Jhené Aiko has released “Triggered,” a new single dropped simultaneously with a visual. The song references a break up and the struggle of dealing with left over feelings. In the soulful single, Aiko sings, “I’m triggered, when I see your face; Triggered, when I hear your name; Triggered, I am not okay
You need to stay out my way.”
It’s been assumed Aiko is addressing her relationship with Big Sean, who she broke up with sometime late in 2018, an event signaled when she revealed she had covered up a tattoo of his face. Aiko and Sean first met in 2012, but didn’t begin dating until sometime in 2016.
Reflecting on “Triggered” on Instagram stories, Aiko said the song helped her clear out negative feelings. She wrote, “one night i was so deep in my feelings, i was afraid of what i might do. i didn’t want to revert to the same bad habits that have set me back time and time again. i realized that instead of running away from my emotions…i needed to sit with them, express myself and say whatever came to mind. it was healing to say the least…and now i fell a bit more free #triggered.”
Aiko weighed in on the end of their relationship with a comment on the @theshaderoom in March 2019 that read, “Me and Sean are good. I’ve got tons of love for him. my next album is all freestyles where I touch on many subjects and relationships… past, present and future. I know you all love the drama and would like to think everything I do or say is about him, but I’ve been through plenty of other things and situations that I pull inspiration from when I sit down to create a song. Have a good day.”
After the death of their mutual friend, Nipsey Hussle, Aiko also posted a since-deleted comment on an Instagram post by Sean paying tribute to the deceased rapper. Referencing the title of the single, she wrote, “You are so special. To me. To the world. While we’re both still on this planet I just want to say… I love you beyond measure. Even tho I get big mad and u trigger the fuck out of me. U make me feel. And I appreciate that. Because I thought I was dead inside. My ego has no say when it comes to you. And my heart has been broken a thousand times just to expand. It always finds room for you.”
Check out “Triggered” below.
