Jhené Aiko Brings Her Hits (And Singing Bowls) To iHeartRadio Living Black!
By James Dinh
February 20, 2021
As we march forward with Black History Month, our first-ever iHeartRadio Living Black! event saw Jhené Aiko bring her soul to the livestream event, which took place on Saturday night (February 20).
Halfway through the broadcast, the Los Angeles native delivered a two-song performance, lifting tracks from her Grammy-nominated Chilombo. Backed by a three-piece band, which included a harp player, the siren stood tall in a leopard print thigh-high dress in a green tinted room with plants and singing bowls. Offering hits like "B.S" and "Born Tired," Aiko stayed true to her essence by offering a mood with enough serenity to make you forget about your troubles.
Elsewhere in her appearance, Aiko brought viewers to one of her homemade favorites, Simply Wholesome Health Food Store Restaurant. "Simply Wholesome has been in my life since I was born. We grew up literally on the same block of this store location. You guys have been feeding me and my family for many years and now you're feeding my daughter," the singer told Percell Keeling, owner of the Windsor Hills staple, which opened in 1984. "There's not a lot of places in the neighborhood that you can have healthy food, where you can come and learn about wellness and food and plant medicine. I'm just so grateful that you guys are here and that I got to grow up around this place."
Keeling was quick to point out that he remembers Aiko coming around the restaurant when she was young. "I never knew that you were a singer. I knew Nipsey [Hussle] as a little boy and his brother, coming in like yourself, but I didn't know that he blossomed into what he blossomed into," Keeling explained.
Aside from Aiko, iHeartRadio Living Black! also featured appearances from the likes of Roddy Ricch, 21 Savage, 6LACK, Mary J. Blige, Kirk Franklin and more. iHeartRadio Living Black! can also be viewed via Venues on Oculus Quest to watch the show in VR through February 27th. Subscribe at http://ocul.us/iheart-livingblack.
Photo: iHeartRadio