Malcolm Jenkins
A pop prodigy who battled a major label to reclaim her music, staging one of the industry's most triumphant comebacks as an independent artist.
Born 1987 (age 39)·American football player·Birthday: December 20·Millennials
Biography
JoJo's career is a tale of two acts: teenage superstardom and a hard-won adult renaissance. She exploded at 13 with a self-titled debut that delivered the massive hit 'Leave (Get Out),' making her the youngest solo artist to have a debut single top the Billboard charts. Her powerful, mature voice defied her age. Then, she disappeared. Stuck in a notorious label dispute that froze her from releasing music for nearly a decade, she became a cautionary tale. But JoJo refused to be a footnote. She fought her way out of contractual purgatory, re-recorded her early albums to own her masters, and rebuilt her career on her own terms. Her return was marked by a series of critically acclaimed EPs and albums that showcased a sophisticated, R&B-inflected sound, proving her talent was not a relic of the 2000s but a force that had only deepened with time and resilience.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Malcolm was born in 1987, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Malcolm Was Born
The biggest hits of 1987
#1 Movie
Three Men and a Baby
Best Picture
The Last Emperor
#1 TV Show
The Cosby Show
Malcolm's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1987Born
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1992Started school
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
2000Became a teenager
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2003Could drive
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2005Could vote
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2008Turned 21
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2017Turned 30
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Age 39 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Became the youngest solo artist to have a debut single reach number one on the Billboard Pop Songs chart with 'Leave (Get Out)' in 2004.
- Successfully freed herself from her restrictive record contract with Blackground Records after a seven-year legal battle.
- Re-released her first two albums, 'JoJo' and 'The High Road,' as 'JoJo (2004)' and 'The High Road (2006)' in 2018, finally owning her master recordings.
Did You Know?
She appeared on the TV show 'The Bernie Mac Show' and in the film 'Aquamarine' early in her career.
She graduated from high school online while pursuing her music career.
She performed the national anthem at a Boston Red Sox game when she was just 12 years old.
“I had to go through the fire to become who I am.”
