CORPORATE LINE: Da Family/Blackground Records teen phenomenon JoJo hit un-chartered territory this week, making music history with her new song “Too Little Too Late,” the debut single from her sophomore album The High Road, which hits stores on October 17th. The sizzling song soared from #66 to #3 on Billboard Magazine’s Hot 100 Singles chart, making it the first song to make biggest leap in the entire history of the chart. The song has become a multi-format smash, and the perfect return for the 15-year old Boston native, whose previous platinum-plus self-titled debut album reached #4 on Billboard’s Top 200 Albums chart and launched the #12 smash “Leave (Get Out).” The video for that single also garnered an MTV Video Music Award nomination, making the combustible JoJo the youngest nominee in the history of the MTV Awards.
Her new album The High Road, picks up right where the multi-talented starlet left off, boasting a lineup of much sought after producers including Scott Storch, Timbaland, Swizz Beat, and acclaimed songwriter Sean Garrett among others. JoJo finds herself in unprecedented demand the next few weeks in anticipation of the October 17th release of The High Road, with upcoming promotional appearances including: The Today Show, MTV’s TRL, Regis & Kelly, Ellen DeGeneres, Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Megan Mullally and CDUSA.
The prodigy has also been keeping herself busy with an acclaimed foray into movies this past year, starring in Aquamarine with Emma Roberts and RV alongside Robin Williams which debuted #1 in America. She has graced the covers of CosmoGirl, Teen, Sweet 16 and Girl’s Life and will soon grace the cover of Seventeen’s much coveted Prom Issue on stands in December. Trained by her Gospel soloist mother, JoJo soon was bringing down the house in every venue she appeared, continuing her musical training and eventually garnering universal recognition on the TV show America’s Most Talented Kids. Noted producer Vincent Herbert (Aaliyah, Toni Braxton, Destiny’s Child) signed her to his production house, and soon JoJo inked a deal with Blackground Records, releasing her self-titled multi-platinum debut album to critical and commercial acclaim in 2004.
THE GOOD:
“Too Little Too Late” – The moment you hear this song it’s obvious it’d be a hit. Jojo proves to be more mature and knows how to manage her big vocal range.
“The Way You Do Me” – Jojo is a spitfire and has a chance to bang-out a club track while hitting all the right notes.
“The High Road” – Both lovely and inspirational. Jojo flexes her vocals and its inspiring to hear a fifteen-year old who doesn’t try to be overtly sexual and still produce a nice song.
“How To Touch A Girl” – A beautiful ballad that sounds ready for a movie soundtrack.
THE AVERAGE:
“This Time” – The first track should be a lot more energetic. A better track to open the record would have been “The Way You Do For Me”.
“Anything” – Toto’s “Africa” wasn’t a favorite of mine in the ‘80s and either is the track that samples it.
THE BAD:
Nothing.
FRANKLY: Jojo’s The High Road is a sweet bubblegum R&B album that doesn’t try to be overtly sexual. It stays true to the age of Jojo and that’s a good thing. Making music that matches her age allows Jojo to stand out in an industry that has grown dirtier and dirtier over the years.
+ Rae Gun
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