[2] Following the release of Trip and her split with rapper Big Sean, with whom she formed the duo Twenty88, Aiko began work on Chilombo.

Recorded as a freestyle in Hawaii, the album was inspired by the island's natural landscape and features traditional singing bowls to create a tranquil effect.

The album featured a range of guests including rappers Nas, Ab-Soul, Big Sean and Future, as well as R&B singers Ty Dolla $ign, John Legend, Miguel, and H.E.R.

The deluxe edition of the album was released on July 17, 2020, and includes appearances from Kehlani, Mila J, Chris Brown, Snoop Dogg and Wiz Khalifa.

[6] Aiko recorded the album on the big island of Hawaii, and free-styled all the songs creating what she described as one "free-flowing jam session".

Aiko would initially start the process with lyrics in her head, before meeting long time collaborators and producers Fisticuffs or her keyboard player.

This inspired Aiko to incorporate more acoustic instruments and kept the process analogue, allowing the microphone to pick up sounds in the room.

[7] Chilombo consists of twenty songs and features a variety of guests including rappers Nas, Ab-Soul, Big Sean, and Future, as well as R&B singers Ty Dolla $ign, John Legend, Miguel, and H.E.R.

The album's lyrics focus on the ups and downs of life after a break-up and vaguely tells the story of a woman who has suffered heartbreak before emerging stronger.

Jhené and her team feed each one with unique content strategies to prolong the life cycle, and over the course of eight to 10 to 12 months of steady consumption, she racks up really impressive numbers.

[16] On May 8, 2020, Aiko announced a deluxe edition of the album that includes additional tracks and a full version of the intro to "Pussy Fairy (OTW)", that was scheduled for a May 2020 release.

[27][26] Stephen Kearse for Pitchfork felt that "Aiko's music too often lacks a pulse", citing that "Chilombo gestures at this larger skill set, but settles for good vibes.

It lacks the variety of Trip, and could do with more moments like One Way Street, which sets Aiko's existential breakdown to a dubby gleam, or the raw Born Tired, where a simple acoustic guitar motif showcases her vocal range.

And while you obviously wish Aiko happiness after her breakup, it's disappointing, after the enjoyably visceral put-downs of the first half, that the album seems to conclude with a reconciliation, rendered in never-ending, luscious rhapsodies that keep coming like a film that doesn't know how to end.

"[29] Chilombo debuted at number two on the US Billboard 200 chart, earning 152,000 album-equivalent units, (including 38,000 copies as pure album sales) in its first week.