It really shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone that Big Sean and Jhené Aiko have joined forces for a full-length project. The two have collaborated on more than a few tracks over the past couple years, all of which received positive feedback but more importantly, solidified their undeniable chemistry as they seemingly share identical alleles of emotional intelligence. Big Sean’s Dark Sky Paradise featured “I Know” and “Stay Down” both having Aiko lend her sultry vocals. Neither was a smash hit but helped carve out the album’s deeper, more intimate appeal. Their audio history naturally revolves around relationships and the interactions between men and women; something both artists know a thing or two about. TWENTY88 takes that theme of love and lust a step further by stretching it across eight distinctive songs, each touching on the ins and outs of the male/female experience.
It isn’t outlandish to say that TWENTY88 is a concept album. It doesn’t necessarily follow a singular narrative per se but similar to Deltron 3030, there is an overarching theme that’s hard to miss. Per a recent convo with Flaunt, they borrow essence from Pam Grier’s Coffy, Roger Moore’s Bond-era and even last year’s sci-fi bonanza, Ex Machina in an upcoming visual, which transcends into the music as well.
The album opens up with “Déjà Vu” which balances both sides of this described “relationship” the reveals the pairs uncanny ability to articulate relationships in song form. At one point during Jhené’s verse it literally seems like she’s talking to Sean as if they’ve been dating for years. “Cause I stuck around for you/ when your ass wasn’t doing shit but running around the D wrapping nothing but them muthafuckin’ Swisher Sweets” is so convincingly authentic, you’d think she was applying real-life experience.
Sean’s rapping is also very strong, from a technical and emotional standpoint. He delivers clear and concise verses with enough rasp and cadence to mirror Jhené’s moody tones. Don’t expect the type of lyrical spazzing we heard on “Paradise” but these the tight-knit product strengthens the argument that Sean is at his best when rapping about the opposite sex. Although both artists get their fair share of shine, Sean plays MVP for much of the album, especially on “2 Minute Warning.” The track gets help from Detail and even a surprise appearance from K-Ci and JoJo but Sean’s rapping sounds so genuine it’s hard to focus on anything else.
The production is handled mainly by longtime Sean collaborator Key Wane with some drum pattern assists from Da Internz. The sound is cohesive and easy to navigate but is deficient of anything overly creative. From a music and songwriting standpoint, there isn’t much risk taken by anyone. The beats sound fairly similar and the song structures follow a common pattern. It would have been interesting to hear Sean and Jhené perform over a keys-driven track or even an acoustic backdrop. Both artists are incredibly original, especially when together, but a lack of edge—especially for a relationship driven package—is evident here.
“Push It” serves as the only track that makes a strive for said edge as the lyrics are so explicit, they border on being considered adult movie dialogue. The album totters from love highs on songs like “On the Way” to feeling frustrations on “Selfish” but it’s on “Memories Faded” where the relationships finds its biggest struggle. The latter will undoubtedly become a modern breakup anthem with the chorus being centered around “I got all these memories faded of you/With me being faded with you.” Both Sean and Jhené share their realest lines on this cut. “Remembering when your name was blinking on the phone/Back when we would chill” may seem simple but when rapped over the sulky beat, it hits home. Expect it to appear on Kyrie Irving’s Recently Added playlist in the near future.
TWENTY88 is a pleasant surprise from two artists who are the top of their respective games. Their chemistry is unquestionable and the music derived from that unique harmony is constantly improving. Whether this is a complete one-off project or if they continue to make music under this duo moniker remains to be seen but for now, these eight songs will tide over the hopeless romantic in everyone.
Im starting to believe the DX Staff gives out good reviews to these non-talented mfs just so they dont “hurt” their relationships with them. I mean Jhene can’t sing for shit and she can’t hit any high notes at all. Sean rapping is below par, he talks most of the time and he just doesnt rap with any type of feeling behind it. It all sounds monotone. Whatever
You’re hearing it from me: I’ll never let a credible rating be compromised for a “relationship.” I don’t play those games.
No one ever said Jhene was Whitney but if you think “she can’t sing for shit,” I don’t know what to tell you about critic value opinion. As for Sean, like the review says, we didn’t get the aggressive “Paradise” version but they made very accessible music that will appeal to a more mainstream audience and we say that’s a pretty decent win.
It’s shite
Jhene Aiko is an average singer, but she writes good songs. Problem with Big Sean is he can rock a rhyme good, but he is from the suburbs. He really can’t rap about the hood, cause he ain’t really from there. He straddles that line sometimes, but unlike Drake he doesn’t fake a street accent to sound like he is from the streets. So the issue with Big Sean is subject matter. He seems lost on which direction he wants to go. He don’t have to go pop or be a street rapper to make quality music.
Why you think he from the suburbs? As a native detroiter, I know he’s not from the suburbs. He went to the same high school I went to, about 8 years later as I’m older than him. You come off as you’re speaking facts but you don’t know what you’re talking about.
That being said, Sean has never came off as a super thug or gangsta rapper. I’m confused by your critique of him because his music doesn’t give off the vibe that you’re saying.
Judging from Trent’s reaction, I guess GetYourTalentUp stroke a nerve and hit it str8 in the nail. I made sure to give the album a few listens and no matter how many times I played it, it still sounds like a recycle bin project.
No nerve was struck and everyone is entitled to their opinion. We respect that. I just wanted to debunk the notion that reviews are favorable to save relationships.
“but Sean’s rapping sounds so genuine it’s hard to focus on anything else”… stopped reading at this point.
I just dont think you can have a real review in less than 24 hours. Did you get a hold of this early? If not, I just don’t see a review this quick to be all that credible. However, I guess when the music is as simple and accessible as their’s it doesn’t take much time to digest.
I feel where you coming from. That’s why music is not digested by the consumer because e reviews dilute the product. Nothing wrong with the review but just comes off as cool
Cd. Next?? That’s what reviews sound like to me when I read them.
We actually had the album before it was even announced to the public so…
But for how long though?
hi
First listen through, I was pleasantly surprised at the quality of this album. This was my first listen to an album featuring Jhene Aiko. That being said, my initial impression of her is that she brings more to the future of R&B than just a voice. She does the same for this album. But in terms of who earned the stronger impression, Big Sean is the victor. Both artists shared equally the album’s deserved approbation, but Big Sean stepped away from Hip Hop trends, a domain in which he is well-respected by his fans, in favor for a neo-soul brand of hip hop that was losing relevance. More importantly, in addition to his somewhat ambitious creative decisions, he exceeded expectations. The toned down production of the albums instrumental backdrop shifts a sizable proportion of focus toward his lyrics. Love and relations are complicated concepts to explore. It takes a great deal of maturity to address a vulnerable side, with, believable, non-pretentious lyrics to boot. R&B maintains a degree of influence on Hip Hop, but these tracks are marked by peripheral cues as simple as a hook and sound characteristic to an R&B track. The content is often pertaining to bodily pleasures that get at the surface of what consensual relationship is. This work delves below surface level; resurrecting the lost soulfulness once prominent in music while simultaneously progressing both the genres of Hip Hop and R&B. Big Sean’s best work yet. Will have to listen to “Souled Out” SOON.
I like the album! Jhene doesn’t have to hit high notes she never claimed to be a soprano. Shit when I’m rolling in my ride with my fiancé I’d play this mainly cause we chillin. I agree with HHDX on this one. And for people saying big Sean is boring or repetitive etc I personally don’t know how complicated you have to be for a project like this lol
Perfect rating. It’s easy to digest thea lbum but I dont see it replacing Dark Sky in my rotation.
This album is FIRE!! People that have never been in love or never been in a crazy ass relationship full of nothing but lust WILL NOT GET THIS ALBUM, this is a perfect description of being in love right now 2016. 5 out of 5
some real SHIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
I don’t like r&b/rap collabs, but this album is surprisingly good
Didn’t even mention Talk Show, verse 4 was probably the best verse Sean had
Tough project from beginning to end
5 stars
Sean ruined this album.