Jada (group)

Lore & Background

Jada formed in Boston and worked with Grammy-nominated producer Toby Gad in January 2006, co-writing the ballad "Is It Love". They traveled to studios in New York, Atlanta, Miami, and Los Angeles, collaborating with producers and songwriters such as RedOne, Akon, Danja, Wyclef Jean, Swizz Beatz, J.R. Rotem, and Jordan Omley. In 2006 the group signed to Universal Motown. Their song "I'm That Chick" was featured on the Bring It On: In It to Win It mini soundtrack in late 2007. In February 2008, Jada appeared with R&B singer JoJo at the Ultimate Prom event. The writing team The Clutch and producer Danja wrote and produced a song with Jada called "Denial", which they performed live on NECN. Jada won "Outstanding Pop/R&B Music Act of the Year" at the 2008 Boston Music Awards. The Boston Phoenix dispatch noted that the group "can belt and grind."

In 2008, Jada worked with producer RedOne at Bristol Recording Studios in Boston, yielding "Model That" and the debut single "American Cowboy" (co-written and produced by Akon), released to iTunes on March 31. The video for "American Cowboy" was directed by Ray Kay and released on April 25. Their second single, "Break Up Song", written and produced by Wayne Wilkins, Andrew Frampton, and Savan Kotecha, was released to Top 40 Radio, iTunes, and Amazon.com in September 2009. "Model That" was featured on the MTV show The City on November 17, 2009. "American Cowboy" aired on the Fox drama House on April 27, 2010. In 2010, Jada performed at the National Association for Campus Activities conventions, sang the national anthem for the Boston Celtics NBA Playoffs and at the HBO Welterweight Boxing Championship at Madison Square Garden, and performed at the nationally televised wedding of Cynthia Bailey and Peter Thomas of Bravo's Real Housewives of Atlanta. In 2011, Jada served as celebrity judges at the Hard Rock Cafe Battle of the Bands for the Music Drives Us Foundation. They launched the single and music video "This Party's on Fire" in 2011.

Reader's Guide

Jada represents a late-2000s attempt by Universal Motown to develop a female vocal group blending pop, R&B, soul, and dance with gospel-inspired harmonies. Their significance lies in their regional success—winning the Boston Music Award for Outstanding Pop/R&B Music Act of the Year in 2008—and their national exposure through major label singles, television placements (House, The City), and performances at high-profile events such as NBA playoff games and a Real Housewives of Atlanta wedding. The group collaborated with prominent producers and songwriters including Akon, RedOne, Danja, and Ryan Tedder, reflecting the industry's investment in their sound. Though they did not achieve lasting mainstream chart dominance, Jada's career illustrates the pathways and challenges faced by R&B-pop groups in the digital era, including reliance on TV syncs, radio tours, and independent EP releases. Their legacy is preserved in the Boston music scene and among collectors of late-2000s pop-R&B.

Did You Know?

• Jada won "Outstanding Pop/R&B Music Act of the Year" at the 2008 Boston Music Awards.
• Their debut single "American Cowboy" was written and produced by Akon and RedOne.
• The song "Model That" was featured on the November 17, 2009, episode of MTV's The City.
• Jada performed the national anthem at the 2010 NBA Playoffs for the Boston Celtics and at the HBO Welterweight Boxing Championship at Madison Square Garden.