Who’s in Jhené Aiko’s top 5?
The Grammy-nominated songstress is revealing the rappers and singers who influenced her most as an artist. Speaking with DJ Khaled on his Amazon Music podcast “The First One,” Jhené shared her favorite MCs.
“Don’t do this me,” a nervous Jhené told Khaled before listing her top 5, starting with her idol Tupac Shakur.
Jhené has paid tribute to the West Coast icon before during her live shows including her cover of “Keep Ya Head Up” for Rap-Up in 2013.
Her top 5 rappers also includes another late legend, The Notorious B.I.G., plus JAY-Z, Eminem, and Snoop Dogg.
Additionally, Jhené celebrated the voices that inspired her. Her list of top 5 singers includes Beyoncé, Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Sade, and Brandy, who she collaborated with on “Ascension” for her 2015 album Trip.
“You are and will always be my favorite singer,” Jhené told Brandy in 2017.
During her interview with Khaled, Jhené also opened up about collaborating with Drake on “July” for her 2011 mixtape, Sailing Soul(s). “I was always a fan,” said Jhené, whose favorite Drake album is Nothing Was the Same.
The discussion also turned to her relationship with boyfriend Big Sean. “When I first met Sean, the one thing I can say is he immediately felt familiar, like I knew him already and I was comfortable with him immediately because he just came into my session at No I.D.’s studio and I had never felt that feeling of like, I’ve met you before,” said Jhené. “Our friendship is really strong so that has made our relationship what it is, just that foundation of real friends who really know each other on that level.”
Jhené, who is nominated for three Grammys at this year’s awards, also revealed the two artists that are on her wish list of collaborators, Frank Ocean and Justin Bieber.