After leaving the music scene in 2003 and returning in 2011 with mixtape .sailing soul(s) and Sail Out in 2013, R&B songstress Jhene Aiko dropped her debut album, Souled Out, today. Aiko is one of the biggest up-and-comers in the R&B scene right now, Souled Out being on both Complex Magazine and MTV‘s lists of the most anticipated albums of 2014.

In the past few years, Aiko has been featured on tracks by the likes of Big Sean, Drake, and J. Cole. With her latest release, Aiko’s talent speaks for itself and on most of the tracks her raw emotion carries them through without the need for big name rappers; however, “To Love and Die” feat. Cocaine 80’s and “Pretty Bird [Freestyle]” feat. Common are welcome additions. Another collaboration on the album, “Promises”  features not only her daughter, Namiko, but also the previously recorded voice of Aiko’s brother, Miyagi, prior to his death in 2012. While all of her music is deeply personal, here the album hits an especially intimate note.

From start to finish, the album chronicles a transformation—one that Aiko’s velvety voice glides through. From heartbreak to healing, Souled Out runs full circle with pitfalls, day dreams, and victories along the way. Aiko is devilishly sly in the way her soft croons cut deep into her enemies (mainly men who have wronged her). Souled Out is a welcome retreat from the party, like those moments alone in the bathroom of the house party where you re-examine everything you’ve done wrong, or the silent walk home alone from your significant others’ house. Her tracks are pensive, resonant, and sometimes deceptively angry. Drift off with Aiko and you’ll be lost for hours.

You can download Souled Out: here

Listen to her full album below:

Here is the tracklist:

1. Brave
2. To Love & Die (Feat. Cocaine 80s)
3. Beautiful Ruin
4. It’s Cool
5. Lyin King
6. Wading
7. The Pressure
8. Eternal Sunshine
9. Limbo Limbo Limbo
10. Promises
11. W.A.Y.S
12. Pretty Bird

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For Jhené Aiko, it’s been a long road to get to the release of her debut album, but now it’s her time and the lead single is here. “To Love & Die” features a winning combination from Cocaine 80s, James Fauntleroy vocals, and production from Chicago’s No I.D. Jhene brings her LA swag and angelic voice to the track as she sings about her ride or die mentality for love. This is a dope follow-up from “The Worst” which was featured on her Sail Out EP. Her debut album Souled Out will be out sometime this year via Def Jam. Stream the track below.

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The Cocaine 80s collective, led by producer extraordinaire No I.D., links up with Chicago’s own Common for a jazz inspired new joint. “Congratulations” showcases Common in his storytelling zone, recalling a time when his boy may have gotten married to the wrong girl. The track manages to touch on a lot of issues from love to religion to women. No I.D. really honed in musically on the wedding theme, adding an organ to put us in the story. Anytime No I.D. and Common get together it’s something special, and this cut is no different. Common is currently in the studio working on a new mixtape which he plans to drop later on this year. Give the track a listen below.

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Common & No I.D. combine forces once again with this new track entitled, “Six”. Nice twist on the commonly used figure of speech “Six Feet Under”, flipping the script to, you got it, “Six Feet Over”. Nice little double entendre; they’re not dead, in fact they’re six feet above ground; they’re ‘higher’ per se, a la Cocaine 80s theme. Smooth track indeed.

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Common and producer No I.D. have gotten together to put out this jam off Cocaine 80s‘ The Pursuit EP.  Cocaine 80s is a group consisting of Common, No I.D., Steve Wyreman, Rob Kinelski and many more, nevertheless Common is front and center on this track.

Download the track HERE

Read more about Cocaine 80’s and their upcoming EP HERE

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