Review: Big Sean & Jhene Aiko’s ‘Twenty88’: A raw, sexy look at twentysomething love

Even before they formed a duo, Big Sean and Jhene Aiko’s chemistry was undeniable.

The Detroit rapper and the L.A. singer have already been exploring the complexities of coming of age in their music and were still finding their voice when they first collaborated on 2013’s “Beware.”

That single, a terse dissection of a relationship ruined by infidelity and insecurities, was the most memorable track from Sean’s album, “Hall of Fame.” The two pushed the relationship dynamic further with “I Know,” a standout on Sean’s 2015 breakout record “Dark Sky Paradise.”

Now Sean and Aiko have reunited to form the duo Twenty88.

The duo’s self-titled debut, released Friday (it’s streaming exclusively on Tidal for four days and available for purchase on iTunes), doubles down on romance by building an entire record around it.

Over eight tracks the duo traces the highs and lows of a relationship by creating a fantasy couple and channeling their complicated history. Meditations on love, sex and jealousy unfold over productions that combine ‘70s soul, ‘90s R&B, spacey atmosphere and minimalist trap beats (Key Wane, Detail and Tommy Brown were among of the producers).

The album isn’t just Sean rapping verses with Aiko supplying providing hooks (or vice versa), it’s a fully realized collaboration that weaves together two distinct point of views.

“I know you been working way too hard and hardly get to play, fell off in the sheets it felt like we ain’t even skip a day,” Sean raps of reuniting with his former flame on the woozy opener, “Deja Vu,” before picking apart her past.

Their union is mostly one of conflict, with the two consistently challenging one another before falling into warm reconciliations and exploding again. It’s exhausting, but it paints such a vividly accurate portrayal of tempestuous love it’s hard not to fall for both characters.

“Can’t believe I stayed faithful to someone so ungrateful, don’t you know there’s a line for my love,” Aiko quips on “Selfish” after her lover berates her for not being available for those late night texts -- “No pics, no calls, no sexting, how could you be so selfish,” they shout at each other throughout the chorus.

This is a self-destructive couple that fights and drinks too much but can’t seem to keep their hands off each other. The bickering always leads to makeup sex, as detailed on the steamy, explicitly intimate “Push It.”

The tumult of their union comes to a head on “Talk Show,” a smartly written back and forth that sees the lovers opening up about their relationship on a late night show.

“What’s the difference between real love and fake love … You can feel the difference / And even though it changes over time / It stays consistent, I ain’t gonna lie though, It takes persistence,” Sean tenderly raps before Aiko offers a jab: “Don’t act like just a couple weeks ago you wasn’t … out here, disrespecting me.”

By the time the pair get to the overly sweet “London Bridge,” you’re hoping for a reconciliation -- even if it’s short-lived.

“I don’t mean to sound hysterical, but baby if you left it would be a historical disaster,” she sings. “I need you to tell me every emotion like now or never,” he responds, “Only two times I ever needed you was now and forever.”

Sean and Aiko make for a convincing couple. But what makes “Twenty88” such a compelling listen is the startling honesty and rawness it captures -- even if it’s just fantasy.

------------

Twenty88

“Twenty88”

(Def Jam)

gerrick.kennedy@latimes.com

For more music news follow me on Twitter: @gerrickkennedy