"Just Kickin' It" is an urban ballad in which vocals are the focus, and the instrumental foundation is otherwise sparse.[3] Jermaine Dupri, who according to his father, Columbia Records executive Michael Mauldin, wanted Xscape to be "the ghetto En 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 the Billboard Hot 100 chart 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 the Hot R&B Singles chart, 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 a Soul Train Music Awards nomination in 1994 but lost to H-Town's "Knockin' Da Boots" in the Best R&B New Artist category.[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)
