When experiencing grief we go through tons of emotions, from doubt to fear to anger. Jhene Aiko’s concert Friday night at the Novo in Downtown LA highlighted all facets of it.
Jhene has been dealing with a lot; from the loss of her brother Miyagi in 2012 to a recent divorce with longtime music collaborator, Dot Da Genius. Her outlet for serenity was found in the form of spiritual enlightenment, drugs, and poetry. With the last stop of the tour being her hometown city of LA, it was a perfect culmination of a crazy Trip.
The show kicked off with rising star from Atlanta, Kodie Shane. Her eccentric energy and hit records like “Drip On My Walk” and “Level Up” got the crowd hyped up and ready for more. Kodie’s raw and witty sound could be heard more on her debut album Back From the Future.
Next up was Willow with a guitar in hand and a live band to back her up. She’s definitely matured into her own right with a sound reminiscent of Jimmy Hendrix. Willow’s true artistry was displayed in a various moment as she gripped the microphone and told her story of love, confusion, and rage. Songs like “Wait a Minute And “Contentment” and “A Reason” sounded really good amongst the energy in the room. She ended the night with a new guitar filled rock rendition of a crowd favorite, “Whip My Hair”. Her new album The 1st can be streamed everywhere.
The DJ kept the energy going as the crowd waited Jhene to hit the stage.
The lights dimmed and a psychedelic tone of the album’s first track LSD played. Everyone went bananas as Jhene floated onto the stage and the airiness of her voice echoed out. Moments after there was a sense of hallucinogenic highs that took over. Jhene’s vibe inspires nothing but down to earth, chilled out, and thoughtful feelings. But when her hit single “While We’re Young” came on, the crowd seemed to be jolted even higher. Couples in the crowd were making out, grooving to the sounds, and just vibing to light and ambient sounds.
The mood changed when Swae Lee joined Jhene to perform Sativa, a state of California favorite. Other songs Jhene is featured on like Its A Vibe and Post To Be gave fans a delight break from the Trip.
When it came time to perform “OLLA (Only Lovers Left Alive)” Jhene called on family and friends to join the stage. Out of the mix emerged her new lover and collaborator on the TWENTY88 project, Big Sean. You could imagine how wild the crowd went. Flowers were tossed to the crowd and new memories were made. The night capped off with a sight of pure joy as Jhene’s daughter came on stage to perform their duet Sing To Me.
It was an optimistic ending to a transcendent night. From the beacons of light to the beams of solitude. This was a perfect Trip.
Want more of Jhene? Check out her poetry book, which she began writing at 6 years old, called 2Fish.
Shout-out to Kodie for hooking us up with tickets. Check out some of Kodie’s tunes below:
-Hakeem Animashaun
