PART I

Jhene Aiko for Nylon’s digital magazine

A flower child longing for peace, love, and soothing self-solitude. Jhené Aiko Efuru “Penny” Chilombo was born on March 16, 1988, in Los Angeles, California accompanied by her seven siblings and parents Christina Yamamoto and Dr. Karamo Chilombo. The Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter found her passion for the arts through pain and tribulations. Being raised in Los Angeles, Aiko endured a tad bit of the LA Riots and violence/discrimination within her neighborhood, Slauson Hills. She would write poetry in her journal whenever she could not express herself to anyone: it was Aiko’s therapy. Being inspired by artists such as Eminem, Brandy, and Sade, Aiko found her niche in alternative R&B. Aiko first put out a mixtape called Sailing Souls where she undiscovered the truths of a manipulating industry, her journey of motherhood, and dealing with the death of her older brother Miyagi. In 2012, Jhene Aiko lost her brother Miaygi from cancer. The unforgettable pain allowed Aiko to express herself in a personal manner, giving her fans endless relatable art. Aiko platinum-selling song The Worst, off her first ep, Sail Out, became her most recognizable song in 2014. She later continued her musical writing with her debut album Souled Out and most recent 2017 release, Trip, both reaching #1 on Billboard’s US R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. Aiko’s album Trip is her most honest and collective body of work, containing an M.A.P. The map consists of a movie, album, and poetry book which tells the story of her journey with psychedelics, spirituality, and self-healing. Jhené Aiko is one of my favorite singer/songwriters because her work is always honest and coming straight from her soul. I appreciate that she stays connected with her fans and her philosophy “sail your soul not sell.” *this post is a substitute*

PART II

Question for faculty presenters: What was the roughest standpoint in your career and how did you overcome the barrier(s)?