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Big Sean and Jhene Aiko will release their recently announced collaborative album, TWENTY88, on April 1, along with an accompanying short film. Now, the duo appear together on the cover of Flaunt Magazine. Inside the issue, Sean and Jhene open up about their relationship (did you know they did date once before?) and the inspiration behind the new album.

Check out the highlights below.

On why they decided to make a joint album:

“Music now doesn’t really cater to the feelings of a real relationship,” says Aiko via Skype from New Zealand where she’s on tour. “It’s all about trapping and bragging. I feel like this project is something that’s needed right now.” Sean nods—he currently sits on a couch in his living room in Hollywood Hills. “The whole idea of the man and woman duet,” Aiko continues, “Especially a whole project, is just good for people to see. That duality is a perfect combination.”

On their relationship:

Chemistry aside, they both insist that they’re single and just enjoying each other’s company. Says Aiko: “It was fun for me to do something that was not so serious as far as me telling all of my deepest, darkest thoughts and being extra introspective. I don’t really record love songs. I usually express it when it’s gone bad. It was good to have songs from when it was a happy moment. It’s us having fun. And it’s also a look into our future too, you know, maybe…”

On their first date:

“We went on a date,” Aiko reveals. “We went to a Lakers game. It was a long time ago,” (in May of 2012 to be exact). “First of all, I had a boyfriend and me and Sean had already met. We were friends. So he asked me to go out with him and even though I had a boyfriend I was like, ‘Yeah, I want to go to the Lakers game! Sean had never asked me if I had a boyfriend or not.”

“I didn’t care,” Sean inserts.

“It was pretty obvious after a while it was a date,” Aiko continues. “We had never really been alone together. It was really fun. I took a picture of Kobe.”

“Oh, that’s why it was fun?” Sean says with a laugh.

“And then I saw Jack Black and Sean took a picture of me and Jack Black,” adds Aiko, laughing, “I was really excited about that.”

“She was really excited to go with me too,” says Sean.

“The next day they had us up on a blog: Sean’s new Spanish girlfriend or something like that. So I tweeted: ‘I’m not dating Big Sean LOL.’ And then Sean got mad at me like, ‘You gonna play me like that?’ I’m like, ‘But we’re friends!’”

These days, Jhene’s a married woman and we’re just looking forward to the music. Still, you can’t deny the chemistry between her and Sean. TWENTY88 shouldn’t disappoint.

SOURCE: Flaunt, HotNewHipHop | PHOTO CREDIT: Instagram