Chilombo
| Jhene Aiko
Chilombo
Chilombo is the third studio album by American singer Jhené Aiko. It was released on March 6, 2020, by ArtClub International, ARTium Recordings, and Def Jam Recordings. Following the release of Trip and her split with rapper Big Sean, with whom she formed the duo Twenty88, Aiko began work on Chilombo. Recorded as a freestyle in Hawaii, the album was inspired by the island's natural landscape and features traditional singing bowls to create a tranquil effect. In order to create her desired sound, Aiko served as the album's executive producer, enlisting the help of long time collaborators Fisticuffs and Lejkeys, who produced eighteen of the album's songs. -Wikipedia
Critic Reviews
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Pitchfork
Whether she’s cooing, humming, or rapping, she brings an easygoing grace and playfulness that tends to open up songs. Chilombo gestures at this larger skill set, but settles for good vibes. It’s very chill, and nothing else.
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The Guardian
the album seems to conclude with a reconciliation, rendered in never-ending, luscious rhapsodies that keep coming like a film that doesn’t know how to end.
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The Musical Hype
All in all, there’s plenty to like about Chilombo. Sure, it’s too long, but Jhené Aiko does a nice job of exploring and expressing her feelings in the aftermath of a breakup.
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Sidelines
We get the chance to see her personal growth in an album that’s beautifully crafted. Each song gives a different sense of healing, whether you’re in a relationship, happy and content on your own or giving yourself confidence.
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Grunge Cake
If you’re looking for something telling, smooth, and sensual to listen to today and throughout your weekend, Jhené Aiko’s twenty-track album is one to consider.
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EUPHORIA
Chilombo is easily of the best projects to be released this year, with more moments to discover with each listen. It centers you, calms you, and makes you analyze your own way you are figuring things out. Jhené Aiko has presented a body of work that you can really live with.
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Hit Up Ange
Chilombo is a walk through Aiko’s psyche, hand in hand, meeting all her best friends and touching everything beautiful along the way. She has always embraced her own brand of chill, otherworldly R&B, and this LP is a testament to the success an artist can have when they create something they are truly passionate about.
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AOTY
Although Jhene often relies too much on her amazing voice, and uses it to overcome her lack of quality songwriting, it just sounds so DAMN good.
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Ratings Game Music
Chilombo is a body-of-work that is intricate, bi-polar, relatable, passionate, and hella emotional. Throughout it, Jhene sings over instrumentals that are soothing, laying down lyrics full of jilt, frustration, elation, disappointment, and confusion in the process.
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Pop Dust
The singer's third album is filled with lyrical meandering, and not much else.
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Daily Cal
Chilombo only falls short of its potential because of the number of unnecessary tracks and its exhaustive run time, resulting in a somewhat disjointed album that fails to keep listeners’ attention.
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Vinyl Chapters
Sassy, sexy and bad-ass, Jhené Aiko makes every girl want to be her best friend as she takes us through her heartbreak album filled with powerful tracks and masses of great sex.
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Exclaim
Whether you buy in to her spiritual process or not, Chilombo is worth your attention.
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Flipboard
sexual, spiritual, and wildly over-long.
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