It's Real (K-Ci & JoJo album) explained

It's Real
Type:Studio
Artist:K-Ci & JoJo
Cover:K-ciandjojoit'srealcover.jpg
Released:June 22, 1999
Recorded:1998–1999
Genre:R&B
Label:MCA
Producer:Damon Jones, R. Kelly, Rory Bennett, JoJo Hailey
Prev Title:Love Always
Prev Year:1997
Next Title:X
Next Year:2000

It's Real is the second studio album by American R&B duo and brothers K-Ci & JoJo, released on June 22, 1999, on MCA Records. Recording sessions took place from 1998 to 1999. The album peaked within the top 10 on the US Billboard 200 as well as Billboards Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. On July 26, 1999, the album was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for shipments of 1,000,000 copies in the United States. It also appeared on international charts, and was certified gold by Music Canada. Upon release, It's Real received average reviews. The album would spawn four singles including the number-two hit single "Tell Me It's Real".

Content

The tenth track, "Girl", the duo is expressing sorrow to a woman who is not dedicated to holding on to their hearts, with the duo singing, "Girl, if you really do love me, just let me go, let me be so I can find someone to love me."[1]

Release and promotion

It's Real was released on MCA Records on June 22, 1999, and was available on a CD, cassette, and an LP.[2] Two bonus versions were released: one featuring "All My Life"[3] and a Japanese edition featuring "All My Life" and "Impossible".[4]

Singles

Four songs on Its Real became singles. "Life", released in 1999, was the first. It peaked at number 60 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 15 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.[5] The following single, "Tell Me It's Real", was the most successful from the album. It peaked at number two on the Hot 100 and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. As the only single to chart internationally, the song peaked at number four on the New Zealand Singles Chart,[6] number 13 on the Dutch Singles Chart,[7] and number 16 on the UK Singles Chart.[8] The third single released was "Fee Fie Foe Fum" (1999). It did not crack the Hot 100; however, it peaked at number one on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles, a chart that acts as a 25-song extension to the Hot 100.[9] The final single released was "Girl" on January 30, 2000. It peaked at number 30 on the US Rhythmic Top 40.

Reception

Commercial performance

It's Real debuted at number 8 on the US Billboard 200,[10] which would be its peak.[11] It also peaked at number 2 on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. On July 26, 1999, the album was certified platinum by the RIAA, for shipments of 1,000,000 copies. The album charted internationally, as well. It peaked at number 26 in Canada, and on August 23, 1999, it was certified gold by Music Canada, for shipments of 50,000 copies. It also peaked at number 14 in Australia[12] and the Netherlands,[13] number 34 in New Zealand,[14] and number 56 in the United Kingdom.

Critical response

Upon its release, It's Real received average reviews from music critics. Stephen Thomas Erlewine, senior writer at Allmusic, gave the album three out of five stars, saying "it simply replicates [''Love Always'']". She gives "Makin' Me Say Goodbye", "I Wanna Get to Know You", "How Long Must I Cry", and "Hello Darlin very high praise and says the CD is worth just for those songs.

Personnel

Credits for It's Real adapted from Allmusic.[15]

Charts and certifications

Year-end charts

Chart (1999)Position
US Billboard 200[16] 90
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[17] 44

Certifications

Notes and References

  1. Reviews & Previews: Singles: R&B: K-Ci & JoJo: Girl . . . December 18, 1999 . 37 . Taylor . Chuck . 111 . 51 . 0006-2510.
  2. Web site: Its Real Overview . . . November 30, 2011.
  3. Web site: It's Real (Bonus Tracks) Overview . . . November 30, 2011.
  4. Web site: It's Real (Japan Bonus Tracks) Overview . . . November 30, 2011.
  5. Web site: Its Real Billboard Singles . . . November 30, 2011.
  6. Web site: Discography K-Ci . charts.nz . Hung Medien . November 30, 2011.
  7. Web site: Discografie K-Ci . Dutch . Dutchcharts.nl . Hung Medien / hitparade.ch . November 30, 2011.
  8. Web site: K-Ci & JoJo – The Official Charts Company . . July 8, 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110809085537/http://www.theofficialcharts.com/artist/_/k-ci%20%26%20jojo/ . August 9, 2011 .
  9. Web site: Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles . October 16, 1999 . October 24, 2011 . . . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120422121530/http://api.billboard.com/apisvc/chart/v1/list?artist=K-Ci&song=Fee_Fie_Foe_Fum&sdate=1999-10-16&edate=1999-10-17&api_key=bvk4re5h37dzvx87h7rf5dqz . April 22, 2012 .
  10. Billboard 200 . . . July 10, 1999 . 111 . 28 . 98 . 0006-2510.
  11. Web site: It's Real Billboard Albums . 2011-08-12 . Allmusic . Rovi Corporation.
  12. Web site: Australian-charts.com – Discography K-Ci . Australian Charts Portal . Hung Medien . 2011-08-12.
  13. Web site: Dutchcharts.nl – Discografie K-Ci . Dutch Charts Portal . Hung Medien . 2011-08-12 . Dutch.
  14. Web site: charts.nz – Discography K-Ci . New Zealand Charts Portal . Hung Medien . 2011-08-12.
  15. Web site: It's Real Credits . Allmusic . Rovi Corporation . August 12, 2011 .
  16. Web site: Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1999. Billboard. October 14, 2021. January 24, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150124045933/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1999/the-billboard-200. live.
  17. Web site: Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1999. Billboard. October 14, 2021. November 4, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151104034343/http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1999/top-r-b-hip-hop-albums. live.

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