JoJo (album)
Encyclopedia
JoJo is the self-titled debut album by American recording artist JoJo, released in the United States on June 22, 2004 by Da Family Entertainment and Blackground Records
. While recording the album, JoJo worked with many producers, such as Brian Alexander Morgan
, Soulshock & Karlin
, Dexter Simmons, Mike City
, Balewa Muhammad, Tre Black, Bink!
, G.P., The Underdogs
, The Co-Stars, Reggie Burrell, Ronald Burrell, Kwamé "K1 Mill"
, Young Freak and Vincent Herbert. The album was preceded by the release of JoJo's debut single, Leave (Get Out)
, which achieved critical and commercial success worldwide. In the US, the single peaked inside the top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100
singles chart, and also topped the Pop 100
singles chart, making her the youngest artist in history to achieve this. In the United Kingdom
, the single also performed well, reaching a peak of number 2. The follow up single, Baby It's You
featured Bow Wow on guest vocals. It also became a hit for JoJo, becoming her second Top 40 hit in the US. In the UK, the song became her second Top 10 hit, peaking at number 8. The single also reached the Top 10 of New Zealand, climbing to a peak of number 10. The third and final single, Not That Kinda Girl
was released internationally only. However, it did see a minor release onto US radio. Due to the lack of a physical copy, the single failed to chart in the US, becoming her first to do so. The single did manage to chart in Australia and Germany
, however, the chart performance of the song was an overall failure.
The album debuted and peaked at number four on the U.S. Billboard 200
chart selling 95,000 copies in its first week. It was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America
on November 15, 2004, denoting U.S. shipments in excess of one million copies. In countries other than JoJo's own, the album proved to be a success. In the UK, the album has been certified Gold
. The album received the same certification in Germany
, while in Canada
, the album was certified Platinum
. JoJo was promoted mainly through live, televised performances. JoJo appeared on shows such as On Air with Ryan Seacrest as well as performing at the 2004 Kid's Choice Awards. Aside from network appearances, JoJo also embarked on a Mall Tour with other artist, and even went on a Europe
an tour with Hip Hop
singer, Usher
.
, jazz
, and soul
tunes. On the A&E
's show Child Stars III: Teen Rockers, her mother claimed that JoJo had a borderline genius IQ. As a child, JoJo enjoyed attending Native American festivals and acted locally in professional theaters.
At age 7, JoJo appeared on the television show Kids Say the Darnedest Things: On the Road in Boston with American comedian
and actor
Bill Cosby
and she sang a song from singer Cher
. After auditioning in the television show Destination Stardom, JoJo sang Aretha Franklin
's 1967 hit "Respect
" & Chain of Fools
. Soon after, The Oprah Winfrey Show
contacted her, inviting her to perform. She performed on Maury
, on one of the frequent "kids-with-talent" episodes, as well as many others. Reminiscing, she has stated that "when it came to performing, I just had no fear".
At 6 years of age JoJo was offered a record deal but her mother turned it down because she believed JoJo was too young for a music career. After appearing on talk shows and the McDonald's Gospel Fest performing Whitney Houston's "I Believe In You and Me" and competing on the television show, America's Most Talented Kids, but did not win the show and lost to Diana DeGarmo
. Record producer Vincent Herbert contacted her and asked her to audition for Blackground Records
. During her audition for Barry Hankerson, Hankerson told her that the spirit of his niece, the late singer Aaliyah
, had brought her to him. She was signed to the label, and had recording sessions with famed producers like The Underdogs
and Soulshock & Karlin
.
JoJo's live demo, Joanna Levesque, recorded in 2001, features covers
of soul and R&B songs, including Wilson Pickett
's 1966 "Mustang Sally
", Etta James
's 1989 "It Ain't Always What You Do (It's Who You Let See You Do It)", Aretha Franklin's 1968 "Chain of Fools" and 1969 "The House That Jack Built
", The Moonglows
' 1956 "See Saw", Stevie Wonder
's 1972 "Superstition
", and The Temptations
' 1975 "Shakey Ground". In 2003, at age 12, JoJo signed with Blackground Records
and Da Family and begin working with some producers on her first debut album.
and R&B. During an interview about the album's composition, JoJo stated, "I wrote three songs on the album. I am not the [kind of] person who sings something that I have no reference point to. I feel like I am a real artist and I want to be able to feel what I am singing about. So when I sing, "Leave (Get Out)," I have been through that. I think it is just a new generation, whether people are ready for it or not. Teenagers are dating. They go through things and that is really what it is about." Many have noted that the album is influenced mainly by R&B tracks. On her influences for the album, JoJo has listed many celebrities. During one interview, she stated, "I really was, I had no idea what it was. I was raised in a mostly white neighborhood. I was this little white girl jamming out to Ella Fitzgerald and Bobby Brown. I don't know what kind of stuff I was on!" During a separate interview, JoJo stated, "Well, I listened to everyone from Aretha Franklin to Bob Seager, to the Beatles, but I have to say that my mom is probably my biggest influence. She really has a great voice." JoJo has also listed singer Beyoncé as a major influence, stating, "I think she is the perfect example of a strong woman and just a talented person. She's a songwriter, she's a dancer and she's an incredible singer and I don't think anyone can touch her right now."
The first track on the album, Breezy is an up-tempo Hip Hop
track that speaks of JoJo's relationship with a boy, and how he calls her "Breezy". The lyrics are more spoken than sung by JoJo, as the song has a different feel than the rest of the album. Baby It's You
is the second track on the album, as well as the second single. The song is an up-tempo R&B song that speaks of JoJo not wanting the luxuries and perks of dating someone, and all she wants is them. Not That Kinda Girl
, the album's third single, also serves as the third song. The song sees JoJo comparing herself to other girls, and telling a boy that she's "not that kinda girl", and has true feelings for him. The Happy Song is the fourth song on the album. The up-tempo R&B influenced track sees JoJo speaking of how happy a boy makes her feel, and she thinks he might be the one. Homeboy is the fifth song on the album, and is more of a Hip Hop
influenced track. The track speaks of how JoJo has lost the feelings for her boyfriend, and will be breaking up with him. The sixth song on the album is City Lights, and is a more urban track, sticking out from the rest of the album. It lyrically speaks of JoJo searching for a party to dance to and forget all of her worries on the dance floor. Leave (Get Out)
is the seventh track on the album, as well as the lead single. The single was met positively by critics, and was majorly successful on music charts worldwide, reaching the Top 10 in eleven different countries, including the United States
, Australia
, and the United Kingdom
.
The eighth song on the album is Use My Shoulder, an R&B ballad that lyrically speaks of JoJo trying to cheer up her boyfriend. Never Say Goodbye is a pop
ballad, that lyrically speaks of JoJo being glad to have someone in her life, and how she "never wants to say goodbye" to him. Weak is the tenth track on the album, and is a cover of the song by SWV
. Keep On Keeping On is the eleventh song on the album, and is a mid-tempo R&B song that talks of never giving up, and keep going after something that you really want. The twelfth song on the album is Sunshine. The pop track speaks of how a boy makes all of JoJo's dreams come true, and he is her "sunshine". Yes or No, the thirteenth song on the album, is more uptempo and Hip Hop
than the rest of the album, and lyrically talks of JoJo questioning a guy to see if he is ready to handle a girl like her. The fourteenth and final track on the album is Fairy Tales, a pop
ballad that lyrically speaks of how JoJo feels she may not be able to love again after the pain her ex has caused her.
from the album was Leave (Get Out)
. The single was released on February 24, 2004 as a physical copy and for radio airplay. The song became an instant hit for JoJo, reaching the Top 10 in eleven different countries. In the US, the single reached the Top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100
, peaking at number 12. Due to large amounts of airplay nationwide, the single topped the Pop 100
chart in the US. The single was even more successful internationally. In the United Kingdom
, the single peaked at number 2 on the UK Singles Chart
. It reached the same height on the European Hot 100 Singles, as well as the Australian Singles Chart
and the New Zealand
singles chart. In Ireland
, the single performed very well, reaching a height of number 3. In Belgium
, on the Ultratop 50
singles chart, the single also had great success, leaping to a peak position of number 4. The single also peaked at number 4 on the Dutch Top 40
singles chart. In Germany
, the single reached the Top 10, peaking at number 9 on the official singles chart. The music video, directed by Erik White, takes place in a high school. JoJo is seen with friends and dancing with cheerleading
girls. The video was nominated for Best New Artist
at the 2004 MTV Video Music Awards
, which made JoJo become the youngest MTV Video Music Award
nominee.
Baby It's You
was released as the album's second single on September 6, 2004. The album version of the song is performed by JoJo herself, however, the version released as a single features Bow Wow. Although it failed to match the success of her debut single, the song was successful in many countries. In the US, the single became her second Top 40 hit on the Billboard Hot 100
, peaking at number 22. The single's highest peak position was at number 3 on the New Zealand
singles chart, becoming her second single to chart that high. In the United Kingdom
, the single also became her second Top 10 hit, reaching a peak of number 8. The single also had similar chart success in countries such as Australia
, Austria
, Belgium
, and Denmark
. Not That Kinda Girl
was released as the third and final single from the album on February 15, 2005. The single received a limited release, only receiving minimal airplay in the US. Due to lack of a physical CD in many countries, the single was a commercial failure. It did, however, manage to chart at number 52 in Australia
as well as number 85 in Germany
. The music video
was directed by the team of Eric Williams and Randy Marshall, known as Fat Cats, and was shot in Los Angeles
. It premiered on MTV
's Total Request Live
on March 24, 2005. It spent only four days on the countdown and did not climb higher than number eight.
at the 2004 Kids Choice Awards to positive reviews from the audience and critics. JoJo also performed several songs from the album, including "Leave", "Baby It's You
" and "This Time" on Sessions@AOL, and a digital EP was released to promote the performances. JoJo also performed the album's lead single during an episode of On Air with Ryan Seacrest. The performance featured JoJo performing with several back up dancers. JoJo also appeared on Top of the Pops
to perform the single, using the same dance routine with her back up dancers. JoJo also performed "Leave" at the Arthur Ashe Kids Day concert, to a generally positive reception from the crowd and critics. JoJo also performed the single live for Yahoo!
music, which was posted on their official website. The single was performed yet again on the television show, Hit Machine, where JoJo performed with back up dancers dressed similar to high school students.
Before the album's release, JoJo embarked on her first ever tour, the Cingular Buddy Bash with Fefe Dobson
, Young Gunz
and Zebrahead
. The tour went to nine malls, starting at Atlanta's Northlake Mall
and ending at South Shore Plaza
. In 2004 JoJo participated in "Come Together Now
", a charity single to benefit the victims of the 2004 Asian Tsunami
and the 2005 Hurricane Katrina
. That year, she was requested by First Lady
Laura Bush
to perform at the 2004 Christmas in Washington special, broadcast by TNT
and hosted by Dr. Phil
and his wife Robin McGraw. Despite performing at other events for the Republican Party
, she has stated that she "does not agree with the things that President
George W. Bush
has done in office. I'll leave it at that." JoJo hosted and performed at the Hope Rocks concert in 2005 to benefit City of Hope Cancer Center and co-hosted the 2006 TV Guide Channel
's countdown to the Grammy Award
s.
praised the album, stating, "Apparently, the army of urban producers (Soulshock & Karlin, the Underdogs, Mike City) on JoJo's JoJo know how to build a disc brimming with sizzling hooks too. The prototype this time? Xtina, with her over-the-top melismatic delivery. Too bad, since many of these otherwise engagingly gritty R&B tracks, especially the euphoric Happy Song, out-sass recent material by grown-up divas like Monica, Tamia, and even Mary J. Blige. Though the 13-year-old's vocal calisthenics quickly grow tiresome, with a few more years under her belt JoJo may yet discover her inner soul singer." Slant Magazine
gave the album a mixed review, stating, "But while the girl's certainly got pipes, her eponymous debut is as contrived and calculated as the strategic tears in the t-shirt and cap she sports on the album's cover. Even the songs JoJo penned herself can't give the disc the personality it so desperately needs; "Keep On Keepin' On" is a "personal," inspirational tune, but it's high-end sneakers and a duplex that JoJo wants, a sad reminder of how success is measured by today's young people—as dictated by hip-hop trends and MTV's Cribs. Then again, it's not surprising coming from a girl who got her start on Bill Cosby's Kids Say the Darndest Things. It's not the catchy lead single "Leave (Get Out)," produced by Soulshock and Karlin, or even a cover of SWV's early-90s hit "Weak" that keeps JoJo afloat, but—despite lyrics like "I'm on a high/Feel like I'm on medication"—the old-school "City Lights" and the minimalist "The Happy Song," which let JoJo's vocals take center stage. As long as she surrounds herself with smarter people (and stops rhyming words like "breezy" with "heezy," as she does on the album's opening track), the young up-and-comer could very well be the next Teena Marie. But probably not."
Yahoo!
Music also gave the album a mixed x review when they reviewed it, commenting, "JoJo is mercilessly multi-tracked a la J.Lo, her voice encoded flatteringly as she too-many-notes her way through a succession of R'n'B beats and hooks that owe everything to studio wizardry and little to simple songwriting. Inevitably, she's "Not That Kinda Girl" and boys "make me happy" but friends are where it's at. In short, she only has as much to say as the Spice Girls' "Wannabe", but does so across 14 largely forgettable tracks of scales and curlicues that make Mariah sound restrained. Discovered, like Charlotte Church, via a series of serendipitous TV appearances, JoJo's talent is less apparent. She's evidently superior to your typical schoolgirl belting out ringtones on the bus - and in Number Two hit "Leave (Get Out)" she has a signature song solid enough to base a career on - but beyond that she has no identity to speak of. Her album wouldn't disgrace the memory of deceased label mate Aaliyah but that's to the credit of Blackground Records rather than JoJo herself. Too young to have experienced life, too polished to have any soul to her sound, thus far she's a prodigy without purpose. Let the mood swings commence!" The interview was ended with the album being rewarded 6 out of 10 stars.
albums chart, with first week sales of around 95,000 copies. The album also debuted at number 10 on the Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums. Due to consistent sales, which kept the album afloat on the Billboard 200, the album was certified Gold
by the RIAA on July 29, 2004, only five weeks after its initial release in the United States. Then, on November 15, 2004, the album was certified Platinum
by the RIAA, for sales exceeding one million. After the success of the album on the charts, the singles began to sell more copies. By October 25, 2004, "Leave (Get Out)
" had been certified Gold, for shipments of 500,000 copies in the US. Also, the album's second single, "Baby It's You
", received a Gold certification on May 19, 2005.
The album was also well received in countries other than JoJo's own. In Canada
, JoJo debuted at number 23, giving JoJo her first Top 40 album in the country. After spending several weeks inside the Top 40 of the albums chart, the album eventually received a Platinum certification by the CRIA
, for shipments of 100,000 or more copies. In the United Kingdom
, where the album's lead single had a large amount of success, the album debuted at number 22. On November 5, 2004, the album was certified Gold by the BPI
, for shipments of 100,000 or more copies. The album has also had some success in Germany
. Despite a low debut on the album's chart, when it debuted at number 52, the album was consistent with album sales, and has received a Gold certification in the country. The album also had a strong debut in many other countries. In Portugal
, the album debuted at number 30 on the album's chart, which is surprising due to the failure of the singles in that country. In New Zealand
, the album debuted at number 30 on the official albums chart, fueled by the success of the first two singles in that country. In Japan
, the album debuted at number 30 as well. However, the album quickly fell off the chart in Japan. In Australia
, the album was expected to be a major hit, after the success of the lead single
. However, the album sold poorly in its first week of release there, landing it at number 86 on the official albums chart.
Creativity and management
Performances
Technical
Blackground Records
Blackground Records is an American record label owned by entertainment attorney and artist manager Barry Hankerson and his son Jomo Hankerson.-History:...
. While recording the album, JoJo worked with many producers, such as Brian Alexander Morgan
Brian Alexander Morgan
Brian Alexander Morgan is a record producer that was born and raised in Wichita, Kansas. Morgan was raised by his mother Mabel Mitchell along with his sister Toni Medlock . He has produced recordings for SWV, COKO, Nicole Wray, Martha Wash, Usher and JoJo, among others. He is also known for his...
, Soulshock & Karlin
Soulshock & Karlin
Soulshock & Karlin is a duo of Danish record producers and songwriters, Carsten Schack and Kenneth Karlin. They have produced a large number of successful songs, including Monica's "Before You Walk out of My Life", Whitney Houston's "Heartbreak Hotel", JoJo's "Leave ", and Fantasia's "Truth Is"...
, Dexter Simmons, Mike City
Mike City
Mike City is an American singer-songwriter and record producer. Flowers is also the founder and CEO of Unsung Entertainment, Inc. He's currently working on his personal album titledMike City a.k.a...
, Balewa Muhammad, Tre Black, Bink!
Bink (producer)
Bink is a Grammy nominated hip hop producer who is noted for his work with Roc-A-Fella Records artists. His most high-profile work has been Jay-Z's critically acclaimed album The Blueprint, for which he produced three tracks, including the first and last tracks on the album...
, G.P., The Underdogs
The Underdogs (duo)
The Underdogs is an R&B/pop production duo composed of Harvey Mason, Jr. and Damon Thomas.-Biography:Harvey Mason, Jr. is the son of Harvey Mason, Sr., a noted session drummer...
, The Co-Stars, Reggie Burrell, Ronald Burrell, Kwamé "K1 Mill"
Kwamé
Kwamé Holland is an American emcee who enjoyed brief popularity in the late-1980s and early-1990s. He is currently a music producer sometimes credited as K-1 Million or K1 Mil.-Biography:...
, Young Freak and Vincent Herbert. The album was preceded by the release of JoJo's debut single, Leave (Get Out)
Leave (Get Out)
"Leave " is a song by American singer JoJo from her self-titled debut album, JoJo. It was released as the album's lead single on February 24, 2004...
, which achieved critical and commercial success worldwide. In the US, the single peaked inside the top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
singles chart, and also topped the Pop 100
Pop 100
The Pop 100 was a songs chart that debuted in February 2005 and was released weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States until its discontinuation in 2009...
singles chart, making her the youngest artist in history to achieve this. In the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, the single also performed well, reaching a peak of number 2. The follow up single, Baby It's You
Baby It's You (JoJo song)
"Baby It's You" is a song by American recording artist JoJo, featuring American rapper Bow Wow. Written by Harvey Mason, Jr., Damon Thomas, Eric Dawkins, and Antonio Dixon, and produced by The Underdogs, the song was released in September 2004 as the second single from JoJo's self-titled debut...
featured Bow Wow on guest vocals. It also became a hit for JoJo, becoming her second Top 40 hit in the US. In the UK, the song became her second Top 10 hit, peaking at number 8. The single also reached the Top 10 of New Zealand, climbing to a peak of number 10. The third and final single, Not That Kinda Girl
Not That Kinda Girl
"Not That Kinda Girl" is a song by American singer JoJo from her self-titled debut album, JoJo . It was written by Neely Dinkins, B. Cola Pietro, Balewa Muhammad, and Sylvester Jordan, Jr., and released in February 2005 as the album's third and final single...
was released internationally only. However, it did see a minor release onto US radio. Due to the lack of a physical copy, the single failed to chart in the US, becoming her first to do so. The single did manage to chart in Australia and Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, however, the chart performance of the song was an overall failure.
The album debuted and peaked at number four on the U.S. Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
chart selling 95,000 copies in its first week. It was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America
Recording Industry Association of America
The Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States...
on November 15, 2004, denoting U.S. shipments in excess of one million copies. In countries other than JoJo's own, the album proved to be a success. In the UK, the album has been certified Gold
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
. The album received the same certification in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, while in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, the album was certified Platinum
Platinum
Platinum is a chemical element with the chemical symbol Pt and an atomic number of 78. Its name is derived from the Spanish term platina del Pinto, which is literally translated into "little silver of the Pinto River." It is a dense, malleable, ductile, precious, gray-white transition metal...
. JoJo was promoted mainly through live, televised performances. JoJo appeared on shows such as On Air with Ryan Seacrest as well as performing at the 2004 Kid's Choice Awards. Aside from network appearances, JoJo also embarked on a Mall Tour with other artist, and even went on a Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an tour with Hip Hop
Hip hop
Hip hop is a form of musical expression and artistic culture that originated in African-American and Latino communities during the 1970s in New York City, specifically the Bronx. DJ Afrika Bambaataa outlined the four pillars of hip hop culture: MCing, DJing, breaking and graffiti writing...
singer, Usher
Usher (entertainer)
Usher Terry Raymond IV , who performs under the mononym Usher, is an American singer-songwriter, and actor. He is considered around the world to be the reigning King of R&B. Usher rose to fame in the late 1990s with the release of his second album My Way, which spawned his first Billboard Hot 100...
.
Background
As a child, JoJo listened as her mother practiced hymns. She started singing when she was two years and three months old by imitating, to R&BRhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
, jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
, and soul
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
tunes. On the A&E
A&E Network
The A&E Network is a United States-based cable and satellite television network with headquarters in New York City and offices in Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, London, Los Angeles and Stamford. A&E also airs in Canada and Latin America. Initially named the Arts & Entertainment Network, A&E launched...
's show Child Stars III: Teen Rockers, her mother claimed that JoJo had a borderline genius IQ. As a child, JoJo enjoyed attending Native American festivals and acted locally in professional theaters.
At age 7, JoJo appeared on the television show Kids Say the Darnedest Things: On the Road in Boston with American comedian
Comedian
A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
and actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
Bill Cosby
Bill Cosby
William Henry "Bill" Cosby, Jr. is an American comedian, actor, author, television producer, educator, musician and activist. A veteran stand-up performer, he got his start at various clubs, then landed a starring role in the 1960s action show, I Spy. He later starred in his own series, the...
and she sang a song from singer Cher
Cher
Cher is an American recording artist, television personality, actress, director, record producer and philanthropist. Referred to as the Goddess of Pop, she has won an Academy Award, a Grammy Award, an Emmy Award, three Golden Globes and a Cannes Film Festival Award among others for her work in...
. After auditioning in the television show Destination Stardom, JoJo sang Aretha Franklin
Aretha Franklin
Aretha Louise Franklin is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. Although known for her soul recordings and referred to as The Queen of Soul, Franklin is also adept at jazz, blues, R&B, gospel music, and rock. Rolling Stone magazine ranked her atop its list of The Greatest Singers of All...
's 1967 hit "Respect
Respect (song)
"Respect" is a song written and originally released by Stax recording artist Otis Redding in 1965. "Respect" became a 1967 hit and signature song for R&B singer Aretha Franklin. The music in the two versions is significantly different, and through a few minor changes in the lyrics, the stories told...
" & Chain of Fools
Chain of Fools (song)
"Chain of Fools" is a song written by Don Covay. Aretha Franklin first released the song as a single in 1967 and subsequently it appeared on many of her albums. It reached number one on the U.S...
. Soon after, The Oprah Winfrey Show
The Oprah Winfrey Show
The Oprah Winfrey Show is an American syndicated talk show hosted and produced by its namesake Oprah Winfrey. It ran nationally for 25 seasons beginning in 1986, before concluding in 2011. It is the highest-rated talk show in American television history....
contacted her, inviting her to perform. She performed on Maury
Maury (TV series)
Maury is a syndicated American tabloid talk show hosted by Maury Povich.When the series first aired in 1991, the show was called The Maury Povich Show and was produced by MoPo Productions in association with Paramount Domestic Television...
, on one of the frequent "kids-with-talent" episodes, as well as many others. Reminiscing, she has stated that "when it came to performing, I just had no fear".
At 6 years of age JoJo was offered a record deal but her mother turned it down because she believed JoJo was too young for a music career. After appearing on talk shows and the McDonald's Gospel Fest performing Whitney Houston's "I Believe In You and Me" and competing on the television show, America's Most Talented Kids, but did not win the show and lost to Diana DeGarmo
Diana DeGarmo
Diana Nicole DeGarmo is an American singer and Broadway actress. She finished as the runner-up on the third season of the reality/talent-search television series American Idol, narrowly missing the win by about 2% out of over 65 million votes...
. Record producer Vincent Herbert contacted her and asked her to audition for Blackground Records
Blackground Records
Blackground Records is an American record label owned by entertainment attorney and artist manager Barry Hankerson and his son Jomo Hankerson.-History:...
. During her audition for Barry Hankerson, Hankerson told her that the spirit of his niece, the late singer Aaliyah
Aaliyah
Aaliyah Dana Haughton , who performed under the mononym Aaliyah , was an American R&B recording artist, actress and model. She was born in Brooklyn, New York, and was raised in Detroit, Michigan. At the age of 10, she appeared on the television show Star Search and performed in concert alongside...
, had brought her to him. She was signed to the label, and had recording sessions with famed producers like The Underdogs
The Underdogs (duo)
The Underdogs is an R&B/pop production duo composed of Harvey Mason, Jr. and Damon Thomas.-Biography:Harvey Mason, Jr. is the son of Harvey Mason, Sr., a noted session drummer...
and Soulshock & Karlin
Soulshock & Karlin
Soulshock & Karlin is a duo of Danish record producers and songwriters, Carsten Schack and Kenneth Karlin. They have produced a large number of successful songs, including Monica's "Before You Walk out of My Life", Whitney Houston's "Heartbreak Hotel", JoJo's "Leave ", and Fantasia's "Truth Is"...
.
JoJo's live demo, Joanna Levesque, recorded in 2001, features covers
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of soul and R&B songs, including Wilson Pickett
Wilson Pickett
Wilson Pickett was an American R&B/Soul singer and songwriter.A major figure in the development of American soul music, Pickett recorded over 50 songs which made the US R&B charts, and frequently crossed over to the US Billboard Hot 100...
's 1966 "Mustang Sally
Mustang Sally (song)
"Mustang Sally" is an R&B/straightforward blues first recorded by Mack Rice in 1965. It gained greater popularity when it was covered by Wilson Pickett on a single the following year. Pickett's version was also included on his 1967 album The Wicked Pickett....
", Etta James
Etta James
Etta James is an American blues, soul, rhythm and blues , rock and roll, gospel and jazz singer. In the 1950s and 1960s, she had her biggest success as a blues and R&B singer...
's 1989 "It Ain't Always What You Do (It's Who You Let See You Do It)", Aretha Franklin's 1968 "Chain of Fools" and 1969 "The House That Jack Built
This Is the House That Jack Built
"This Is the House That Jack Built" is a popular British nursery rhyme and cumulative tale. It has a Roud Folk Song Index number of 20584. It is Aarne-Thompson type 2035.-Lyrics:This is perhaps the most common set of modern lyrics:...
", The Moonglows
The Moonglows
The Moonglows were an American R&B and doo-wop group based in Cleveland, Ohio.-Early years:Originally formed in their native Louisville, Kentucky as the Crazy Sounds, the group moved to Cleveland, where disc jockey Alan Freed renamed them 'the Moonglows'...
' 1956 "See Saw", Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
's 1972 "Superstition
Superstition (song)
"Superstition" is a popular song written, produced, arranged, and performed by Stevie Wonder for Motown Records in 1972, when Wonder was 22 years old. It was the lead single for Wonder's Talking Book album, and released in many countries. It reached number one in the USA, and number one on the soul...
", and The Temptations
The Temptations
The Temptations is an American vocal group having achieved fame as one of the most successful acts to record for Motown Records. The group's repertoire has included, at various times during its five-decade career, R&B, doo-wop, funk, disco, soul, and adult contemporary music.Formed in Detroit,...
' 1975 "Shakey Ground". In 2003, at age 12, JoJo signed with Blackground Records
Blackground Records
Blackground Records is an American record label owned by entertainment attorney and artist manager Barry Hankerson and his son Jomo Hankerson.-History:...
and Da Family and begin working with some producers on her first debut album.
Composition
The music found on JoJo is primarily popPop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
and R&B. During an interview about the album's composition, JoJo stated, "I wrote three songs on the album. I am not the [kind of] person who sings something that I have no reference point to. I feel like I am a real artist and I want to be able to feel what I am singing about. So when I sing, "Leave (Get Out)," I have been through that. I think it is just a new generation, whether people are ready for it or not. Teenagers are dating. They go through things and that is really what it is about." Many have noted that the album is influenced mainly by R&B tracks. On her influences for the album, JoJo has listed many celebrities. During one interview, she stated, "I really was, I had no idea what it was. I was raised in a mostly white neighborhood. I was this little white girl jamming out to Ella Fitzgerald and Bobby Brown. I don't know what kind of stuff I was on!" During a separate interview, JoJo stated, "Well, I listened to everyone from Aretha Franklin to Bob Seager, to the Beatles, but I have to say that my mom is probably my biggest influence. She really has a great voice." JoJo has also listed singer Beyoncé as a major influence, stating, "I think she is the perfect example of a strong woman and just a talented person. She's a songwriter, she's a dancer and she's an incredible singer and I don't think anyone can touch her right now."
The first track on the album, Breezy is an up-tempo Hip Hop
Hip hop
Hip hop is a form of musical expression and artistic culture that originated in African-American and Latino communities during the 1970s in New York City, specifically the Bronx. DJ Afrika Bambaataa outlined the four pillars of hip hop culture: MCing, DJing, breaking and graffiti writing...
track that speaks of JoJo's relationship with a boy, and how he calls her "Breezy". The lyrics are more spoken than sung by JoJo, as the song has a different feel than the rest of the album. Baby It's You
Baby It's You (JoJo song)
"Baby It's You" is a song by American recording artist JoJo, featuring American rapper Bow Wow. Written by Harvey Mason, Jr., Damon Thomas, Eric Dawkins, and Antonio Dixon, and produced by The Underdogs, the song was released in September 2004 as the second single from JoJo's self-titled debut...
is the second track on the album, as well as the second single. The song is an up-tempo R&B song that speaks of JoJo not wanting the luxuries and perks of dating someone, and all she wants is them. Not That Kinda Girl
Not That Kinda Girl
"Not That Kinda Girl" is a song by American singer JoJo from her self-titled debut album, JoJo . It was written by Neely Dinkins, B. Cola Pietro, Balewa Muhammad, and Sylvester Jordan, Jr., and released in February 2005 as the album's third and final single...
, the album's third single, also serves as the third song. The song sees JoJo comparing herself to other girls, and telling a boy that she's "not that kinda girl", and has true feelings for him. The Happy Song is the fourth song on the album. The up-tempo R&B influenced track sees JoJo speaking of how happy a boy makes her feel, and she thinks he might be the one. Homeboy is the fifth song on the album, and is more of a Hip Hop
Hip hop
Hip hop is a form of musical expression and artistic culture that originated in African-American and Latino communities during the 1970s in New York City, specifically the Bronx. DJ Afrika Bambaataa outlined the four pillars of hip hop culture: MCing, DJing, breaking and graffiti writing...
influenced track. The track speaks of how JoJo has lost the feelings for her boyfriend, and will be breaking up with him. The sixth song on the album is City Lights, and is a more urban track, sticking out from the rest of the album. It lyrically speaks of JoJo searching for a party to dance to and forget all of her worries on the dance floor. Leave (Get Out)
Leave (Get Out)
"Leave " is a song by American singer JoJo from her self-titled debut album, JoJo. It was released as the album's lead single on February 24, 2004...
is the seventh track on the album, as well as the lead single. The single was met positively by critics, and was majorly successful on music charts worldwide, reaching the Top 10 in eleven different countries, including the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, and the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
The eighth song on the album is Use My Shoulder, an R&B ballad that lyrically speaks of JoJo trying to cheer up her boyfriend. Never Say Goodbye is a pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
ballad, that lyrically speaks of JoJo being glad to have someone in her life, and how she "never wants to say goodbye" to him. Weak is the tenth track on the album, and is a cover of the song by SWV
SWV
Sisters with Voices, better known as SWV, is an American female R&B trio from New York. Formed in 1990 as a gospel group, SWV became one of the most successful R&B groups of the 1990s. They had a series of hits, including "Weak", "Right Here/Human Nature", "I'm So Into You", and "You're the One"....
. Keep On Keeping On is the eleventh song on the album, and is a mid-tempo R&B song that talks of never giving up, and keep going after something that you really want. The twelfth song on the album is Sunshine. The pop track speaks of how a boy makes all of JoJo's dreams come true, and he is her "sunshine". Yes or No, the thirteenth song on the album, is more uptempo and Hip Hop
Hip hop
Hip hop is a form of musical expression and artistic culture that originated in African-American and Latino communities during the 1970s in New York City, specifically the Bronx. DJ Afrika Bambaataa outlined the four pillars of hip hop culture: MCing, DJing, breaking and graffiti writing...
than the rest of the album, and lyrically talks of JoJo questioning a guy to see if he is ready to handle a girl like her. The fourteenth and final track on the album is Fairy Tales, a pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
ballad that lyrically speaks of how JoJo feels she may not be able to love again after the pain her ex has caused her.
Singles
The lead singleLead single
A lead single is usually the first single released by a musician or a band before the release of its home album.During the era of the grammophone record, all music arrived in the marketplace as what is now termed a single, one potential hit song backed by an additional song of generally less...
from the album was Leave (Get Out)
Leave (Get Out)
"Leave " is a song by American singer JoJo from her self-titled debut album, JoJo. It was released as the album's lead single on February 24, 2004...
. The single was released on February 24, 2004 as a physical copy and for radio airplay. The song became an instant hit for JoJo, reaching the Top 10 in eleven different countries. In the US, the single reached the Top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
, peaking at number 12. Due to large amounts of airplay nationwide, the single topped the Pop 100
Pop 100
The Pop 100 was a songs chart that debuted in February 2005 and was released weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States until its discontinuation in 2009...
chart in the US. The single was even more successful internationally. In the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, the single peaked at number 2 on the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
. It reached the same height on the European Hot 100 Singles, as well as the Australian Singles Chart
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and the New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
singles chart. In Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, the single performed very well, reaching a height of number 3. In Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, on the Ultratop 50
Ultratop 50
Ultratop 50 singles, often just Ultratop 50, is the weekly chart of fifty best-selling singles in Flanders, Belgium, and is produced and published by the Ultratop organization. The chart has existed since March 31, 1995...
singles chart, the single also had great success, leaping to a peak position of number 4. The single also peaked at number 4 on the Dutch Top 40
Dutch Top 40
The Dutch Top 40 is a weekly music chart, which started as the "Veronica Top 40", because the offshore radio station Radio Veronica was the first to introduce it. It remained "The Veronica Top 40" until 1974, when the station was forced to stop broadcasting...
singles chart. In Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, the single reached the Top 10, peaking at number 9 on the official singles chart. The music video, directed by Erik White, takes place in a high school. JoJo is seen with friends and dancing with cheerleading
Cheerleading
Cheerleading is a physical activity, sometimes a competitive sport, based on organized routines, usually ranging from one to three minutes, which contain the components of tumbling, dance, jumps, cheers, and stunting to direct spectators of events to cheer on sports teams at games or to participate...
girls. The video was nominated for Best New Artist
MTV Video Music Award for Best New Artist
The MTV Video Music Award for Best New Artist is one of the four original general categories that have been given out since the first annual MTV Video Music Awards in 1984...
at the 2004 MTV Video Music Awards
2004 MTV Video Music Awards
The 2004 MTV Video Music Awards aired live on August 29, 2004, honoring the best music videos from the previous year. The show took place at the AmericanAirlines Arena in Miami, Florida, and, unlike in previous years, had no host.-Video of the Year:...
, which made JoJo become the youngest MTV Video Music Award
MTV Video Music Awards
An MTV Video Music Award , is an award presented by the cable channel MTV to honor the best in music videos...
nominee.
Baby It's You
Baby It's You (JoJo song)
"Baby It's You" is a song by American recording artist JoJo, featuring American rapper Bow Wow. Written by Harvey Mason, Jr., Damon Thomas, Eric Dawkins, and Antonio Dixon, and produced by The Underdogs, the song was released in September 2004 as the second single from JoJo's self-titled debut...
was released as the album's second single on September 6, 2004. The album version of the song is performed by JoJo herself, however, the version released as a single features Bow Wow. Although it failed to match the success of her debut single, the song was successful in many countries. In the US, the single became her second Top 40 hit on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
, peaking at number 22. The single's highest peak position was at number 3 on the New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
singles chart, becoming her second single to chart that high. In the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, the single also became her second Top 10 hit, reaching a peak of number 8. The single also had similar chart success in countries such as Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, and Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
. Not That Kinda Girl
Not That Kinda Girl
"Not That Kinda Girl" is a song by American singer JoJo from her self-titled debut album, JoJo . It was written by Neely Dinkins, B. Cola Pietro, Balewa Muhammad, and Sylvester Jordan, Jr., and released in February 2005 as the album's third and final single...
was released as the third and final single from the album on February 15, 2005. The single received a limited release, only receiving minimal airplay in the US. Due to lack of a physical CD in many countries, the single was a commercial failure. It did, however, manage to chart at number 52 in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
as well as number 85 in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. The music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
was directed by the team of Eric Williams and Randy Marshall, known as Fat Cats, and was shot in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
. It premiered on MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
's Total Request Live
Total Request Live
Total Request Live is a television series on MTV that featured popular music videos. TRL was MTV's prime outlet for music videos as the network continues to concentrate on reality-based programming. In addition to music videos, TRL featured daily guests...
on March 24, 2005. It spent only four days on the countdown and did not climb higher than number eight.
Promotion
JoJo promoted the album mainly through live performances. During 2004 and 2005 JoJo performed at many televised appearances as well as extensive touring with other artist. JoJo performed the lead single, Leave (Get Out)Leave (Get Out)
"Leave " is a song by American singer JoJo from her self-titled debut album, JoJo. It was released as the album's lead single on February 24, 2004...
at the 2004 Kids Choice Awards to positive reviews from the audience and critics. JoJo also performed several songs from the album, including "Leave", "Baby It's You
Baby It's You (JoJo song)
"Baby It's You" is a song by American recording artist JoJo, featuring American rapper Bow Wow. Written by Harvey Mason, Jr., Damon Thomas, Eric Dawkins, and Antonio Dixon, and produced by The Underdogs, the song was released in September 2004 as the second single from JoJo's self-titled debut...
" and "This Time" on Sessions@AOL, and a digital EP was released to promote the performances. JoJo also performed the album's lead single during an episode of On Air with Ryan Seacrest. The performance featured JoJo performing with several back up dancers. JoJo also appeared on Top of the Pops
Top of the Pops
Top of the Pops, also known as TOTP, is a British music chart television programme, made by the BBC and originally broadcast weekly from 1 January 1964 to 30 July 2006. After 25 December 2006 it became a radio program, now hosted by Tony Blackburn...
to perform the single, using the same dance routine with her back up dancers. JoJo also performed "Leave" at the Arthur Ashe Kids Day concert, to a generally positive reception from the crowd and critics. JoJo also performed the single live for Yahoo!
Yahoo!
Yahoo! Inc. is an American multinational internet corporation headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, United States. The company is perhaps best known for its web portal, search engine , Yahoo! Directory, Yahoo! Mail, Yahoo! News, Yahoo! Groups, Yahoo! Answers, advertising, online mapping ,...
music, which was posted on their official website. The single was performed yet again on the television show, Hit Machine, where JoJo performed with back up dancers dressed similar to high school students.
Before the album's release, JoJo embarked on her first ever tour, the Cingular Buddy Bash with Fefe Dobson
Fefe Dobson
Felicia Lily "Fefe" Dobson is a Canadian singer-songwriter. Her self-titled debut album earned her two Juno Award nominations. Her second album, Sunday Love, was not released and she was terminated from her recording company...
, Young Gunz
Young Gunz
The Young Gunz is an American rap duo from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania composed of Young Chris and Neef Buck . The group is part of Beanie Sigel's State Property collective and was signed to Roc-A-Fella Records...
and Zebrahead
Zebrahead
Zebrahead is an American punk rock band from Orange County, California, which fuses elements of Rapcore, Pop Punk, Alternative Rock, Alternative Metal, and Funk Metal.-1996–98: Formation:...
. The tour went to nine malls, starting at Atlanta's Northlake Mall
Northlake Mall (Atlanta)
Northlake Mall is a major shopping mall in the Northlake area of unincorporated DeKalb County, Georgia, United States. The mall is near Tucker, Georgia, northeast of Atlanta along Interstate 285 at 4800 Briarcliff Road. It is owned and managed by Simon Property Group.Northlake Mall opened in 1971...
and ending at South Shore Plaza
South Shore Plaza
South Shore Plaza is an enclosed shopping mall located in Braintree, Massachusetts, United States. It is anchored by Lord & Taylor, Macy's, Sears, Nordstrom, and Target. The mall currently has of retail and dining space, including a large food court....
. In 2004 JoJo participated in "Come Together Now
Come Together Now
"Come Together Now" is a charity single made to benefit the victims of the 2004 Indian Ocean Earthquake and Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The song was written by Sharon Stone, Damon Sharpe, Mark Feist, and Denise Rich and released on November 21, 2005....
", a charity single to benefit the victims of the 2004 Asian Tsunami
2004 Indian Ocean earthquake
The 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake was an undersea megathrust earthquake that occurred at 00:58:53 UTC on Sunday, December 26, 2004, with an epicentre off the west coast of Sumatra, Indonesia. The quake itself is known by the scientific community as the Sumatra-Andaman earthquake...
and the 2005 Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
. That year, she was requested by First Lady
First Lady of the United States
First Lady of the United States is the title of the hostess of the White House. Because this position is traditionally filled by the wife of the president of the United States, the title is most often applied to the wife of a sitting president. The current first lady is Michelle Obama.-Current:The...
Laura Bush
Laura Bush
Laura Lane Welch Bush is the wife of the 43rd President of the United States, George W. Bush. She was the First Lady of the United States from January 20, 2001, to January 20, 2009. She has held a love of books and reading since childhood and her life and education have reflected that interest...
to perform at the 2004 Christmas in Washington special, broadcast by TNT
Turner Network Television
Turner Network Television is an American cable television channel created by media mogul Ted Turner and currently owned by the Turner Broadcasting System division of Time Warner...
and hosted by Dr. Phil
Phil McGraw
Phillip Calvin McGraw best known as Dr. Phil, is an American television personality, author, former psychologist, and the host of the television show Dr. Phil, which debuted in 2002...
and his wife Robin McGraw. Despite performing at other events for the Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
, she has stated that she "does not agree with the things that President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
has done in office. I'll leave it at that." JoJo hosted and performed at the Hope Rocks concert in 2005 to benefit City of Hope Cancer Center and co-hosted the 2006 TV Guide Channel
TV Guide Channel
TV Guide Network is an American cable network owned by Lions Gate Entertainment Corporation....
's countdown to the Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
s.
Critical reception
The album has received generally mixed reviews from music critics. Entertainment WeeklyEntertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly is an American magazine, published by the Time division of Time Warner, that covers film, television, music, broadway theatre, books and popular culture...
praised the album, stating, "Apparently, the army of urban producers (Soulshock & Karlin, the Underdogs, Mike City) on JoJo's JoJo know how to build a disc brimming with sizzling hooks too. The prototype this time? Xtina, with her over-the-top melismatic delivery. Too bad, since many of these otherwise engagingly gritty R&B tracks, especially the euphoric Happy Song, out-sass recent material by grown-up divas like Monica, Tamia, and even Mary J. Blige. Though the 13-year-old's vocal calisthenics quickly grow tiresome, with a few more years under her belt JoJo may yet discover her inner soul singer." Slant Magazine
Slant Magazine
Slant Magazine is an online publication that features reviews of movies, music, TV, DVDs, theater, and video games, as well as interviews with actors, directors, and musicians. The site covers various film festivals like the New York Film Festival.- History :...
gave the album a mixed review, stating, "But while the girl's certainly got pipes, her eponymous debut is as contrived and calculated as the strategic tears in the t-shirt and cap she sports on the album's cover. Even the songs JoJo penned herself can't give the disc the personality it so desperately needs; "Keep On Keepin' On" is a "personal," inspirational tune, but it's high-end sneakers and a duplex that JoJo wants, a sad reminder of how success is measured by today's young people—as dictated by hip-hop trends and MTV's Cribs. Then again, it's not surprising coming from a girl who got her start on Bill Cosby's Kids Say the Darndest Things. It's not the catchy lead single "Leave (Get Out)," produced by Soulshock and Karlin, or even a cover of SWV's early-90s hit "Weak" that keeps JoJo afloat, but—despite lyrics like "I'm on a high/Feel like I'm on medication"—the old-school "City Lights" and the minimalist "The Happy Song," which let JoJo's vocals take center stage. As long as she surrounds herself with smarter people (and stops rhyming words like "breezy" with "heezy," as she does on the album's opening track), the young up-and-comer could very well be the next Teena Marie. But probably not."
Yahoo!
Yahoo!
Yahoo! Inc. is an American multinational internet corporation headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, United States. The company is perhaps best known for its web portal, search engine , Yahoo! Directory, Yahoo! Mail, Yahoo! News, Yahoo! Groups, Yahoo! Answers, advertising, online mapping ,...
Music also gave the album a mixed x review when they reviewed it, commenting, "JoJo is mercilessly multi-tracked a la J.Lo, her voice encoded flatteringly as she too-many-notes her way through a succession of R'n'B beats and hooks that owe everything to studio wizardry and little to simple songwriting. Inevitably, she's "Not That Kinda Girl" and boys "make me happy" but friends are where it's at. In short, she only has as much to say as the Spice Girls' "Wannabe", but does so across 14 largely forgettable tracks of scales and curlicues that make Mariah sound restrained. Discovered, like Charlotte Church, via a series of serendipitous TV appearances, JoJo's talent is less apparent. She's evidently superior to your typical schoolgirl belting out ringtones on the bus - and in Number Two hit "Leave (Get Out)" she has a signature song solid enough to base a career on - but beyond that she has no identity to speak of. Her album wouldn't disgrace the memory of deceased label mate Aaliyah but that's to the credit of Blackground Records rather than JoJo herself. Too young to have experienced life, too polished to have any soul to her sound, thus far she's a prodigy without purpose. Let the mood swings commence!" The interview was ended with the album being rewarded 6 out of 10 stars.
Commercial performance
The album performed exceptionally well when it comes to commercial performance. In the US, the album debuted at number 4 on the Billboard 200Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
albums chart, with first week sales of around 95,000 copies. The album also debuted at number 10 on the Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums. Due to consistent sales, which kept the album afloat on the Billboard 200, the album was certified Gold
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
by the RIAA on July 29, 2004, only five weeks after its initial release in the United States. Then, on November 15, 2004, the album was certified Platinum
Platinum
Platinum is a chemical element with the chemical symbol Pt and an atomic number of 78. Its name is derived from the Spanish term platina del Pinto, which is literally translated into "little silver of the Pinto River." It is a dense, malleable, ductile, precious, gray-white transition metal...
by the RIAA, for sales exceeding one million. After the success of the album on the charts, the singles began to sell more copies. By October 25, 2004, "Leave (Get Out)
Leave (Get Out)
"Leave " is a song by American singer JoJo from her self-titled debut album, JoJo. It was released as the album's lead single on February 24, 2004...
" had been certified Gold, for shipments of 500,000 copies in the US. Also, the album's second single, "Baby It's You
Baby It's You (JoJo song)
"Baby It's You" is a song by American recording artist JoJo, featuring American rapper Bow Wow. Written by Harvey Mason, Jr., Damon Thomas, Eric Dawkins, and Antonio Dixon, and produced by The Underdogs, the song was released in September 2004 as the second single from JoJo's self-titled debut...
", received a Gold certification on May 19, 2005.
The album was also well received in countries other than JoJo's own. In Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, JoJo debuted at number 23, giving JoJo her first Top 40 album in the country. After spending several weeks inside the Top 40 of the albums chart, the album eventually received a Platinum certification by the CRIA
Cria
A cria is the name for a baby camelid such as a llama, alpaca, vicuña, or guanaco. It comes from the Spanish word cría, meaning "baby". Its false cognate in English, crya , was coined by British sailors who explored Chile in the 18th century and were quick to describe the camelids onomatopoeically...
, for shipments of 100,000 or more copies. In the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, where the album's lead single had a large amount of success, the album debuted at number 22. On November 5, 2004, the album was certified Gold by the BPI
British Phonographic Industry
The British Phonographic Industry is the British record industry's trade association.-Structure:Its membership comprises hundreds of music companies including all four "major" record companies , associate members such as manufacturers and distributors, and hundreds of independent music companies...
, for shipments of 100,000 or more copies. The album has also had some success in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. Despite a low debut on the album's chart, when it debuted at number 52, the album was consistent with album sales, and has received a Gold certification in the country. The album also had a strong debut in many other countries. In Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
, the album debuted at number 30 on the album's chart, which is surprising due to the failure of the singles in that country. In New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, the album debuted at number 30 on the official albums chart, fueled by the success of the first two singles in that country. In Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, the album debuted at number 30 as well. However, the album quickly fell off the chart in Japan. In Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, the album was expected to be a major hit, after the success of the lead single
Lead single
A lead single is usually the first single released by a musician or a band before the release of its home album.During the era of the grammophone record, all music arrived in the marketplace as what is now termed a single, one potential hit song backed by an additional song of generally less...
. However, the album sold poorly in its first week of release there, landing it at number 86 on the official albums chart.
Track listing
Sample credits- "Breezy" contains replayed elements from "Something for Nothing" by MFSBMFSBMFSB was a pool of more than thirty studio musicians based at Philadelphia’s famed Sigma Sound Studios. They worked closely with the production team of Gamble and Huff and producer/arranger Thom Bell, and backed up such groups as Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, the O’Jays, the Stylistics, the...
. - "Homeboy" contains elements from "Chasing Me into Somebody Else's Arms" by Scherrie PayneScherrie PayneScherrie Payne is an American singer. The younger sister of singer/actress Freda Payne, Scherrie Payne was the co-lead singer of The Supremes from 1973 to 1977, after Jean Terrell left the group in the fall of 1973...
. - "Use My Shoulder" contains replayed elements from "Happy" by SurfaceSurface (band)Surface was an American R&B and pop music group, active from 1983 to 1994, and best known for its #1 pop and R&B hit "The First Time".-Early years:...
.
Credits & Personnel
- Credits are taken from JoJo liner notes.
Creativity and management
- Stacey "Swade" Wade & Thomas Delisle – photographyPhotographyPhotography is the art, science and practice of creating durable images by recording light or other electromagnetic radiation, either electronically by means of an image sensor or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film...
- Vincent Herbert – A&R, Executive producer
- Stacey "Swade" Wade – Art Direction, Design
- L.L. Business Management – Business Management
- Diana Levesque – Management
- Gene Grimaldi – Mastering
- Barry Hankerson – Executive producerExecutive producerAn executive producer is a producer who is not involved in any technical aspects of the film making or music process, but who is still responsible for the overall production...
- Jomo Hankerson – Executive producer
- Genevieve Zaragoza – A&R Coordinator
- Elisa Tallerico – Make-up
- Crystal Strret – Styling
- Betsey Reyes – Hair
Performances
- Joanna Levesque – lead vocals, background vocals
- Bow Wow – guest vocal performance ("Baby It's You Remix")
Technical
- Joanna Levesque, – Producer, Composer
- Brian Alexander Morgan, – Producer, Composer
- Soulshock & Karlin, – Producer, Composer, Arrangement, All instruments
- Dexter Simmons, – Producer, Mixing
- Eric Dawkins – Composer
- David Conley – Composer
- Bernard Jackson – Composer
- David Townsend – Composer
- The Co-Stars, – Producer
- Reggie Burrell, – Producer, Composer
- Ronald Burrell, – Producer, Composer
- Kwamé "K1 Mill", – Producer
- Young Freak,– Producer
- Vincent Herbert – Producer, Composer, Mixing
- Jermaine Fray – assistant recording
- Richie Adams – Composer
- Dave 'Natural Love" Russel – editing, recording, mixing
- Dabling "Hobby Boy' Harward – editing, recording
- Neely Dinkins – Composer
- B. Cola Pietro – Composer
- Roosevelt Harrell III – Composer
- Philip "Silky" White– Composer
- Donnie Whittemore – assistant recording
- Eric Scholtzer – recording
- Jr. – Composer
- Kwamé Holland – Composer
- Sylvester Jordan – Composer
- Mark Barkan– Composer
- Kevin Mahoney – assistant recording engineer
- Antonio Dixon – Composer
- Stephen Garrett – Composer
- Alex Cantrell – Composer
- Thom Bell – Composer
- Roland Chambers – Composer
- Franny Graham – recording
- Eric Jackson – Guitar
- Sean Hurley – Guitar
- Micheal Thompson – Guitar
- Kenny Gamble – Composer
- Nastacia Kendall – Composer
- Tremain Saunders – Composer
- Mike City, – Producer, Composer
- Balewa Muhammad,– Producer, Composer
- Tre Black,– Producer– Producer
- Bink!,– Producer
- G.P.,– Producer
- The Underdogs, – Producer
- Harvey Mason – Composer
- Damon Thomas – Composer
- Curt Cress – Producer
Peak positions
| Chart (2004) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Albums Chart ARIA Charts The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June... |
86 |
| Canadian Albums Chart Canadian Albums Chart The Canadian Albums Chart is the official album sales chart in Canada. It is compiled every Wednesday by U.S.-based music sales tracking company Nielsen Soundscan, and published every Thursday by Jam! Canoe and Billboard, along with its sister charts the Canadian Singles Chart and the Canadian BDS... |
23 |
| French Albums Chart Syndicat National de l'Edition Phonographique The Syndicat national de l'édition phonographique is the inter-professional organization which protects the interests of the French record industry... |
62 |
| German Albums Chart Media Control Charts The official music charts in Germany are gathered and published by the company Media Control GfK International on behalf of Bundesverband Musikindustrie... |
54 |
| Irish Albums Chart Irish Albums Chart The Irish Albums Chart is the Irish music industry standard albums popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association and compiled on its behalf by Chart-Track. Chart rankings are based on sales, which are compiled through over-the-counter retail data captured electronically... |
70 |
| Italian Albums Chart Federation of the Italian Music Industry The Federation of the Italian Music Industry is an umbrella organization that keeps track of virtually all aspects of the music recording industry in Italy.... |
44 |
| Japanese Albums Chart Oricon , established in 1999, is the holding company at the head of a Japanese corporate group that supplies statistics and information on music and the music industry in Japan. It started as , which was founded by Sōkō Koike in November 1967 and became known for its music charts. Oricon Inc... |
30 |
| New Zealand Albums Chart Recording Industry Association of New Zealand The Recording Industry Association of New Zealand is a non-profit trade association of record producers, distributors and recording artists who sell music in New Zealand... |
36 |
| Swiss Albums Chart Swiss Music Charts The Swiss Music Charts are Switzerland's main music sales charts. The charts are a record of the highest-selling singles and albums in various genres in Switzerland.The Swiss Charts include:* Singles Top 75... |
30 |
| UK Albums Chart UK Albums Chart The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart... |
22 |
| US Billboard 200 Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
4 |
| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums is a chart published by Billboard magazine that ranks R&B and hip hop albums based on sales compiled by Nielsen SoundScan. The name of the chart was changed from Top R&B Albums in 1999... |
10 |
| Chart (2005) | Peak position |
| Portuguese Albums Chart Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa The Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa is currently the only recording industry association in Portugal. Created in 1989, it succeeded GPPFV and UNEVA .... |
30 |
Certifications
| Country | Certification |
|---|---|
| Canada Canadian Recording Industry Association Music Canada is a Toronto-based, non-profit trade organization that was founded 9 April 1963 to represent the interests of companies that record, artists, manufacture, production, promotion and distribution of music in Canada... |
Platinum |
| Germany | Gold |
| United Kingdom British Phonographic Industry The British Phonographic Industry is the British record industry's trade association.-Structure:Its membership comprises hundreds of music companies including all four "major" record companies , associate members such as manufacturers and distributors, and hundreds of independent music companies... |
Gold |
| United States Recording Industry Association of America The Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States... |
Platinum |
Release history
| Region | Date | Label |
|---|---|---|
| United States | June 22, 2004 | Da Family Entertainment, Blackground Records Blackground Records Blackground Records is an American record label owned by entertainment attorney and artist manager Barry Hankerson and his son Jomo Hankerson.-History:... |
| Canada | Universal Music Universal Music Group Universal Music Group is an American music group, the largest of the "big four" record companies by its commanding market share and its multitude of global operations... |
|
| Europe (except the UK) | July 19, 2004 | Black Ocean Records Edel Music -History:Edel Music was founded in 1986 by Michael Haentjes in Germany as a mail order record company selling mostly soundtracks. With artists such as Scooter, SASH!, Holly Johnson and many others, it became a very successful pop music label... |
| United Kingdom | September 6, 2004 | Mercury Records Mercury Records Mercury Records is a record label operating as a standalone company in the UK and as part of the Island Def Jam Motown Music Group in the US; both are subsidiaries of Universal Music Group. There is also a Mercury Records in Australia, which is a local artist and repertoire division of Universal... |
| Australia | October 4, 2004 | Universal Music |
| Japan | October 21, 2004 |