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.

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.

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.

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.

[3] On September 24, 2021, Blackground Records released the original version of JoJo to streaming services and digital platforms.

On the A&E show Child Stars III: Teen Rockers, her mother claimed that JoJo had a borderline genius IQ.

[5] 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.

[6][7][8] After auditioning in the television show Destination Stardom, JoJo sang Aretha Franklin's songs "Respect" and "Chain of Fools".

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.

"[13] 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.

[22][23] The music video was directed by the team of Eric Williams and Randy Marshall, known as Fat Cats, and was shot in Los Angeles.

JoJo performed "Leave (Get Out)" at the 2004 Kids' Choice Awards[24] and on the television shows On Air with Ryan Seacrest[25] and Top of the Pops.

[27] 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

[36] The album was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on November 15, 2004, for sales exceeding one million copies.

[76] The decision to re-record the singles and albums came from the removal of all of JoJo's original music released under Blackground Records from streaming and digital selling platforms.

JoJo's lawyer stated they had reached the end of the statute of limitations on the re-record clause which gave her the rights to "cover" her own music.