Jhené Aiko

At a young age, singer-songwriter Jhené Aiko made a tough decision. Signing a record deal with Epic at 12, she had already picked up attention for her work with R&B group B2K; appeared on the soundtrack to various films (including "Barbershop" (2002), "The Master of Disguise" (2002) and "You Got Served" (2004)) and released her own video for debut single "NO L.O.V.E" by the age of 16. For most teenagers, the idea of having a record deal before they left high school is the stuff of dreams but Aiko took a hiatus from music and instead concentrated on finishing her studies. On a personal note during this time Aiko had a baby girl with R&B singer O'Ryan in 2008. Five years after taking a break from music she self-released a mixtape, .sailing soul(s). (2011). It showcased her writing, soulful vocals and a very modern take on R&B with guest spots from heavy weight rappers Drake, Kanye West and Kendrick Lamar. The critical acclaim the mixtape garnered led to Aiko signing to Atrium Records; tours with Nas, Lauryn Hill and Drake followed, along with the release of 2013's debut EP Sail Out. She continued to work with Drake, appearing on his hit single "From Time" and performing the song with him on "Saturday Night Live" (NBC, 1975-). Even with over ten years' experience in the music industry it wasn't until May 2014 that Aiko released her debut solo album Souled Out, to critical acclaim.