Photo by Michael Bezjian/WireImage
Jhené Aiko’s “Triggered (freestyle)” sent social media into a tailspin last year, with fans interpreting the lyrics as direct shots at her on-again, off-again flame Big Sean. Although she later clarified that it wasn’t meant as a diss song, it was hard not to see it as a commentary on her relationship. In a new interview with Essence, the singer revealed Sean’s reaction to hearing the song and her explanation of its lyrics to him.
“People hear a song like ‘Triggered’ and they’re like, ‘Oh, do we hate him now?’” Aiko said about the track. “In the grand scheme of things that was like a moment.”
She explained that Sean’s initial reaction was surprise. “He was just like, ‘Wow, I’m not your friend.’ I was like, ‘Well, I was feeling that in the moment. This is just a song. This is not 100% about you,‘” she said.
On the track, she sings about an ex that did her wrong:
Who am I kiddin'?
Knew from the beginning
You’d ruin everything, you do it every time
You are my enemy, you are no friend of mind, muhf*cker
She told Essence that the song was a moment in time, but not reflective of her overall feelings:
Those are the things that I may feel, and I know that they are irrational and coming from just an angry emotional place, but that’s what’s so beautiful about art is that you can just throw paint on a blank canvas, and do something crazy and that’s your release. You didn’t hurt anyone, you know? I feel like, especially because we have a personal relationship, and a true friendship, that’s why I could play it for him, and be like, ‘Yeah, sorry. I kind of went really hard, but don’t think that this is a personal letter to you.'
Although the two artists seemed to split up in 2018, they reunited last year. Aiko contributed background vocals on Sean’s “Single Again,” and he returned the favor with a feature on “None of Your Concern.” The latter track also tackled the subject of their relationship. They have a long history of collaboration, including their 2016 joint project TWENTY88.
Aiko’s new album, Chilombo, is due out on Friday, March 6.
Read Aiko’s full Essence interview here and catch up on all the lyrics to “Triggered (freestyle)” on Genius now.
