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
With a multi-layered approach to her artistry, just as she did on that winter day in December 2013 with the infamous digital drop of her self-titled album, she changed the game again on February 1, 2023, when she announced her world tour in support of Renaissance, her seventh studio album. Her cultural impact set the internet ablaze, with everyone trying to gather their coins, barter for presale codes, and figure out which cities to attend. The group chats were lit, and the Beyhive was stressed trying to get their hands on tickets.
Photo courtesy of Dontaira Terrell
Unfortunately, I was in that number. As the concert dates passed by and the one in my city drawing near all roads led to disappointment. With time ticking on the day of the Miami show and less than two hours to spare, my wallet bit the bullet, and I purchased three last-minute tickets, costing roughly $700.00 a piece (including fees) for me, my 9-year-old and 16-year-old nieces in Section 121 at the Hard Rock Stadium. With 10 minutes before showtime, we eagerly awaited the Queen to take the stage. A sea of metallic fringes, cowboy hats, disco fans, and western boots were in full effect and filled the entire stadium.
As the lights dimmed, a flood of emotions instantly overtook my body. It continued with each note she belted, along with nearly 50,000 roaring fans. The reverberating sound of the music through the stadium transported me from one era of my life to the next. As a teen girl in her bedroom daydreaming about her first love to blossoming into an unapologetic Black woman who is still on a road of self-discovery while learning to lean into the power anthem of "You won't break my soul." For over two hours, and with each set, I felt joy, love, peace, and a commanderie with fellow concertgoers. It was therapeutic as I danced like no one was watching and sang as if I were alone in my bathroom mirror.
There were no bars held, and I realized at that moment, "Nobody can judge me but me." The "Renaissance World Tour" proved to be so vast, and my Black girl joy was re-invigorated. It was magnetic and liberating, and I had to attend again, but this time, I needed to be up close and personal; I needed to be on the floor. In the days that passed, I watched more social media clips in different cities and asked myself if I would really splurge again to attend another Renaissance show.
Photo courtesy of Dontaira Terrell
After all, this would be my thirteenth time (maybe more because I lost count) seeing Beyoncé live, whether she was on tour with Destiny's Child, as a solo artist, or doing a live appearance. I contemplated for a while, but it worked itself out on its own. I was gifted two tickets and the next thing I knew, I was off to LA to attend another Renaissance show with floor seats at SoFi Stadium during Beyonce's 42nd birthday weekend! This time, things were different: no kids were allowed. It was adults only this go round.
Although the energy at the Miami and Los Angeles shows was empowering, infectious, and a celebration of life, happiness, and identity, they each provided their own unique experience. However, both concerts were what I needed for my well-being, leaving me with sore feet from dancing the night away, on vocal rest for the next few days from screaming at the top of my lungs, and on an indefinite high on life.
My introduction and love for Beyoncé began in 1996, while my older sister lived in Houston, TX, right before Bey hit the scene in 1998 with "No, No, No" as a budding R&B member. Her evolution twenty-seven years later as an international superstar and into womanhood has been an incredible journey to witness. As Mrs. Carter reminds each of us in the audience every night before the curtain closes, "I want you to remember this moment, where you're standing, who you came with, and take it with you. I hope you feel inspired."
I truly felt inspired, so thank you, Queen Bey. You awakened my inner child, and I will definitely remember these moments and take them with me.
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