#REVISITING Jhene Aiko’s “Trip”
Kendra Martin
Sometimes an album just has the seamless ability to capture so many emotions that it almost becomes a rollercoaster to get through. That has been the case for Jhene Aiko’s 2017 studio album, “Trip”. In this 22 song album, it is jam packed with many emotions of happiness, insecurities, grief, pain, loneliness and finally, acceptance. The album is accurately titled because it is a trip. The album is a journey, a long journey at that. One that is not easy, but is necessary in order to keep moving forward.
While the album does not hide the fact that it is inspired by the use of hallucinogenic drugs as it is a common theme throughout the project down to the song titles, the content as well as the album cover, anyone is able to relate to this album in their own way whether they are under the influence or not.
The album opens with “LSD” that has a very upbeat vibe to it that introduces the concept of the album which is a journey with accepting her brother’s, Miyagi’s death. She speaks to him and asks him questions of what heaven is life and even details how things are for her down on earth. It is a very somber opening as these are oftentimes questions we want to have for our loved ones who have passed on.
We then transition into “Jukai” which is a guitar heavy intro that counteracts “LSD” which started off so loving then turns into a suicide letter where Jhene is ready to end it all where she sings, If anyone should try and find me. Just know I’m where I want to be. I left the house all clean and tidy. Don’t come searching please. She is telling whoever receives her letter not to find her as she is ready to transition to be with her brother Miyagi. She left everything the way it was supposed to be and that she is happy. Content. She wants her loved ones to keep living even though she longer wants to. It feels she has come to terms with dying and does not see a point in living without her brother. When it seems as if her story is about to close, someone stops and saves her from herself and this hero figure becomes her lifeline to surviving.
“While We’re Young” describes the honeymoon stage of a new relationship where everything is perfect and no issues have arrived yet. The overall song is upbeat, and quite adorable. The lyrics, telling everybody you’re mine, and I like it, illustrates Jhene being head over heels for this guy and wants the whole world to know. We then transition to “Moments” which mellows the feel of the album depicting the part of a relationship where things begin to slow down and your heart isn’t racing as fast anymore but you are still content to stay in the honeymoon phase forever. However, that is almost never the case.
In “When We Love”, Jhene is beginning to notice the flaws in her significant other, but it doesn’t bother her because she knows he isn’t perfect and loves him either way. She sings, You lie, I don’t mind it. That’s just the kind of guy that you are. It paints the picture of how we often ignore the red flags because we love someone so much, and don’t want them to destroy the picture of what we painted of them. When she sings, Tell me anything, everything, whatever I want to hear. It’s those sweet little nothings, that’s all I need to keep me near. It’s heartbreaking as he is practically telling her things rather than acting on them and painting it as love and just like anyone in love, she believes him. She believes him because he helps her escape from the feeling of loneliness that she felt when she lost her brother. He fills a void although she does not feel the same way about her that she feels about him.
“New Balance” and “Newer Balance (Freestyle)” paints the picture of Jhene falling deep for this guy and how he has changed her life for the better. Since she was vulnerable after losing her brother, she looked at him to save her and he did. For now at least. Her doubts about this guy are beginning to show in “You Are Here” where she is hoping that he is genuine in his intentions, but she knows deep down, he isn’t. Things begin to fall apart in their relationship when we transition to “Never Call Me” and “Nobody” where Jhene tries to put up the strong front of ending the relationship and stating she doesn’t need anyone. But in reality, she does need someone. She needs someone to fill the void that losing her brother left and she thought this guy could be that and he wasn’t.
In the second half of the album, Jhee now has submerged herself into a life of psychedelics to cope with the pain of her failed relationship and the loss of her brother. She comes face to face with her demons in the interlude “Bad Trip”. The drugs begin to take a toll on her wellbeing and while on her “trip” she speaks with Dr. Chill who is her father. On “Oblivion (Creation)” and “Psilocybin (Love In Full Effect)”, he helps to remind Jhene of herself and what she has to live for and that leads to Jhene remembering her daughter Namiko in the songs “Picture Perfect (Freestyle)” and “Sing to Me”.
As this album begins to come to a close, Jhene is finally beginning to go through the hardest part of heartbreak: acceptance. She is beginning to accept the fact that her brother is gone. On “Ascension” Jhene sings, I’m on my way, I’m on my way, I’m on my way to heaven. I’m on my way, I’m on my way, I’m on my way if I can make it out of this hell”. It illustrates the necessary steps one must take when dealing with the heartbreak of losing a loved one. In order to move on, you have to let go. Although Jhene tried to replace that empty feeling Miyagi left with drugs and relationships, in the end, she felt more empty than ever before. And that is why she finally had to let go. On the closing track “Trip” Jhene states it’s not a quick trip and it’s not. It’s hard, taxing and heart rending, but in the end, it’s necessary for your peace of mind.
The project reminisces the Pixar movie “Inside Out” in a more graphic way. No matter how much you try to ignore the pain or try to fill the void it is leaving you, that pain will continue to nester until you confront it and in the end, eventually, you will have to feel and embrace that sadness in order to finally let go. While there is no guarantee that you will necessarily feel better, it does however provide a lighter feeling and that is the first step of moving on and oftentimes, the first step is the hardest. “Trip” paints a portrait of the many stages of grief and how you can become a victim of your sadness until you hit rock bottom and finally confront it. It’s a real trip and one that is necessary for healing and moving forward.
