Sabotage (JoJo song)

"Sabotage" is a song by American R&B singer-songwriter JoJo featuring American rapper Chika. The song is JoJo's second original release after "Joanna" and since founding her own label imprint Clover Music with Warner Records. "Sabotage" was released on October 25, 2019. It was written by Joanna Levesque, Dan Wilson, Dylan Wiggins, Martin McKinney, Merna Bishouty, Michael Sonier and Chika, while production was helmed by Doc McKinney, Dylan Wiggins and Mike Sonier. Vocal production was done by Merna Bishouty.

"Sabotage"
Single by JoJo featuring Chika
ReleasedOctober 25, 2019 (2019-10-25)
Recorded2019
GenreR&B[1]
Length3:45
Label
Songwriter(s)
You
Producer(s)
  • Doc McKinney
JoJo singles chronology
"Joanna"
(2019)		 "Sabotage"
(2019)		 "Man"
(2020)
Chika singles chronology
"Higher"
(2019)		 "Sabotage"
(2019)
Music video
"Sabotage (Lyric Video)" on YouTube

Background

Following the re-recording and re-release of her first two album in 2018 through her own record label imprint Clover Music.[2][3][4] JoJo began work on her fourth studio album shortly after, she rented an Airbnb and started writing and recording the album with some of her "favorite creative friends". "Joanna" was released on October 11, 2019 as the singers first introduction into the new album era and first original release under Clover Music.[5][6] Joanna was released as a buzz single and will not appear on JoJo's fourth studio album Good to Know (which was unannounced at that time).[7] The song's music video premiere was live streamed through YouTube 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.[8][9]

"Sabotage" was officially released on October 25, 2019.[10] In describing the song JoJo explains "A lot of people self-sabotage. I tend to do it in romantic relationships... And I think most of it roots to fear – fear of being inadequate, fear of getting hurt, fear of rejection, fear of not measuring up... This song is about asking a lot of questions, dealing with shame and embarrassment, and really just owning up to certain patterns".[11][12][13]

Composition

Musically, "Sabotage" is a soulful, hip hop influenced[14] R&B[1] song with a "dark" bassline throughout the verses before grooving in the chorus.[15] The lyrical content, which has been described as confessional, examines the singer's past relationships and exes.[16][17] "Sabotage" was written by Dan Wilson, Dylan Wiggins, Martin McKinney, Merna Bishouty, Michael Sonier, Chika and Joanna "JoJo" Levesque for the latter's long-awaited upcoming fourth studio album.[18] The song includes additional vocals from American rapper Chika, while production was handled by Doc McKinney. Dylan Wiggins and Mike Sonier.[18] The track was recorded by Ryan Gladieux in Los Angeles, California along with Evan Bradford and Omar Loya.[18] The mixing of "Sabotage" was done by Tony Maserati with Miles Comaskey as the song's mixing engineer. The mastering was done by Dale Becker and was assisted by Hector Vega and Ryann Fretschel. Merna Bishouty served as the song's vocal producer.[18]

Critical reception

"Sabotage" received critical acclaim from contemporary music critics, with many praising its raw and confessional commentary and hip hop infused sound. Sajae Elder from The Fader magazine called the track "similarly vulnerable", in comparison to JoJo's previously released singled "Joanna".[19] Noah C of HotNewHipHop praised its "dark bassline that creeps across the verses and accumulates a groove in the chorus" while also coining the song as "another soaring bop".[20] Tyler Schmitt from Variance Magazine regarded the song as "simmering".[21] Rania Aniftos from Billboard called the song "vulerable" and 'smooth".[17] Madeline Roth from MTV News provided a positive review for the "soulful confessional" tune, praising the song's content as "equally raw" as the previously released "Joanna". Roth went on to praise CHIKA's "introspective bars of her own", while concluding that "there's something beautifully old-school about 'Sabotage,' and it's refreshing to hear a pop artist really dive into honest self-awareness".[22]

Bianca Betancourt of Teen Vogue praised the song's "refreshingly intimate lyrical direction from JoJo while not sacrificing the sultry, powerhouse vocals she's been owning her entire career".[13] Idolator’s Mike Wass called JoJo a "vocal queen" stating that "self-reflection is a rare commodity in popular music" and describing the song as "achingly honest". Wass went on to claim JoJo as the next Teena Marie of the 2010s calling it "wonderfully old school".[23] In a less positive review of the song, Thomas Bleach called the song "an average at best R&B song, that croons through the verses and chorus with ease but doesn't really succeed at stealing your attention". Praising its lyrical content, Bleach claimed the song's problem "lies is within the production execution as it flatlines at one melody the whole way through. Then there is a feature verse from rising rapper CHIKA that feels really redundant and completely unnecessary as she doesn't bring anything impactful to the equation". concluding that "Joanna", "ended up stealing the spotlight" as the better single choice.[24]

Music video

A music video for "Sabotage" was released on December 4, 2019.[25] A snippet from "Small Things" can be heard at the end of the video.

Track listing
Explicit digital download
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Sabotage" (featuring CHIKA)
Doc McKinney3:45
Total length:3:45
LIVE acoustic
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Sabotage" (LIVE Acoustic)
Doc McKinney3:54
2."Sabotage" (featuring CHIKA)
Doc McKinney3:45
Total length:7:37

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from YouTube.[18]

Personnel
  • JoJo – vocals, writing, vocal production
  • Chika - vocals, writing
  • Dan Wilson - writing
  • Dylan Wiggins - writing
  • Martin McKinney - writing
  • Merna Bishouty - writing
  • Michael Sonier - writing
  • Tony Maserati – mixing
  • Ryan Gladieux - recording
  • Doc McKinney – producer
  • Alex Ernewin - keyboard
  • Evan Bradford - recording
  • Miles Comaskey - mixing engineer
  • Omar Loya - recording
  • Dale Becker – audio mastering
  • Hector Vega – assistant mastering
  • Ryann Fretschel - assistant mastering
  • Gita Willams – management
  • Katie Gallagher – management
  • Chris Smith – management

Charts
Chart (2019) Peak
position
US R&B Digital Songs (Billboard)[26] 18

Release history
Region Date Version Format Label Ref.
Worldwide October 25, 2019
  • Explicit
[27]
December 20, 2019 Live Acoustic [28]

References
  1. Currinn, Jonathan. "JoJo Drops New Single & Lyric Video "Sabotage" Featuring CHIKA". celebmix.
  2. Jefferson, J'na (August 18, 2017). "JoJo Announces Music Imprint 'Clover Music' With Interscope". Vibe. United States: Eldridge Industries. Retrieved August 19, 2017.
  3. Aniftos, Rania. "JoJo Re-Releases Debut Album With Updated Tracks: Listen". Billboard. Retrieved 21 December 2018.
  4. "JoJo Re-Releases Her First Two Albums". Rap-Up. Retrieved 2018-12-21.
  5. "JoJo Gets Real on 'Sabotage' feat. CHIKA – UrbanBridgez.com | E-Zine". Urbanbridgez.com. 2019-10-25. Retrieved 2019-10-28.
  6. Hamm, Ken. "JoJo Gets Introspective About Love On 'Sabotage'". SoulBounce. Retrieved October 30, 2019.
  7. "JoJo. on Instagram: "exactly a year ago I rented an air b&b, set up a studio and got some of my favorite creative friends together to start making my album w…"". Instagram. Retrieved 2019-10-11.
  8. https://thatgrapejuice.net/2019/10/jojo-announces-official-new-single-sabotage/
  9. "JoJo Second-Guesses Herself on New Single 'Sabotage' - Rated R&B". Ratedrnb.com. Retrieved 2019-10-28.
  10. "Sabotage (feat. CHIKA)". JoJo. Retrieved 2019-10-28.
  11. "JoJo Drops Single 'Sabotage' Single with CHIKA". Rap-Up. Retrieved 2019-10-28.
  12. "New Music: Selena Gomez, Tinashe, JoJo, Louis Tomlinson & More". Themuse.jezebel.com. Retrieved 2019-10-28.
  13. Betancourt, Bianca. "JoJo's New Song "Sabotage" With Rapper Chika Reflects on Past Relationships". Teen Vogue. Retrieved October 27, 2019.
  14. "JoJo Drops Single 'Sabotage' Single With Chika". Rap-Up. Retrieved October 27, 2019.
  15. C, Noah. "JoJo Grabs Chika For New Track "Sabotage"". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved October 27, 2019.
  16. Roth, Madeline. "JoJo's 'Sabotage' Is For Anyone Who Knows They've Screwed Up Relationships". MTV. Retrieved October 27, 2019.
  17. Aniftos, Rania. "JoJo Wonders if She'll 'Sabotage' Love in New Single Featuring CHIKA". Billboard (magazine). Retrieved October 27, 2019.
  18. YouTube (credits). JoJo. Clover Music/Warner Records. 2019.CS1 maint: others (link)
  19. Elder, Sajae. "Jojo connects with CHIKA on "Sabotage"". The Fader. Retrieved 2019-10-28.
  20. "JoJo Grabs Chika For New Track "Sabotage"". Hotnewhiphop.com. 2019-08-05. Retrieved 2019-10-28.
  21. "Listen to JoJo's simmering new single 'Sabotage'". Variancemagazine.com. Retrieved 2019-10-28.
  22. Roth, Madeline. "JoJo's 'Sabotage' Is For Anyone Who Knows They've Screwed Up Relationships". MTV. Retrieved 2019-10-28.
  23. Wass, Mike. "» JoJo Teams Up With CHIKA For Soulful "Sabotage"". Idolator.com. Retrieved 2019-10-28.
  24. Bleach, Thomas (2019-09-30). "SINGLE REVIEW: JOJO feat. Chika – Sabotage". Thomasbleach.com. Retrieved 2019-10-28.
  25. Mamo, Heran. "JoJo's World Comes Crashing Down in Intense 'Sabotage' Video Featuring Chika: Watch". Billboard. Retrieved December 16, 2019.
  26. "JoJo Chart History (R&B Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved October 23, 2019.
  27. https://jojo.lnk.to/sabotage
  28. https://music.apple.com/au/album/sabotage-live-acoustic-single/1487538922
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