Big Sean Says He ‘Can’t Wait To Be A Dad’ Following News That He And Jhené Aiko Are Expecting
Congratulations are in order for Jhené Aiko and Big Sean! The couple confirmed the news that they are expecting their first child together after photos surfaced of them walking around with the singer’s belly protruding. The “Detroit” rapper took to Instagram to share his excitement about being a dad. “Can’t wait to be a Dad,” he wrote in one of his Instagram Stories. In another post, he shared, “Whole new motivation forreal. Very grateful God continues to bless us, thank you.”
Jhené, however, posted a childhood photo of herself holding her belly. For the caption, she simply wrote, “🤗.”
This will be Big Sean’s first child. The “While We’re Young” artist shares a 13-year-old daughter named Namiko Love with singer O’Ryan.
Here is a timeline of Jhené Aiko and Big Sean’s journey to love:
2012
In an interview with BBC 1xtra, Jhené revealed that she and Big Sean became friends in 2012 which is also the same year her brother passed away from cancer. The “Bounce Back” rapper asked her out on a date to a Lakers game and even though the singer had a boyfriend at the time, she went.
In Flaunt Magazine, the “Sativa” singer dived deeper into that moment. Rumors began to swirl about them dating following their courtside outing and Jhené recalled tweeting that she wasn’t dating Sean, which actually upset him.
"And then Sean got mad at me like, 'You gonna play me like that?' I’m like, ‘But we’re friends!'" she explained.
Imeh Akpanudosen/WireImage
2013
The singer eventually broke up with her boyfriend but Sean already began dating late actress Naya Rivera and they got engaged shortly after.
2014
Sean and Naya broke up and he began dating Ariana Grande. Jhené also moved on and married producer Dot Da Genius.
2016
In March 2016, the artists collaborated on a joint project as a group called Twenty88 and in a reported Billboard interview, the 34-year-old declared his love for the L.A. native. "Jhené is more than just a friend," he said. "I don’t know how else to describe it — me and her are just cool like that. I love her and I know she loves me."
However, they still didn’t make it official, especially with the “Pretty Bird” singer still being married. But all that changed in August 2016 when Jhené filed for divorce from the producer.
2017
The mom-to-be gets a portrait of Sean tattooed on her arm after her divorce from Dot Da Genius becomes finalized.
Victor Boyko/Getty Images for Christian Dior
2018
In 2018, however, the singer covered up the tattoo and when fans asked about it, she claimed that it didn’t go with her aesthetic. "It didn't match with the dragon sis," said. She continued to address it in another post: "Don't let this distract you from the fact that i also covered my buddha and Bible verse... but still love and respect Buddha AND Jesus lol. have a good day, kids."
2019
The couple reportedly broke up in March 2019 and in May of the same year, the singer dropped “Triggered” which had a lot of fans questioning if the song was about Sean.
"He was just like, 'Wow, I’m not your friend,'" she said in an interview with Essence about the rapper’s response to the song. "I was like, 'Well, I was feeling that in the moment. This is just a song.' ... 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.'"
In November, they collaborated on “None of Your Concern” which reignited relationship rumors. While they did not address it, they continued to spend time together throughout the year.
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Roc Nation
2020
In February, the two spent Valentine’s Day at Disneyland, and in March, Sean wrote a loving birthday post to the singer.
“Happy 3.16 Queen @jheneaiko! Always proud but never surprised cause I know how great you are at everything you do,” he wrote. “Even tho we gotta be inside n quarantine, you even make that sound good. I Love you from da past life to the next . 32 the Magic year, I’m a lucky ass n*gga 👑💙🌎🐉🌋”
2021
In an interview with DJ Khaled, Jhené opened up about her bond with Sean. "Our friendship is really strong, so that has made our relationship what it is, just that foundation of real friends who really know each other on that level," she said.
Sean also accompanied the singer during her Super Bowl performance and shortly they also attended the Grammys together.
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Featured image by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Recording Academy
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
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Sheila Rashid's Androgynous Approach To Unisex Clothing Is A Lesson In Embracing Individuality
The ItGirl 100 List is a celebration of 100 Black women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table.
For Sheila Rashid, it all started with some free-hand drawings and a few strokes of paint.
The Chicago-based clothing designer and creative director of Sheila Rashid Brand recalls using her spare time in high school to hand paint designs on t-shirts and distressed hoodies, distributing them to classmates as walking billboards for her art.
Rashid sought to pursue fashion design at Columbia College in Chicago but eventually took the self-taught route to build upon her knack for crafting one-of-a-kind, androgynous pieces.
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Thanks to the mentorship of local designers taking her under their wings, Rashid was able to gain valuable experience in putting together collections and creating patterns; equipping her with them with the necessary skills to pursue her own collections.
After two years of living in New York, Rashid returned home to the Chi and uncovered the unique flair she could offer the city. “I moved to New York after that because I wanted to be in the fashion capital world,” she tells xoNecole. “That's when I really got a leg up. I found myself when I moved back to Chicago after moving to New York.”
For the Midwest native, inspiration comes from her time around creative peers and the city’s notorious winters — known to be a main character in many Chicagoans stories. “It's a different perspective and mindset when I'm making stuff because of the weather here,” she explains. “When we get summer, it’s ‘Summertime Chi’ — it's amazing. It's beautiful. Still, I find myself always making clothes that cater to the winter.”
"I moved to New York after that because I wanted to be in the fashion capital world. That's when I really got a leg up. I found myself when I moved back to Chicago after moving to New York.”
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Many designers have a signature aesthetic or theme in their creations. In Rashid’s design story, dancing between the lines of femininity and masculinity is how she’s been able to distinguish herself within the industry. Her androgynous clothing has garnered the eye of celebrities like Zendaya, Chance the Rapper, WNBA star Sydney Colson, and more — showing her range and approach to designs with inclusivity in mind.
“I think I do reflect my own style,” she says. “When I do make pieces, I'm very tomboyish, androgynous. My work is unisex because I feel like everybody can wear it. I cater to everybody and that's how I try to approach my clothes.” From denim to overalls, and color-drenched outerwear, Rashid has mastered the structure of statement pieces that tell a story.
“Each collection, I never know what's going to be the thing I'm going to focus on. I try to reflect my own style and have fun with the storytelling,” she shares. “I look at it more like it's my art in this small way of expressing myself, so it's not that calculated.”
"My work is unisex because I feel like everybody can wear it. I cater to everybody and that's how I try to approach my clothes."
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Still, if you were able to add up all the moments within Rashid’s 20-year career in design, one theme that has multiplied her into becoming an “ItGirl” is her confidence to take up space within the fashion industry as a queer, Black woman. “Being an ItGirl is about being yourself, loving what you do, finding your niche, and mastering that,” she says.
No matter where you are on your ItGirl journey, Rashid says to always remain persistent and never hesitate to share your art with the world. “Don’t give up. Even if it's something small, finish it and don't be afraid to put it out,” she says, “It's about tackling your own fear of feeling like you have to please everybody, but just please yourself, and that's good enough.”
To learn more about the ItGirl 100 List, view the full list here.
Featured image Courtesy