JoJo Album: “JoJo”

...if they didn't know they were listening to a 13-year-old white girl.

When I first heard that there was a new white female R&B artist named JoJo being signed to Blackground Records, I shrugged it off by saying, "Ah, her album will come out the same time Kiley Dean's album comes out." But I listened to the album and it ain't bad. Unsurprisingly, though, I noticed that a lot of reviewers don't like her, saying that she's too young to be talking about relationships and true love and instead should be talking about fitting in with her friends and doing homework and so on. Seriously, people, would you really want to hear someone singing about things like that? That strategy never works very well; ask Lil' Soldiers. And as far as not being old enough to talk about love, um, ever heard of the Jackson 5?

I don't see JoJo as trying too hard; I see her as a singer that is doing what's in her heart. And there are some very good songs on here, like "Breezy", "Baby It's You", "Not That Kinda Girl", and especially the smooth "Never Say Goodbye". I also think her cover of SWV's "Weak" is exceptional, and although I still like the original a tad better, JoJo gets an A for effort. And "The Happy Song" doesn't look like much on paper, but the way she says the words makes the song stand out.

I named a bunch of great songs, but I still had to knock my rating down from 4 to 3-1/2. This is because while the album starts off strong, some questionable lyrics comes toward the middle of the album, like the bridge to "Homeboy" and the entire "City Lights". The redundancy of "Use My Shoulder" is rather unimaginative; and sorry, but the obligatory keep-your-head-up track "Keep On Keepin' On" is proof that JoJo shouldn't write entire songs by herself any more.

Another problem is that sometimes JoJo sings so hard that she gets too loud and off-key, like on "Sunshine" and the otherwise good "Not That Kinda Girl". But this album still proves that JoJo has talent, and the album is good to add to your collection. I hope she sticks around for awhile.

Anthony Rupert

First off I'd like to say too many people are giving her crap for her single, "Leave (Get Out)" by saying she is too young to write about this stuff. If anybody besides me actually looked into this, you would of found that the lyrics are about an older friend who was going through relationship problems at the time. Also, generations are changing. Try to remember that.

On another note, this CD is very good. The best tracks in my opinion are Baby It's You, Not That Kinda Girl, Leave (Get Out), Use My Shoulder, and Yes Or No.

Also, I am not a pop fan-boy. I mainly listen to DMX, Eminem, and 2Pac. This CD is great for a change though!

It just annoys me to see these little kids trying to act grown up!!!! What, this 13 yr old girl is singing about boyfriends, breakups, relationships, etc? Come on!! She's only 13! She don't know squat bout that. And she should try writing her own songs instead of trying to make it look like she older just because her songs are talking about this kind of stuff. And I also read an interview of her online, and she was acting like she's all old all ready and experienced life. She said to one question "when I was younger I...blah blah blah!! When I was younger??????? YOUR 13!!!!!!!!!!!

i'm a big music lover and i like every kind from jay-z to britney spears to the beach boys and everything inbetween... but JoJo doesn't make the cut.

This is one of the worst and most annoying cd's i have ever listened to. the songs are awful and just hearing them once is torture to your ears, her voice isn't really that good-- theres MUCH better out there, so why waste your time listening to her? not to mention they're terrible again, but JoJo is WAY to young to be singing about all this stuff. Hello-- can she relate to any of this? No. Like at her age she was in a "serious relationship" or the "worst breakup". That doesn't happen in middle school, its just all that stupid "you're my boyfriend & i'm your girlfriend" crap. Most kids her age can't even relate to that. Her songs are terribly unrelatable and not well written or sung, her Cd needs to stop being produced.

this music is so boring. how many singers (if that is what you call this) are going to continue quivering their voices in high and low pitches for effect. Every song on this cd stinks. Did some balding 40 year old man write this stuff. Music doesn't seem to come from the heart anymore. To many parents want to sex up their kids into idols for their own gain. JoJO, this is crappy music. Listen to "my bloody valentine". It will change the way you think you hear music forever.