Analytic Dreamz: Notorious Mass Effect - "JHENE AIKO & KENDRICK LAMAR - SO GOOD (WESTSIDE WHIMSY)"

Episode Date: September 11, 2026

Linktree: ⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/Analytic⁠⁠Join The Normandy For Ad-Free NME, Additional Bonus Audio And Visual Content For All Things Nme+! Join Here:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://ow.ly/msoH50WCu0K⁠⁠ In this segment of Notorious Mass Effect, Analytic Dreamz covers Jhené Aiko’s Westside Whimsy, her fourth studio album dropping September 11, 2026. First solo LP in six years after 2020’s Chilombo, the 20-track project features Kendrick Lamar on “So Good,” their third collab and first in nearly 13 years. Guests include Larry June, Ab-Soul, Tyga and OHMA. Inspired by 1990s rap, R&B, soul and California culture. Chilombo debuted No. 2 on the Billboard 200 with three Grammy nods. Full breakdown of the rollout and reunion.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/analytic-dreamz-notorious-mass-effect/exclusive-contentPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Shepard promise me you'll tell them to subscribe for free content. Now when I say that we're about to get into potentially the best album of the year, I just hope you don't think I'm exaggerating, you know what I'm saying? As when it comes to the musical creation process time and time again, fans say to themselves, hold up now, why is my favorite musician in a relationship? No, I mean it may sound toxic about the end of the day, ladies and jen, gentlemen, some of the best art has been created shortly after a very hurtful breakup. You guys. See, that's the problem. Now you probably think it to yourself, what am I even referring

to? Well, ladies and gentlemen, we are about to get into Juna Aiko's album that just came out titled West Side Whimsie. And when I tell you, you're in for a whimsical ride, Shepard. All right, my fault. When I tell you that you're in for a very interesting, subject matter delivered by the one and only Janae Aiko. I am not, I am not even preparing you for the type of vitriol you're about to hear musically, right? So before we get into that, the main thing I wanted to talk about was Big Sean because of course he came out and gave an exclusive interview to analytic dreams.

So make sure to go to Analytic Dreams video on Spotify to see the video along with the audio because I got an exclusive sound bite from Big Sean himself. Let's watch it together. This is all I got. Okay. This is all I got. Don't take my baby, okay? All right.

I've been away from my baby for two months. Hold on now they don't look like big shot. All right, my fault. Let's finish the video. I just want my baby. I just want my baby. Aw, you guys. No one's listening because no one's in the courtroom.

I'm not doing anything illegal. I mean, technically. I'm not. doing anything illegal oh my god am i doing something illegal by doing this video or y'all pray for big shan man the first right amendment or the amendment don't take my baby take it time i'm at 13 000 a month what more do you want from me oh no but then you know what i'm saying i was like damn look at the state of hip-hop like what's going on oh my oh no that's just that's just that's just sad bro.

Oh my goodness. See, that's the problem. So I don't know why Big Sean sent me that, but at the end of the day, when it comes to the album from Janaya Eko, you know what I'm saying? It's just, hold on now. I was talking. What an actual? Huh? What happened?

Would you do that shit for me? Stuck with you. What? Would you do that shit for me? Hell no. I promise we're going to get to the album at some point. I'm not. For nothing.

Oh, okay. Hold on now. I said, I'm not. competing for nothing. Oh, she repeated it. I don't repeat. I complete. You already said?

Run it back. Run it back. Mm. Mm. Ooh, boy. Competing and completing is the L. You know what that L stands for? I keep going.

You know what love stands for. Take it time. Living on valued energy. Why a big shot interrupt. I don't like that. You guys. Let the women talk. You know what I'm saying?

And that's word to my dad. Mm. Life is just love and full of fit. Exactly. She ain't like that. Like, don't add living my bars, you know what I'm saying? Anyways, speaking of Dad, you know what I'm saying? Shefford.

Nah, because you're going to be petty this whole segment. Because, ladies and gentlemen, I listen to this entire album. Speaking of Dad, ladies and gentlemen, when it comes to one of the best verses I've ever heard in life, and no, I'm not exaggerating one bit. I do believe that this album may end up being my favorite album of the year. I don't know why, but after this, I think you could probably understand why. as Janaya Eko in the chorus, ladies and gentlemen, she said on ceiling freestyle. After the very potent and poignant verse that she gave, she basically gave a chorus saying,

got the kind of face only a lover could hate. After they done, after they're done putting up with all your mistakes, I know you only human and you made some mistakes. but those were major mistakes. Oh, baby. And that's the type of, this is a PG podcast, ladies and gentlemen. And that's the type of stuff

I know you always been on, but I'm the type of woman that you should have never done wrong. But then, you know what I'm saying? I was like, damn, look at the state of hip hop. Like, what's going on? And that's not it, ladies and gentlemen. But you're the type of woman

only a mother can make when they daddy don't stay. I know that ain't who I think it is. And ladies and gentlemen, that's not even the crest of what this track is about. You know what I'm saying? I know that ain't who I think of it. So without further ado, let me get into my favorite part of the entire album. Ladies and gentlemen, who is this?

I know that ain't who I think it is. Not for real. Who is this? I don't like it, man. I just don't like that. Now, how hard is it to stay loyal to Jene Aiko? Shepard. All I'm saying is, Jenae Aiko made.

create homelessness for a rapper called Big Sean. I'm saying a one. I'll give you a long list of the rappers that had to go get a job. You know what I'm saying? But if I got something that still works, why about it?

Go get a job. Gena Ekoecoe doing something to Big Sean right now. Yeah. I don't have to go to Costco. Go somewhere. Nah, she's doing you dirty right now, my brother. So anyways, Janaya Eko in verse 2,

she said, what am I saying? You take me the places I try to refrain from, calling you out your name. Oh, yeah. Speaking the names, I'm gonna go ahead and name some. Hold up now, that's barge right there, boy. That bar is right there. She went on to say, who the F is Lisa.

Who the F is Paige? Is she talking about the one that plays for the WNBA? Oh, probably not. Anyways, who the F is Brittany? I know, that better not be Britney Renner. I know that ain't who I think it is. No, I'll just play. I'll just be a messy.

Get the F out of my face. Get the F out of my face. out of my place. Oh my goodness. But then, you know what I'm saying? I was like, damn, look at the state of hip hop. Like, what's going on? Treat me like an option. I guess I should do the same. You so goofy. You're so lame. You so stupid. It's a shame.

You guys. Opportunity to the fullest. You and up. Dang, not the opposition. But it's okay. Guess I'll change. Oh, my fault. Guess I'll charge it to the game. Yeah. Yeah. Now that's bars right there, boy. Oh, Janaya Ikeo's like, yeah, I can get my rapper bag too. How you like that?

You know what I'm saying? How you like that, boy? How you like that, boy? You know what I'm saying? Yeah, Drake ain't the only one that could make, yeah, sound good than the rap track. You know what I'm saying? Is it okay, I got my dope on you? You feel me?

Janaya Echel said, yeah, at the end of her verse? I was like, hold on now, is that Drake? Is it okay, I got my dope on me? Because y' y'all got to hear the way she delivered it. Yeah, like, yeah, I just gave you bars. You know what I'm saying? Take that. that no actually anyways so that being said the main thing i was going to get into outside of this album

being full of just high quality material is that when it comes to fans advocating we're not advocating but secretly wanting the favorite musicians to break up so they would get phenomenal music i kid you not this is probably the highest example i could give now honestly do we want january to be heartbroken of course not but then when it comes to quality music, do we want that from Jene Iaco? Yes, we do. And I'm not saying that two correlates. All I'm saying is, West Side Whimsie came six years after her last,

you want to know when her last album came out, ladies and gentlemen, her last album came out in 2017. I know that ain't who I think it is. And when it comes to that specifically, I think there was a deluxe edition titled, so Cholombo, oh, yeah, the deluxe edition for Cholombo came out July 17, 2020. So technically, if you want to be a well actually person, Cholumbo deluxe album, which her latest album before this one.

And that came out July 17, 2020. Now, even if we go with the 2020 album, you come to realize it's been a whopping six years since what, uh, it's been a whopping six years as far as wait time before website, West Side whimsy. And I think there's a reason for that. There was a lot of stuff that's happened, that happened between 2020 to 2026. one of course is that when you look at the relationship of big Sean and Janaya Aiko safe to say they had a daughter two years after the Cholombo album and they had a no I'm tripping

they had a son two years after the Cholombo album and that was between Big Sean and Janaya Eiko so you know clap it up for them you know what I'm saying you know at the end of the day it's just such a lovely bond you know I mean I'm just saying you know when a big Sean but one in the world Yo. Don't take my baby. Come on, man. I'm at $13,000 a month. What more do you want for me?

All right. Somebody get big shot on the tissue, man. Anyways, let me continue with my segment. So the main thing is they do have a kid two years after her latest album, right? So if you think of why it took six years for this album to come out, it came out shortly after the reports of a breakup

that happened in 2025. So that was just last year, right? So come to her. realize. Following up Chalumbo, which, objectively speaking, is our biggest album ever of all time. It sold 152,000 units first week, 38,000 pure copies. It received three Grammy nominations, including album of the year. Now, for this album to follow that album, it's almost like the Cardi B effect. You're following up on an album that literally the highest award was given, as far as a nomination. It was given to your latest album. It's hard to follow that up. So that's basically what

Jenei Aiko is doing, and I'm not going to lie to you. I think with West Side Whimsie, it may be a classic body of work from Jenei Aiko. I kid you not. Now, of course, the album just came out. You're probably going to say, oh, recency bias, but I'm a connoisseur of Jene Aiko. Fun fact, for those who follow notorious mass effect, you already know this. But Big Sean was my favorite rapper before he went on his two-year hiatus, which, you know, in hindsight, isn't the longest, but while I was in high school, it seemed like eternity. So guess who became my favorite rapper after Big Sean? Is it okay? I got my dope on me? So safe to say, when it comes to Big Sean, I very much enjoy his wordplay, his way he goes about the musical creation process. And there was a certain

somebody that loved his musical creation process as well. Shepard. No, I'm not being messy. You know what I'm saying? I'm just saying. They may and may not form the group because of their, let's just say, chemistry, woused. Janaya Eko may have been with a certain producer. All right, my fault. You know what I'm saying? Somebody had to say,

you know, everybody saying Big Sean, you know what, as far as a cheater, but nobody wants to talk about when they first got together who Janaya Eko may have been with. So anyways, the main thing,

especially when you look at the combination of Big Sean and Janaya Eko being called 28, a lot of people love that album. And they're waiting for the next 28 album. Now, of course,

when that album will come out, I don't think it's ever going to happen, ladies and gentlemen. So if you wait for that album, who do need you? You know what I'm saying? We beat these folks. Who do we beat them? We go forward.

And I don't think the album's ever coming out. But when it comes to Big Sean and Janaya Eiko, safe to say when Janaya Eko was with a certain producer, I may not name any names. Actually, I got to do it. So when you look at Janaya Eiko, specifically being with a producer, I think she got married to that producer or whatever.

And then she left that producer. sir. We're not going to say it was because of Big Sean. But we're just going to say that Dot the Genius may have fair vitriol towards Big Sean. He may look at the sight of Big Sean or just anything that rhymes with Sean. He may see Sean out of paper and say

to himself, I just don't like it, man. You know what I'm saying? I just don't like that shit, man. Because you're telling me 2014 to 2017, Janaya Eko marries then divorces Dr. Genius, right? And then April 2016, the joint album, 288 comes out. And who is that on the album? I know that.

I know that ain't who I think it is. All I'm saying is, I think there was reasons for why Janaya Eko and Big Sean may have had issues in a relationship. Now, of course, we only cover music and things that nature. So technically, Janaya Eko put out the album, so now we've got to dive into where the album inspiration is probably coming from. The whole not marrying Janaya Eko because Big Sean basically went on Charlemagne's interview. If you look it up,

Charlemagne Big Sean interview, I think it's called Out of Context or whatever, he said that there was no secret wedding and that marriage, quote, unquote, symbolizes the best relationship. This is from Big Sean, not me. And he went on to say, quote, there's a lot of work that needs to be done. And then he cited the ups and downs career slash family focus and high divorce rates. It's almost as if he knew

how he got Janaya Eko. Shepard. All right, my fault. You know, somebody got call it eight more than night. You know, somebody got to keep eight more than night too. You know what I'm saying? Everybody out here being around the bush, like, yeah, Big Sean was kind of crazy as far as what he was doing. May or may not have had Ariana Grande on the couch, you know what I'm saying? Like, you know what I mean?

Who really bringing up the facts? You feel me? But then, you know what I'm saying? I was like, damn, look at this. So anyways, but as far as the initial relationship tests, may or may or may not have came in the interest in time as far as Janaya Aiko and her dating history, let's just put like that. So when it comes to West Side Whimsie,

even though it's apparently taking shots at the one and only Big Sean, breaking him down to the point where I don't even know how he can recover. Because you can't really rap battle a woman that's not a rapper. I mean, Janaya Aiko is an R&B artist giving you the most Nicki Minaj's bars on this album. But then, you know what I'm saying? I was like, damn, look at the state of hip-hop.

Like, what's going on? Janaya Aiko turned into Nikki Minaj, Little Kim, and Lauren Hill all in one on this album. She gave him bars that you never would even thought of. Literally, this track right here, I mean, you know, there's a certain someone that said this one time. You identify AP, she is not mine. You know what I'm saying? He called. What he's saying?

No, is that, tell me one more time. What the goats say? You cold. He called. She belongs to the streets. I guess you not. That is a moment in time in hip hop history, right? I think Janaya Eko not only won up that moment, but did it even better in a full track

off of this latest album title He Belongs. Now, of course, as you can see, it's the seventh track off a website, Westside whimsy. And if you come to realize, it's right after nothing nice to say. And nothing nice to say is right after the Sailing Freestyle, which you just went over, how she was going at him as far as calling him out, as far as being, you know, a permission. as individuals. So safe to say, she has a whole run on his album where it's very much a Kendrick Drake-esque type of vitriol as far as not only naming individuals that he may have cheated on you with, but then going on a whole track for the entire three minutes. How long is this track?

For the entire, I think it's a two, it's three minutes and something seconds, right? And basically, she's saying that he belongs to the streets, he belongs to the pavement, he belongs to everything except her and i'm just looking at i'm like goodness gracious boy but then you know what i'm like 10 look at the state of hip hop like what's going on ladies and gentlemen just in case you think i'm messing uh you think i'm like making it up or exaggerating here is the chorus following into the verse right um he belongs to the streets yeah he belongs to every woman he meets goodness gracious who is that i know that ain't who i think it is he belongs to the people but he don't belong to me don't belong to me and then she goes into the verse two ladies and gentlemen that's not even

verse one that man is everybody's body don't you tell nobody every body everybody knows everybody chose everybody's had them goodness gracious don't you tell nobody don't you tell nobody everybody knows everybody chose everybody's had them can't turn a fling into a real thing can't can't turn a promise to a what hold up now but then you know what i've been talking about this entire time it's almost like i know what i'm talking about Give them some praise. You know what I'm saying? Give them some praise.

Oh, my fault. You know what I'm saying? Give them some praise. Thank you, Drewski. I appreciate it. You ain't got to do all that. Just make sure to rate this five stars. Anyways, let me get back into me bringing this full circle.

Can't turn a fling into a real thing. Can't turn a promise to a wedding ring. Can't turn a hoe into a husband. Now I know. Now I know. I know that ain't who I think it is. I know she ain't talking about big Sean. Let me look at this man real government because this is crazy.

She probably said his real government throughout this whole album. Let me see. I never looked up this man, government name. Government name. Let me see. I know that she is not talking about Sean, Michael, Leonard Anderson like this. What in the actual? Boy, I know.

You guys. Come on, man. See, that's the problem. What would he do to her? Actually, anyways. Yeah, one more time. Can't turn a fling into a real thing. Can't turn a promise to a wedding ring.

Can't turn a hoe into a husband. Yeah, I know you thought it, but he wasn't. Can't turn a nice guy into a good guy. Can't turn a good liar to a good. good man, get another man, maybe, nah, don't do that. I know that ain't who I think it is. Don't do that.

I know that ain't who I think of it. I know that I don't say get another man, maybe F his friend, because ladies and gentlemen, Exhibit A. Now, of course, I'm only going to play a little bit of this. Now, I know. I know that ain't who I think it is.

I may break that sound, that sound bite at the end of this other segment, because who is that? I know that ain't Larry June. Now, if y'all don't know, Larry June, now, Boy, you guys. I know that ain't who I take to you.

That's the problem. Boy. But then, you know what I'm saying? I was like, damn, look at the state of hip hop. I guess you not. Larry June and Big Sean have a phenomenal rapping relationship, right?

So for this to happen, it's almost as if she meant what she said when she says, get another man, maybe F his friend. Hmm. And then she went on to the chorus. He belongs to the streets. He belongs to every woman he meets. He belongs to the people.

but he don't belong to me. I just don't like it, man. Dang. I just don't like that shit, man. How is Big Sean going to recover from this? So I'm not going to say he has 24 hours because once again, Janaya Eko is not a rapper. She is essentially an R&B artist that just gave him

the best rap bars you've ever seen in your life. This reminds me, let me not bring that up. But shout out to Chris Brown. This reminds me of when Cuevo and Chris Brown had their beef and an R&B artist out of nowhere put out like one of the most disrespectful hip-hop dishes of all time. And it's actually one of my best performance. segments. Let me see if I can find this. Let me see

Cuevo. Take off. Why does it not pop up? Let me see if I can find this. It's like a disc track. And, oh, here we go. Yeah, so Chris Brown had a specific track called The Weekest Link. And I covered that April 20th of 2024. Ladies and gentlemen, that was one of the better rap tracks ever heard in the midst of Drake and Kendrick. You know what I'm saying? Is it okay? I got my dope on me? So people who didn't really follow hip hop, they wouldn't even know that happened.

But safe to say, when it comes to Janaya Eko and the type of wording that she uses, the type of verbious, the lexicon is very extensive to the point where if you're going back and forth with her artist like Janaya Eiko and break up with her, or not even break up with her, she breaks up with you because you broke her heart too many times. You may mess around and find yourself in the situation where one of the greatest albums of the decade may have been because you couldn't keep it in your pants. You guys. history.

See, that's the problem. So that being said, ladies and gentlemen, yeah, the West Side Wimsy album is phenomenal. As far as first week sales, I do believe that this is going to create another wave of just news

when it comes to Big Sean specifically. I want to see if he capitalizes off of that because I do believe this is going to be one of those albums that is going to be nominated for a Grammy. This is a sensational work from generic you see how i brought up all type of tracks from the album i haven't even once mentioned that side seven is on the album is it okay i got my dope on me and i think he had a pretty solid verse

i know a lot of people love to kill side seven saying that oh he ruins every single r and btick but um safe to say i mean he was on scissors luther he was on gloria he was on biances america has a problem as far as a remix he was on uh well die hard was his track um as far as sir as far as the hair down track. I mean, I think he's had pretty serviceable versus when it comes to R&B tracks. Now, in NBA 2K terms, is his slider, is his stats all the way up in the R&B feature category? Of course, I mean, I think he's maxed out as far as lyricism. But when it comes to R&B and him being able to feature on those type of tracks, I think he's around a 70 to 60. You know what I'm saying?

But people are just acting like he's just abysmal or atrocious. I don't think it's that bad. So anyways, he's also on the album. But with that being said, Janaya Eko, you definitely did your big one, as the women would say. You know what I'm saying? You definitely put a period on that relationship. Hopefully, you know, Big Sean just doesn't respond because, you know, it does seem like Janaya Eko, as far as artistically, it seems like she's in her prime.

I get you not. And that's a lot to say when it comes to Janaya Eiko, because if you don't know, she inspired a lot of these R&B female acts. I mean, Janaya Eko is basically the root of the R&B woman sound currently. Like, she basically birthed a lot of these women. I mean, she even influenced my favorite artists. Whenever they did their collab, it seemed like his R&B delivery as far as melodies improved. And especially, he even started to, because I mean, he even caught, that's a whole other bag.

I can get into the whole big Sean and Janaya Eiko influence on R&B and hip-hop. specifically, but I just want to focus on the album. But basically I'm just letting you know that Janaya Ego's obviously not no new artist. To be fair, she's one of the foundational acts. And I was saying we would not get a scissor. We would not get some of these other artists like, what's the name? Kalani, if it wasn't for Janaya Eko laying the foundation of what a woman R&B album sounds like as far as at its highest quality level.

So, yeah, well that means that, man. I think the six-year weight was well worth it. So safe to say, I thoroughly enjoyed the album. I would be interested to hear what you have to see about the album, what you like the most about it as far as your favorite track. So definitely make sure to click my link tree in my bio to follow me on my social medias. And of course, if you're on Spotify, make sure to comment down below. What do you think is the best track off of Janaya Aikos album and why?