An artist as talented and gifted as Jazmine Sullivan doesn't stay unsigned for long. But the problem that Jazmine faced at the start of her career was never in being signed - record companies were always knocking at her door. But when she inked a deal with Jive Records at the tender age of 15, they put her record in purgatory for undisclosed reasons, eventually dropping her at the age of 17 and inevitably forcing her to abandon the demos and tracks that she laid down for them. Jazmine wasn't deterred, and Clive Davis quickly swooped in to do the work that Jive couldn't do for her. Now signed to J Records, the 21-year-old Jazmine is ready to put out her debut after 6 years of record label woes.
Her album Fearless is set to be released on September 16, and if the final cut of the record is any indication, her debut will be well worth the wait. Perhaps you've already heard the infectiously terrific single "Need U Bad" featuring Missy Elliott, which careens back and forth between reggae-tinged verses and a straight-up R&B hook. Its accompanying video shows Jazmine delivering those deliciously buttery vocal trills inside a studio, the building located on what looks like the mean streets of Jamaica.
But it's not all upbeat and catchy. Jazmine's voice truly shines on tracks like the piano ballad "In Love with Another Man" and sinister Salaam Remi-produced "Bust Your Windows," but that's expected from an artist who has as much experience as her. Back in the days, she sang alongside living legend Stevie Wonder when she was just 13 and brought down the house with a performance at the Apollo Theater. She even honed her writing chops, penning two tracks on Christina Milian's album So Amazin' and singing backup on Fantastia's "Free Yourself."
If anything, her experience in the industry, whether good or bad, has been a blessing, and on Fearless, Jazmine isn't afraid to take risks and is proud of the fact that she's got creative control this time around. While sitting in the conference room at J Records in New York City, Jazmine spoke with Kiwibox Senior Editor Colleen before heading out on the road as part of the Russ Parr Bus Tour. Looking glamorous as she poised on the couch overlooking the south side of Central Park, Jazmine looked back on the long road she traveled to get where she is today, discussing how Missy Elliott has always been there for her when she needs her, why she's flattered when fans try to match the vocal trills she belts out on "Need U Bad" and the story behind her version of "Resentment" that was also recorded by Beyonce and Victoria Beckham.
If you can't see the embedded video, click here to watch it on YouTube.