Jhené Aiko just returned with her third studio album, Chilombo, and she decided to pay tribute to Nipsey Hussle on “Party For Me (West Coast Version).”
Produced by LEJKEYS, the LP’s final track finds Aiko contemplating mortality in a party atmosphere, as she sings on the hook:
Yeah, party hard, party hard, party hard for me when I’m gone (Party for me)
Party hard, party hard, party hard for me (Oh), yeah
Party hard, party hard, party hard for me when I’m gone (I really need you to)
Party hard, party hard, party hard for me
By the second verse, many fans drew connections between Aiko’s delivery and Nipsey’s flow:
Yeah, it’s a party on a boat, somebody make some gumbo
Shoutout Yamamotos and Chilombos, uh
Rose gold decorations, do it for your girl in commemoration
Look, I'ma need y'all dancin'
And when you cryin', don’t stop cryin' ‘til you laughin’
Yeah, I'ma need a bonfire on the beach
I'ma need everybody there to make a speech (Do it)
Shut down the block and have a party in the streets
And keep partyin' for weeks
Then go to Simply Wholesome for a feast
Keep it goin' just for me, peace
She also ad-libs “Slauson” when she calls for “a party in the streets,“ referencing the Los Angeles thoroughfare that Nipsey frequently referenced in his music. In particular, a handful of listeners noted that she seemed to channel his cadence from the Kendrick Lamar-assisted “Dedication.”
Aiko previously performed a cover of “Dedication” at Pharrell Williams‘ Something in the Water festival last year:
She also performed at his memorial service last year:
In response to a fan connecting the album closer to the Compton rapper, Aiko paid her respects to him:
She also noted how the record affected her on an emotional level:
Chilombo is her first LP since 2017’s Trip. The LA singer-songwriter worked with H.E.R., Miguel, Future, Ab-Soul, Dr. Chill, Nas, John Legend, and Ty Dolla $ign.
Read all the lyrics to “Party For Me” on Genius now.
