Jazmine Marie Sullivan
(born April 9, 1987) is an American R&B and soul music singer and songwriter from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She is also the protégé of rapper Missy Elliott. Her debut single "Need U Bad" reached number one on Billboard's
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, while her second single, "Bust Your Windows" peaked at number four. Elements of reggae, dub, pop, jazz, Neo soul and doo-wop can be heard in her work. Sullivan cites singers Lauryn Hill, Kim Burrell and Erykah Badu as her biggest influences and inspirations.
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JAZMINE SULLIVAN TICKETS
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Biography
Born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Jazmine Sullivan grew up the middle sister between two brothers. Her mother is a former backup singer for
Philadelphia International Records. When she was 5 years old, her father landed a position as a curator for the city's
Historic Strawberry Mansion in the
Strawberry Mansion section, and her family moved into the historical landmark. Sullivan struggled to assimilate at school. She is a 2005 graduate of the
Philadelphia High School for the Creative and Performing Arts where she was a vocal music major
[1].
Sullivan began singing in the children’s choir, then a few years later in the adult choir.
Sullivan’s exposure to
secular music was initially limited, "I was doing solos in church and someone wanted me to sign to a gospel label when I was eleven but I wasn’t ready to do that," she recalls. "Then when McDonald’s had a competition for kids in major cities, I got a chance to perform 'Accept What God Allows' on
It's Showtime at the Apollo
and the audience responded really well"
[2]. She sang with
Stevie Wonder at his grandson's birthday at the age of 13. Sullivan was initially signed to
Jive Records at the age 16, but the album was never released and Sullivan was dropped from the label. Instead of being defeated, Sullivan honed her songwriting abilities and wrote her debut album completely
[3].
Music career
Songwriter (2006-2008)
Sullivan has also been credited as a songwriter on R&B singer,
Fantasia's debut album "
Free Yourself". She also penned hits for the likes of
Christina Millian and her hit single "
Say I", among other songs from her 3rd studio album
So Amazin. She was also credited as a songwriter on
Jennifer Hudson's song, "I'm His Only Woman" featured on Hudson's self-entitled debut album,
Jennifer Hudson
.
Fearless
(2008)
Sullivan first appeared on the music mainstream with her single "
Need U Bad", released in May 2008. The song which featured ad-libs by
Missy Elliott went to number one on the
Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, it also peaked at #37 on the
Billboard Hot 100.
Sullivan's debut album
Fearless
was released September 23, 2008. As an executive producer and sole songwriter on
Fearless
, Sullivan (along with her mother,
Missy Elliott,
Salaam Remi and Peter Edge) has orchestrated a debut opus full of lush musical arrangements by Elliott, Remi,
Stargate,
Carvin & Ivan Jack Splash, and Fisticuffs. The album debuted at #1 on the
Billboard Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart and in the same week debuted at number six on the
Billboard 200. The album is nearing
RIAA Gold certification with sales of over 436,000 so far.
Sullivan followed up her successful debut single with the second single from
Fearless
, "
Bust Your Windows", which went on to reach number four on the
Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, at the same time achieving her best single peak on the
Billboard Hot 100 so far, where it peaked at #31. "Bust Your Windows" was also nominated for a
Grammy for Best R&B Song. "
Lions, Tigers & Bears" was the third and final U.S. single from
Fearless
. It scored her third consecutive top ten on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and also peaked at #74 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Sullivan later pursued success in the
UK when she released "
Dream Big" as her first official single there. Following "Dream Big",
Fearless
will officially be released across the
UK in June 2009. Sullivan was also featured on a song entitled "Smoking Gun" with
Jadakiss on his 2009 album
The Last Kiss
. Sullivan was a supporting act for R&B sensation,
Ne-Yo during his 2009 "
Year of the Gentleman Tour". She makes her second appearance on
Ace Hood's second album,
Ruthless
, on a track called "Champion". Sullivan will also participate in the Essence Music Festival Starting on June 2009. Sullivan currently sang the theme song and appeared on the commercials of Cotton.
Discography
Albums
Year
| Information
| Chart positions
| Sales
| Certifications
|
US
| US R&B
| French Albums Chart
|
2008
| Fearless
- 1st studio album
- Released: September 23, 2008
- Formats: CD, digital download
| 6
| 1
| 95
|
| Gold
|
Singles
Year
| Single
| Chart positions
| Album
|
US
| US R&B [4]
| U.S. Adult R&B [5]
| US Pop
| Turkey [6]
| Greece [7]
| Russia [8]
| UK test
|
2008
| "Need U Bad"
| 37
| 1
| 2
| 80
| —
| —
| —
| —
| Fearless
|
"Bust Your Windows"
| 31
| 4
| 22
| 84
| —
| —
| 282
| —
|
2009
| "Lions, Tigers & Bears"
| 74
| 10
| 11
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
|
"Dream Big"
| —
| —
| —
| —
| 6
| 40
| 136
| 164
|
"In Love with Another Man"
| —
| 37
| 13
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
|
Featured Singles
Year
| Single
| Chart positions
| Album
|
US
| US R&B
| U.S. Adult R&B
| US Rap
|
2009
| "Champion" (Ace Hood ft. Rick Ross & Jazmine Sullivan)
| —
| 58 [9]
| —
| —
| Ruthless
|
Awards/Nominations
- BET Awards
- *2009, Best Female R&B Artist (Nominated)
- *2009, Best New Artist (Nominated)
- *2009, BET J Award (Winner)
- *2009, BET Centric Award (Winner)
- Grammy Awards
- *2009, Best New Artist (Nominated)
- *2009, Best Female R&B Vocal Performance: "Need U Bad" (Nominated)
- *2009, Best R&B Contemporary Album: "Fearless" (Nominated)
- *2009, Best R&B Song: "Bust Your Windows" (Nominated)
- *2009, Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance: "I'm In Love With Another Man" (Nominated)
- Image Awards
- *2009, Outstanding New Artist (Nominated)
Filmography
- Jazzy Fatnastees:In Process
(2002) (TV series) - Herself
- ''The Ellen Degeneres Show' (2008) Herself
- The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
(2008) (TV series) - Herself
- "106 & Park" (2008) (TV series) - Herself
- "The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (2009) (TV series) - Herself
- "Le Grand Journal" (2009) (TV series) - Herself
- "Jimmy Kimmel Live! (2009) (TV series) - Herself [10]
- "Good Morning America" (2009) (TV series) - Herself
- "The Amanda Show" (1998) (TV series)- cast member various characters
References
- Lo and Behold
- "Accept What God Allows" at the Apollo
- [1]
- http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/chart_display.jsp?cfi=367&cfgn=Singles&cfn=Hot+R%26amp%3BB%2F
- http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/chart_display.jsp?cfi=404&cfgn=Singles&cfn=Hot+Adult+R%26amp%
- Turkey Top 20 Chart Retrieved on 2009-03-30
- Greek Airplay Chart
- Russian Airplay Chart
- http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/chart_display.jsp?cfi=367&cfgn=Singles&cfn=Hot+R%26amp%3BB%2F
- http://www.jazminesullivanmusic.com/news/jazmines-jimmy-kimmel-live-performance-bust-your-windows-an