Four years after Kanye released the celebrated and hated 808s & Heartbreak, its influence has become undeniable. The album’s narcotic testimonial minimalism has been used and reshaped by the likes of Drake & 40 for moody pop smashes, and taken down the orgiastic coke-n-alcohol worlds of The Weeknd. Here, angel-faced singer Jhene Aiko links with her frequent collaborators Fisticuffs, to further cement the sound.
Having provided Black Hippy a few hooks with her airy-n-sultry vocals, on “3:16am”, Jhene’s voice floats above and within the nocturnal boom and eerie chords of Fisticuffs production. The video finds Jhene’s calm lusciousness dipped in water, virginal dresses, roaming a forest, and haggard in a desert trying to deal with the solace of a neglectful lover. It’s the perfect blend of emo, cheese, contemporary soul, and pop; and if all else fails, you know, you get to stare at Mrs. Aiko for 3+ minutes.