California native Jhené Aiko took everyone by surprise when she dropped 20-song album Trip on Friday (September 22, 2017). A commentary on the emotional journey she’s been on since losing her younger brother, Miyagi, to cancer, the project features Brandy, Rae Sremmurd‘s Swae Lee, Kurupt, along with Aiko’s beau Big Sean.
The album was accompanied by a Tracy-Oliver directed, 20-minute short, also titled “Trip,” revealing Aiko playing the role of Penny, who accepts a spur-of-the-moment proposal to travel with a stranger who enters her space as she sits beach side writing poetry. Part of the road trip includes an actual trip, represented by an animated interlude.
In a particularly touching dream scene, she meets up with her brother, who tells her she has to let go of him so she can move on with her own life.
California native Aiko’s last album, Souled Out, was released in 2014.
Listen to the album and check out the video below:
