Jhené Aiko Efuru Chilombo (born March 16, 1988) is an American R&B singer-songwriter and rapper from Los Angeles. She launched her music career in 2002 as a backing vocalist for B2K and was signed to their label, but her debut album was shelved in 2003 to prioritize her education.
Profile Summary
| Full Name: | Jhené Aiko Efuru Chilombo |
| Date Of Birth: | March 16, 1988 |
| Place Of Birth: | Los Angeles, California, U.S |
| Nationality: | American |
| Children: | 2 |
| Partner: | Big Sean |
| Occupation(s): | Rapper, Singer, Songwriter |
| Labels: | Def Jam, TUG, ARTium, Epic |
| Net Worth: | $6 Million |
Early Life And Education
Jhené Aiko Efuru Chilombo was born on March 16, 1988, in Los Angeles, California. After her family’s home burned down, they moved to the View Park-Windsor Hills area, where she was homeschooled until high school. Aiko’s parents, Christina Yamamoto and Dr. Karamo Chilombo, are divorced, and she has seven siblings, including R&B singer Mila J.
Her mother is of Spanish, Dominican, and Japanese descent, while her father is of Native American, African-American, and German-Jewish descent. Aiko has acknowledged her complex heritage, stating that she doesn’t fit neatly into one category, with DNA results showing 25% Asian, 33% African, and 34% European ancestry. She has emphasized her humanity and sees everyone as family, regardless of how they perceive her.
Career
Jhené Aiko started her music career in 2002, contributing to B2K releases and soundtracks. Her debut album was shelved due to label issues, but she returned to music in 2007 with a new approach. Aiko released the mixtape Sailing Soul(s) in 2011, collaborated with Top Dawg Entertainment, and signed with Def Jam in 2012.
She gained momentum with singles like “3:16AM” and features on Big Sean’s “Beware”. Her debut EP Sail Out (2013) debuted at number eight on the US Billboard 200, with single “The Worst” reaching number one on the Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop chart.
She performed on Saturday Night Live and announced her debut studio album Souled Out, but it was delayed. Aiko released the single “To Love & Die” in June 2014 and supported The Weeknd on his King of the Fall Tour alongside ScHoolboy Q.
Jhené Aiko’s debut album Souled Out was released on September 8, 2014, after three years of recording. The album was a commercial and critical success, debuting at number three on the US Billboard 200 and selling 70,000 copies in its first week.
It also topped the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and US R&B Albums charts. The album produced three singles: “The Pressure”, “Wading”, and “Spotless Mind”. Souled Out was included on several year-end lists and praised for its impact on the R&B genre. Aiko’s collaboration with Omarion, “Post to Be”, was also highlighted for its standout lyric.
In March 2016, Jhené Aiko announced a collaboration album with Big Sean, Twenty88, which debuted on TIDAL. She then released several non-album singles, including “Maniac” and “Hello Ego”. Aiko’s second album, Trip, was surprise-released on September 22, 2017, accompanied by a short film. The lead single “While We’re Young” was released in June 2017. In 2018, Aiko opened for Lana Del Rey on her LA to the Moon Tour.
Her third studio album, Chilombo, was released in March 2020. In 2022, Aiko performed at Super Bowl LVI and launched her imprint Allel Sound with Def Jam Records, signing rapper August 8 and featuring on their single “Water Sign”.
Personal Life
Jhené Aiko’s personal life has been marked by significant events. She was baptized at 16 and had a daughter with ex-boyfriend O’Ryan in 2008.
Aiko wrote a heartfelt song for her brother Miyagi before his passing in 2012. She survived a car accident in 2013 and later married Dot da Genius in 2016, but they divorced in 2017. Aiko has been in a relationship with Big Sean since 2016, and they recently welcomed a son, Noah, in 2022.
Jhené Aiko Net Worth
Jhené Aiko’s net worth is currently estimated to be around $6 million as of 2024.
Discography
Jhené Aiko’s discography includes:
- Souled Out (2014)
- Twenty88 (with Big Sean) (2016)
- Trip (2017)
- Chilombo (2020)
She has also released several mixtapes and EPs, including:
- Sailing Soul(s) (2011)
- Sail Out (2013)
Additionally, Jhené Aiko has released several singles and collaborative tracks, and has been featured on tracks by other artists.
Also, she has re-released her album “Chilombo” as “Chilombo (Deluxe)” in 2021, with additional tracks.