JoJo had a lot to fight for with this album. It’s her first official full-length with Atlantic Records since her drawn out split with her previous labels who caused “irreparable damages to her professional career.”
For those who remember her 2004 hit “Leave (Get Out),” you’re late to the party. JoJo has released a series of brilliant, unpolished mixtapes in the past few years while fighting to be released from said labels.
Title track “Mad Love,” is reminiscent of Rihanna’s “Love on the Brain.” JoJo flexes her entire vocal register while contemplating the universal questions that come up when you’re in a relationship so bad it’s good. It pulls in classic elements of big, orchestral R&B in a way that still feels fresh. “Vibe” tacks on to the dancehall riddim becoming all too common in pop music right now, but where her music leans on what’s popular, her lyricism and fierce independence make it seem new. Unexpected appearances from Remy Ma (on “FAB.”) and Alessia Cara (on “I Can Only”) show the link between JoJo as a hard b*tch and her roots as a pop princess.
It’s clear JoJo has poured a lot of heart and soul into Mad Love. It’s a successful R&B album, if you can work past the formulaic moments and see the depth of musical knowledge JoJo’s utilized to get to this point.