Oftentimes we hear the term it’s a little too late and while some people thought it was too late for JoJo, as time went by, she has proven the exact opposite. Knowing her story and the struggles she had to face personally and professionally, you see an artist who has worked her absolute hardest to always have her voice out there. It was totally worth it and she was slowly being recognized and rewarded for it. Not only did she win her first Grammy for Best R&B Song in 2020, but she got to sing the official campaign trail anthem “The Change” for the Biden-Harris campaign in the same year; encouraging the young generation to vote. So my question is: How is she still so underrated?
Her fans – or ‘Clovers’ as she likes to call them – have been her support system every step of the way and used their own voices to amplify hers; even starting the #FreeJoJo movement during the long battle with her former label. There is so much to read about Jo summed up online, but let me give you the beautiful perspective I gathered from talking to fans who have been riding with her for a long time. Some parts of the world never got to experience JoJo when she first started out or they might have known her music, but never connected it with her. That is the brutal reality a lot of female artists have to face, which makes no sense. She is one of the best vocalists the industry has to offer and we have to start opening our eyes and hearts and listen to what she has to say.
While huge voices like Whitney Houston or Aretha Franklin had a massive impact on her musically, she has been exactly that to her own fans and upcoming young artists today. What they love and respect the most about Jo is her resilience, strength and the ability to make others feel her emotions through the honest music she makes. Looking at songs like Leave (Get Out) or Little Too Late – her teenage self was not able to relate to – and then seeing the transformation to her newest records on “good to know” and “trying not to think about it” you can hear the difference. The art she later put out wasn’t designed to be popular anymore, it was designed to be authentic. I believe that the reason for that are the experiences she went through, the mistakes she made and the road of mental heaviness she struggled through. As hard as those times are to cope with, it results in the most relatable lyrics that make millions of people feel less alone in their own pain. Her fans didn’t know they had to process certain things in their lives, until JoJo came out with songs that touched them on a deeper level and helped them heal.
Even when she wasn’t able to properly release music through a label, fans lived off of song leaks and her mixtapes, which was exactly what they needed to thrive. They grew into an even closer community, trying their best to be the support system Jo deserves and became a family over time. She has created a safe space and makes each fan feel loved, no matter how long they have been supporting her for. Her energy fills a room with so much light and makes everyone step into a place of pure inner happiness. Imagine having that kind of power as a female artist, making her fans wish they could bottle up the energy to-go to feel it whenever it’s needed.
JoJo is respected by a lot of artists in the music industry and yet, her positive impact is not talked about enough. It is time to not just look into her story, talk about her mental health issues or how many times she almost lost it. Her presence in the industry matters and holds as much value as her name itself. Just look at how many young people grew with her over the years, have found themselves again and healed from what seemed to be an impossible process to overcome. What needs to be amplified is the fact that, through her music and loving character, she created art her fans have relied on for emotional support. The effect JoJo has had on every single one of them did not only change them as human beings, but will be the real legacy she leaves behind one day; passed down from generation to generation.
Even for fans like me who fully discovered her in 2020, she has been the kind of musician and woman who can brighten up your soul in seconds. Her music is healing and her place in the industry is meant to be. Everyone has a purpose in life and by finding her own, JoJo managed to step into the darkest spaces our minds have been in and flipped the switch to bring back the light that was missing all this time.
ROARA Magazine 