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.
Oblivion
Jhené Aiko Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Nah nah nah nah nah ah
The world's a fucking mess
It's gone to shit
And I am every bit a part of it
I may have started it
I try to find a brighter side
It's out of sight
Oblivion
Wish I would go back
I could go back to no one
Oblivion
Wish I would go back
I could go back to nothing
My life's a fucking trip
It makes me sick
I am so jaded and I hate it
I'm faking it
I try to find a greater shade
To be the way
To lead the way
I need to wait
Oblivion
Wish I would go back
I could go back to nothing
Oblivion
Wish I would go back
I could go back to no one
There's no lovin without losin'
There's no livin' without bruisin'
There's no limit, no delusion
Sweet oblivion
There's no lovin without losin'
There's no livin' without bruisin'
There's no limit, no delusion
Sweet oblivion
The world's a fucking mess
It's gone to shit
And I am every bit a part of it
I may have started it
I try to find a brighter side
An elevated, higher sight
It's out of sight, out of mind
Oblivion
Wish I would go back
I could go back to no one
Oblivion
Wish I would go back
I could go back to nothing
My life's a fucking trip
It makes me sick
I am so jaded and I hate it
So I stay faded
Try to find a greener shade
To be the way
To lead the way
I need to wait
I need to stay
Oblivion
Wish I would go back
I could go back to no one
Oblivion
Wish I would go back
I could go back to no one
Sweet oblivion
There's no lovin without losin'
There's no livin' without bruisin'
There's no limit, no delusion
Sweet oblivion
There's no lovin without losin'
There's no livin' without bruisin'
There's no limit, no delusion
Sweet oblivion
Swee-ee-eet
Sweet oblivion, sweet oblivion
"Dear brother
Am I still asleep?
Last night I saw you
And you told me there was coin laundry on the moon
I met a boy, he wasn't right for me
But now that I'm alone
I can hear the spirits talking"
From the methaphysical to the physical
From the methaphysical to the physical
From the inside out
Let there be no doubt
Sage, means sagacity and intelligence
That's why the indigenous people burned it
To bring out the wisdom
If you talk to your plants, they will talk to you
If you talk to your plants, they will talk to you
And they will nourish you
Nourish you to a greater creation
Hmmm
Jhene Aiko's "Oblivion" explores the singer's desire to escape reality and return to a place or state of being where she was not influenced by negative forces. The song opens with a melody of "Nah nah nah nah," which serves as an insistent note of distress. Jhene Aiko then sings about the state of the world and how she is a part of the chaos. She tries to find positivity in her life but fails to do so because everything is out of her control. She is searching for an escape, and the repetition of "Oblivion" in the chorus reflects this desire.
The song's lyrics are introspective and self-critical, with Aiko admitting to faking happiness and feeling jaded. The line "There's no love without losing, there's no living without bruising" implies that pain and loss are an inevitable part of life. Aiko acknowledges this, but "Sweet Oblivion" offers a peaceful end to the torment.
The spoken word section references the metaphysical, with the singer dreaming of her brother who tells her about "coin laundry on the moon." She also meets a boy who is not right for her, and in her solitude, she hears spirits speaking. The section ends with a statement on the power of sage to bring out wisdom and nourishment, with an implied message that this wisdom and nourishment are also available to the listener.
Line by Line Meaning
The world's a fucking mess
The world is in a state of chaos and disarray.
It's gone to shit
It has deteriorated and is now in a deplorable state.
And I am every bit a part of it
I, too, am responsible for the current state of the world.
I may have started it
I might have played a role in the events that led to this situation.
I try to find a brighter side
I make an effort to focus on the positive aspects of life.
An elevated, higher sight
A way of viewing things that is more positive and optimistic.
It's out of sight
It's hard to see or find.
Oblivion
A state of forgetfulness or unawareness.
Wish I would go back
I wish I could return to a state of oblivion.
I could go back to no one
A state of being where there is no one and nothing around.
My life's a fucking trip
My life is wild and unpredictable.
It makes me sick
It makes me feel ill or disgusted.
I am so jaded and I hate it
I feel cynical and disenchanted and don't like it.
I'm faking it
I'm pretending or not being genuine.
I try to find a greater shade
I try to find a better way of looking at things.
To be the way
To be the guide or example for others.
To lead the way
To show others the path to follow.
I need to wait
I need to be patient and wait for things to improve.
There's no lovin without losin'
You can't experience love without experiencing loss as well.
There's no livin' without bruisin'
Life is not without challenges and difficulties.
There's no limit, no delusion
There are no boundaries or illusions to what you can achieve.
Sweet oblivion
An attractive state of ignorance or forgetfulness.
From the methaphysical to the physical
From the spiritual or abstract realm to the concrete physical realm.
Let there be no doubt
There should be no uncertainty or hesitation.
Sage, means sagacity and intelligence
Sage is a plant associated with wisdom and cleverness.
That's why the indigenous people burned it
That's why some cultures burn it as a means of purification and promoting clarity of thought.
To bring out the wisdom
To enhance or reveal the wisdom contained within the plant.
If you talk to your plants, they will talk to you
Treat your plants with care and respect, and they will thrive and nourish you.
And they will nourish you
They will provide you with sustenance and nourishment for your body and soul.
Nourish you to a greater creation
Nourish you in a way that enables you to create or achieve something greater.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Amaire Johnson, Jhene Aiko Chilombo
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@6runettearies
The world's a fucking mess
It's gone to shit
And I am every bit a part of it
I may have started it
I try to find a brighter sight
An elevated, higher sight
It's out of sight
Oblivion
Wish I would go back
I could go back to no one
Oblivion
Wish I would go back
I could go back to nothing
My life's a fucking trip
It makes me sick
I am so jaded and I hate it
I'm faking it
I try to find a greater shade
To be the way
To lead the way
I need to wait
Oblivion
Wish I would go back
I could go back to nothing
Oblivion
Wish I would go back
I could go back to no one
There's no lovin' without losin'
There's no livin' without bruisin'
There's no limit, no delusion
Sweet oblivion
There's no lovin' without losin'
There's no livin' without bruisin'
There's no limit, no delusion
Sweet oblivion
The world's a fucking mess
It's gone to shit
And I am every bit a part of it
I may have started it
I try to find a brighter sight
An elevated, higher sight
It's out of sight, out of mind
Oblivion
Wish I would go back
I could go back to no one
Oblivion
Wish I would go back
I could go back to nothing
My life's a fucking trip
It makes me sick
I am so jaded and I hate it
So I stay faded
Try to find a greener shade
To be the way
To lead the way
I need to wait
I need to stay
Oblivion
Wish I would go back
I could go back to no one
Oblivion
Wish I would go back
I could go back to no one
Sweet oblivion
There's no lovin' without losin'
There's no livin' without bruisin'
There's no limit, no delusion
Sweet oblivion
There's no lovin' without losin'
There's no livin' without bruisin'
There's no limit, no delusion
Sweet oblivion
Sweet...
Sweet, sweet oblivion
Dear brother
Am I still asleep?
Last night I saw you
And you told me there was coin laundry on the moon
I met a boy, he wasn't right for me
But now that I'm alone
I can hear the spirits talking
[Dr. Chill:]
From the metaphysical to the physical
From the metaphysical to the physical
From the inside out
Let there be no doubt
Sage, means sagacity and intelligence
That's why the indigenous people burned it
To bring out the wisdom
If you talk to your plants, they will talk to you
If you talk to your plants, they will talk to you
And they will nourish you
Nourish you to a greater creation
We’re all one
From AZ Lyrics
@CashmereGallion
Nah nah nah nah
Nah nah nah nah nah ah
The world's a fucking mess
It's gone to shit
And I am every bit a part of it
I may have started it
I try to find a brighter side
An elevated, higher sight
It's out of sight
Oblivion
Wish I would go back
I could go back to no one
Oblivion
Wish I would go back
I could go back to nothing
My life's a fucking trip
It makes me sick
I am so jaded and I hate it
I'm faking it
I try to find a greater shade
To be the way
To lead the way
I need to wait
Oblivion
Wish I would go back
I could go back to nothing
Oblivion
Wish I would go back
I could go back to no one
There's no lovin without losin'
There's no livin' without bruisin'
There's no limit, no delusion
Sweet oblivion
There's no lovin without losin'
There's no livin' without bruisin'
There's no limit, no delusion
Sweet oblivion
The world's a fucking mess
It's gone to shit
And I am every bit a part of it
I may have started it
I try to find a brighter side
An elevated, higher sight
It's out of sight, out of mind
Oblivion
Wish I would go back
I could go back to no one
Oblivion
Wish I would go back
I could go back to nothing
My life's a fucking trip
It makes me sick
I am so jaded and I hate it
So I stay faded
Try to find a greener shade
To be the way
To lead the way
I need to wait
I need to stay
Oblivion
Wish I would go back
I could go back to no one
Oblivion
Wish I would go back
I could go back to no one
Sweet oblivion
There's no lovin without losin'
There's no livin' without bruisin'
There's no limit, no delusion
Sweet oblivion
There's no lovin without losin'
There's no livin' without bruisin'
There's no limit, no delusion
Sweet oblivion
Swee-ee-eet
Sweet oblivion, sweet oblivion
@newnew4142
she deserves a Grammy for this album
@tommysus7786
No question!!
@yourstrength1314
Fax
@IknowyouDL
FACTS!!!!!
@IknowyouDL
Such an amazing album...A CLASSIC!!! LISTEN TO IT ATLEAST ONCE EVERYDAY
@yourstrength1314
ON JESUS
@livingdeelife6793
You can’t listen to Jhene without having snippets of your past life 😩
@moeski4639
The truth
@livingdeelife6793
Moe Ski yessss
@jonmaclin8344
💯💯💯