Westside Whimsy

Westside Whimsy
Studio album by
Jhené Aiko
ReleasedSeptember 11, 2026 (2026-09-11)
Length55:49
Labels
Producers
Jhené Aiko chronology
Chilombo
(2020)		 Westside Whimsy
(2026)
Singles from Westside Whimsy
  1. "Break"
    Released: November 18, 2025
  2. "So Good"
    Released: September 25, 2026
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusicStarStarStarHalf star
Pitchfork6.3/10

Westside Whimsy is the fourth studio album by the American singer and songwriter Jhené Aiko. It was released on September 11, 2026, by ArtClub International and Def Jam Recordings. Six years following the release of her previous studio album Chilombo (2020), Aiko surprise announced the album on her social media the week of its release. The album includes collaborations with Ab-Soul, Kendrick Lamar, Larry June, Ohma, and Tyga.

The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 with seventy-four thousand album-equivalent units, becoming Aiko's first number-one album on the chart.

Background

Shortly after the release of her third studio album, Chilombo (2020), Aiko intended to embark on the Magic Hour Tour. However, it was subsequently cancelled following lockdown restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, during her hiatus from music, Aiko re-released her 2011 mixtape Sailing Soul(s) to all streaming platforms to honor the project's 10-year anniversary. In 2022, Aiko gave birth to her second child and son Noah with rapper Big Sean.

In a 2026 interview with Complex, Aiko described that the album as "laid-back", which is heavily influenced by 1990s music. The album was also inspired by her hometown in California, with elements of West Coast culture and surf culture. Aiko stated: "When I think of California, it's just such a magical place and I love a good road trip and I've been doing them for many years."

Release and promotion

On November 18, 2025, Aiko released the single "Break", which would appear on the album. In January 2026, in partnership with Erewhon, she announced a smoothie named Westside Whimsy, teasing the album's title. On September 8, 2026, Aiko surprise announced Westside Whimsy on all social media platforms the week of the album's release. A day after, she revealed the album's track list consisting of 20 tracks.

On September 11, she unveiled limited physical releases of the album on her official website, including signed vinyl and CD variants.[citation needed]

Commercial performance

According to Luminate data reported by Billboard, the album earned 74,000 album-equivalent units in its first week in the United States, comprising 70,000 streaming-equivalent albums from 71.33 million streams, 3,500 album sales, and 500 track-equivalent albums. It debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, and numbers one and twenty-five on the component charts Top Streaming Albums and Top Album Sales, respectively. 10 of the album's tracks charted on the Billboard Hot 100. According to data reported by Hits, it earned 73,466 units in its first US week, comprising 69,514 streaming-equivalent albums, 3,528 album sales, and 424 track-equivalent albums.

Track listing

Westside Whimsy track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Wild Cat(s)"
  • Fisticuffs
  • Le
1:06
2."Ghost"
  • Chilombo
  • Le
  • Robinson
  • Warfield
  • Fisticuffs
  • Le
2:03
3."Break"
  • Chilombo
  • Le
  • Robinson
  • Warfield
Le3:15
4."Love Bomb" (with Ab-Soul)
  • Fisticuffs
  • Le
2:31
5."Ceiling (Freestyle)"
  • Johnson
  • Swam
3:27
6."Nothing Nice to Say"
  • Chilombo
  • Le
  • Robinson
  • Warfield
  • Fisticuffs
  • Le
2:15
7."He Belongs"
  • Chilombo
  • Le
  • Robinson
  • Warfield
  • Fisticuffs
  • Le
3:21
8."Like, Whatever" (featuring Tyga)
  • Fisticuffs
  • Le
3:31
9."You"
  • Chilombo
  • Le
  • Robinson
  • Warfield
  • Fisticuffs
  • Le
1:43
10."Don't Be That Guy"
  • Chilombo
  • Darius Logan
  • Dominique Logan
  • Corparal
  • Mike Jay
Jesse "Corparal" Wilson2:54
11."Lullaby"
  • Chilombo
  • Le
  • Robinson
  • Warfield
  • Fisticuffs
  • Le
2:58
12."Neighbors" (featuring Larry June)
Le3:35
13."Mine"
2:44
14."So Good" (featuring Kendrick Lamar)
3:57
15."Beach Boy"
  • Chilombo
  • Le
  • Robinson
  • Warfield
  • Fisticuffs
  • Le
3:27
16."Unicorn"
  • Chilombo
  • Le
  • Robinson
  • Warfield
  • Fisticuffs
  • Le
2:58
17."I Don't Mind"
  • Chilombo
  • Hendricks
  • Le
  • Robinson
  • Warfield
  • Dexter Wansel
  • Theodore Life
  • Fisticuffs
  • Le
3:10
18."Nami's Haiku"
  • Chilombo
  • Le
Le2:19
19."A Living Light"
  • Chilombo
  • Le
  • Robinson
  • Warfield
  • Fisticuffs
  • Le
2:59
20."Golden Coast" (featuring Ohma)
  • Chilombo
  • Robinson
  • Warfield
  • Hailey Niswanger
  • Mia Garcia
  • Fisticuffs
  • Ohma
1:28
Total length:55:49

An edition with a bonus track, "Elsewhere", was released exclusively to ITunes on September 15, 2026, available for a limited time.

Notes

Personnel

Credits were adapted from Spotify.

  • Jhené Aiko Efuru Chilombo – executive production
  • Ketrina "Taz" Askew – executive production
  • Ab-Soul – background vocals (4)
  • Amaire Johnson – programming, drum kit (5)
  • Blaq Tuxedo – vocal production, programming, bass, keyboard (10)
  • Boi-1da – programming (13)
  • Brian Warfield – background vocals (1); recording (1–4, 6–9, 12, 15–17, 19, 20); programming (1, 2, 4, 6–9, 11, 15–17); trumpet (3); keyboard (6–9, 11, 15–17); trombone (12); programming engineering (19, 20)
  • Collin Clark – engineering assistance (1, 2, 4–10, 12–15, 17–20)
  • Dan Kamerman-Glik – engineering assistance (1, 2, 4–10, 12–15, 17–20)
  • David Otis – saxophone (1, 2, 11, 16)
  • Dereshean "OTR" Jarrett – recording (3)
  • Erik Hammer – guitar (10)
  • Garrett Duncan – engineering assistance (1, 2, 4–10, 12–15, 17–20)
  • Gregg Rominiecki – recording, mixing (all tracks); background vocals (1, 15, 20); mastering (3)
  • Hailey Niswanger – flute (20)
  • Jacob Stewart – engineering assistance (1, 2, 4–10, 12–15, 17–20)
  • Jahaan Sweet – bass, keyboard (14)
  • Jesse "Corparal" Wilson – programming, bass, keyboard (10)
  • Jonah Levine – guitar (19)
  • Julian-Quan Viet Le – arrangement (1, 2); programming (1, 2, 4, 6–9, 11, 12, 15–18); recording (1–4, 6–9, 11, 12, 14–20); keyboard (1, 3, 6–9, 11, 12, 15–20); drum kit, bass (3, 12); flute (7); background vocals (15); programming engineering (19)
  • Kayla Dewitt – engineering assistance (1, 2, 4–10, 12–15, 17–20)
  • Larry June – background vocals (12, 17)
  • Luke Kennedy Aiono – guitar (19)
  • Maclean Robinson – programming (4)
  • Megan Shung – strings (1, 2)
  • Mia Garcia – guitar (20)
  • Matthew "MTech" Bernard – programming engineering (14)
  • Noah Stewart – background vocals (8)
  • Oli Jacobs – mixing (14)
  • Owen Clapp – bass (1)
  • Paris Arditti – recording (10)
  • Robert "Bubby" Lewis – bass (17)
  • Samantha Henry – recording (8)
  • Scott Bridgeway – programming engineering (14)
  • Sounwave – programming engineering (14)
  • Swam – keyboard (5)
  • Todd Cooper – recording (1, 2, 4–20); background vocals (20)
  • Victor San Pedro – guitar (19)

Charts

Chart performance for Westside Whimsy
Chart (2026) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA) 42
Australian Hip Hop/R&B Albums (ARIA) 8
Canadian Albums (Billboard)33
French Albums (SNEP)91
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) 22
Portuguese Albums (AFP) 95
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)75
UK Albums (Official Charts)41
UK R&B Albums (Official Charts)33
US Billboard 2001
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)1

References

  1. ↑ https://earone.com/post/25ce3dffeb58/jhene-aiko-kendrick-lamar-so-good
  2. ↑ Kellman, Andy. "Westside Whimsy Review by AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved October 14, 2026.
  3. ↑ Jagota, Vrinda (September 30, 2026). "Jhené Aiko: Westside Whimsy Album Review – Pitchfork". Pitchfork Magazine. Retrieved October 14, 2026.
  4. ↑ Baciar, Robin (February 7, 2020). "Jhené Aiko Announces 'The Magic Hour' Tour Dates". Consequence. Retrieved September 9, 2026.
  5. ↑ Vaccio-Bolaños, Jessica (November 18, 2022). "Baby love! Jhene Aiko welcomes her second child and first with partner Big Sean, a baby boy named Noah Hasani". Entertainment Tonight. Retrieved September 9, 2026.
  6. ↑ Saponara, Michael (September 8, 2026). "Jhené Aiko Announces New Album Westside Whimsy & It's Coming Sooner Than You Think". Billboard. Retrieved September 9, 2026.
  7. ↑ Turner-Williams, Jaelani (April 28, 2026). "Jhené Aiko Drops Hints About 'Magical' New Album During California Wellness Retreat". Complex. Retrieved September 9, 2026.
  8. ↑ "Listen: Jhene Aiko Surprise Drops New Single 'Break'". thatgrapejuice.net. November 19, 2025. Retrieved September 11, 2026.
  9. ↑ "Jhené Aiko Gets a New Erewhon Smoothie, The Westside Whimsy". Hypebeast. January 19, 2026. Retrieved November 8, 2026.
  10. ↑ Marie, Tai (September 9, 2026). "Jhené Aiko Announces Highly Anticipated New Album Westside Whimsy". Hot 97. Retrieved September 9, 2026.
  11. ↑ "Jhené Aiko Unveils 'Westside Whimsy' Album Tracklist Featuring Kendrick Lamar, Tyga & More". thatgrapejuice.net. September 9, 2026. Retrieved September 11, 2026.
  12. ↑ Caulfield, Keith (September 20, 2026). "Jhené Aiko Achieves First No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 With 'Westside Whimsy'". Billboard. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved September 21, 2026.
  13. ↑ "Chart Final: Aiko Mania". Hits Daily Double. September 18, 2026. Retrieved September 21, 2026.
  14. 1 2 "Westside Whimsy - Album by Jhené Aiko". Spotify. September 2026. Retrieved September 11, 2026.
  15. ↑ "Westside Whimsy (bonus track)". Apple Music. Apple. Archived from the original on September 16, 2026. Retrieved September 16, 2026.
  16. ↑ Chilombo, Jhené [@jheneaiko]; (September 15, 2026). "Get in SoulMates, we're going "Elsewhere" with a Westside Whimsy bonus track ✨ "Westside Whimsy (bonus track)" album OUT NOW for a limited time on iTunes 💜 link in bio ✨". Archived from the original on September 16, 2026. Retrieved September 16, 2026 – via Instagram.
  17. ↑ "ARIA Top 50 Albums Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. September 21, 2026. Retrieved September 18, 2026.
  18. ↑ "ARIA Top 40 Hip Hop/R&B Albums Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. September 21, 2026. Retrieved September 18, 2026.
  19. ↑ "Jhene Aiko Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
  20. ↑ "Top Albums (Semaine du 18 septembre 2026)". SNEP. Retrieved September 21, 2026.
  21. ↑ "Official Top 40 Albums". Recorded Music NZ. September 18, 2026. Retrieved September 18, 2026.
  22. ↑ "Top 200 Álbuns: Semana 38 de 2026" (PDF) (in European Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. p. 2. Retrieved September 22, 2026.
  23. ↑ "Jhené Aiko – Westside Whimsy – hitparade.ch". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 21, 2026.
  24. ↑ "Official Albums Chart on 18/9/2026 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 19, 2026.
  25. ↑ "Official R&B Albums Chart on 18/9/2026 – Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 19, 2026.
  26. ↑ "Jhene Aiko Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
  27. ↑ "Jhene Aiko Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 23, 2026.