Just five weeks after the passing of her older brother Miyagi from brain cancer, Jhene Aiko respectfully presses on in preparation for her debut Def Jam album “Souled Out.” Her brother’s support, along with a music family upbringing, propelled her to pursue music under a label deal, even though she harbored deep skepticism after her last label deal fell through after being signed at the tender age of 12, and having her daughter four years ago.
“I grew up in a household where my dad always wanted to be a songwriter and a singer, my sisters were in a group and my brother was singing, and so they’re all supportive. Even the ones that aren’t in music are happy to see me doing something productive, ’cause when I had my daughter everyone was sorta like nervous. They didn’t know how that was gonna go,” she told the Boombox during a studio session.
That support, especially from her late brother Miyagi, makes her feel ‘unstoppable.’ Aiko penned a song “For My Brother” and played it for him during his last moments, a fitting tribute to her musical mentor. “”He was a fan of my music, he would listen to it on his own. Amazing, you know, your brothers and sisters, you’re not sure if they’re gonna make fun of you or whatever, and he was always just really supportive.”
Despite her loss, she feels more confident and empowered than ever before about moving forward with the project. “I personally feel like he’s more here than ever,” she says. “I feel like his energy was just divided between me and my brothers and sisters.” The songtress feels it’s her duty to honor his memory through music, which stem from their dreams and ambitions. “All of the ideas that we talked about, and all of the things he wanted to do, those are all mine now. That’s my job now, to get those done.”
The first thing on the to-do list is to finish her debut LP “Souled Out,” the follow up to her popular mixtape “Sailing Soul(s)” which featured guests spots by Drake, Kendrick Lamar, Miguel, and Kanye West. And Aiko wants to continue the collab trend. She rattles off the names of artists she wants on her debut effort.
“I’m looking forward to collaborating with Kid Cudi. It’s on my wish list, I’m not gonna say, you know, that he’s gonna be on there,” she clarifies. “Big Sean, some of the TDE cats may make an appearance on there. Another one on my wish list is Eminem, ’cause I love him. And, yeah, Frank Ocean. I really want to get Frank Ocean on there.” No reason why that collaboration wish-list wouldn’t make it on “Souled Out” with her drive seeded by her family and late brother’s support.
Jhene Aiko has been making waves in the music industry. From her timeless albums to her iconic collaborations, she is no stranger to success and admiration. Recently, Jhene Aiko opened up about some of her wishes for future collabs as well as memories of her late brother’s support during a candid interview. In this article, we’ll explore what Jhene had to say and take an in-depth look at how his memory still lives on today.
The Los Angeles native has drawn attention from all over the world with fans eager to hear more from their favorite artist. Her latest album Chilombo was released earlier this year and features tracks like “Sativa,” which earned her a nomination for Best Rap/Sung Performance at the 2021 Grammy Awards. But it isn’t just award nominations that make Jhene stand out; many have noticed her message of self-love and empowerment embedded within every song she releases.
Now, Jhene is ready to share even more music with us – through upcoming collaborations! During an exclusive interview, she shared some insight into who she would love to work with next as well as fond memories of when her brother supported her journey into becoming a musician. Get ready because there’s so much more to come from our beloved singer-songwriter!
Jhene Aiko’s Collaboration Aspirations
Jhene Aiko has always been inspired by collaborations, often expressing a desire to work with some of her favorite artists. As she looks back on her career and ahead to the future, Aiko’s hopes for working with other musicians remain just as strong. From reflecting on past experiences to appreciating the support of her late brother, Jhene Aiko continues to be motivated in every collaboration opportunity that comes her way.
Aiko’s enthusiasm for collaborating is rooted in positive memories from earlier times in her career. She fondly remembers having memorable moments surrounded by people who shared the same vision. “I love creating music with people I actually vibe with,” Aiko said about those special collaborations. Even when faced with challenges or unfamiliar situations, she found comfort knowing there was someone else around who understood what it felt like to create art together.
Outside of musical projects, Aiko also cherishes the support received during her journey from her late brother Miyagi Hasani Ayo Chilombo. He believed in his sister even before anyone else did and pushed best practices upon their initial success. His influence still resonates today: whenever Jhene embarks on a new project, she carries Miyagi’s spirit along with her. With this motivation driving her forward, Jhene Aiko remains committed to finding inspiring partnerships that can bring out something new and powerful through collaboration.
Recollections Of Brotherly Encouragement
As she looks back on her career, Jhene Aiko fondly remembers the unwavering encouragement of her late brother Miyagi. From their earliest days dreaming up music together to their later successes, he was a constant source of inspiration and support. He pushed for best practices even before they had seen much success and believed in his sister’s potential long before anyone else did. His influence still resonates today when she embarks on any new project.
Miyagi’s memory is something that drives Jhene forward whenever she has the opportunity to collaborate with other musicians. She finds solace in knowing there is someone out there who understands what it feels like to create art together. This understanding helps push through challenging or unfamiliar situations that may arise during the collaboration process.
Aiko strives to find inspiring partnerships which can bring out powerful music that stands alone from either artist’s individual sound. With this motivation driving her forward, Jhene continues to express enthusiasm for every chance at creating something special with another musician.
Conclusion
I feel motivated by Jhene Aiko’s ambition to collaborate with other artists. Her passion for music and her commitment to making meaningful connections is inspiring. I’m also touched by the memories of support from her brother, who encouraged her creativity and growth in the industry.
His influence was undoubtedly a major factor in shaping Jhene into an artist whose name has become synonymous with excellence. His legacy lives on through her artistry as she continues to push herself to create even more beautiful sounds together with others.
It’s comforting to know that there are people out there like Jhene Aiko – musicians who use their talent not only for entertainment, but also as a way of connecting with each other and honoring those they’ve lost along the way. We can all learn something from this kind of resilience and determination, no matter what our profession may be.
