#twenty88

There was a time when I fully believed TWENTY88 was the beginning of something bigger - a duo, a storyline, a whole sonic universe that Jhené Aiko and Big Sean were building together. They gave us chemistry, futurism, storytelling, and Hip Hop and R&B that felt like a movie you could listen to with your eyes closed. TWENTY88 delivered all of that: the tension, the atmosphere, the layered production. It felt like the start of a much larger creative journey. And then it vanished like a limited series that never got renewed.

One thing I’ve always loved is how the album explores a tumultuous relationship, yet still offers the quiet hope that the couple might make it. It’s messy, emotional, and full of push-and-pull moments, but beneath all that chaos is a stubborn belief in love. I’ve been in a relationship like that - where the toxicity is obvious, but you convince yourself it’s meant to be. Even the album cover reflects that dynamic. The couple looks like they’re drifting apart or silently questioning their future, still connected but unsure. It says everything without saying a word.

At this point, I’ve finally accepted that we’re probably never getting another TWENTY88 album. Surprisingly, that acceptance feels gentle. Some projects are meant to exist once because they’re already complete within themselves. TWENTY88 is one of those rare albums where everything aligns, it is the perfect storm because of the chemistry, the sequencing, the storytelling, and the futuristic undertones. It captured a mood that still feels fresh years later.

There’s something cinematic about the way the album unfolds. Each track flows into the next like scenes in a film, creating a world suspended in time. It’s futuristic without effort, emotional without exaggeration, and confident in a way modern R&B and Hip Hop rarely attempt. It’s the kind of album you revisit endlessly and still discover new layers hidden in the production and vocals.

Maybe that’s why the idea of never getting a second album doesn’t sting anymore. This project has already proven its longevity. It doesn’t chase trends. It doesn’t belong to a specific era. It stands alone. It just exists - atmospheric, timeless, replayable, and still somehow ahead of its time. A sequel might never recreate that same lightning-in-a-bottle magic.

So if this is all we ever get, I’m okay with that. TWENTY88 will always feel like a neon-lit universe waiting in the background, ready to step into whenever I need it. And honestly, if I’m still here, I’ll probably still be listening to it in 2088. Some albums fade. This one doesn’t.

A segment where I speak on a random artist & share my introduction and favorite project by said artist.

A quick rewind back to high school a. Heard of Big Sean through word of mouth and on a couple of features. In the late 00’s & early 10’s there was the “wild, Wild West” of mixtapes where you had official & unofficial releases.

One of those unofficial releases was “Rated Rookie”, a compilation tape of Big Sean, J. Cole, Wiz Khalifa & Kid Cudi & long story short. I liked what I heard from Big Sean and decided to delve into his official catalog

Favorite Project: Finally Famous Vol. 3

This mixtape has two versions, the original release as well a a remastered version which removes Don Cannon’s vocals & better audio quality.

Standout tracks are:

- Final Hour

- Five Bucks

- High Rise

- Crazy

- Fat Raps Remix

- Almost Wrote You A Love Song

- Memories

Big shoutout to Big Sean, go spin this mixtape today!!