Separated from her babyвЂ™s father, OвЂ™Ryan (singer OmarionвЂ™s brother), JhenГ© navigated single motherhood through song. Her biggest lesson arrived in 2011, though, when she gave birth to her daughter. At 13, JhenГ© signed with Epic/ The Ultimate Group (T.U.G.) Records and played B2K affiliate for three years before splitting from the music business to pursue her education. вЂњI just didnвЂ™t see myself doing what everyone else was doing as far as going to a regular school,вЂќ she says. A talent show rendition of 702вЂ™s вЂњI Still Love YouвЂќ sparked her career goals. With Tupac, Notorious B.I.G., Brandy and LilвЂ™ Kim blaring in her household, the youngest of five used pens and notebooks as her playthings. Growing up, JhenГ© was more baby Buddha than Little Rascal. She is not in this for the fame, she just wants to tell us her stories and offer understanding to those who can relate.вЂќ A true connection is rare in artists these days. вЂњShe tells us everything through her music, without holding back, as if we are her close friends. вЂњ entire album have helped me a lot with the healing process,вЂќ she says. Kendra says JhenГ©вЂ™s close-to-home narratives have become personal soundtracks for the tough times. entire album have helped me a lot with the healing process.вЂќ -Kendra D. вЂњI was in such a dark place at the time and tried to end my life on two different occasions. вЂњI was in such a dark place at the time and tried to end my life on two different occasions,вЂќ she explains via email. She tattooed вЂњWhy arenвЂ™t you smiling?вЂќ on her inner arm after losing her boyfriend in August and her father as a child. Dale who wanted JhenГ©вЂ™s words to be a permanent reminder.

One Twitter user, named wrote, вЂњThere are times i wanted to give up but said вЂyou gotta keep goingвЂ™ those words i take with me everyday.вЂќ Male Stans arenвЂ™t shy to cosign either, like who tweeted, вЂњIf the song with your daughter on it doesnвЂ™t touch somebodyвЂ™s heart theyвЂ™re dead inside.вЂќ On вЂњW.A.Y.S.вЂќ-an acronym for her late brother MiyagiвЂ™s favorite saying вЂњWhy arenвЂ™t you smiling?вЂќ-she sings, вЂњI do this for my daughter/ThatвЂ™s why I keep going.вЂќ JhenГ©вЂ™s six-year-old child, Namiko Love, also appears on the other Kleenex magnet, вЂњPromises.вЂќ This type of heart-clutching honesty has her cult following in their feelings. The previous week, the Slauson Hills native performed on Late Night with Jimmy FallonВ (before his Tonight ShowВ takeover)В then popped up at 30 Rockefeller Center on Saturday Night LiveВ for a surprise rendition of вЂњFrom TimeвЂќ with Drake, her eventual tour mate on his Would You Like A Tour? outing and earliest high-profile supporter since her 2011 claim-to-fame mix tape sailing soul(s). Late-night introductions can be tricky, but JhenГ©вЂ™s a pro. When IвЂ™m a fan of someone, I turn into a dork and IвЂ™ll say the first thing that comes to my mind. вЂњThat was super surreal for me because IвЂ™ve been watching Conan OвЂ™Brien since middle school,вЂќ JhenГ© says over the phone. Despite Conan indirectly turning her down (вЂњThe wife gets madвЂќ), JhenГ©вЂ™s cheesy grin shows no hard feelings.

He reciprocates before purring like an enticed Pepe Le Pew as she asks him to be her Valentine. After wrapping a performance of her biggest solo radio hit вЂњThe WorstвЂќ on Conan, the petite folkstress-who has even opted for heels over her traditional barefoot routine-professed her love to the orange-haired host on-camera. Story:В Adelle Platon Photography:В Jared RyderДЄlmost 24 hours before ValentineвЂ™s Day, JhenГ© Aiko drops the L word. So will her competition if theyвЂ™re honest. SheвЂ™ll tell you how AikoвЂ™s lyrics has an authentic presence made for millennials. Ask that one fan who almost became a suicide statistic twice before Souled OutВ pulled her through. Smoke and Mirrors JhenГ© Aiko is the worst at color-by-numbers music and her die-hard following is better off for it.

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