III. cover

III.

JoJo · 2015

14 min · 4 tracks · contemporary R&B

A blend of contemporary R&B and soul, infused with emotive storytelling and polished production.

Top tracks — play these first

  • →
    When Love Hurts — This track opens the EP with poignant lyrics about the pain of love, highlighting JoJo's powerful vocal delivery and emotional range.
  • →
    Save My Soul — In this standout track, JoJo explores themes of vulnerability and desperation, showcasing her ability to blend pop sensibilities with deep emotional resonance.
  • →
    Say Love — With its catchy chorus and heartfelt lyrics, this song encapsulates the essence of longing for connection, demonstrating JoJo's skill in crafting relatable narratives.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

63 /100
Treeline
Higher than 74% of albums we've rated

JoJo's III. showcases strong songwriting and polished production, marking a solid return after her hiatus.

What we noticed

  • The first track opens with a slow tempo and builds gradually, while the second track introduces a more upbeat rhythm.
  • Each song features layered vocal harmonies, with JoJo's lead vocals often accompanied by backing vocals that enhance emotional delivery.
  • The final track serves as a reflective conclusion, incorporating spoken word elements that provide narrative context to the EP.
Composition 25% of the score
7/10

the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics

Craft 20% of the score
8/10

production, performance, arrangement

Durability 25% of the score
6/10

whether it rewards returning to it

Distinctiveness 18% of the score
7/10

whether it sounds like itself

Sequencing 12% of the score
8/10

running order, pacing, length

Influence 4/10

Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Where this album fits

In the catalog
Breakthrough — Marked JoJo's return after a long hiatus, re-establishing her presence in music.
Themes
post-legal battle resilience· longing for connection
Career context
When JoJo released III. in January 2015, it marked her first project after a lengthy legal battle that stalled her career for nearly a decade. This EP followed her successful return with the singles 'Demonstrate' and 'Disaster', showcasing her vocal maturity and artistic evolution as she reestablished herself in the music industry.
Stylistic neighbors
Ari Lennox· Tinashe· Khalid

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

  • 1 When Love Hurts 3:35
  • 2 Save My Soul 3:44
  • 3 Say Love 3:38
  • 4 The Story of III. 3:20

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata