Following a period of relative musical inactivity, JoJo has mounted a successful return. Her 2016 album, ‘Mad Love,’ achieved a peak of No. 6 on the Billboard 200, and her latest, this year’s ‘Good To Know,’ bowed at the same position on the Top R&B Albums chart. Now she has given her fans more of what they want with a new video for “Small Things.”
In the video description, JoJo wrote that she waited to release the video in light of the widespread activism for racial justice over the past month. “I’ve been trying to wait for the right moment to share this video with you,” she wrote. “With everything going on in the world and in our own backyard, I didn’t want anyone to misconstrue its release as some kind of indication that I’ve moved on from the revolution at hand, here in America. I want to say it clear as day: Black people made me who I am.”
“Not only my longest standing friendships, but also the record executives, mentors, teachers, romantic partners, and loyal fans who believed in me and took a chance on me – they have all shaped me. Without their support in every way, and without the artists who inspire me to make music, I would not exist,” she continued. “My support for Black lives/art/love/safety/freedom is not a phase nor does it have an expiration date. I’m honored to be a part of R&B culture and I never take my warm reception for granted.”
She characterized the video as “a piece of art that we made to express how painful it can be to hold in your feelings. To act like you’re okay, when, you’re not. I wanted to video to feel like catharsis.”
JoJo is due to tour Europe this autumn, including UK and Ireland shows in Dublin, Glasgow, Manchester, London, Birmingham and Brighton. Check out video for “Small Things” below:
