State In The Real – Penn State Music Scene

Jhené Aiko Releases "Sail Out EP"


You have most likely heard her voice before. She’s that unique voice that you hear singing along with hip hop heavy hitters such as Drake, Kanye West, J.Cole, Kendrick Lamar, Wale, and more.

Jhené Aiko has been on the music scene for more than 10 years, beginning her career as a female vocalist for former heartthrob boy-group B2K. If you were a die-hard B2k fan like me, you secretly wanted to be Jhené Aiko, and when her verses came on you belted out her lyrics at the top of your lungs as if it was YOU that was in the studio with B2K. No? That was just me? Oops. Haha. Anyway, Since then Aiko has played the background through song writing and features.  NOW… It’s time for her to shine!

Her voice, is so heavenly and soulful. Her sound… It’s like a new age R&B. Oh and not to mention, She is exotically BEAUTIFUL! When I’m listening to her songs I can’t help but bob my head to the beats but at the same time, my hips are swaying to her sweet melodies. She writes all of her songs as if it’s an open diary…as if she’s sharing a piece of her soul with you.

In early 2011, Aiko released a free mixtape, Sailing Soul(s), to tell her waiting fans, like myself, that she’s still here. Aiko calls herself a perfectionist when it comes to her music. Since the release of her mixtape she has been working to compile the perfect combination of tracks for her highly anticipated album Souled Out set to be released at the end of the year. As she was recording, she realized she had so many good tracks that couldn’t all possibly go onto the album. So she released Sailed Out EP as a preview of what she has in store. The EP features one of my favorites “Bed Peace” feat. Childish Gambino. It also includes a very raw and emotional “Comfort Inn Ending (Freestyle),”  which is about falling in love with the wrong person. You can download the EP here.

Check out Jhené Aiko’s cover of Tupac’s “Keep Your Head Up.” This is also one of my favorite snippets of her.

Isn’t she so cute?! GAAAAAH! 🙂 Girl Crush Alert!