Twenty88 - TWENTY88


Twenty88
TWENTY88
2016
Spotify

Many times these high profile collaborations means we get a diminished version of each of the artists. Every now and again a song like "Under Pressure" featuring Queen and Bowie transcends a breaks through what otherwise feels more like a publicity stunt than anything else. TWENTY88 however both the duo and the album do not have that sense. This record comes across as completely organic and the duo of Jhené Aiko and Big Sean never feel like the singular stars that they are. They give it up to each other when needed, and allow each to shine in their very unique way. If you are looking for uplifting love songs this is not the record for you. As individuals Big Sean and Jhené Aiko are always willing to go after past loves, just to remind them how right they were in everything. It may sound incredibly narcissistic but it feels more like that sense that everyone has after a breakup that they were right all along. Jhené Aiko's purring voice is also so sweet that you are ready and willing to believe everything that comes out of her mouth.  There are a few times on the record where the idea is what would a conversation with these two spurned lovers sound like, both on the male and female perspectives, but that idea never really comes to a full conclusion, or even a full discussion. Big Sean can often let the conversation drift however and meander around his point rather than just getting to it.

It is one of the things Big Sean has struggled with in the past and though Jhené Aiko brings the song around his piece is usually more filler. As R&B TWENTY88 is quite smooth allowing you to just kind of drift with it on it's pace, but the real heartbeat is when Aiko comes in and finally elevates a track. When they have worked together in the past it was more Jhené Aiko supporting Big Sean on his records, but she is the focal point on this album even if she is only singing the hook. You can't wait for her to come in and to bring the song to another level that Big Sean would not be able to reach. There are points where this album gets dangerously close to a "He said, She said" type of situation but the aesthetic keeps it grounded avoiding the cliché. There seems to be so much "just ok" type of music on this record that besides the die hards of both artists most people aren't going to be willing to stick with this album. At only eight tracks and just over 30 minutes it doesn't seem like either Big Sean or Jhené Aiko are really giving this collaboration their 100%. Pretty good songs and an attempt to cash in on the success of both artists give TWENTY88 a listen, just don't expect your life to change.

6.6 out of 10

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