Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter Jhené Aiko was already more than a decade deep in music when she arrived at Def Jam in 2011 having been featured on projects by A-listers including Drake, Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole and more.
Jhené made history when her 2013 debut EP, Sail Out, became the biggest-selling EP in Def Jam history, earning RIAA-certified Gold status with Platinum and Gold hits “The Worst” and “Bed Peace”. She then joined Drake on his 39-city U.S. tour and collaborated with Big Sean on their 2016 duo project, TWENTY88.
Jhené’s sophomore project Trip, a Movie, Album and Poetry book (M.A.P.), details an alternate form of therapy to deal with the loss of her brother, Miyagi Hasani Ayo Chilombo, to cancer in 2012. Trip debuted at #1 on Billboard’s R&B Albums Chart with RIAA-certified Gold singles “Sativa” and “While We’re Young.”
A lifelong writer, Jhené completed her trifecta by authoring the Barnes & Noble Bestseller, 2Fish, presenting an intimate portrait of herself as Penny, the nickname given by her grandfather, with excerpts pulled directly from her childhood journals.
Jhené is a pop culture icon with a heavy presence in Elle, Harper’s Bazaar, CR Fashion Book, Nylon and more. While Jhené has proved to be a trailblazer in the music, art and fashion space, she has created a unique convergence of literature, philanthropy and personal well-being.
Last year, Jhené partnered with Viacom’s Get Schooled, an award-winning non-profit dedicated to using the power of technology and pop culture to inspire young people toward higher education, with the #PennysPen campaign engaging over 45 million nationwide. Jhené also launched the W.A.Y.S. foundation, an acronym for “Why aren’t you smiling,” in honor of her late brother. The foundation, led by Jhené and her family, is dedicated to instilling hope into the lives of those who need help.