Far removed is the R&B world from the ear splitting fangirl screams at the sight of new millennium boy band, B2K. Now, the mention of the one time heartthrobs induces jokes about member Raz-B‘s boy-who-cried-rape internet antics. The rest of the guys are still releasing music, albeit to no specific hurrah. But there are still a few artist from the old T.U.G. Entertainment roster making legitimate noise on the current music scene. The all girl response to B2K, collective TG4, was ultimately shelved by the label, but produced Amber Streeter, now known as Seven of fledgling female quartet Richgirl. The 24-year-old is a frequent collaborator, and apparent muse of R&B singer Chris Brown (see ‘She Ain’t You’, F.A.M.E, In My Zone series, etc.). 2011 also saw the reappearance of B2K’s resident rhymer Lil’ Fizz’s younger cousin Jhene.
Previously signed to Epic Records, Jhene Aiko was being cross-promoted during the guy’s heyday, as the next big thing out of the T.U.G. camp – that never was. the rosy-cheek singer was featured on B2K’s sophomore effort, Pandemonium!, their Christmas and two remix EPs, opened on The Scream Tour III, officially released a single and music video, and given countless release dates. Yet, nothing ever came of the deal – apart from a handful of unreleased teen R&B/Pop cuts, that you can find somewhere on the internet. After about five years of the ongoing teasing, Jhene decided to finally severe ties with Epic Records and T.U.G. Entertainment to finish her education.
Now all grown up, the 23 -year-old mother of one is back and making music her way. Her 2011 mixtape, Sailing Soul(s), has generated a lot of buzz on the West Coast and across the internet. The moody collection of songs features guest appearances by Drake (‘July’) and Miguel (‘Hoe’), and displays Aiko’s warm vocals perfectly amidst the atmospheric production – mostly done by beat-making team Fisticuffs. The singer has specified vocal influence by Brandy, Beyonce and Sade, and cites John Mayer as major inspiration for her new role as a songwriter. Throughout the mixtape we find the singer imbue her bass heavy confections with her real life as a young woman, living in L.A., with a goal. “I got a baby to feed, barely can eat, and I’m chasing a dream,” she confesses to a foreign lover on the introspective ‘Space Jam’. Today, the B2K craze is but a teenage memory, and Jhene is fittingly in the wings singing the songs of the now broken in, adult fangirls of the last decade.
Click here to download Jhene’s free mixtape Sailing Soul(s).
43 COMMENTS
crunkpoet
July 11, 2011 at 1:50 am
i love her! even back when b2k was big i liked her and hoped she would do some big things!
[Reply]
MuzikJunkie
July 11, 2011 at 1:52 am
This girl is super talented, I LOVE her mixtape and her voice is just beautiful. I hope she keeps making great music!
[Reply]
Harvey
July 11, 2011 at 1:53 am
I love Me some Jhene Aiko…her mixtape is hella dope.And she such a talented person.
[Reply]
Ms idarebebold
July 11, 2011 at 1:54 am
i love her mixtape! i can’t wait to hear more from her.
[Reply]
Erbodyhatechris
July 11, 2011 at 2:10 am
Ahhhh I’m so happy Jhene is finally getting some exposure! Her last mixtape was so dope!
[Reply]
Erbodyhatechris
July 11, 2011 at 2:13 am
You Vs Them and My Mine is my favs from the mixtape!
@ErbodyHateChris
[Reply]
Malibu Barbie
July 11, 2011 at 2:24 am
JHENE over CHER LLOYD. Jhene is a bad bish!! yass!
[Reply]
TRP
July 11, 2011 at 2:52 am
Seriously, her mixtape is like an underground album deserving of a Grammy. The shit is so classical, and well put together that I would be willing to purchase a couple copies. A label needs to snatch her up and let her put out an official version of Sailing Souls. I just can’t wait to hear more from her, she’s incredible.
[Reply]
LTM
July 11, 2011 at 3:02 am
Its always nice to hear new music from a new artist
[Reply]
bettyboopbbw69
July 11, 2011 at 3:09 am
KILLA!!!!
[Reply]
Pucci
July 11, 2011 at 3:15 am
IT’S ABOUT DAMN TIME!!!!! I mean really, i’ve been waiting on you Jhene! Funny thing is this the first i’ve heard of her since her days with B2K.
[Reply]
GO BEY
July 11, 2011 at 3:20 am
she sounds like MYA nothing special, yet another wannabe
[Reply]
BitchIcantevenspellwelfare
July 11, 2011 at 3:33 am
I like her!!!!!! Good lookin out!
[Reply]
nice_gurl
July 11, 2011 at 4:21 am
She’s got a nice voice.
[Reply]
Jazmine
July 11, 2011 at 4:22 am
Omarion’s little brother is Jhene’s baby daddy right .?
[Reply]
max_ciara
July 11, 2011 at 4:46 am
YESSSSSSS Finally yall post about her!!! She is amazing; never in my 19 years of living have i enjoyed somebody’s mixtape in my life!! Imeen you would think its an official album! Her voice is sooo smooth and calming; dont get me started on fav from the mixtape>>>My mine, stranger, you vs them, hoe, sailing not selling, real now, growing apart!!! AHHH i love it! Also i love the video for stranger>>it captures the true feeling of the beat. She is amazing and may god bless her with more success!!
[Reply]
WhimsicalFire
July 11, 2011 at 4:52 am
Its like Cassie meets an even lesser talented version of Rihanna. Kinda like Mya, if see wasn’t trying…
Not good… watery vocals, played-out style…
Maybe this would have worked when Ashanti, Ciara, and even Aaliyah were running the R&B/Pop game. But in this dawn of Beyonce, Alicia Keys.. Adele, Lady Gaga, way more is needed than lack-luster vocals accompanied by a pretty face.
Britney and Rihanna already have a hold on the vocally challenged department.
Goodbye Jhene.
[Reply]
MahoganyMars
July 11, 2011 at 5:40 am
<– As you can tell from my gravatar pic, I love this woman!! Her mixtape has been on repeat since she released it back in March!! #teamaiko
[Reply]
MahoganyMars
July 11, 2011 at 5:51 am
Oh yeah…to the people saying that she can’t sing: Jhene is definitely NOT trying to compete with the superstars & sell millions of records. Plus, she has never claimed to be a powerhouse vocalist. She knows how to work within her limits.
[Reply]
Mr-DeBonair2U
July 11, 2011 at 8:53 am
Jhene is hott u posted 3of my fav songs off the mixtape
[Reply]
RHI RHI IS QUEEN
July 11, 2011 at 9:00 am
YEA SHE HAS A BABY WITH OMARION’S LITTLE BROTHER WHO ALSO TRIED TO FLOP HIS WAY ON TO THE CHARTS SOME TIME AGO. TG4 WAS ACTUALLY A HOT GROUP, I LOVED THEM WHEN THEY FIRST CAME OUT
[Reply]
CheerfuL Cynic XD
July 11, 2011 at 9:05 am
I’ve been listening to her mix tape non stop since it was released
my fav songs are
hoe
sailing not selling
stranger
my mine
higher
shit I love em all
[Reply]
Selestial
July 11, 2011 at 9:39 am
I have always loved since back in tha day…..she sounds just like her sister Mila J. Especially back when ol’ Myspace was revelant…..used 2 rinse those beats out…!
[Reply]
S
July 11, 2011 at 10:08 am
CASSIE 2.0 NOT A DISS I LIKE IT
[Reply]
VVO
July 11, 2011 at 10:55 am
I love her! She’s so dope!
[Reply]
TAYLOR SWIFTS NUMBER 1 FAN
July 11, 2011 at 11:01 am
Pretty looking girl.
[Reply]
smokey
July 11, 2011 at 11:01 am
Finally!! Her mixtape is dope. Great Great vocals I love her
[Reply]
Kellymotivation
July 11, 2011 at 11:05 am
She looks and sounds like Cassie
NEXT!!!!!!!
[Reply]
lola
July 11, 2011 at 1:44 pm
This bitch needs to give it up. She’s a mother and has been for like 4 years. She can’t sing and sounds a lot like Cassie! People only support her because she’s pretty. I’m tired of this washed up singers or people who never made it trying to come back in the game when it clearly wasn’t meant to be. GrapeJuice, y’all will post about anybody now-a-days!
[Reply]
perhaps
July 11, 2011 at 2:07 pm
Cassie? No not at all. Give this girl a chance and until you see you sing live you shouldn’t put her in the Cassie category. I dig the mix tape its heartfelt and personal regardless of the caliber of her voice.
[Reply]
Alvaro Moreira
July 11, 2011 at 3:10 pm
Good mixtape! I’m glad I could get it for free. Hope she breaks through.
[Reply]
that_lala
July 11, 2011 at 5:05 pm
i remember her but,its been years.can’t wait to see what she’s gonna do now
[Reply]
that_lala
July 11, 2011 at 5:11 pm
btw she’s beautiful
[Reply]
David
July 11, 2011 at 6:23 pm
Her mixtape been out for a minute now….LATEgrapejuice.net…but thanks for putting some spotlight on her. Sailing Souls is dope…
[Reply]
Yellow Gorillah
July 11, 2011 at 6:35 pm
YAAAS Eeveryone needs to get into Jhene
STRANGER + MY MINE —————–>
Her mixtape been on repeat for a while now. She has potential
[Reply]
I don't give a fuck
July 11, 2011 at 6:43 pm
Introducing? Damn Sam, you late. LOL but I love Jhene. She’s really talented. Hopefully she’ll make an album and get more street buzz….she reminds me of a female drake to me….
[Reply]
VA STAND UP!!
July 11, 2011 at 8:36 pm
Dang, I forgot all about her. I remember from her association with B2k, but that’s about it. She pretty much fell off the radar since then & I’ve never It sucks that she has to be associated with that group & all their drama.
The songs are cute. She has a really soft voice like Mya & Cassie, & she obviously has the look but I don’t think there is anything to spectacular or ‘stand out’ about her. I don’t mean to be negative but I don’t see why everyone is gushing all over her. Her songs don’t sound like anything we haven’t heard before. I guess having Drake on your record is a good look though. *shrugs*
Kudos to TGJ for giving a new (well not really) some shine. Good luck to her.
[Reply]
Mashonda Fan
July 11, 2011 at 11:04 pm
This mixtape is the best CD that came out in 2011 so far!
My favs are: MY MINE, STRANGER, SAILING NOT SEELING and HIGHER.
Jhene is talented. Both her and her sister Mila J. Love them!
Jhene’s debut album is good also.. fav songs are: DEJA VU & STUCK LIKE THIS.
She has that special vibe in her songs. Some call her a female Drake. I can see why, she’s doing the same type of music.. moody, vibey, atmospheric hiphop RnB.
I hate people who say that R&B is dead. It’s soooo not! BYE.
[Reply]
JUSTbeinHONEST
July 12, 2011 at 1:07 am
I’ve always loved this girl and ive listen to almost every song from her …. now hey sister MILA J needs to come back out and make a album … one song you guys should listen to is “Right Here” it was featured in the Proud Family movie a few years back http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Lrqj_N7qWY
[Reply]
Keesha
July 12, 2011 at 3:19 am
I really like the Stranger song. I actually first heard it on Tumblr some months ago. And I remember her from the Tease song on B2K’s Pandemonium album, at least I think that was her on the song. I have to hear her live though.
[Reply]
Keesha
July 12, 2011 at 3:23 am
Oh and I like the July song too. Heard that one on Tumblr as well. And I don’t know why my comment is being held for moderation. *shrugs shoulders*
[Reply]
WOW
July 12, 2011 at 4:25 pm
She is amazing and the freshest thing I have heard in a really long time. Pray she blows. She deserves it.
[Reply]
Introducing... Jhene Aiko | Yin & Yang
July 18, 2011 at 10:16 pm
[...] probably know the words to the songs by now. I only came across her after reading about her on ThatGrapeJuice so shout out to them for putting me onto her. Since I have been put onto her I feel that it’s [...]
LEAVE A COMMENT:
That Grape Juice now allows Gravatars! These are the little pictures that show up beside your name when you leave a comment on this blog and probably the rest of the blogs you visit too. Click here to get your own FREE Gravatar account if you haven't already done so.