Jhené Aiko Efuru Chilombo (; born March 16, 1988) is an American R&B singer-songwriter. Aiko embarked on her musical career in 2002, as a backing vocalist and music video performer for R&B group B2K. To promote and cultivate her own following, she was marketed by their record label, The Ultimate Group as a “cousin” of group member Lil’ Fizz, despite them not being related. Her debut album, slated for a 2003 release through Epic Records, was shelved due to Aiko instead further pursuing her education.In March 2011, Aiko made her return to music with the release of her first full-length project, a mixtape titled Sailing Soul(s). In December of that year, she signed a recording contract with producer No I.D.’s record label ARTium Recordings, an imprint of Def Jam Recordings. Aiko’s mainstream breakthrough followed thereafter, as she co-performed on rapper Big Sean’s 2013 hit single “Beware” alongside Lil Wayne, which became her first top 40 single on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. In November of that year, she released her debut extended play (EP) Sail Out, which spawned the singles “3:16AM”, “Bed Peace” (featuring Childish Gambino) and “The Worst”—the latter received platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
Aiko released her debut studio album, Souled Out (2014) to critical and commercial success. Her second and third albums, Trip (2017) and Chilombo (2020), were met with continued success; the latter peaked at number three on the Billboard 200 and earned Aiko three Grammy Award nominations, including Album of the Year.
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