Six years have passed since Jhené Aiko last released an album, Chilombo. She revealed the eagerly awaited successor, titled Westside Whimsy, just a few days ago, offering little lead time to digest the news. Today, the 20-track collection arrives with notable guests such as Kendrick Lamar, Ab-Soul, Larry June, Tyga, and OHMA.
Westside Whimsy blends heartbreak with the glimmers of light that appear after personal turmoil. A press release frames the project as “a love letter to Jhené Aiko’s hometown of Los Angeles,” with her collaborators commemorating “the city’s diverse musical heritage and contemporary energy.” Aiko, a Los Angeles native, has referred to her hometown as “Slauson Hills,” a moniker for the neighborhoods surrounding Slauson Avenue where she grew up.
From the outset, however, Aiko makes it clear that this project goes beyond a celebration of place; it is deeply personal. The opening track, “Wild Cat(s),” has her reconciling and sorting through difficult emotions, reflecting on her upbringing and her parents’ relationship — a mother who embodies air energy and a father who embodies fire energy. “I’m adapting, emotionally detaching/ I guess that’s what happens when you’re raised by a brave Aquarian woman,” she sings at the start. Her voice wavers as if between radio stations, while a wistful melody drifts in the background. “Unhinged like my dad is/ If anyone asks, I speak my mind.”
Later, Aiko contemplates the standards she holds herself to while cruising the 101, the heartbreak that continues to haunt her, and the emotional wreckage left in the wake of a breakup. A standout moment is “Ceiling (Freestyle),” which delivers sharp lines like, “I’m the type of bitch that you should never do wrong / But you the type of bitch only a mother can make when they daddy don’t stay.” As the song progresses, she even lists the names of lovers with whom her partner was unfaithful.
After a handful of listens, the guest appearances on Westside Whimsy don’t immediately strike as the strongest aspects of the record. Yet the Kendrick Lamar collaboration “So Good” holds up well. It’s a track I can already picture sticking in my head. Lamar and Aiko have collaborated a few times over the years. Aiko first featured on his 2010 mixtape Overly Dedicated for “Growing Apart (To Get Closer),” and then Lamar appeared on her debut EP Sail Out for “Stay Ready (What A Life).” As ever, their voices mesh nicely. She has also contributed vocals on various Ab-Soul songs since the early 2010s and linked up with Larry June on his “California Dream” earlier this summer.
Listen to Westside Whimsy and watch Aiko’s “Ark To Agartha” video, which features music from the album, below.
Westside Whimsy is out now on Def Jam.
