Man (JoJo song)

"Man" is a song recorded by American R&B singer and songwriter JoJo. It was released March 13, 2020 as the lead single for JoJo's fourth studio album, Good to Know (2020). The song was written by JoJo, alongside Chelsea Lena, Evon Barnes, Lauren LaRue, Rodrick Doss Jr. and Sofia Quinn. It was produced by Beatgodz and Fade Majah. "Man" impacted American contemporary hit radio on April 14, 2020.

"Man"
Single by JoJo
from the album Good to Know
Released	March 13, 2020 (2020-03-13)
Studio	Blackwood (Los Angeles) Mirrorball (North Hollywood) Becker Mastering (Pasadena)
Genre	R&B pop
Length	2:54
Label	Clover Warner
Songwriter(s)	Joanna Levesque Chelsea Lena Evon Barnes Lauren LaRue Rodrick Doss Jr. Sofia Quinn
Producer(s)	Beatgodz Fade Majah
JoJo singles chronology
"Sabotage" (2019) "Man" (2020) "Damage Is Done" (2020)

Background

Prior to the release of "Joanna" a separate release plan for the album's lead singles were initially planned. The song was officially released on October 11, 2019 with the song's music video premiering the following day, with JoJo announcing the release of "Sabotage" at the conclusion of the videos premiere as the official lead single from her upcoming album.[1][2] The music video for the song premiered on December 4, 2019 and included a snippet of the album's next single planned at the time which would eventually be "Small Things".[3] During the 2020 Grammy Awards pre-show JoJo officially announced the release of "Small Things" as the album's next single set for release on February 21, 2020.[4][5] On February 19, 2019 two days away from the song's intended release JoJo announced that they had made changes to the song's release and would go forward with "Man" as the new lead single from the album with another major announcement to come on the intended singles release date.[6][7] JoJo officially announced her fourth studio album would be titled "Good to Know" and released corresponding tour dates in promotion for the album.[8][9][10][11][12]

"Man" was then officially released on March 13, 2020 as the new single from "Good to Know" (2020), While describing the song, JoJo explains that "Now's the time to be ur own biggest fan. Pleeeeeez don't waste ur time til u find someone who can truly compliment ur fly and go hard as u do. Being single and making a life you love is too delicious to settle for less."[13][14]

Composition

"Man" is a mid-tempo pop[15] and R&B[15] song with lyrics in which JoJo declares her self-confidence and desire to find a lover who can reciprocate her affections.[16] Billboard found the song demonstrated the singer becoming comfortable in her own skin.[16] "Man" was written by Cameron Lazar, Chelsea Lena, Evon Barnes, Jr., Lauren LaRue, Rodrick Doss Jr., Sofia Quinn and Joanna "JoJo" Levesque for the latter's long awaited fourth studio album Good to Know (2020).[17] It was produced by Beatgodz, who also worked alongside Fade Majah on it.[17] The track was recorded with guidance by Ryan Gladieux and additional recording completed by Wissam Ghorayeb.[17] The mixing of "Man" was done by Tony Maserati while the song's mixing engineering was done by Miles Comaskey and eventually, the mastering was done by Dale Becker. JoJo and Tommy Parker both served as the vocal producers for the song.[17]

Critical reception

″Mike Nied of Idolator wrote that "There's a smoothness to JoJo's always exceptional voice" on "Man" and that he "cannot get enough of the self-assured lyrics."[18] Brittany Spanos of Rolling Stone described the song as "classic JoJo".[15] Kyle Denis of Black Boy Bulletin noted that the song "does a solid job at defining Jojo’s sound for her upcoming album" but "the percussion and melody of the hook are strikingly similar to Kiana Ledé’s “Ex.”"[19]

Music video

The video for "Man" was released on March 13, 2020 and features cameos from Ari Lennox, Tinashe, JinJoo, Francia Raisa, and JoJo Gomez.[20] Scenes of JoJo performing sultry choreography in a dark room are interspersed with scenes of her partying with the aforementioned co-stars.[20][16] Heran Mamo of Billboard wrote that the video captures the idea of friendship, as a third interpretation of love, to complement the self-love and romantic love described in the song's lyrics.[16]

Track listing

Digital download[21]

1. "Man" – 2:54

Digital download – Remix[22]

1. "Man" (Hoodboi Remix) – 3:56

2-track single[23]

1. "Man" (acoustic) – 2:43
2. "Man" – 2:54

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Good to Know, Clover Music.[17]

Personnel

• JoJo – vocals, writing, vocal production
• Tommy Parker – vocal production
• Cameron Lazar – writing
• Chelsea Lena – writing
• Evon Barnes, Jr. – writing
• Lauren LaRue – writing
• Rodrick Doss Jr. – writing
• Sofia Quinn – writing
• Tony Maserati – mixing
• Miles Comaskey – mixing engineer
• Ryan Gladieux – recording
• Wissam Ghorayeb – recording
• Beatgodz – producer
• Fade Majah – producer
• Dale Becker – audio mastering
• Gita Willams – management
• Katie Gallagher – management
• Chris Smith – management

Charts

Chart (2020)	Peak position
US R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Songs (Billboard)[24]	16
US R&B Digital Songs (Billboard)[25]	6
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[26]	38

Release history

Country	Date	Format	Version	Label	Ref.
Various	March 13, 2020	Digital download streaming	Original single	Clover Music Warner	[21]
	April 9, 2020		Remix	Warner	[22]
United States	April 14, 2020	Contemporary hit radio	Original single		[27]
Various	May 29, 2020	Streaming	2-track single	Clover Warner	[23]

References

1. "JoJo Announces Official New Single 'Sabotage'". That Grape Juice. January 10, 1919. Archived from the original on January 1, 2020. Retrieved June 6, 2020.
2. "JoJo Second-Guesses Herself on New Single 'Sabotage' – Rated R&B". Ratedrnb.com. Archived from the original on October 28, 2019. Retrieved October 28, 2019.
3. Mamo, Heran. "JoJo's World Comes Crashing Down in Intense 'Sabotage' Video Featuring Chika: Watch". Billboard. Archived from the original on December 16, 2019. Retrieved December 16, 2019.
4. Billboard (January 1, 1970). "JoJo Teases Her Upcoming Single 'Small Things' on Billboard's Grammy Pre-Show". Billboard. Retrieved June 6, 2020.
5. "Exclusive: JoJo Talks New Single 'Small Things' & New Album At 2020 GRAMMYs". That Grape Juice. January 10, 1919. Retrieved June 6, 2020.
6. "JoJo Announces New Single 'Man' / Teases Friday Surprise". That Grape Juice. January 10, 1919. Archived from the original on April 21, 2020. Retrieved June 6, 2020.
7. "Listen: JoJo Teases New Song 'Man'". That Grape Juice. February 22, 2020. Archived from the original on April 21, 2020. Retrieved June 6, 2020.
8. "JoJo Announces The 'Good To Know World Tour'". That Grape Juice. February 21, 2020. Archived from the original on April 22, 2020. Retrieved June 6, 2020.
9. "JoJo Announces New Album 'Good To Know'". That Grape Juice. February 21, 2020. Retrieved June 6, 2020.
10. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on March 13, 2020. Retrieved April 23, 2020.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
11. Billboard (February 21, 2020). "JoJo Announces Tour With New Album 'Good to Know' Expected This Spring". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 29, 2020. Retrieved June 6, 2020.
12. Darville, Jordan (February 21, 2020). "JoJo reveals new album good to know, announces tour". The Fader. Archived from the original on February 22, 2020. Retrieved June 6, 2020.
13. Madeline Roth (March 13, 2020). "JoJo Is Her Own Biggest Fan In Confident 'Man' Video". MTV. Archived from the original on May 23, 2020. Retrieved June 6, 2020.
14. Brittany Spanos (March 13, 2020). "JoJo Lays Out Romantic Requirements on New Song, 'Man'". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on June 1, 2020. Retrieved June 6, 2020.
15. Spanos, Brittany (March 13, 2020). "JoJo Lays Out Romantic Requirements on New Song, 'Man'". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on April 6, 2020. Retrieved March 31, 2020.
16. Mamo, Heran (March 16, 2020). "JoJo Gathers Famous Girlfriends Ari Lennox, Tinashe & More for 'Man' Music Video". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 2, 2020. Retrieved March 31, 2020.
17. Good to Know (inlay cover). JoJo. Clover Music/Warner Records. 2020.CS1 maint: others (link)
18. Nied, Mike (March 13, 2020). "JoJo Is Looking For A Real "Man" On Her Catchy New Single". Idolator. Archived from the original on May 15, 2020. Retrieved March 31, 2020.
19. Denis, Kyle (March 15, 2020). "Track Review: Jojo Previews New Album With "Man"". Black Boy Bulletin. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
20. Elder, Sajae (March 15, 2020). "Jojo shares the sultry single "Man"". The Fader. Archived from the original on March 17, 2020. Retrieved March 31, 2020.
21. "Man – Single by JoJo". TIDAL. Archived from the original on April 25, 2020. Retrieved March 13, 2020.
22. "Man (Hoodboi Remix) – Single by JoJo". TIDAL. Archived from the original on May 15, 2020. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
23. "JoJo – Man (acoustic)". Spotify. May 29, 2020. Archived from the original on June 6, 2020. Retrieved June 6, 2020.
24. "JoJo Chart History (R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved March 31, 2020.
25. "JoJo Chart History (R&B Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 2, 2020. Retrieved March 31, 2020.
26. "JoJo Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 22, 2020.
27. "Top 40/M Future Releases". All Access. Archived from the original on March 30, 2020. Retrieved March 31, 2020.