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

On September 8, Jhené Aiko announced the release date for her sixth album, Westside Whimsy. The project was released to the public on September 11, and by the following week, Aiko had achieved her first-ever No. 1 album on the Billboard 200, debuting with 74,000 equivalent album units in the United States for the week ending September 17. This marked a significant milestone for Aiko, who had been out of the spotlight for six years.

The album represents the first time an R&B project by a woman has reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200 in 2026, and it is her sixth top 10 overall album since her debut in 2013. Aiko's sixth top 10 overall album also marked her return to the top 10 after the 2021 Grammys, where she received three nominations, including one for Album of the Year for her previous album, Chilombo.

Aiko's longtime manager, Ketrina "Taz" Askew, played a crucial role in Westside Whimsy's success. As founder/CEO of ArtClub International, which also manages Blxst, Askew has worked closely with Aiko throughout her career. In the weeks leading up to the album's release, Askew emphasized the importance of enhancing and amplifying Aiko's natural abilities rather than attempting to reinvent her approach.

They ensured that the music, story, and overall artistry were positioned correctly and worked to get the album in front of a larger audience.

Aiko had taken a break from music for six years during which she also focused on being a mother. This decision led to a surprise announcement of the album's release three days before its actual release date. The spontaneous rollout allowed the music to speak for itself and helped generate buzz around the project.