"Jazmine Sullivan "

Jazmine Sullivan


WHO IS "JAZMINE SULLIVAN",


At the age of 20, musical prodigy and accomplished singer/songwriter Jazmine Sullivan already has nine years worth of experience under her belt in the music industry. She’s anything but a typical singer and just one listen to her voice will make you understand why some of music’s most respected artists like Stevie Wonder, Fantasia, Omarion, Faith Evans, Monica and Missy Elliott have all praised the legend in the making.

Just a brief timeline of some of Sullivan’s musical accomplishments is enough to make any artist blush. At 11, she made her national television debut on Showtime at the Apollo, where she sang “Accept What God Allows.” While most artists recount always being absorbed with music while they were younger, Sullivan’s first introduction to music began at church. “I remember singing like around five or six in the choir,” she says before recalling a particular incident. “I was in the junior choir, but I was the first child admitted into the young adult choir. I was so proud of myself and with the support of my family and church, I began singing.” As Sullivan got older, she began polishing her craft as well gaining an appreciation for other artists, such as Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Chaka Kahn, Lauryn Hill, Brandy, Mary J. Blige and Donny Hathaway.

At 13, she was asked to sing with musical legend Stevie Wonder. Of their meeting, she says, “When you meet Stevie Wonder, it’s a great feeling,” before adding, “I was young though, so I didn’t understand it until I got older. I started thinking like, ‘Oh my God! I sang with Stevie Wonder when I was like 13.’” That was only the beginning. She began wowing audiences with her live sets in her hometown of Philadelphia at the popular Black Lily, where artists such as Jill Scott, Musiq, Kindred the Family Soul and Floetry performed before they became national recording artists. Soon after her continued jaw-dropping performances, she was signed to Jive Records personally by the president of the label, Clive Calder, where she began working on her debut album with the likes of heavyweight producers Missy Elliott, Timbaland and production duo Cool & Dre, to name a few.

Developing an effective marketing strategy that would allow a younger audience to identify with Sullivan’s vocal maturity as an artist proved to be difficult for Jive and after three years of singing with the label, the two parted ways. “I can’t say I wasn’t sad. I was very sad,” she says, but being the strong-willed and determined individual that she is hasn’t stopped her grind.

You can find her name on background credits for the Missy Elliott produced tracks off of Fantasia’s debut album Free Yourself and songwriting credits on two tracks from Christina Milian’s last album, So Amazin’, including the album’s first single, “Say I,” which features Young Jeezy. The single reached #1 on BET’s 106 & Park & Aolmusic.com, #2 on the World’s Singles Top 40, #13 on the U.S. Billboard R&B/Hip Hop Tracks, #21 on Billboard’s Hot 100 and #4 on the UK singles chart. She has also been traveling up and down the East coast writing/recording with producers such as Cool & Dre, Stevie J. & Havoc, Kwame, The Heavyweights, Anthony Bell and others to name a few. Last July, she also recorded material with 50 Cent for his upcoming album, Curtis, as well as guest appearing on two songs from producer-turned-rapper Dre’s (Cool & Dre) upcoming solo album, The Trunk. In late March of 2007, Jazmine started a new chapter in her career, signing with Clive Davis’ J Records in which she will work closely with one of the label’s most successful A&Rs, Peter Edge (Alicia Keys, Dido, Jamie Foxx), on her official debut album.

From the time she signed her first record deal, Sullivan and her music have been constantly evolving. While she was considered a “neo-soul” artist with her earlier work, she now understands that her music must at times meet the demands of listeners. “I can deliver a hit radio single, but it’s me wanting to find the compromise where I’m delivering something that I’m proud of and something that can get people dancing. I think a lot of producers didn’t realize that because when I used to go into the studio, and I wasn’t writing like I am now, they saw me as this older person because my voice was so much older. So they would give me stuff that reflected [my voice] — but they didn’t realize that I was 15.”

Now more than ever, R&B and honest music are in desperate need for a comeback. A few artists like Mary J. Blige, Robin Thicke and Fantasia have continued to make solid R&B records, but Sullivan cites John Legend as someone who has made it easier for her music to be appreciated. “With John Legend, he seemed to break something new; with just singing with his piano and [having the audience] listen. So I think it’s coming back. I’m glad that I wasn’t let out too early, because people wouldn’t have gotten me ‘cause [my music] might have been over their heads.” If anything, the journey to this point has only made Sullivan mentally stronger and wiser about the music business. “I know that I can’t settle for singing at the local bar every other week or doing spot dates. I just know that it’s big, it’s legendary and it’s not confined to one type of group of people,” she says with conviction. “Everybody is going to love me and this is not being cocky — this is just what I see.”



SHE IS BRINGING SOME SOULFUL MUSIC BACK TO THE GAME.... PRESS PLAY ----->



.:UNIFY:.