Joanna Noëlle Levesque, known professionally as JoJo, is an American singer, songwriter and actress. She began performing in singing competitions and local talent shows as a child. In 2003, record producer Vincent Herbert noticed her after she competed on the television show America's Most Talented Kids and asked her to audition for his record label Blackground Records. After signing with the label, JoJo released her eponymous debut studio album in 2004. It peaked at number four on the US Billboard 200 and was later certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), selling over four million copies worldwide to date.
JoJo is the debut studio album by American singer JoJo, released on June 22, 2004, by Da Family Entertainment, Blackground Records, and Universal Records. Incorporating pop and R&B, JoJo was influenced by Ella Fitzgerald, Bobby Brown, and Aretha Franklin. 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. JoJo co-wrote three out of the seventeen original tracks on the album. The album also includes a cover of R&B group SWV's 1993 song "Weak".
Blackground Records 2.0 is an American record label founded and owned by Jomo and Barry Hankerson. Initially named Blackground Enterprises, the label switched its name to Blackground Entertainment then later Blackground Records in 2000. In 2021, the label rebranded as Blackground Records 2.0, reviving its company and catalogue onto streaming services, with a partnership with Empire Distribution. It co-operated with a publishing company founded by Hankerson, named Black Fountain Music.
K-Ci & JoJo is an American R&B duo, consisting of brothers Cedric "K-Ci" Hailey and Joel "JoJo" Hailey. Natives of Charlotte, North Carolina, they are also the lead singers of the chart-topping R&B group Jodeci with the DeGrate brothers—Donald and Mr. Dalvin. They are known for the 1998 smash hit "All My Life" which was the No.1 song on the Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks and received multiple Grammy nominations. They were also featured artists on another No.1 Billboard Hot 100 hit single, 2Pac’s 1996 song "How Do U Want It", which also received a Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group Grammy nomination in 1997. K-Ci & JoJo also achieved mainstream success with the 1999 hit "Tell Me It's Real", which peaked at No.2 on the Billboard Hot 100. Their 2001 song "Crazy" was included on the Save the Last Dance soundtrack and peaked at No.11 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Barry Hankerson is an American record producer, music label owner and manager. Hankerson is the founder of Blackground Records, and the uncle of late singer and actress Aaliyah.
"Leave (Get Out)" is the debut single of American singer JoJo from her self-titled debut studio album (2004). It was released as the album's lead single on February 24, 2004. Produced by Danish production duo Soulshock & Karlin, the song became a commercial success, reaching number 12 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number two in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and on the European Hot 100 Singles. It also reached the top five in Belgium, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Switzerland. The single was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on October 25, 2004. When the single reached number one on Billboard's Pop Songs chart, JoJo became, at age 13, the youngest female solo artist to have a number-one single in the United States.
Lauren Christy is a British singer, songwriter and record producer. Originally a solo artist, she found success as part of the writing production trio the Matrix. The Matrix received numerous Grammy nominations including best producer.
Łukasz Sebastian Gottwald, known professionally as Dr. Luke, Tyson Trax, and Made in China, is an American record producer and songwriter. His professional music career began in the late-night television sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live as its house band's lead guitarist in 1997 and producing remixes for artists such as Bon Jovi and Gravediggaz. He came into music prominence in 2004 for producing Kelly Clarkson's single "Since U Been Gone" with Swedish record producer Max Martin.
Libra is the sixth studio album by American singer Toni Braxton, released on September 27, 2005, by Blackground Records. It marked Braxton's debut on the label, following her split with longtime record company Arista Records in 2003 after the release of her album More Than a Woman (2002), which was commercially less successful than its predecessors. The album's title is a reference to Braxton's astrological sign, Libra.
SoulO is Nick Lachey's debut album as a solo artist, after leaving the boy band 98 Degrees. The album was released in the US on November 11, 2003 on Universal Records.
No Place Like Brooklyn is the first album recorded by the singer Jeannie Ortega, released by Hollywood Records on August 1, 2006. The album includes the singles "It's R Time" and "Crowded". "No Place Like BKLYN" is Jeannie's only album from Hollywood Records. She was eventually dropped by Hollywood Records in 2007. Jeannie eventually released her Christian albums "Perfect Love" and "Love Changed Me" through AIC Records. "Perfect Love" was released on January 30, 2012. Four years later "Love Changed Me" was released on November 1, 2016.
"Let U Go" is a song by American musician Ashley Parker Angel from his debut studio album Soundtrack to Your Life (2006). It was released to radio as the lead single from the album on February 14, 2006, by Blackground Records and Universal Records. The song was written by Parker, Max Martin, and Lukasz "Dr. Luke" Gottwald, whilst production was helmed by Martin and Dr. Luke. The song peaked at number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, in addition to peaking at number 10 on the Pop 100 chart.
The High Road is the second studio album by American singer JoJo, released on October 17, 2006, by Da Family Entertainment, Blackground Records, and Universal Records.
"Anything" is a song by American singer JoJo from her second studio album, The High Road (2006). It was released as the album's third and final single on March 20, 2007. Written by Beau Dozier, Mischke, and Justin Trugman, the track contains a sample from Toto's 1982 song "Africa", written by David Paich and Jeff Porcaro.
Soulshock & Karlin is a duo of Danish record producers and songwriters, Carsten Schack and Kenneth Karlin. They have produced many successful songs, including Monica's "Before You Walk Out of My Life", Whitney Houston's "Heartbreak Hotel", JoJo's "Leave ", and Toni Braxton's "I Love Me Some Him". In a reference to a famous commercial, Arena Magazine called the team, "Probably the best R&B producers in the world".
Aliens & Rainbows is the debut album by American pop rock singer-songwriter Ferras. It was released digitally on iTunes on March 11, 2008, and in CD format until April 1, 2008. The album was preceded by lead single "Hollywood's Not America". The album's second single was the track "Liberation Day", which failed to chart.
The Matrix is the self-titled debut album by the production group the Matrix, released on the iTunes Store on January 27, 2009, through iTunes as well as on audio CD. The album featured music written and produced by the group with vocals by Katy Perry and British singer Adam Longlands.
Samantha Jo Moore is a Canadian singer and songwriter whose songs have been recorded and re-cut by Miley Cyrus, as well as up and coming artists, including Diana DeGarmo, and The Clique Girlz and co-wrote “Falling Down Your Stare” from Hope 7's self-titled debut album. Additionally, Mexican Pop band, Nikki Clan did a cover of “A Boy Like You” and “The Difference In Me” for their debut album, No Sera Igual.
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