Jhene Aiko is going to be huge

Jhene Aiko’s ‘Sailing Souls’ mixtape is one of this year’s finest by far, and the LA singer behind such smashes as Stranger (below) is now signed to Def Jam. Her understated delivery and ability to deal intimately with the everyday toughnesses of relationships (as on the magnificent Do Better Blues, also below) has led to comparisons with Aaliyah. She Tweeted a shot of her contract with the rap / R&B mega-label, and – with new music promised soon – will surely be a well-known talent. Joining such talents as Frank Ocean and The-Dream,_ as well as No ID, who is in the TwitPic, the label is looking strong for 2012. On the signing, she said: ““I am not an entertainer. I am an inspirer. I don’t sing songs to entertain and distract. I write songs to inspire, to heal, to bring awareness to…myself…and if I’m lucky, to others.”