On December 16, 2011, Aiko signed a recording contract with American record producer No I.D.'s record label Artium, distributed through Def Jam Recordings. She has been described as having gentle and pop-tinged vocals. [Tyler Antonius]
Jhené Aiko was born and raised in Los Angeles, California, the daughter of Christina Yamamoto and Dr. Karamo Chilombo (birth name Greg Barnes), a pediatrician. She is of mixed race background—her mother is of Japanese, Spanish, and Dominican descent, while her father is of African American, Yaqui, Choctaw, Cherokee, Navajo, and German Jewish descent. She often states her ethnicity as "Japanese, African American, Native American, etc." based on percentages but identifies with all parts of her heritage. Aiko has also stated that she has French ancestry and has stated regarding her ancestry, "I’m a quarter Japanese. That’s the only percentage I know for sure because it’s my grandfather's. And then everyone else is pretty much like mixed." Her older sisters Miyoko and Jamila were in the R&B group Gyrl and toured with Immature, who were signed to MCA/Silas Records. This led to Jhené’s first meeting with producer Chris Stokes when she was five years old, and eventually he heard her sing. When B2K signed with Epic Records, Jhené was signed as well. She served as the opening act for B2K on their Scream Tour 3.
Aiko began her musical career contributing vocals to several B2K releases in 2002. She featured on tracks five through eight of the R&B group's remix album B2K: The Remixes - Volume 1. "Santa Baby", a cover she recorded, was also featured on their album Santa Hooked Me Up and she appeared as a guest vocalist on the song "Tease" from Pandemonium!. Her song "Dog" appeared as a bonus track.
Aiko also appeared in numerous music videos including O'Ryan's debut video, "Take It Slow", B2K's debut video "Uh Huh" and "Why I Love You", P.Y.T.'s "Same Ol' Same Ol' (Remix)" featuring Sarai, Play's "M.A.S.T.E.R. (Part 2)" featuring Lil' Fizz video and Morgan Smith's 2004 video "Blow Ya Whistle". Jhené also has songs featured on the soundtracks of Barbershop, The Master of Disguise, You Got Served, The Proud Family, and Byou. She released a video for her single "NO L.O.V.E" (re-recorded from Tha' Rayne version in 2002) which debuted on BET's 106 & Park when she was 15 years old.
Aiko was set to release her debut album, then-titled My Name Is Jhené, however the album was never released due to tension at the record label Epic, which ultimately led to Aiko asking to be released from the label. She then began to focus on school and continue her education.
In 2007, she made a return to music, in an interview she spoke on the choice saying “Shortly before I conceived my daughter, I stepped back into the field and took a meeting with a label head. In this meeting, I was innocently told, to ‘sell’ myself when walking into these meetings. “That’s when I decided I would ‘sail’ myself rather than sell myself.” Aiko released a mixtape on March 16, 2011 entitled Sailing Soul(s) via her official website, JheneAiko.com. All the songs on the mixtape were written by her, except “July” which was written by Micah Powell and most of the songs were produced by Fisticuffs, except “July” and “You vs Them” which were produced by Bei Maejor, “Real Now” which was produced by Roosevelt, “Do Better” which was produced by J. Lbs and “Growing Apart” which was produced by Tae Beast. The album's artwork was shot by photographer Jay 3. The mixtape also features collaborations from Miguel, Drake, and Kanye West, as well as others.
To promote the mixtape Aiko was joined by Grammy-nominated R&B singer Miguel on a one-off free secret tour on Sunday, July 15. The free tickets were given away at the Key Club box office on July 6 from 11AM-5PM on a first-come, first-served basis. The concert started at 7:00pm and finished as 9:30pm, lasting a duration of two and a half hours. On October 21, 2012 Aiko released a music video for the song "My Mine". Aiko also released a video for the mixtapes second track "Stranger". Datpiff certified the mixtape gold with downloads of 100,000. In 2011, she also began working closely with artists from Carson-based independent record label Top Dawg Entertainment such as Schoolboy Q and Ab-Soul.
In 2012, Aiko met with No I.D., record producer and vice president of A&R at Def Jam, who ended up signing Aiko to his Artium Records imprint through Def Jam. Aiko released the track "3:16AM" which was made available for digital download on iTunes September 4, 2012. The song was released as the first single from Sail Out. In 2012, Aiko was also the opening act on the highly anticipated “Life Is Good/Black Rage” concert tour headlined by fellow American artists, rapper Nas and singer-songwriter Lauryn Hill. In June 2013, Aiko was featured on the Big Sean song "Beware", which ended up reaching the Top 40 in the United States. This was her first song to chart on the US Billboard Hot 100. In October 2013, it was revealed Jhené Aiko would open for Canadian rapper Drake on his Would You like a Tour? concert tour. She had previously collaborated with Drake on his third album Nothing Was the Same (2013), lending her vocals on the tracks "Wu-Tang Forever" and "From Time".
Aiko then released her debut EP Sail Out, on November 12, 2013. "Bed Peace" featuring Childish Gambino was released as the album's second single on September 17, 2013. The single's artwork was inspired by John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s Bed-Ins for Peace protest against the Vietnam War. The EP features guest appearances from American rappers Vince Staples, Childish Gambino, Kendrick Lamar, and Ab-Soul. The EP debuted at number eight on the US Billboard 200 chart, with first-week sales of 34,000 copies. On January 14, 2014, "The Worst" was serviced to rhythmic contemporary radio in the United States as the album's third single. On May 2, 2014 "The Worst" rose from three to one on the airplay Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop, in doing so she became the first female artist to top the chart as a lead with a debut single since Jazmine Sullivan reached the same feat with "Need U Bad" in 2008. "The Worst" also rose forty seven to forty three on the Hot 100. The song peaked on the US Billboard Hot 100 at forty-three, becoming Aiko's first solo release to chart in the region, the song also peaked at number eleven on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.
On January 18, 2014, Aiko appeared on Saturday Night Live performing the song "From Time", with the episode's guest host, Drake. In a January 2014 interview with Vibe, Aiko announced her debut studio album Souled Out would be released in May 2014. However the album would be delayed. On March 16, 2014, Aiko premiered a song titled "My Afternoon Dream," along with an accompanying music video directed by Aiko and Krissy. It has yet to be revealed if the song, produced by Key Wane, will feature on the album.
On June 23, 2014, Aiko posted the cover art and a snippet of Souled Out's first single, titled "To Love & Die", on her official Instagram page. The single's artwork was described as "space-y" by Adelle Platon of Vibe magazine. The song was released for digital download on iTunes, the following day. On June 26, 2014, Canadian singer-songwriter The Weeknd, announced he would be headlining the "King of the Fall Tour", essentially a mini-tour across America in September / October 2014, the tour will consist of four shows and start on 19 September 2014 in New York, at the Barclays Center and end on October 10 in San Francisco, at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium. Aiko and frequent collaborator Schoolboy Q, were confirmed as the tour's supporting acts.
Aiko is a Christian, having been baptized when she was 16 at the evangelical Pentecostal Foursquare Church. At the age of 20, Aiko became pregnant by American R&B singer O'Ryan and gave birth to her daughter Namiko on November 19, 2008. Before losing her brother Miyagi to cancer on July 19, 2012, Aiko recorded "For My Brother" on her laptop, which was initially intended only for her brother's ears. He died soon after hearing the record. On August 27, 2013, Aiko was involved in a car accident in Los Angeles along with her daughter Namiko, older sister Miyoko, and her daughter's father O'Ryan. Aiko suffered a broken wrist, chipped tooth and had stitches in her chin. Her daughter, however, was unharmed in the accident.
3:16AM
Jhené Aiko Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Out of papers I am, not okay
I am out my mind
Outer space, that's where I been goin'
To a place where, place where nobody knows
Floating at a pace where now you see me now and now you don't
I do not feel the fear of fallin, I wanna fly
But what if I don't?
Ill be right where I was before
But I'm not alone, you said take my hand
And we go (and we go), and we go (and we go)
And I hope that we don't overdose
Cause we don't (cause we don't)
No we don't (no we don't)
Ever know when we have had enough
Wait
Now my thoughts so cloudy and my hearts so crowded with pain
I am so frustrated like my souls been taken away
Broken promise of everything that I thought you were
Thought you said this would never hurt, that's what it did that is all
I do not feel the fear of falling
Thought I could fly
It didn't go well and oh well
What do you know
I'm right back where I was before
But I'm not alone, you said take my hand
And we go (and we go), and we go (and we go)
And I hope that we don't overdose
Cause we don't ('cause we don't)
No we don't (no we don't)
Ever know when we have had enough
I'm a be so cold, need some more
I've never felt these things before
I'm a feind for sure, please don't go
How could you not need me no more?
You're the only thing that I loved
You're the only thing that I want
You're the only reason, the only reason
I do not feel the fear of fallin', I wanna fly
If it all goes well, then I will
But what if I don't?
Ill be right where I was before
You're all that I know
The lyrics to Jhené Aiko’s song “3:16am” portray the feeling of being lost and out of control. The first verse describes the feeling of being out of place, out of space, and time, which suggests that the singer is not connected to reality. She is wide awake but out of papers, which means she is not okay. She feels as though she’s out of her mind and has been floating in outer space. This line suggests that she is not grounded and has lost touch with the world around her. She is in a place where nobody knows her, which suggests that she is not sure of her identity. She describes herself as floating at a pace where people can see her now and then not.
In the second verse, The lyrics describe the pain the singer is going through. She is frustrated and feels like her soul has been taken away. She trusted someone and was let down, which has broken her heart. She does not feel the fear of falling and tries to fly, but it did not go as planned. The chorus depicts the singer trying to move on but needs someone by her side. She does not want to be alone and needs someone to hold her hand while they go through life together.
Line by Line Meaning
Out of place, out of space and time, wide awake
I feel like I don't belong and that I'm not in control of my life, but I'm fully aware of it and can't sleep.
Out of papers I am, not okay
I have used up all my emotional and mental resources and I'm struggling to cope.
I am out my mind
My thoughts and feelings are chaotic and I'm struggling to make sense of them.
Outer space, that's where I been goin'
I've been escaping reality and my problems by dissociating and disconnecting from the world around me.
To a place where, place where nobody knows
I'm seeking solitude and isolation from others so that I can hide from my pain and fears.
Floating at a pace where now you see me now and now you don't
I'm moving through life in a way that is erratic and unpredictable, and people may struggle to keep up with me.
I do not feel the fear of fallin, I wanna fly
I'm not afraid of taking risks and I want to experience life to the fullest.
If it all goes well then I will
If things work out in my favor, I'll be happy and fulfilled.
But what if I don't?
I'm scared of failing and not achieving my goals.
Ill be right where I was before
If I fail, I'll be back to square one and feeling lost and unsure of myself.
But I'm not alone, you said take my hand
Even though I'm scared, I have someone who cares for me and is willing to support me.
And we go (and we go), and we go (and we go)
We'll keep moving forward together, no matter what obstacles we face.
And I hope that we don't overdose
I'm aware that we need to be careful not to push ourselves too far or take on too much at once.
Cause we don't (cause we don't)
We don't always know our limits or when to slow down.
No we don't (no we don't)
We can't predict how much we can handle before we break.
Ever know when we have had enough
We can't always tell when we need to take a break or step back from something.
Now my thoughts so cloudy and my hearts so crowded with pain
My mind is overwhelmed with negative thoughts and emotions, and my heart feels heavy and burdened with suffering.
I am so frustrated like my souls been taken away
I feel completely drained and powerless, like I've lost a part of myself.
Broken promise of everything that I thought you were
I'm disappointed and hurt by someone who I trusted and who let me down.
Thought you said this would never hurt, that's what it did that is all
I believed that this person would never cause me pain, but that's exactly what they did and it's all I can focus on.
I do not feel the fear of falling
I'm not afraid of the consequences that may come from taking risks or experimenting with new things.
Thought I could fly
I believed that I could achieve anything if I set my mind to it.
It didn't go well and oh well
I failed at something and I'm disappointed, but I'm trying not to let it get me down.
What do you know
I'm feeling defiant and resentful towards someone who may have doubted me or my abilities.
You're all that I know
Even though I may struggle and feel lost, I have someone who is important to me and who I can rely on.
I'm a be so cold, need some more
I'm feeling emotionally numb and disconnected from myself, and I need something to help me feel more alive and present.
I've never felt these things before
I'm experiencing intense emotions or sensations that are new and overwhelming to me.
I'm a fiend for sure, please don't go
I'm addicted to this feeling or to the person who is making me feel this way, and I'm scared of losing them.
How could you not need me no more?
I'm feeling rejected and unwanted by someone who I thought cared for me.
You're the only thing that I loved
This person is incredibly important to me and has been a source of happiness and comfort in my life.
You're the only thing that I want
All I desire is to be with this person and to have their love and affection.
You're the only reason, the only reason
This person is the reason why I keep going and why I'm able to find meaning and purpose in life.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BRIAN WARFIELD, MAC ROBINSON, JHENE AIKO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@zakiyaali829
Lyrics
Out of place, out of space and time, wide awake
Out of papers I am, not okay
I am out my mind
Outer space, that’s where I been goin'
To a place where, place where nobody knows
Floating at a pace where now you see me now and now you don’t
I do not feel the fear of fallin, I wanna fly
If it all goes well then I will
But what if I don’t?
Ill be right where I was before
But I’m not alone, you said take my hand
And we go (and we go), and we go (and we go)
And I hope that we don’t overdose
Cause we don’t (cause we don’t)
No we don’t (no we don't)
Ever know when we have had enough
Wait
Now my thoughts so cloudy and my hearts so crowded with pain
I am so frustrated like my souls been taken away
Broken promise of everything that I thought you were
Thought you said this would never hurt, that’s what it did that is all
I do not feel the fear of falling
Thought I could fly
It didn’t go well and oh well
What do you know
I’m right back where I was before
But I’m not alone, you said take my hand
And we go (and we go), and we go (and we go)
And I hope that we don’t overdose
Cause we don’t ('cause we don’t)
No we don’t (no we don't)
Ever know when we have had enough
I'm a be so cold, need some more
I’ve never felt these things before
I’m a feind for sure, please don't go
How could you not need me no more?
You're the only thing that I loved
You’re the only thing that I want
You’re the only reason, the only reason
I do not feel the fear of fallin', I wanna fly
If it all goes well, then I will
But what if I don’t?
Ill be right where I was before
You're all that I know
@coulibalymariyama8776
Play "3:16 Am"
"3:16 AM"
Out of place, out of space & time
Wide awake out of papers, I am
Not okay, I am out my mind
Outer space, that's where
I've been going
To a place where
Place where nobody knows
Floating, at a pace where
Now you see me, and now you don't
I do not feel the fear of falling
I wanna fly
If it all goes well, then I will
But what if I don't?
I'll be right where I was before
But I'm not alone
You say "take my hand"
And we go (and we go)
And we go (and we go)
And I hope that we don't overdose
Cause we don't (cause we don't)
No we don't (no we don't)
Ever know when we have had enough
Wait
Now my thoughts so cloudy
And my heart's so crowded
With pain
I am so frustrated
Like my soul's been taken away
Broken promise of everything
That I thought you were
Thought you said this would never hurt
That's what it did
That is all
I do not feel the fear of falling
Thought I could fly
It didn't go well, but oh well
What do you know?
I'm right back where I was before
But I'm not alone
You say "take my hand"
And we go (and we go)
And we go (and we go)
And I hope that we don't overdose
Cause we don't (cause we don't)
No we don't (no we don't)
Ever know when we have had enough
I'm a be so cold
Need some more
I've never felt these things before
I'm a think, for sure
Please don't go
How could you not need me no more?
I don't get it
You're the only thing that I love
You're the only thing that I want
You're the only reason
The only reason
I do not feel the fear of falling
I wanna fly
If it all goes well, then I will
But what if I don't?
I'll be right where I was before
You're all that I know
@34ksk95
It's crazy to see how many views she finally getting on older songs. I remember when no one knew who she was and she had a small close knit fan base. I'm glad to see that she's finally getting recognition and people are becoming fans
@dominiquemckenzie5280
Exactly
@misaelvillela
right
@abpbpjabber8630
A
@kimuladixon9917
Rite
@joshgoldenc
i heard her before, didnt really get to feel her the best until "the worst" she is the best female out imo, she picks great beats as well like n.o. id who produced for jay and common, very underated
@lilien211
Jhene Aiko will be the next big thing.
@mellotalk6492
she already is :P heh heh
@lilien211
;)
@colemanrmc1
shes been outt since 2002 . (excuse my typing errors)