Day 64: Beware by Big Sean ft. Lil Wayne and Jhene Aiko

Odd that a song reminds you of showering, but I remember blasting a lot of Big Sean while I lathered up in halls in my first year of uni. Beware was one of those tracks and it bangs; inside of a shower and out.

Released in 2013 on GOOD Music and Def Jam Recordings, it was originally a Soundcloud exclusive before being made available for digital download as the third single to preview Sean’s second studio album, Hall Of Fame. It has a very classic formula, with a second rapper taking the third verse in Lil Wayne whilst Jhene Aiko (a future girlfriend of Sean’s three years on from Beware) handles the chorus.

It’s infectious in its beat, with the lyrical subject of infidelity wrapped up in a bouncy, upbeat production that made it a good commercial hit for Sean. Where he sings, he is heavily autotuned, though Aiko’s beautiful vocals (that are no strangers this blog, having featured Sativa and First Fuck with 6LACK) carry the bulk of singing duties, whilst Sean and Tunechi take care of the bars. Lil Wayne’s verse is typical of him; he is expletive but in a way that doesn’t offend. Personally, I think some of his best verses are when he is focusing on sex.

Just writing about this song is making me remember all the hits Sean had in my early years of university, and I’m going to spend the rest of the day bumping them loudly. In the meantime, give Beware a listen. You won’t regret it.

Spotify Playlist Link: https://spoti.fi/2CKuVex

Day 56: First Fuck by 6LACK ft. Jhene Aiko

An RnB stalwart and a new kid on the block combine for First Fuck. Wintery, intimate and passionate, 6LACK and Jhene Aiko make a surprisingly delicate love song, considering the title.

Released in 2017 between 6LACK’S (pronounced “black”; the 6 is significant to him because of its spiritual importance and being raised in Atlanta’s Zone 6) freshman and sophomore albums, First Fuck came out as a single on LoveRenaissance and Interscope Records. He started recording at the age of 4 (yeah, 4! His father owned a studio) and started out his musical career with rap battles, famously engaging with Young Thug pre-fame for both of them. His moniker first entered the public eye in 2016 with his debut album Free 6LACK, bagging a Grammy nomination for Best Urban Contemporary Album in 2018. With a name like Ricardo Valentine, it’s amazing he chose to adopt a pseudonym, but the pronunciation debates regarding 6LACK have only served to raise his profile.

East Atlanta Love Letter is a fabulous second album, soaked in RnB and soul with just enough rough edges to occupy the ever-diversifying gap between hip-hop and rhythm and blues. 6LACK’s rap roots make for an interesting amalgamation of genres within a song and an album. Jhene Aiko’s inclusion makes for a dichotomy that reflects the songs battle between love and lust. Her voice is purer and smoother and has a cheeky knowingness that compliments 6LACK’s voice of the streets. He is lust, she is love and the song is a constant battle of emotions.

First Fuck is a prime example of modern-day RnB. Jhene Aiko helped pioneer the transition from the early noughties through till now, whilst 6LACK has a promising career as one of the artists to fly the flag proudly for the genre over the coming years.

Spotify Playlist Link: https://spoti.fi/2CKuVex

Day 3: Sativa by Jhene Aiko

Day three and we are still going, unlike my resolve to workout daily and my commitment to Dry January. With a lot of RnB influences already, today’s track lives and breathes Rhythm and Blues, oozing it out of every note. Jhene Aiko’s Sativa features Swae Lee, one half of Rae Sremmurd, and is a perfectly balanced journey that brings out an unusual yet refreshing side to the hip-hop/pop star that has been taken out of his comfort zone of adding a rap verse to solidify a chart position for stars such as Ellie Goulding and French Montana. Aiko is an excellent accompaniment for him, guiding him into her world of considered and raw RnB records and is, for me, the standout track from her 2017 psychedelic project Trip.

If you haven’t mulled over Aiko’s work, you really should. She has been making music since her early teen years in the first years of the century and has since gone on to collaborate with some of the world’s biggest artists, including Drake (Nothing Was The Same), Childish Gambino (Bed Peace) and Kanye West (Sailing Not Selling). She also released a collaborative album with rapper Big Sean, forming a dual project TWENTY88 and releasing an eponymous EP in April 2018 on GOOD Music. Well worth a listen as an introduction to Aiko and Big Sean.

Spotify Playlist Link: https://spoti.fi/2CKuVex