Recognizable from Big Sean’s recent hit single “Beware” and Drake’s “From Time,” Jhené Aiko released his debut album “Souled Out” Sept. 9 — and the stand-alone effort deserves praise all on its own.
On the album, Aiko explores life lessons and heartbreak through the journey of a woman, who ultimately awakens, becomes enlightened and learns to let go of her former relationship.
Through this emotional rollercoaster, Aiko remains calm, lyrically conveying both psychedelic elements and a beautiful, complex collage of hip-hop beats and electronic elements in the background.
The lead single “To Love & Die” is lyrically dark and lovelorn. As she sings, “have mercy on me / Cause I’m just a prisoner of your army of one / But I’ll fight till the death or until your heart is won,” Aiko proves she will not give up on love. Space-like synthesizers and tripping drum loops add texture to the song’s passion.
Notable track “The Pressure,” meanwhile, is a personal account of the stress Aiko underwent to finish her debut album. Her vocals shine as she expresses her feelings toward recording in the studio for hours, lacking time to take care of anything else in her life — perfectly capturing an emotion that proves imminently relatable.
“Pretty Bird” is another gem, in which Aiko’s voice projects boldly over the drums playing in the background. The song becomes all the more poetic when the track’s featured artist, rapper Common, delivers a verse where he defines “a bird’s persona [is] to be free and honor / The sky, that’s when you really most high / Unafraid of the unknown and now we know why.” The song, a perfect blend of R&B and hip-hop, speaks for itself — especially given the lyrics’ free-spirited nature.
Overall, Aiko proves she is a force to be reckoned with in the music industry, showing that less is more in regards to musical composition and that alternative R&B is here to stay.
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