Jhené Aiko just sent fans into a frenzy after posting “BRB” alongside what looked like new album news on her Instagram story, and the excitement makes sense given how long it has actually been. The singer’s last full length album, “Chilombo,” dropped back in March 2020, meaning fans have waited more than six years for a proper follow up. A lot has happened in Aiko’s life since then, both musically and personally, and her tease comes at a moment when fans are especially eager to hear how it has all shaped her sound.
On the music side, Aiko has not been entirely quiet. She released two “Sleep Soul” lullaby albums, gentle instrumental projects designed to soothe babies and parents, with the second volume arriving in December 2022 shortly after she welcomed her son. She has also continued performing, including a run on her Magic Hour tour, and delivered a rendition of “America the Beautiful” ahead of Super Bowl LVI in February 2022. Most recently, in April 2026, Aiko began dropping real hints about her long awaited fourth studio album, reportedly titled “Westside Whimsy,” during a three day wellness retreat she co-hosted in Healdsburg, California. She described the upcoming project as being rooted in her native California, pulling from what she called the state’s “magical” influence, from nineties West Coast car culture to surf and beach vibes. Around the same time, she previewed a new song called “Sativa” alongside Swae Lee during her 2026 Coachella set, giving fans their first real taste of what the new era might sound like ahead of the album’s expected release later this year.
Personally, the biggest shift in Aiko’s life since Chilombo has been the end of her long term relationship with Big Sean. The two were together for close to a decade, collaborating under the duo name Twenty88 and welcoming their son, Noah Hasani, in November 2022. In November 2025, multiple outlets reported that the couple had quietly split, with sources pointing to unresolved disagreements over marriage and commitment as the reason behind the breakup. According to those reports, Aiko had reportedly given the relationship “multiple ultimatums” over the years and ultimately decided to move on once it became clear a proposal was not coming. Neither Aiko nor Sean has publicly confirmed the split in detail, but both are said to remain on good terms and focused on co-parenting Noah, along with Aiko’s daughter, Namiko, whom she shares with her ex, singer O’Ryan Grandberry.
Since the reported split, fans have quickly turned their attention to Aiko’s rumored new romance. In June 2026, speculation began swirling that she may be dating Bay Area rapper Larry June. The rumors picked up steam after Larry commented on one of Aiko’s Instagram posts with an orange emoji, a color closely associated with his brand, and then briefly shared and deleted a photo showing his watch next to someone’s wrist that fans believed matched one of Aiko’s tattoos. Adding more fuel to the theory, Aiko was reportedly spotted at Larry June’s set during his “Life Is Beautiful” street festival appearance in Paris, tucked quietly near the back of the crowd. Neither artist has confirmed a relationship, and the connection remains unverified, but the timing has fans convinced there may be something real developing between the two.
Between a new album reportedly on the way, a major life change in her relationship status, and a possible new romance playing out in real time on social media, it is easy to see why Aiko’s simple “BRB” story sent fans into overdrive. For an artist who built her entire career on turning her real life into music, from heartbreak to healing to spiritual growth, the timing of a new project feels almost inevitable. If Westside Whimsy is really on the way, it is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated releases of Aiko’s catalog, arriving at a moment when her personal story has given her more than enough to say.
