Big Sean and Jhene Aiko aren’t dating, but their sultry collaborative album Twenty88 could have anyone fooled. The Detroit MC and LA-bred R&B songbird join forces for one of the steamiest releases in recent memory. The duo’s undeniable chemistry radiates through the album’s 30-minute run time, making their playful banter sound the furthest thing from forced. Aiko’s soft, lusty melodies serve as the ideal compliment to Sean’s staccato raps, maintaining a healthy balance between tenderness and severity. Although both have released commercially successful projects alone, Twenty88 proves that Aiko and Sean are stronger together than they are apart.
A concept album set in the not-so-distant future, Twenty88 chronicles the exhilarating trajectory of a modern romance gone sour. Love, lust, frustration and sexual tension are recurring themes that dominate the lyrical content of the album. Aiko and Sean share an innate talent for translating the complex nature of relationships into engaging, thoughtful songs. Even when Aiko and Sean’s lyricism is not rooted in real-life experience, it sounds authentic enough to convince listeners the two are romantically involved.
Produced almost solely by Sean’s longtime collaborator Key Wane, Twenty88 is characterized by sonic cohesion and familiar, infectious grooves. Instrumental R&B tropes from the 70’s and 80’s are juxtaposed with modern Bay Area drum sequences, continuing hip hop’s recent trend of updating vintage soundscapes. Twenty88’s production, while vibrant and well-suited for Aiko and Sean’s vocals, does nothing to push the album into new sonic territories. For an album as conceptually ambitious as Twenty88, the production is glaringly safe.
Twenty88 showcases two of hip hop’s most influential young voices at the best of their respective abilities. The undeniable chemistry between Aiko and Sean makes for a thrilling and sensual listen, prompting listeners everywhere to hope they collaborate again.
Standout Tracks: “Deja Vu,” “2-Minute Warning (feat. K-Ci & JoJo & Detail),” and “Memories Faded”
