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

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."{{Cite magazine | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iggEAAAAMBAJ&q=it%27s+real+k-ci+%26+jojo+album+review&pg=PA37 | title=Reviews & Previews: Singles: R&B: K-Ci & JoJo: Girl | magazine=Billboard | publisher=Nielsen Business Media | date=December 18, 1999 | page=37 | editor1-last=Taylor | editor1-first=Chuck | volume=111 | issue=51 | issn=0006-2510}}

It's Real was released on MCA Records on June 22, 1999, and was available on a CD, cassette, and an LP.{{Cite web | url=http://allmusic.com/album/its-real-r421420 | title=It{{'}}s Real Overview | work=Allmusic | publisher=Rovi Corporation | access-date=November 30, 2011}} Two bonus versions were released: one featuring "All My Life"{{Cite web | url=http://allmusic.com/album/its-real-bonus-track-r1411880 | title=It's Real (Bonus Tracks) Overview | work=Allmusic | publisher=Rovi Corporation | access-date=November 30, 2011}} and a Japanese edition featuring "All My Life" and "Impossible".{{Cite web | url=http://allmusic.com/album/its-real-japan-bonus-tracks-r982592 | title=It's Real (Japan Bonus Tracks) Overview | work=Allmusic | publisher=Rovi Corporation | access-date=November 30, 2011}}

Four songs on It{{'}}s 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.{{Cite web | url=http://allmusic.com/album/its-real-r421420/charts-awards/billboard-single | title=It{{'}}s Real Billboard Singles | work=Allmusic | publisher=Rovi Corporation | access-date=November 30, 2011}} 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,{{Cite web | url=https://charts.nz/showinterpret.asp?interpret=K%2DCi | title=Discography K-Ci | work=charts.nz | publisher=Hung Medien | access-date=November 30, 2011}} number 13 on the Dutch Singles Chart,{{Cite web | url=http://dutchcharts.nl/showinterpret.asp?interpret=K-Ci | title=Discografie K-Ci | language=Dutch | work=Dutchcharts.nl | publisher=Hung Medien / hitparade.ch | access-date=November 30, 2011}} and number 16 on the UK Singles Chart.{{cite web | url=http://www.theofficialcharts.com/artist/_/k-ci%20%26%20jojo/ | title=K-Ci & JoJo – The Official Charts Company | publisher=The Official Charts Company | access-date=July 8, 2011 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110809085537/http://www.theofficialcharts.com/artist/_/k-ci%20%26%20jojo/ | archive-date=August 9, 2011 }} 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.{{Cite magazine | url=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 | title=Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles | date=October 16, 1999 | access-date=October 24, 2011 | magazine=Billboard | publisher=Prometheus Global Media | url-status=dead | archive-url=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 | archive-date=April 22, 2012 }} The final single released was "Girl" on January 30, 2000. It peaked at number 30 on the US Rhythmic Top 40.

It's Real debuted at number 8 on the US Billboard 200,{{Cite magazine | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jggEAAAAMBAJ | title=Billboard 200 | magazine=Billboard | publisher=Nielsen Business Media | date=July 10, 1999 | volume=111 | number=28 | page=98 | issn=0006-2510}} which would be its peak.{{Cite web | url=http://allmusic.com/album/its-real-r421420/charts-awards | title=It's Real Billboard Albums | access-date=2011-08-12 | work=Allmusic | publisher=Rovi Corporation}} 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{{Cite web | url=http://australian-charts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=K-Ci | title=Australian-charts.com – Discography K-Ci | work=Australian Charts Portal | publisher=Hung Medien | access-date=2011-08-12}} and the Netherlands,{{Cite web | url=http://dutchcharts.nl/showinterpret.asp?interpret=K-Ci | title=Dutchcharts.nl – Discografie K-Ci | work=Dutch Charts Portal | publisher=Hung Medien | access-date=2011-08-12 | language=Dutch}} number 34 in New Zealand,{{Cite web | url=https://charts.nz/showinterpret.asp?interpret=K-Ci | title=charts.nz – Discography K-Ci | work=New Zealand Charts Portal | publisher=Hung Medien | access-date=2011-08-12}} and number 56 in the United Kingdom.

{{Music ratings

| rev1 = Allmusic

| rev1Score = {{rating|3|5}}{{Cite web | url=http://allmusic.com/album/its-real-r421420/review | title=It's Real Review | work=Allmusic | publisher=Rovi Corporation | author=Erlewine, Stephen Thomas | access-date=August 12, 2011}}

| rev2 = Rolling Stone

| rev2Score = {{rating|2.5|5}}{{Cite web | url=https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/kcijojo/albums/album/310684/review/5945006/its_real | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080725233321/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/kcijojo/albums/album/310684/review/5945006/its_real | title=K-Ci & JoJo: It's Real : Music Review | archive-date=July 25, 2008 | date=July 8, 1999 | access-date=August 12, 2011 | url-status=dead | work=Rolling Stone }}

}}

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.

{{Track listing

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| title1 = Intro

| length1 = 1:13

| title2=Fee Fie Foe Fum

| length2=4:19

| extra2 = Darryl Pearson

| title3=I Wanna Make Love to You

| length3=3:56

| title4=I Wanna Get to Know You

| length4=4:40

| title5=Hello Darlin{{'-}}

| length5=4:23

| title6=How Long Must I Cry

| length6=3:49

| title7=Makin' Me Say Goodbye

| length7=4:10

| title8=Tell Me It's Real

| writer8 = Rory Bennett, Joel "JoJo" Hailey

| length8=4:38

| title9=Life

| writer9 = R. Kelly

| extra9 = R. Kelly

| length9=3:33

| title10 =Girl

| writer10 = JoJo Hailey, Rory Bennett, Cedric Hailey

| extra10 = Rory Bennett, JoJo Hailey

| length10 =3:37

| title11=What Am I Gonna Do

| extra11 = Darryl Pearson

| length11=4:41

| title12=Here He Comes Again

| length12=4:12

| title13=Momma's Song

| length13=4:05

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Bonus tracks

| title14=All My Life

| length14=3:41

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Japanese bonus tracks

| title14=All My Life

| length14=3:41

| title15=Impossible

| length15=

}}

Credits for It's Real adapted from Allmusic.{{Cite web | url=http://allmusic.com/album/its-real-r421420/credits | title= It's Real Credits | work=Allmusic | publisher=Rovi Corporation | access-date=August 12, 2011 }}

{{Col-begin}}

{{Col-2}}

• Michael Benabib – Photography
• Rory Bennett – multi instruments, producer
• Babyface
• Chuck Berghofer – Strings
• Julie Berghofer – Strings
• Charlie Bisharat – Strings
• Jay Boberg – executive producer
• Rev. Dave Boruff – Strings
• Jacqueline Brand – Strings
• Craig Brockman – keyboards, producer
• Rebecca Bunnell – Strings
• Darius Campo – Strings
• Rob Chiarelli – mixing
• Larry Corbett – Strings
• Franklyn D'Antonio – Strings
• Chuck Domanico – Strings
• Joey "The Don" Donatello – editing, engineer, programming
• Bruce Dukov – Strings
• Charles Everett – Strings
• Drew FitzGerald – Art Direction
• Ronald Folsom – Strings
• Juliann French – Strings
• Armen Garabedian – Strings
• Jeff Griffin – assistant engineer, mixing
• Cedric "K-Ci" Hailey – executive producer, Vocal Arrangement, Vocals, Vocals (Background)
• Joel "JoJo" Hailey – drum programming, executive producer, guitar, guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Bass), Producer, Vocal Arrangement, Vocals, Vocals (Background)
• Paul Hanson – Strings
• Terry Harrington – Strings
• Al Hershberger – Strings
• Carrie Holzman-Little – Strings
• Paul Jackson, Jr. – guitar
• Damon Jones – executive producer
• Karen Jones – Strings
• R. Kelly – arranger, producer
• Peter Kent – Strings
• Anthony Kilhoffer – engineer, programming
• Armen Ksadjikian – Strings
• Derek Lee – stylist

{{col-2}}

• Jonathan LeSane – engineer
• David Low – Strings
• Tony Maserati – mixing
• Ian Mereness – assistant engineer
• Liza Montoya – stylist
• Greg Mull – engineer
• Brian O'Connor – Strings
• Bobby O'Donnell – Strings
• Emanuel Officer – producer
• Simon Oswell – Strings
• Sid Page – Strings
• Darryl Pearson – multi instruments, producer
• Dave Pensado – mixing
• Barbara Porter – Strings
• Herb Powers – Mastering
• Public Domain – composer
• Jeff Redd – executive producer
• Kendra Richards – Hair Stylist, Make-Up
• Steve Richards – Strings
• Bryon Rickerson – assistant engineer
• Anatoly Rosinsky – Strings
• John Scanlon – Strings
• Mike Smoov – guitar, guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Bass), Producer
• David Speltz – Strings
• Ralph Stacy – producer
• Jim Thatcher – Strings
• Richard Treat – Strings
• Jeff Vereb – engineer, programming
• Randy Waldman – Conductor, String Arrangements
• Kevin Westenberg – Photography
• Ken Wild – Strings
• Evan Wilson – Strings
• Stan Wood – assistant engineer, editing, engineer, programming
• Jeffrey "Woody" Woodruff – engineer
• Ken Yerke – Strings
• Alex York – assistant engineer
• Mihail Zinovyev – Strings

{{Col-end}}

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-end}}

{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry | region=Canada | title=It's Real | artist=K-Ci & JoJo | type=album | award=Gold | access-date=2011-08-12 | date=1999-04-23 | relmonth=06 | relyear=1999 |refname=ref1}}

{{Certification Table Entry | region=United States | title=It's Real | artist=K-Ci & JoJo | type=album | award=Platinum | access-date=2011-08-12 | relmonth=06 | relyear=1999 | date=1999-07-26 |refname=ref2}}

{{Certification Table Bottom | nosales=yes }}

{{Reflist}}

• {{AllMusic|class=album|id=r421420|label=It's Real}}

{{K-Ci & JoJo}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:It's Real (K-Ci and JoJo album)}}

Category:1999 albums

Category:K-Ci & JoJo albums