Jhené Aiko’s “Westside Whimsy” Earns No. 1 Debut In US
Jhené Aiko has officially reached the top of the Billboard 200 for the first time in her career. Her new album, Westside Whimsy, is set to debut at No. 1 after earning 73,000 equivalent album units in its first week, according to Hits Daily Double.
The achievement gives Aiko her first-ever No. 1 album on the Billboard 200. It also comes six years after the release of her previous studio album, Chilombo.
After more than a decade of releasing music, Aiko has finally reached the summit of the Billboard 200 with a project that represents a major return for the R&B star. Westside Whimsy arrived on September 11 and contains 20 tracks.
The album also features several major names from the West Coast music scene, including Kendrick Lamar, Larry June, Ab-Soul, Tyga and OHMA.
Jhené Aiko Earns Her First No. 1 Album
Aiko has accomplished plenty throughout her career, but a No. 1 album had remained one of the major Billboard milestones missing from her résumé.
That changes with Westside Whimsy.
The album’s 73,000-unit first week gives Aiko her first Billboard 200 chart-topper. It also surpasses the previous career high established by Chilombo, which debuted at No. 2 in 2020.
That album became one of the biggest releases of Aiko’s career. It earned three Grammy nominations, including Album of the Year and Best Progressive R&B Album, while further establishing her as one of contemporary R&B’s most recognizable artists.
Now, Westside Whimsy has taken her one spot higher on the Billboard 200.
The timing makes the accomplishment even more notable.
‘Westside Whimsy’ Is Her First Album Since 2020
Aiko’s new No. 1 arrives after a six-year wait between studio albums.
Her last full-length project was Chilombo, released in March 2020. Since then, Aiko continued making music and collaborating with other artists, but fans had been waiting for another complete studio album.
Aiko teased the long-awaited project as being six years in the making before officially releasing Westside Whimsy this month. The album gives listeners a substantial 20-song collection after that lengthy break.
The new project continues many of the qualities that have defined Aiko’s music throughout her career. Her songwriting touches on love, vulnerability, healing, relationships and self-reflection.
At the same time, Westside Whimsy has a strong Los Angeles identity. Aiko’s label described the album as a love letter to her hometown, with its featured artists helping celebrate the city’s musical history and current culture.
The album’s guest list certainly reflects that connection.
Kendrick Lamar Appears on ‘So Good’
One of the biggest moments on Westside Whimsy comes from Kendrick Lamar.
The Compton rapper appears on “So Good,” marking another collaboration between two artists with a long musical history. Aiko and Kendrick previously worked together on “Stay Ready (What a Life)” from her Sail Out EP.
Their connection goes back even further, with their respective musical paths intersecting more than a decade ago. Kendrick’s appearance on “So Good” therefore gives the new album another link to Aiko’s earlier career.
The collaboration is also fitting for an album centered around Los Angeles.
Kendrick has consistently represented his Compton roots throughout his career, while Aiko’s music has often reflected her own Southern California upbringing. Their latest collaboration brings those two worlds together again.
Larry June, Ab-Soul, Tyga and OHMA Also Featured
Kendrick Lamar is joined by four other notable artists on Westside Whimsy.
Larry June appears on “Neighbors,” while Ab-Soul contributes to “Love Bomb.” Tyga is featured on “Like, Whatever,” and OHMA appears on the album’s closing track, “Golden Coast.”
The features give Westside Whimsy a strong West Coast presence.
Larry June’s appearance is particularly fitting given his own connection to California culture and the laid-back style that has become central to his music. Ab-Soul also brings another established Los Angeles voice to the project.
Tyga provides another major hip-hop collaboration, while OHMA appears on “Golden Coast,” helping close out the 20-track album.
Still, despite the impressive guest list, Westside Whimsy remains firmly centered around Aiko.
A 20-Track Return
Westside Whimsy contains 20 songs in total.
The tracklist begins with “Wild Cat(s)” and moves through songs including “Ghost,” “Break,” “Love Bomb,” “Ceiling (Freestyle),” “Nothing Nice to Say” and “He Belongs.”
Aiko then moves into “Like, Whatever” with Tyga before continuing through “You,” “Don’t Be That Guy,” “Lullaby,” “Neighbors” with Larry June and “Mine.”
Kendrick Lamar’s “So Good” appears at No. 14 on the tracklist.
The album then continues with “Beach Boy,” “Unicorn,” “I Don’t Mind,” “Nami’s Haiku” and “A Living Light” before closing with “Golden Coast” featuring OHMA.
The length of the project gives Aiko plenty of room to explore different moods while maintaining the atmospheric R&B sound that fans have come to expect from her.
‘Chilombo’ Set the Stage
Aiko’s previous album made a major impact when it arrived in 2020.
Chilombo debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 and became a defining project in her discography. Its success also resulted in Aiko receiving three Grammy nominations.
The album featured a lengthy list of collaborators, including Big Sean, Future, H.E.R., Miguel, Nas and John Legend.
Although Chilombo fell just short of No. 1, it demonstrated that Aiko had the audience to compete at the highest level of the Billboard 200.
Six years later, Westside Whimsy has completed that journey.
Jhené Aiko Finally Reaches the Top
The No. 1 debut gives Aiko another major accomplishment to add to a career that began more than a decade ago.
From Sailing Soul(s) and Sail Out to Souled Out, Trip and Chilombo, Aiko has steadily developed a dedicated audience around her introspective approach to R&B.
Now, Westside Whimsy has delivered the chart milestone that had previously eluded her.
The album’s 73,000 first-week units are enough to put Aiko at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, making this her first chart-topping album.
It is also a strong statement following a six-year break from full-length albums.
Aiko returned with 20 new songs, major West Coast collaborations and a project rooted in the city that has influenced so much of her artistry.
Kendrick Lamar, Larry June, Ab-Soul, Tyga and OHMA all contribute to the album, but the biggest story belongs to Aiko herself.
After waiting six years to release her follow-up to Chilombo, Jhené Aiko has finally earned her first No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 with Westside Whimsy.
The post Jhené Aiko’s “Westside Whimsy”debuts at No. 1 in US appeared first on Hip Hop Vibe.
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