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.
Tryna Smoke
Jhené Aiko Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ay, man, let me get a eighth, man
You want a eighth?
You want that fat eighth or a little eighth?
How much money you got?
Get out my pockets homie, let me just get a regular eighth
Alright well, come on in, don't touch nothin' either
Smell-smell this, I just got this right here from Cambodia, it's a Cambodia Crispy
Man, okay, I'ma be honest man, that's really CBD
But just give me, just give me thirty seven dollars and you can have that
If I could fly
I would probably never come down
With all of the bullshit confusion on the ground
I wish that I was high
'Cause I can't live my life when it's loud
So I'm gonna call the bros
Tell 'em, "Roll up one, right now"
I'm tryna smoke
I'm so high, I'm so high, I'm so hig
That's just how I get by-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah
Lift that bird to the motherfucking sky
That's that pill, that's that fire, fire (I'm tryna smoke)
Don't you cry, don't you cry, I-I-I ain't full high
I'ma ride it, I just need to put my mind at ease (yeah)
Someone tell my baby mama I'm just tryna keep the peace
I ain't here for all that drama, I'm tryna smoke
Life's no fairytale, I know all too well (well)
Gotta plant the seed sometimes
Then you let it grow
Inhale, exhale some more
Heaven in Hell
If you know, you know
That shit is beautiful
You gotta just let it go
Spark up a blunt and smoke
You better blow that shit out, man
Yeah, yeah
If I could fly (if I could fly, yeah)
I would probably never come down (yeah)
With all of the bullshit confusion on the ground
I wish that I was high
'Cause I can't live my life when it's loud (you know I can't live that way)
So I'm gonna call the bros
Tell 'em, "Roll up one, right now"
I'm tryna smoke
Tryna keep myself from looking over the edge (over the edge)
I know life's a bitch, but she could at least give me head ('least give me head)
Sometimes, I mean, is that too much to ask? (Too much to ask)
That's why lately I've been smokin' on gas (smokin' gas)
I know God is good, I know he keep me alive
I be probably talking to him most when I'm high
When I'm high, I see all this shit crystal clear
When I'm high, I see through the smoke and the mirrors
If I could fly
I would probably never come down
With all of the bullshit confusion on the ground
I wish that I was high
'Cause I can't live my life when it's loud
So I'm gonna call the bros
Tell 'em, "Roll up one, right now"
I'm tryna smoke
He's a janky dealer, why you make me drink?
What you want, bruh, what you want, man?
Smell some-smell this right here, man
Man, it's passion fruit?
Man, that's Coleslaw OG, baby
The fuck is Coleslaw OG?
Just gimme sixty-five dollars
Sixty-five dollars? You got me fucked up
Okay, well, give me forty-eight dollars man, come on man
That's a fat bag, baby
Forty-eight dollars?
That's whole ass- you can't even close the bag, man
Come on, man, goddamn man, I c- gas is goin' up
Gimme-Gimme thirty-nine dollars, damn it
The lyrics of Jhené Aiko's song Tryna Smoke are a testament to how the artist uses drugs and marijuana to escape her problems and challenges. The introduction features a conversation between the artist and her drug dealer, who tries to sell her CBD while claiming it's a strain from Cambodia. Aiko then goes on to recount her desire to get high and stay up in the air, just to avoid the daily struggles and confusion of life. While high, she feels enlightened and sees through people's facades and flaws, making her almost regret having to come down.
The chorus features Aiko emphasising her desire to get high and smoke, calling on her friends to join her. She then goes on to reflect on her current state, acknowledging how hard and unfair life can be, and how sometimes smoking weed gives her space to just breathe and feel free. The song concludes with her dealer once again trying to sell her a bag of Coleslaw OG, with Aiko refusing to pay anything above$39, and thereby highlighting the tension between consumer choice and exploitation in the drug trade.
Tryna Smoke was released as part of Jhené Aiko's Chilombo album in 2020, under the labels of Def Jam and Artium. The album received favourable reviews from critics and debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 chart. Interestingly, Aiko recorded the Chilombo album in Hawaii, following a visit to her ancestral village in the country of Yoruba.
Line by Line Meaning
Wassup man, what you want?
The singer is asking the person what they want.
Ay, man, let me get a eighth, man
The person is requesting to buy an eighth of something.
You want a eighth?
The singer is confirming that the person wants an eighth of something.
You want that fat eighth or a little eighth?
The artist is asking the person if they want a larger or smaller amount of the substance.
How much money you got?
The artist is asking the person how much money they have to spend on the substance.
Get out my pockets homie, let me just get a regular eighth
The person is annoyed that the singer asked about their finances and is requesting a regular amount of the substance.
Alright well, come on in, don't touch nothin' either
The singer is allowing the person to enter but warning them not to touch anything.
Smell-smell this, I just got this right here from Cambodia, it's a Cambodia Crispy
The artist is offering the person a chance to smell the substance they have.
This ain't no Cambodia Crispy
The person is recognizing that the substance offered is not what the artist claimed it to be.
Man, okay, I'ma be honest man, that's really CBD
The artist is admitting that the substance is actually CBD, not what they originally claimed it to be.
But just give me, just give me thirty seven dollars and you can have that
The singer is still willing to sell the CBD to the person for a reduced price.
If I could fly
The artist is expressing a desire to fly.
I would probably never come down
The singer is saying that if they could fly, they would never want to come back to the ground.
With all of the bullshit confusion on the ground
The singer is referring to the difficulties and confusion of life on the ground.
I wish that I was high
The singer wishes they were under the influence of a substance.
'Cause I can't live my life when it's loud
The artist finds it difficult to live their life when there is a lot of noise and chaos.
So I'm gonna call the bros
The artist is going to contact their friends.
Tell 'em, "Roll up one, right now"
The singer is instructing their friends to roll a joint immediately.
I'm tryna smoke
The singer wants to smoke the joint.
I'm so high, I'm so high, I'm so high
The artist is talking about how they are already under the influence of a substance.
That's just how I get by-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah
The artist is saying that being high is how they cope or survive.
Lift that bird to the motherfucking sky
The artist is telling someone to pass the joint.
That's that pill, that's that fire, fire (I'm tryna smoke)
The singer is saying that the joint is potent and they want to smoke it.
Don't you cry, don't you cry, I-I-I ain't full high
The artist is reassuring someone that they are not completely under the influence of a substance.
I'ma ride it, I just need to put my mind at ease (yeah)
The singer is saying they just need to calm down and relax.
Someone tell my baby mama I'm just tryna keep the peace
The singer is asking someone to tell their child's mother that they are just trying to avoid trouble.
I ain't here for all that drama, I'm tryna smoke
The singer wants to avoid problems and just enjoy smoking the joint.
Life's no fairytale, I know all too well (well)
The artist understands that life is not easy and struggles are common.
Gotta plant the seed sometimes
The artist is saying that we have to start somewhere or take chances.
Then you let it grow
The singer is saying that if you take the right steps, things can grow or improve.
Inhale, exhale some more
The singer is instructing someone to take more hits from the joint.
Heaven in Hell
The artist is describing the experience of being high as feeling good, even in bad situations.
If you know, you know
The artist is saying that only people who have experienced being high can truly understand it.
That shit is beautiful
The artist is complimenting the experience of being high.
You gotta just let it go
The singer is saying that we need to stop worrying or stressing and just enjoy life.
Spark up a blunt and smoke
The artist is instructing someone to light up the joint and smoke it.
You better blow that shit out, man
The singer is telling someone to blow the smoke out so they do not get caught.
Tryna keep myself from looking over the edge (over the edge)
The singer is saying they are trying to avoid a dangerous or risky situation.
I know life's a bitch, but she could at least give me head ('least give me head)
The singer is expressing frustration with the difficulties of life and wishing for some pleasure or relief.
Sometimes, I mean, is that too much to ask? (Too much to ask)
The artist is asking if it is unreasonable to want some pleasure or relief from life's difficulties.
That's why lately I've been smokin' on gas (smokin' gas)
The artist is saying they have been smoking a potent strain of marijuana to cope with life's difficulties.
I know God is good, I know he keep me alive
The singer is acknowledging their belief in a higher power who has kept them alive.
I be probably talking to him most when I'm high
The singer is saying they feel more connected to God when they are under the influence of a substance.
When I'm high, I see all this shit crystal clear
The artist is saying that being under the influence of a substance helps them see things more clearly.
When I'm high, I see through the smoke and the mirrors
The artist is saying that being under the influence of a substance allows them to see past illusions and deception.
He's a janky delaer, why you make me drink?
The artist is complaining about the dealer, who they believe is dishonest.
What you want, bruh, what you want, man?
The dealer is asking the singer what they want to buy.
Smell some-smell this right here, man
The dealer is offering the artist a chance to smell the substance they have.
Man, it's passion fruit?
The singer is guessing what the substance is based on its smell.
Man, that's Coleslaw OG, baby
The dealer is telling the singer what the substance is called.
The fuck is Coleslaw OG?
The singer is questioning what type of substance Coleslaw OG is.
Just gimme sixty-five dollars
The dealer is requesting a high price for the Coleslaw OG.
Sixty-five dollars? You got me fucked up
The artist is shocked by the high price and unwilling to pay that much.
Okay, well, give me forty-eight dollars man, come on man
The dealer is willing to lower the price to make the sale.
That's a fat bag, baby
The dealer is talking about the size of the bag of Coleslaw OG.
Forty-eight dollars?
The artist is still unsure if they want to pay for the Coleslaw OG.
That's whole ass- you can't even close the bag, man
The dealer is saying that the bag is so full that it cannot be closed all the way.
Come on, man, goddamn man, I c- gas is goin' up
The dealer is trying to make a sale by emphasizing that the price of gas is rising.
Gimme-Gimme thirty-nine dollars, damn it
The dealer is further lowering the price to persuade the singer to make the purchase.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Heavy Mellow, Calvin Cordazor Broadus, Greg Charles Edwards, Jhene Aiko Chilombo, Micah Evan Powell
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@IProvideLyrics1924
[Intro]
Wassup man, what you want?
Ayy, man, let me get a eighth, man
You want a eighth?
You want that fat eighth or a little eighth?
How much money you got?
Get out my pockets homie, let me just get a regular eighth
Alright well, come on in, don't touch nothin’ either
Smell this, this is, I just got this right here from Cambodia, it's a Cambodia Crispy
This ain't no Cambodia Crispy
Look, man, okay, I’ma be honest, that's really CBD
Just give me thirty-seven dollars and you can have that
[Chorus]
If I could fly
I would probably never come down
With all of the bullshit confusion on the ground
I wish that I was high
'Cause I can't live my life when it's low
So I'm gonna call the bros
Tell 'em, "Roll up one, right now"
I'm tryna smoke
[Post-Chorus]
I’m so high, I’m so high, I'm so high-ah-ah
That’s just how I get by-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah
Lift that bird to the motherfucking sky-ah-ah
That's that pill, that's that fire, fire-ah-ah (I'm tryna smoke)
Don’t you cry, don't you cry, I-I-I ain't full high
I'ma ride it, I just need to put my mind at ease (Yeah)
Someone tell my baby mama I'm just tryna keep the peace
I ain't here for all that drama, I'm tryna smoke
[Verse 1]
Ooh, ooh, ooh
Life's no fairytale, I know all too well (Well)
Gotta plant the seed sometime
Then you let it grow
Inhale, exhale some more
Heaven in Hell
If you know, you know
That shit is beautiful
You gotta just let it go
Spark up a blunt and smoke
[Break]
You better blow that shit out, man
Yeah, yeah
[Chorus]
If I could fly (If I could fly, yeah)
I would probably never come down (Yeah)
With all of the bullshit (All of) confusion on the ground
I wish that I was high
'Cause I can't live my life when it's low (You know I can't live that way)
So I'm gonna call the bros
Tell 'em, "Roll up one, right now"
I'm tryna smoke
[Verse 2]
Tryna keep myself from looking over the edge (Over the edge)
I know life's a bitch, but she could at least give me head (Least give me head)
Sometimes, I mean, is that too much to ask? (Too much to ask)
That's why lately I've been smokin' on gas (Smokin' on gas)
I know God is good, I know he keep me alive
I be probably talking to him most when I'm high
When I'm high, I see all this shit crystal clear
When I'm high, I see through the smoke and the mirrors
[Chorus]
If I could fly
I would probably never come down
With all of the bullshit
Confusion on the ground
I wish that I was high
'Cause I can't live my life when it's low
So I'm gonna call the bros
Tell 'em "Roll up one, right now"
I'm tryna smoke
[Outro]
He's a janky dealer, why you make me drink?
What you want, bruh, what you want, man?
Smell this right here, man
Man, it's passionfruit?
Man, that's Coleslaw OG, baby
The fuck is Coleslaw OG?
Just gimme 65 dollars
65 dollars? You got me fucked up
Okay, well, gimme 48 dollars man, come on man
That's a fat bag, baby
48 dollars?
That's a whole ass— you can't even close the bag, man
Come on, man, goddamn, I c—, gas is goin' up
Gimme 39 dollars, damn it
@SailingSoulAiko
✨🔮🍃
@graceierome1975
You’re magical 💖
@young.bruja_
👨🏽🚀💖
@THEHUSTLER84
😁😁
@katchan8318
The fact that she released this on 420 😭😍
@Monique2631
I would love to be in a zone like this 😌😌.
@yelizovo4830
can we talk about how healthy she looks.. her body, her skin, sis looks like she‘s working out, eating healthy, staying hydrated, sleeping 8hours and concentrating on her inner peace. that’s goals right here. 🥰
@joannroshnieable
I totally agree! Health and peace look good on a person. Total #goals I'm trying to get on that level!!
@taryntoo
@@yelizovo4830 #goals I'm joining yall!! 💗
@maryhollins4200
it's cuz she a vegan!!!!!