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.
Sativa
Jhené Aiko Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh, yeah
Why you make it so complicated?
Off the drink, we concentratin'
I know you won't leave me hangin'
Smokin' weed out the container
We spend cash for entertainment
It's me and you and we makin' arrangements
It's you and me and we makin' arrangements
Is it hot in here or is it just me?
I'm so high in here, been smokin' on this weed
Told 'em, "Go on, take a shot on three"
Told 'em, "Drinks is on me"
Yeah, the drinks are on me
I said, "Now go and take a shot on me"
Only drug a bitch is on is the tree
But I lasted ten rounds like a freak
Like a G
Get ready (oh, yes, I'm ready)
Now we're on (and if we're on)
I said I'm ready (I said I'm ready)
Hold the phone (please hold the phone)
Get ready (oh, please get ready)
I am on one (oh, I am on one)
Where you be at? (where you gon' be at?)
Later on (later on)
Why you make it so complicated?
Off the drink, we concentratin'
I know you won't leave me hangin'
Smokin' weed out the container
We spend cash for entertainment
There's more where that came from, that's all I'm sayin'
It's me and you and we makin' arrangements
It's you and me and we makin' arrangements
I'll keep it simple, baby
I'ma keep it simple with you, baby
You know I don't ever play no games
You know I don't ever complicate it
Got me feelin' some type of way
Concentratin', concentratin' on the way
You keep the rhythm
Oh my God, I'm glad you came
You came through with that sativa
Indica be havin' me stuck
You know just how to keep me up
You know it, better believe it
Get ready (oh, yeah, I'm ready)
Now we're on (and if we're on)
I said I'm ready (oh yeah, I'm ready)
Hold the phone (hold the phone)
Get ready (get ready)
I am on one (I am on one)
Where you be at? (where you gon' be at?)
Later on (later on, later on)
Why you make it so complicated?
Off the drink, we concentratin'
I know you won't leave me hangin'
Smokin' weed out the container
We spend cash for entertainment
There's more where that came from, that's all I'm sayin'
It's me and you and we makin' arrangements
It's you and me and we makin' arrangements
Why you make it so complicated?
(Why you make it so complicated?)
Off the drink, we concentratin'
(Off the drink, we concentratin')
I know you won't leave me hangin'
(I know, I know)
Smokin' weed out the container
(We smoke, we smoke)
We spend cash for entertainment
There's more where that came from, that's all I'm sayin'
It's me and you and we makin' arrangements
(Me and you, me and you, me and you)
It's you and me and we makin' arrangements
(You and me, you and me, you and me)
Dive in that, I'ma really dive in that
Dive in that, mmm, I'ma dive in that
Dive in that, mmm, let me dive in that
Dive in that, mmm, I'm gon' dive in that
Dive in that
The lyrics of Jhené Aiko's song Sativa primarily focus on the idea of enjoying the simple pleasures of life. The song speaks of how the singer and her partner are high on weed and are enjoying each other's company without getting complicated. The lyrics make it evident that the singer and her partner spend money for entertainment, but they never run out of it. The artist also emphasizes the idea of making arrangements, which means that they are planning to be with each other for a long time.
The song's first section elaborates on the idea that their present situation is uncomplicated, and they are enjoying it. Jhené makes it evident that she and her partner are concentrating on each other after having some drinks. The next section narrates how they share similar interests as they smoke weed from the same container. Together, they spend money on having a good time, and there is more where that came from.
In the next section of the song, Jhené talks highly about her partner's rhythm and capabilities. She reveals that she is high on sativa and how it's taking her to a different world. She explains how she feels a connection with her partner and emphasizes that things with them never get complicated. The song concludes with Jhené diving deep into her partner and the pleasures she experiences with them.
Line by Line Meaning
Why you make it so complicated?
Why do you overthink things and make them difficult?
Off the drink, we concentratin'
We're not drinking alcohol, we're focused.
I know you won't leave me hangin'
I trust you won't abandon me.
Smokin' weed out the container
We're smoking marijuana from a container.
We spend cash for entertainment
We pay money for things to do for fun.
There's more where that came from, that's all I'm sayin'
We have more money, no need to hold back.
It's me and you and we makin' arrangements
We're together, planning things.
Is it hot in here or is it just me?
Am I feeling warm or is it the environment?
I'm so high in here, been smokin' on this weed
I'm intoxicated from smoking marijuana.
Told 'em, "Go on, take a shot on three"
I instructed others to take a shot together.
Told 'em, "Drinks is on me"
I'm buying the drinks.
Yeah, the drinks are on me
I'm paying for the beverages.
Only drug a bitch is on is the tree
The only drug I use is marijuana.
But I lasted ten rounds like a freak, like a G
I performed well for a long time, like a professional or gangster.
Get ready (oh, yes, I'm ready)
I'm prepared to go.
Why you make it so complicated?
Reiteration of the first stanza
I'll keep it simple, baby
I'll make it easy for you.
Got me feelin' some type of way
I'm experiencing a unique emotion.
Concentratin', concentratin' on the way
I'm focused on how you move.
Indica be havin' me stuck
Indica type of marijuana makes me feel immobile.
You know just how to keep me up
You know how to make me feel alert or energized.
Get ready (oh, yeah, I'm ready)
Reiteration of preparing to go.
Why you make it so complicated?
Reiteration of overthinking.
Dive in that, I'ma really dive in that
I'm going to fully engage in that experience.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BRIAN WARFIELD, JHENE AIKO CHILOMBO, KHALIF MALIK IBIN SHAMAN BROWN, MAC ROBINSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Mergatroid_Skittle
Whether you're high or not...
This is a banger
@tonywilson3460
I've been high!
I've been sober!
But with this song I feel the same. #goodmusic
@datthetea8708
I agree so much I love getting high and listening to this and not only when I'm high but its just a really good song
@jeremyarroyo360
Sounds more loud sothing when you are high as a kite though.💯
@selinacalderon4584
Yes it is .I knw u gonna leave hanging.
@kassandragomez9019
Gerald Gatewood bro yesssss! I listened to this when I was high now I can’t smoke and it’s still the bestesssss dj khaled voice
@puffybooboo
I love this song. It never gets old. Such a vibe.
@Nobodyaskedfr..
frrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
@enochcampbell2863
Real
@macred85
💯