Sail Out

Having already made a big impression in 2013 with appearances on singles from Big Sean ("Beware") and Drake ("From Time"), breathy R&B vocalist Jhene Aiko fleshes out her character on Sail Out, a relaxed debut EP that suggests that this girl is on permanent vacation. That's not a negative, but a positive, as the singer seductively slinks her way through heartbreak during the intoxicating cut "The Vapors," where sweet nothings like "Can I hit it again?" could either mean the bedroom or the bong. All the hard work Lennon and Ono did while on their backs in the '60s gets a cheeky twist when the light-stepping "Bed Peace" offers "If I had it my way, I'd roll out of bed, say, 'bout 2:30 midday/Hit the blunt, then hit you up..." before Childish Gambino joins the EP's superior guest list with Kendrick Lamar, Ab-Soul, and Vince Staples all on board. Thing is, this lazy, hazy boat trip to the hip side of R&B only goes up and down the coast, so take Aiko's short intro as more of a "pinner" than a "fat blunt," as they say. ~ David Jeffries

ミラ・Jを姉に持ち、10年ほど前にB2Kの妹分としてアルバム発表寸前までいった日系歌姫。ミックステープに続く初EPは、ケンドリック・ラマーやチャイルディッシュ・ガンビーノ、アブ・ソウルらを従え、深い夜を連想させるフィスティカフズ制作のアンビエントな曲に人懐っこくも妖艶な声を溶け込ませていく。後見人のノー・IDが制作した追加曲も同様のベッドルームR&Bで、主役との恋を疑似体験させてくれるかのようだ。
bounce (C)林剛