JoJo is the debut studio album by American singer JoJo, released on June 22, 2004, by Da Family Entertainment, Blackground Records, and Universal Records. Incorporating pop and R&B, JoJo was influenced by Ella Fitzgerald, Bobby Brown, and Aretha Franklin. While recording the album over an eight-month period, JoJo worked with producers including Brian Alexander Morgan, Soulshock and Karlin, Mike City, Bink!, Kwamé "K1 Mill" and The Underdogs, among others. JoJo co-wrote three out of the seventeen original tracks on the album. The album also includes a cover of R&B group SWV's 1993 song "Weak".
The album was preceded by the release of JoJo's debut single, "Leave (Get Out)", which was a worldwide commercial success. In the United States, the single peaked at number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped the Pop Airplay chart, making her the youngest artist in history to do so. In the United Kingdom, the single peaked at number two. Follow-up single "Baby It's You" was released in a new version that features rapper Bow Wow and became JoJo's second top-40 entry in the United States. In the United Kingdom, the song became her second top-10 single, peaking at number eight. The album's third and final single, "Not That Kinda Girl", failed to chart in the United States, but charted moderately in Australia and Germany.
The album debuted and peaked at number four on the US Billboard 200, selling 95,000 copies in its first week. It was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on November 15, 2004, denoting US sales in excess of one million copies. In Canada, the album was also certified platinum. In the United Kingdom and Germany, the album was certified gold. The album has sold over three million copies worldwide.
JoJo was mainly promoted through live, televised performances; JoJo appeared on On Air with Ryan Seacrest and performed at the 2004 Kids' Choice Awards. Alongside other artists, JoJo was part of the Cingular Buddy Bash Tour and she was also the opening act on the European leg of Usher's Truth Tour. Citing the album's unavailability on streaming services, JoJo released a re-recorded version of JoJo on December 21, 2018. On September 24, 2021, Blackground Records released the original version of JoJo to streaming services and digital platforms.
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&B, jazz, and soul tunes. On the A&E 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 seven, 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 songs "Respect" and "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 age six, 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 and Karlin.
JoJo's live demo, Joanna Levesque, recorded in 2001, features covers of soul and R&B songs, including Wilson Pickett's "Mustang Sally" (1966), Etta James' "It Ain't Always What You Do (It's Who You Let See You Do It)" (1989), Aretha Franklin's "Chain of Fools" (1968) and "The House That Jack Built" (1969), The Moonglows' "See Saw" (1956), Stevie Wonder's "Superstition" (1972), and The Temptations' "Shakey Ground" (1975). In 2003, at age 12, JoJo signed with Blackground Records and Da Family and begin working with some producers on her first album.
Composition
The music found on JoJo is primarily 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." JoJo stated, "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 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."
Release
Singles The album's lead single, "Leave (Get Out)", was released on February 24, 2004, as a physical copy and for radio airplay. The song became an instant success for JoJo, reaching the top 10 in 11 different countries. In the United States, the single peaked at number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped the Mainstream Top 40 chart. The single was even more successful internationally, peaking at number two on the UK Singles Chart and on the European Hot 100 Singles, as well as in Australia and New Zealand. It also reached the top five in Belgium, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Switzerland, and the top 10 in Germany and Italy. The accompanying 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, while the version released as a single features Bow Wow. Although it failed to match the success of its predecessor, the song was successful in many countries. In the United States, the single became her second top-40 entry on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 22. The single's highest peak position was at number three in New Zealand, becoming her second single to chart that high. In the United Kingdom, the single also became her second top-10 entry, reaching a peak of number eight. The single also had similar chart success in countries such as Australia, Austria, Belgium, and Denmark.
"Not That Kinda Girl" was released as the album's third and final single on February 15, 2005. The single received a limited release, only receiving minimal airplay in the United States. 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 and 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.
Promotion JoJo promoted the album mainly through live performances. JoJo performed "Leave (Get Out)" at the 2004 Teen Choice Awards and on the television shows On Air with Ryan Seacrest and Top of the Pops. She performed the song live for Yahoo! Music, which was posted on their official website. JoJo also performed several songs from the album on Sessions@AOL which was later released as a digital EP.
Prior to the album's release, JoJo embarked on the Cingular Buddy Bash Tour with pop rock singer Fefe Dobson, hip hop duo Young Gunz and rap metal band Zebrahead. The tour stopped at nine malls, beginning at Atlanta's Northlake Mall and ending at South Shore Plaza. 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.
Critical reception
JoJo received generally mixed reviews from music critics. Johnny Loftus of AllMusic called the album "a strong debut," highlighting JoJo's "tremendous voice" and commending the production for keeping the focus on her performances. He also praised the album's lack of guest features and skits, concluding that JoJo was "served well by the mix of arrangements and backgrounds" and that her singing pointed to her future potential. Raymond Fiore from Entertainment Weekly similarly praised the album's "sizzling hooks" and highlighted tracks such as "Happy Song," while noting that JoJo's "vocal calisthenics quickly grow tiresome." He concluded that "with a few more years under her belt JoJo may yet discover her inner soul singer." Elysa Gardner of USA Today awarded the album two-and-a-half out of four stars, describing JoJo's singing as "lithe" and "tender" and suggesting that, unlike some of her vocal influences, her performances were less ostentatious. Gardner felt that songs such as "Breezy" and "Leave (Get Out)" benefited from this approach, while noting that the singer's youth was apparent in the album's romantic themes. Writing for Blender, Joseph Patel praised JoJo's performances on "Happy Song" and "City Lights," describing her as "wise" and "charming" when she stayed within her vocal range and embraced her adolescent innocence. However, he felt that many of the album's more mature R&B tracks were less convincing, arguing that JoJo was "neither refined nor old enough" to convincingly portray an R&B seductress. Patel singled out "City Lights" as the album's standout track.
Other critics were less favorable. Slant Magazine's Sal Cinquemani called the album "contrived and calculated" and arguing that even JoJo's self-written songs failed to give it a distinct personality. However, he praised "City Lights" and "The Happy Song" for allowing her vocals to take center stage, suggesting that she "could very well be the next Teena Marie" if paired with stronger material. Yahoo! Music critic Emma Morgan also gave the album a mixed assessment, criticizing its heavy studio production and arguing that JoJo had "no identity to speak of" beyond the success of "Leave (Get Out)." While acknowledging her talent and describing the single as "solid enough to base a career on," she concluded that JoJo was "a prodigy without purpose." Writing for Blender, Joseph Patel praised JoJo's performances on "Happy Song" and "City Lights," describing her as "wise" and "charming" when she stayed within her vocal range and embraced her adolescent innocence. However, he felt that many of the album's more mature R&B tracks were less convincing, arguing that JoJo was "neither refined nor old enough" to convincingly portray an R&B seductress. Patel singled out "City Lights" as the album's standout track. Jason Richards of Now offered a negative assessment, describing the record as a "typical pop/R&B album" and criticizing its mature themes in light of JoJo's young age. While acknowledging the involvement of established producers, he characterized the album as "pure poison in a sweet candy shell."
Commercial performance