Jhené Aiko Returns With Emotionally-Charged ‘Chilombo’ Album

Multi-platinum-selling singer-songwriter Jhené Aiko released her anticipated new album, Chilombo, today via Def Jam Recordings.

The third album from the Grammy-nominated artist has already been building a buzz for its three singles, which have cumulatively garnered over 500 million streams, including the platinum-certified ‘Triggered’, ‘None Of Your Concern’, featuring Big Sean and ‘Pu$$y Fairy (OTW)’.

Aiko has also announced an extensive North American tour in support of Chilombo. “The Magic Hour” tour, featuring special guest Queen Naija, kicks off 1 May in Boston. Tickets for the 33-date tour are on sale now.

For her third studio album, Aiko travelled to The Big Island of Hawaii – the birthplace of her great great-grandmother. Aiko was inspired by the natural – and formidable – natural beauty of the island. In an interview with Billboard late last month, the artist said, “In a sense, I am like a volcano, and this album is an eruption. It starts with ‘Triggered’, and there’s a lava flow with all these songs where it’s a free-flowing jam session. And then it settled – and it became this beautiful land where there’s new life.”

Every song on the 20-track album initially began as a freestyle jam by Aiko. Then, the music for each track would be developed by the artist, along with her producers – including Lejkeys, as well as her longtime collaborators, the prolific duo Fisticuffs. Aiko also worked with an impressive line-up of guest artists on Chilombo, including John Legend on track ‘Lighting & Thunder’, Ty Dolla $Ign on ‘Party for Me (West Coast Version)’, Nas on ‘10k Hours’ as well as Miguel and Future on ‘Happiness Over Everything (H.O.E.)’.

Having found a newfound sense of her own personal power and confidence, the artist decided to take a cue from her full name – Jhené Aiko Efuru Chilombo – when it came to titling the album. She explained to Billboard that, “Chilombo is a word that means “wild beast” – they’re strong, confident and graceful…Beasts are also beautiful”.

Chilombo is out now and can be bought here.

Jhené Aiko’s “The Magic Hour Tour”, featuring Queen Naija (except where noted with *) includes the following dates:

May 1 – Boston, MA – Orpheum Theatre
May 2 – New York, NY– Radio City Music Hall
May 3 – Washington, DC – Echostage
May 5 – Norfolk, VA – The NorVa
May 6 – Richmond, VA – The National
May 8 – Los Angeles, CA – Lovers & Friends Music Festival *
May 9 – Los Angeles, CA – Lovers & Friends Music Festival *
May 11 – Nashville, TN – Marathon Music Works
May 13 – Atlanta, GA – Fox Theatre
May 14 – Orlando, FL – Hard Rock Live
May 15 – Gulf Shores, AL – Hangout Festival *
May 17 – Miami, FL – The Fillmore
May 19 – New Orleans, LA – The Orpheum Theater
May 20 – Houston, TX – Revention Music Center
May 22 – Dallas, TX – The Bomb Factory
May 23 – Austin, TX – ACL Live at the Moody Theater
May 24 – San Antonio, TX – Tobin Center
May 26 – Denver, CO – Mission Ballroom
May 29 – Phoenix, AZ – Marquee Theatre
May 30 – Las Vegas, NV – The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan
Jun 1 – Los Angeles, CA – Greek Theatre
Jun 5 – Vancouver, BC – Malkin Bowl
Jun 6 – Seattle, WA – Marymoor Park
Jun 8 – Portland, OR – Roseland Ballroom
Jun 11 – San Francisco, CA – The Warfield
Jun 16 – St Paul, MN – Myth Live
Jun 17 – Chicago, IL – The Chicago Theatre
Jun 18 – Detroit, MI – The Masonic
Jun 20 – Philadelphia, PA – Franklin Music Hall
Jun 21 – Toronto, ON – Queen Elizabeth Theatre
Jun 24 – Raleigh, NC – The Ritz
Jun 25 – Charlotte, NC – The Fillmore
Jun 27 – Saint Kitts – St. Kitts Music Festival *

Format: UK English