Jhené Aiko Finally Gets Her Crown With 'Westside Whimsy'

Jhené Aiko's been in the game long enough that you might've assumed she'd already done this. But nah—her fourth studio album Westside Whimsy marks her first No. 1 on the Billboard 200, and that's a real moment. She moved 74,000 equivalent units in the opening week, which is solid numbers in 2024.

What makes it hit different: this is the first R&B album by a woman to top the chart this year, and the first by a woman to reach No. 1 since SZA's SOS dropped. That gap says something about the state of R&B on the charts right now—it's been a minute.

Aiko's never been the type to chase trends or sell out for streaming plays. She's built her thing on craft, consistency, and a core of people who actually get what she's doing. This chart position isn't some fluke or one-week moment; it's validation for an artist who's stayed true to herself through every shift in the industry. She earned this one.

Read the full story at Variety → https://variety.com/2026/music/news/jhene-aiko-scores-first-no-1-albums-chart-westside-whimsy-1236870490/