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.
Higher
Jhené Aiko Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My love will get you high, high
Break me down, roll me up
Boy, I can be your pipe dream
Make you feel alright, do the right thing
Set my soul on fire
Let me in and I will take you way up there, yeah
I will get you higher (higher)
My love will get you high, high
Take a hit of this and then tell me how you feel
Tell me how good it feels
When you can't get rid of it then
That's how you know it's real
I'm for real, oh, I will
Roll it up
Roll, roll, roll it up, roll it up
Light it up, light it up, ooh-ooh, oh-oh
Roll it up, roll, roll, roll it up
Smoke it up 'til your high
I will get you higher (higher)
My love will get you high, high
No stems, no sticks, no seeds it's just you and me (me)
On this cloud (cloud) and we don't ever have to come down now
We are so faded, goin' to places beyond the sun
Love is the drug that gets me high
Roll it up
Roll, roll, roll it up, roll it up
Light it up, light it up, ooh-ooh, oh-oh
Roll it up, roll, roll, roll it up
Smoke it up 'til your high
I will get you higher (I will take you higher)
(My love will) my love will get you high, high
The song "Higher" by Jhené Aiko explores the idea of taking one's love to new heights, both literally and figuratively. The repeated refrain of "I will get you higher" serves both as a nod to drug culture and as a promise of the transformative power of love. The lyrics make use of explicit references to smoking and getting high, but the true substance behind the song is the connection between two people who inspire each other to reach new heights.
Using metaphor in a way that is both provocative and tender, Aiko sings about breaking down into a powdery substance and being rolled up into a pipe dream. This image is sexual in nature, but also conveys the idea of being completely consumed and transformed by one's lover. The lines "On this cloud and we don't ever have to come down now / We are so faded going to places beyond the sun" suggest the idea of being lifted up into a transcendent state by the power of love.
In the end, "Higher" is a song about surrendering to the power of love and allowing it to take you to unexpected places. The references to drug culture and getting high serve as a playful and provocative way to explore the deeply transformative nature of love, which can lift us up and carry us away to places we never imagined.
Line by Line Meaning
I will get you higher (higher)
I will elevate your state of mind and emotions through my love
My love will get you high
The intensity of my love will make you feel ecstatic
Break me down
Let me be vulnerable and transparent with you
Roll me up
Take me in and accept me for who I am
Boy I can be your pipe dream
I can be the idealized image of love and companionship you've always wanted
Make you feel alright do the right thing
I will make you feel happy and fulfilled by encouraging you to make wise choices
Set my soul on fire
My passion and sincerity will ignite a spark within me and drive me to love you like nobody else
Let me in and I will take you way up there yeah
Allow me into your life and you'll experience a love beyond your wildest dreams
Put it in the air
Embrace and celebrate our love openly
Blow me in the air
Let's strengthen our bond by experiencing the love-enhancing qualities of sexual intimacy
Take a hit of this and then tell me how you feel
Experience the thrill of being in love with me and let me know how it affects you
(Tell me how it good feels)
Share with me the joy and pleasure of our mutual love
When you cant get rid of it then
When our love becomes so intense that it's hard to let go,
That's how you know its real
You'll realize that our love is genuine and deep
I'm for real oh I will
I am sincere and authentic in my commitment to our love and will always be there for you
No stems, no sticks, no seeds its just you and me
Our love is pure and uncompromised, only between us
On this cloud and we don't ever have to come down now
Our love creates a joyous, euphoric state that we can remain in indefinitely
We are so faded going to places beyond the sun
Our love propels us to an otherworldly realm that is blissful and exhilarating
Love is the drug that gets me high
The intoxicating quality of our love is what makes me feel so exhilarated and alive
Roll it up
Let's continue to experience the happiness and intensity of our love
Roll, roll, roll it up, roll it up
Emphasizing the importance of continuing the actions that bring us joy and satisfaction in our love
Light it up, light it up oh oh oh
Celebrate our love and let it shine brilliantly
Smoke it up til your high
Continue to cherish and develop our love until it reaches new heights
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Brian Warfield, Jhene Aiko Chilombo, Maclean Robinson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jazminroxs9
Lyrics:
I will get you higher (Higher)
My love will get you high
Break me down
Roll me up
Boy, I can be your pipe dream
Make you feel alright
Do the right thing
Set my soul on fire
Let me in and I will
Take you way up there, yeah
Put it in the air
Blow me in the air
I will get you higher (Higher)
My love will get you high
Take a hit of this and then
Tell me how you feel
(Tell me how it good feels)
When you can't get rid of it then
That's how you know its real
I'm for real, oh I will
Roll it up
Roll, roll, roll it up, roll it up
Light it up, light it up, ooh-oh-oh
Roll it it, roll, roll, roll it up
Smoke it up 'til your high
I will get you higher (Higher)
My love will get you high
No stems, no sticks, no seeds
It's just you and me
On this cloud and
We don't ever have to come down now
We are so faded going to places beyond the sun
Love is the drug
That gets me high
Roll it up
Roll, roll, roll it up, roll it up
Light it up, light it up, ooh-oh-oh
Roll it it, roll, roll, roll it up
Smoke it up 'til your high
I will get you higher (higher)
My love will get you high
@lilneedyboo4590
I will get you higher (Higher)
My love will get you high
Break me down
Roll me up
Boy, I can be your pipe dream
Make you feel alright
Do the right thing
Set my soul on fire
Let me in and I will
Take you way up there, yeah
Put it in the air
Blow me in the air
I will get you higher (Higher)
My love will get you high
Take a hit of this and then, uh
Tell me how you feel
(Tell me how good it feels)
When you can't get rid of it then
That's how you know its real
I'm for real, oh I will
Roll it up
Roll, roll, roll it up, roll it up
Light it up, light it up, ooh-oh-oh
Roll it it, roll, roll, roll it up
Smoke it up 'til your high
I will get you higher (Higher)
My love will get you high
No stems, no sticks, no seeds
It's just you and me
On this cloud and
We don't ever have to come down now
We are so faded going to places beyond the sun
Love is the drug
That gets me high
Roll it up
Roll, roll, roll it up, roll it up
Light it up, light it up, ooh-oh-oh
Roll it it, roll, roll, roll it up
Smoke it up 'til your high
I will get you higher (higher)
My love will get you high
@sosa___
I will get you higher (higher)
My love will get you high
[Verse 1]
Break me down
Roll me up
Boy I can be your pipe dream
Make you feel alright do the right thing
Set my soul on fire
Let me in and I will take you way up there yea
Put it in the air,Blow me in the air
[Hook]
I will get you higher (higher)
My love will get you high
[Verse 2]
Take a hit of this and then tell me how you feel
(Tell me how it good feels)
When you can't get rid of it then
That's how you know its real
I'm for real oh I will
Roll it up
Roll, roll, roll it up, roll it up
Light it up, light it up oohhh oohh oohhhh
Roll it it, roll, roll, roll it up
Smoke it up til your high
[Hook]
I will get you higher (higher)
My love will get you high
No stems, no sticks, no seeds its just you and me
On this cloud and we don't ever have to come down now
We are so faded going to places beyond the sun
Love is the drug that gets me high
Roll it up
Roll, roll, roll it up, roll it up
Light it up, light it up oohhh oohh oohhhh
Roll it it, roll, roll, roll it up
Smoke it up til your high
[Hook]
I will get you higher (higher)
My love will get you high
@mariemaybs
taking me back to my teen years :’)
@9in310
I was like 3 when this song released 😂
@shawnmoss9322
Bon state actor..
@TheVintagesucks
seriously i have memories of listening to this on full blast as 15 year old haha
@teejay4469
Love this girl , Jhene true pisces mysticism, that voice draws ppl in and keeps you hanging on..
@goldengod9949
Used To Blast the hell outta this song. It was ahead of its time. Omfg...wow....TIME HAS FLOWN BY. 🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺
@Tinker-xr1gi
This came out when I was too young to smoke but it was still on repeat 😭😂🥰
@audiknight1728
LMAOOOOOO fax
@sajahnaforeman5796
LMFAOO 😂😂
@DawnBogey
Had to put my other airpod in for this one . Love you Jhene 🤍