Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	76/100
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic
Billboard
Clash	8/10
Entertainment Weekly	A–
Exclaim!	8/10
The Guardian
HipHopDX	3.5/5
Now
Pitchfork	6.5/10

Souled Out is the debut studio album by American R&B recording artist Jhené Aiko. It was released on September 9, 2014, by Def Jam Recordings and ARTium Recordings. After leaving Epic Records in 2003, Aiko took a hiatus from her music career and returned in 2011, with the release of her debut mixtape Sailing Soul(s). After raising her profile with the mixtape, Aiko met with record producer No I.D., and subsequently secured a recording contract with his newly found record label imprint, ARTium. Following her record deal, Aiko immediately began working on the album; during the recording process, Aiko released her debut EP Sail Out (2013), to bridge the gap between her mixtape and the album.

Souled Out is an alternative R&B album with a diverse musical style that incorporates psychedelic music, R&B, neo soul, hip hop and elements of electronica. Its songs are loosely structured and feature electronic guitar sounds, synths, drums and atmospheric noises. A concept album, Souled Out features the evolution of a woman's heartbreak before becoming enlightened, the album features lyrics that revolve around relationships, life lessons, philosophies and truths. Aiko served as the album's executive producer and wrote the album's lyrics; she contracted four key producers to contribute with production and help create a cohesive sound.

An anticipated release, the album was released to commercial and critical success. The album debuted at number three on the Billboard 200, selling 70,000 copies, doubling the first week sales of her debut EP; the album also debuted at number one on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and R&B Albums charts. Souled Out received generally positive reviews from critics, who commended its production, lyrics and themes and was ranked as one of the best albums of 2014 by several publications. The album spawned three singles — "To Love & Die", "The Pressure" and "Spotless Mind" — and has sold 121,000 units in the US.

...
Wikipedia