The soulful confessional finds JoJo holding herself accountable for her behavior in past relationships and second-guessing if she did her ex wrong. "Every time I hear them talking 'bout you / I wonder, did I play myself / And sabotage love?"
she wonders over a mellow, groovy beat. Buzzing rapper Chika lays down some introspective bars of her own, admitting, "I'm not a saint, but damn it if I don't come with confessions / It's easy to block our blessings, mistakes are for learning lessons."
There's something beautifully old-school about "Sabotage," and it's refreshing to hear a pop artist really dive into honest self-awareness. Take a listen to JoJo's latest release below.
After the single's arrival on Friday (October 25), JoJo took to her Instagram Story to reveal that she's shooting a music video for "Sabotage," teasing that it's going to be "really emo."
The singer also reflected on her new track in a statement, explaining, "A lot of people self-sabotage... I tend to do it in romantic relationships. And I think most of it roots to fear รข" 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."
JoJo is currently readying her new album, the follow-up to 2016's Mad Love, for a 2020 release. It marks her first project since signing a new record deal, and also signifies a long-awaited new chapter of artistic reinvention for the veteran vocal queen.