Aiko Efuru Chilombo, born March 16, 1988, is an American singer who began her career as a member of the R&B group B2K, delivering vocals and appearing in many music videos. She was recognized as B2K member Lil’ Fizz’s “cousin” at the time, despite the fact that she is not connected to him.
It was offered by Sony and Epic Records as a marketing technique to promote Aiko through the group and create her own following. My Name Is Jhené, Aiko’s debut album, was intended to be released in 2003 by her labels Sony, The Ultimate Group, and Epic; however, the record was never released, and Aiko eventually asked to be freed from the company in order to finish her education.
Aiko made her musical comeback in March 2011 with the release of her first full-length record, a mixtape titled Sailing Soul (s). Aiko inked a recording contract with American record producer No I.D.’s record label ARTium on December 16, 2011, under the banner of Def Jam Recordings.
Aiko performed alongside Lil Wayne on Big Sean’s tune “Beware” in 2013, which earned her first top 40 single on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. Sail Out, her debut extended play (EP) for Artium and Def Jam, was released in November 2013.
Early Years of Jhene Aiko
Aiko was born in the city of Los Angeles. Her family originally lived in South Los Angeles, but when she was seven, her home burned down, so they relocated near Slauson Avenue, around View Park-Windsor Hills, Baldwin Hills, and Ladera Heights, where she was homeschooled until high school.
Her neighborhood is known as “Slauson Hills.” Aiko is the daughter of Christina Yamamoto and doctor Karamo Chilombo (born Gregory Wycliff Barnes). Her parents are no longer married.
Her sister, R&B artist Mila J, is of Spanish, Dominican, and Japanese origin, while her father is Native American, African-American, and German-Jewish. Her maternal grandfather is Japanese, and her maternal grandmother is Dominican Creole of Spanish descent.
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She took vocal training in Culver City, California, but stopped when she became pregnant unexpectedly. She gave birth to a baby girl named Namiko Love Browner when she was 20 years old.
The Career of Jhene Aiko
Jhene Aiko began her professional singing career at the age of 14 when she contributed vocals to various B2K releases in 2002. Chris Stokes became her manager after she signed a deal with The Ultimate Group.
Aiko rose to prominence at the time as rарреr Ll’ Fizz’s cousin, despite the fact that she is not connected to him. She began to appear on many of the B2K album songs, such as Santa Baby, Santa Hooked Me Up, and Pandemonium!
, and many others. She also appeared in O’Ryan’s debut video Take It Slow, B2debut K’s video Uh Huh, and on the soundtracks of Barbershop. She has already appeared as a featured artist on many albums before the age of 15, including The Master of Disguise, Byou, You Got Served, and The Proud Family.
Aiko wanted to release her debut studio album, My Name Is Jhené, in 2003, but the record was never published due to various obstacles. She chose to concentrate on her academics and left all record firms, including The Ultimate Group and Epic Records.
Jhene Aiko returned on March 16, 2011, with the release of her mixtape named Sailing Soul(s) via her official website JheneAiko.com, the mixtape having received over 400k downloads. Furthermore, the tape earned between $20 and $50 thousand.
This mixtape was created in collaboration with various well-known musicians, including Kanye West, Miguel, and Drake. Aiko received roughly $50,000 for her first countrywide tour, Enter the Void Tour, which she began in 2014.
In 2013, she released the EP Sail on Def Jam and ARTium. The extended play was a success, selling over 200,000 copies in the United States and peaking at number two on the US R&B/Hip Hop charts and number eight on the Billboard 200.
The EP also includes popular singles such as 3:16 AM, Bed Peace ft. Childish Gambino, and The Worst, which charted in the top ten in the United States. R&B music chart Jhene Aiko released her debut studio album Souled Out on Def Jam Recordings in May 2014.
She teamed with Cocaine 80s on the album’s lead track, To Love & Die, which peaked at number 20 in the United States. R&B music chart Her tune The Worst went viral and earned her a BET Centric Award in 2014.
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The trip, Aiko’s second studio album, was likewise well received when it was released in September 2017. The album was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America after selling over one million copies.
Jhen Aiko released her third studio album, Chilombo, on March 6, 2020, for which she received numerous prizes and acclaim. Her third album reached the top of the charts, bringing her a lot of popularity in the music industry. She was then given the opportunity to sing America the Beautiful before Super Bowl LVI.
Net Worth of Jhene Aiko
As of 2022, Jhene Aiko, an American singer, songwriter, and recording artist, has a net worth of $6 million US as stated by Biooverview. She began her career by delivering vocals and starring in a number of music videos for popular R&B and B2K groups. After being a part of the group, she became known as Lil’ Fizz’s cousin, despite not being related to him.
Honors and Accomplishments
Jhene Aiko has been working since she was a teenager, and her excellent singing career has won her a great deal of fame. She has been nominated for numerous awards, including the American Music Awards, the BET Awards, the NAACP Image Awards, the Grammy Awards, and the Soul Train Awards.
Her breakthrough tune The Worst earned her the Centric Award at the BET Awards in 2014. Furthermore, PETA ranked Jhene Aiko the sexiest vegetarian celebrity in 2016. She is also RIIA’s Platinum-certified artist.
Personal Life of Jhene Aiko
Jhene Aiko began dating the American musician O’Ryan in 2005. On November 19, 2008, Aiko gave birth to her first child, Namiko Love, at the age of 20. From 2005 until 2008, Aiko and O’Ryan were in a relationship for three years.
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Jhene Aiko’s connection with the American musical producer Dot da Genius began in September 2014. In March 2016, after one and a half years of dating, the couple wed. Shortly after deciding to separate, Jhene Aiko filed for divorce on August 9, 2016.
Big Sean and Jhene Aiko began dating around the close of the year 2016. After more than two years of dating, the pair parted up in December 2018. Reports indicate that Sean and Aiko resumed their romance in 2020.
