How Jhené Aiko Landed the First No. 1 Album of Her Career With ‘Westside Whimsy’

It happened almost out of the blue: on Sept. 8, Jhené Aiko announced that her sixth album, titled Westside Whimsy, would be released in just days; on Sept. 11, it was released to the world; and by the following week, the California-born R&B singer had landed her first ever No.

1 álbum no Billboard 200, já que o projeto estreou com 74. 000 unidades equivalentes de álbum nos Estados Unidos na semana que terminou em 17 de setembro.

It’s a big moment for Aiko, and a return to the peak of her abilities after six years out of the spotlight. The album is the first R&B project by a woman to reach No.

1 on the Billboard 200 in 2026, and the first in over a year, since SZA’s S. O. S. finished its 13-week run last May. It’s also her sixth top 10 overall, dating back to her 2013 debut Sail Out, and her first album release since Chilombo in 2020, which was ultimately nominated for album of the year at the 2021 Grammys, one of three nominations she received that year.

And it’s a big moment for her longtime manager Ketrina “Taz” Askew, founder/CEO of ArtClub International, who has worked with Aiko across the latter’s career. Askew, who also manages Blxst through her ArtClub company, takes a supportive approach when helping to push Aiko’s music and allow her creativity to take center stage — and that resulting success helps earn her the title of Billboard’s Executive of the Week.

Aqui, Taz fala sobre o rápido lançamento de Westside Whimsy, a pausa de seis anos de Aiko entre lançamentos e como eles planejam continuar impulsionando o álbum no futuro.

As for any Grammy hopes, after Chilombo’s album of the year nomination the last time around? “Hoping for the best,” Askew says. “Really don’t have any expectations.”.

Esta semana, o álbum Westside Whimsy de Jhene Aiko estreou no número 1 do Billboard 200, marcando seu primeiro número 1 nessa parada. Qual decisão chave você tomou para ajudar a fazer isso acontecer.

Jhené is a visionary and has such a strong connection with her audience. Our job is to enhance and amplify what she’s naturally doing — not try to reinvent it. We make sure the music, the story and the overall artistry are positioned properly, and then we work to get it in front of as many people as possible.

This is Jhene’s first album in over six years. Why the break, and how did you want to help her reintroduce herself to her fans, in a way.

Jhené just likes to take her time and move at her own pace, and during that time she was also focused on being a mom. Sometimes life just takes priority, and she wanted to give herself the space to do that.

A data de lançamento do álbum foi anunciada três dias antes de sua estreia. Por que o anúncio surpresa, e como isso ajudou na divulgação.

Really, it just happened that way. There was no rhyme or reason behind it. That’s just how the cards fell, and we decided to roll with it. Sometimes you can overthink a rollout.

Westside Whimsy is the first R&B album by a woman to reach No. 1 on the Billboard 200 in 2026, and the first in over a year. What do you think about the state of R&B, and why do you think this album resonated.

Acho que o álbum ressoou porque é relacionável. Há uma honestidade na música dela que permite que as pessoas se vejam nela. Quanto ao estado do R&B, sinto que estamos voltando à autenticidade.

Given the surprise announce and quick release of Westside Whimsy, how do you plan to build on the album campaign from here.

Estamos apenas continuando a trabalhar duro. Continuaremos a impulsionar as músicas, os visuais e a história em tantas plataformas e espaços quanto nos permitirem.

E, em algum momento, estaremos em turnê, oferecendo às pessoas a oportunidade de vivenciar tudo ao vivo.

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