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Thirteen-year-old Joanna Levesque — a.k.a. JoJo — couldn't have a much better pop-singer pedigree. The child of a church-singing mother and a blues-singer father, she was raised on Aretha Franklin, Etta James and Whitney Houston, began freestyling on nursery rhymes as a toddler, and made her television debut at the age of 6 on "Kids Say the Darndest Things," where she bowled over host Bill Cosby with her rendition of Aretha Franklin's "Respect."
Bitten by the performing bug, the young singer performed everywhere from "The Rosie O'Donnell Show" to the Republican National Convention. But JoJo's big break came after her appearance on "America's Most Talented Kid" — she didn't win, but an audience member approached her after the show and hooked her up with producer Vincent Herbert (who's worked with Destinyıs Child, Toni Braxton and Deborah Cox). She later signed with Blackground Records, whose founder, Barry Hankerson, compared JoJo to his late niece, Aaliyah. But although there are plenty of hitmakers on JoJo's self-titled debut album, she's also a songwriter herself, and three of her songs are featured on the LP.
The singer recently completed a European tour opening for Usher (who no doubt understands the life of a rising teenage pop singer) and her album roared into the Billboard albums chart at #4 in its first week of release. MTV's Curtis Waller caught up with JoJo recently to talk about music, movies and success.
MTV: How was your European tour with Usher?
JoJo: Great! He's so talented and he's the nicest guy. There is not one bad thing I can say about Usher: He takes the time to stop and say hi and ask how I'm doing, and everybody in his camp has been great to me.
MTV: How are the audiences in the U.S. different from audiences in other countries?
JoJo: Well, overseas my record isn't really [being played]. Only in some places in Germany, it's just starting. So going over there was a very different experience, [having] to win them over with them not knowing you. But the audiences have been great and very receptive and embracing. And it'll be interesting to do shows back here, now that I'm on "TRL" and more visible to people. I can't believe that I'm in the company of people like Eminem and D12 and Usher. I'm in a great sandwich right now: I'm in between Eminem and Usher, and that's beautiful.
MTV: Did you watch "TRL" growing up?
JoJo: Absolutely!
MTV: Tell me what "Baby, It's You" is about.
JoJo: It's just talking about wanting a guy for him and not the things he can offer, as far as money and taking you places and things like that. I think all people can relate to it, and that is what we set out to do with this album.
MTV: There's a cover of SWV's "Weak" on the album.
JoJo: Well, SWV is one of those great female R&B groups of the '90s and Vincent Herbert, who's the executive producer of this album, kind of surprised me with the idea one day at the studio. Brian Morgan, who originally [produced] "Weak" for SWV, was at the studio and he was like, "Do you know what song you're doing? You're doing 'Weak,' " and it just made sense. It completed the album, it was perfect and it was a nice throwback, because people remember it and they're like, "That was my song just a few years ago."
MTV: Have you met SWV since you recorded the song?
JoJo: I met Coko. We recorded a remix with her on it. I don't think it's on the album but maybe if it is released as a single, it'll be [on the B-side]. She's very nice — her voice is crazy. I did not even know. She has this incredible range. She was really pleased that I did her song and she said that I did it justice, and that meant a lot to me.
MTV: And what's "Leave" about?
JoJo: "Leave" is a song declaring your independence. All people can relate to it: I have little 11-year-old girls coming up to me like, "I just broke up with my boyfriend. That song really helped me and it means so much to me." [She laughs.] I have girls and guys of all ages telling me that they enjoy it.
MTV: You close your live set with it. Do audiences go crazy when the song starts?
JoJo: Yes. From the moment they hear the [she sings] "Da da da da da...," they get really excited, and it's really cool when I see people singing along to the words. It's like no other feeling.
MTV: "Breezy" seems to be a pretty strong statement as well.
JoJo: Some people might be scared of it. [She laughs.] I was scared of it when I heard it was gonna be the first track on the album because it's kind of in-your-face. It's one of the more hip-hop tracks, and it's telling a girl to fall back because she's trying to get with your boyfriend.
MTV: What music are you listening to now?
JoJo: [Laughing] People look at me like I'm crazy, I swear to God, when I tell them this, but I'm listening to R. Kelly right now, and he's just a musical genius. I think he is absolutely incredible. I listen to all his albums, from 12 Play to Chocolate Factory. He just thinks outside of the box and he keeps reinventing himself musically. I think that's incredible. That's what I'm listening to — take it or leave it.
MTV: Have you seen any recent movies that you liked?
JoJo: You know what? I haven't had the chance to see any movies lately. I would really like to see "Harry Potter." I was really into the books and I would like to see that. I saw the first one, but I didn't see the second one so I'll have to get caught up. But the books are really good and it's easy to get sucked into that Harry Potter world.
MTV: What can fans expect to see at your show?
JoJo: Well, I have four dancers and a DJ, so you can definitely expect a fun show and vocals — because I do sing live.
MTV: Since you're singing to [pre-recorded music tracks], are you looking to get a live band?
JoJo: We would really like to do that, but you know, as far as the industry right now and budgets and stuff like that, it's crazy and it's tight. But I think that we're working with what we have and it's going to be a great show regardless.
MTV: Having started in the business at such an early age, you must really be in tune with what is going on.
JoJo: I absolutely am and my mom makes sure that I am, because she wants me to know what's going on with my money and what's going on in the industry. And I have great people on my side and I think that counts for a lot. It's still fun, but it's not all fantasy — you have to know the realities of it.
MTV: Is it difficult being such a young artist?
JoJo: The term "prodigy," and especially "child prodigy," kind of bothers me. I just think that I shouldn't be treated any differently than other artists. I happen to be a bit younger, and I don't think I should be cut slack, because I can work just as hard as anybody else can ... just maybe under child-labor laws. [She laughs.] I definitely want to explore more of my singing and writing and producing and things like that. I think that as you grow and your audience grows, you change and evolve.
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Photo: Universal
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