"Just Kickin' It" is anurbanballad in which vocals are the focus, and the instrumental foundation is otherwise sparse.[3]Jermaine Dupri, who according to his father,Columbia RecordsexecutiveMichael Mauldin,wanted Xscape to be "the ghettoEn Vogue,"[4]originally wrote the song as a summary of what men wanted from women.[4]The lyrics were considered controversial by some female fans who believed the song's message was sexist.[4]Former group member LaTocha Scott, however, dismissed the critics. "I've heard some females say that the song is unreal and that they can tell it was written by a man, but I don't think it makes it sexist. Shoot, everybody knows a man wants a woman who can cook."[4]
Released on August 13, 1993,[1]"Just Kickin' It" entered theBillboardHot 100chart at number 90 and reached the top 10 in four weeks.[4]The song peaked at number two in October, spending a total of 17 weeks in the top 40.[5]The single reached number one on theHot R&B Singleschart, where it spent four weeks at the top.[6]In November, the single was certified platinum in the United States and has since been certified double-platinum in March 2023.[1]"Just Kickin' It" also peaked at number three in Canada, number 22 in New Zealand, and number 49 in the United Kingdom.[7][8][9]The song earned the group aSoul Train Music Awardsnomination in 1994 but lost toH-Town's "Knockin' Da Boots"in theBest R&B New Artistcategory.[10]
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Whitburn, Joel (2004).The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits(8th ed.). New York:Billboard Books(Nielsen Business Media, Inc.). p. 691.ISBN978-0-8230-7499-0.
^Just Kickin' It(US cassette single sleeve). Xscape. So So Def Recordings, Columbia Records. 1993. 38T 77119.{{cite AV media notes}}:CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^Just Kickin' It(UK CD single liner notes). Xscape. So So Def Recordings, Columbia Records. 1993. 659862 2.{{cite AV media notes}}:CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^Just Kickin' It(UK 12-inch single sleeve). Xscape. So So Def Recordings, Columbia Records. 1993. 659862 6.{{cite AV media notes}}:CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^Just Kickin' It(European CD single liner notes). Xscape. So So Def Recordings, Columbia Records. 1993. 659505 1.{{cite AV media notes}}:CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
