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Fearless (Jazmine Sullivan album)

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Fearless
Studio album by
Jazmine Sullivan
ReleasedSeptember 23, 2008
Recorded2007–2008
GenreR&B
Length47:53
Label
Producer
Jazmine Sullivan chronology
Fearless
(2008) 		Love Me Back
(2010)
Alternative cover
International cover
Singles from Fearless
  1. "Need U Bad"
    Released: May 13, 2008
  2. "Bust Your Windows"
    Released: September 16, 2008
  3. "Lions, Tigers & Bears"
    Released: December 16, 2008
  4. "Dream Big"
    Released: April 14, 2009

Fearless is the debut studio album by American singer-songwriter Jazmine Sullivan. It was released on September 23, 2008, through J Records. Production for the album took place during 2007 to 2008 and was handled by several record producers, including Missy Elliott, Stargate, Carvin & Ivan, Wyclef Jean, Jack Splash and Salaam Remi.

The album debuted at number six on the US Billboard 200 chart, selling 65,000 copies in its first week. It also produced three singles that attained respectable charting on Billboard's Hot 100 chart. Upon its release, Fearless received generally positive reviews from most music critics who complimented its production and Sullivan's vocals, comparing her to female R&B artists such as Alicia Keys and Lauryn Hill. The album earned Sullivan seven Grammy Award nominations and has sold 517,000 copies in the United States and since been certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for exceeded sales of one million units.

Background

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Sullivan signed to Jive Records in 2003 where she later began providing vocals for other artists such as Kindred the Family Soul.[1] Sullivan graduated from the Philadelphia High School for the Creative and Performing Arts in Philadelphia in 2005,[2][3] where she was a vocal music major. After graduation, she was dropped from her record label Jive Records, later scrapping her original debut album which remains unreleased.[4] In 2007, Peter Edge, record executive and then president of J Records, saw interest in her after listening to her demo that she recorded for Christina Milian's single "Say I" (2006), he later which offered her a deal with J Records.[5][6] She eventually began work for her debut studio album.[7]

The lead single, "Need U Bad", produced by Missy Elliott, was released on May 13, 2008.[8] and its music video premiered on July 7, 2008.[9] The song reached number thirty-seven on the Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.[10][11] She later performed the song at the 2008 BET Awards.[12] "Bust Your Windows" was released as the second single from the album on September 16, 2008,[13] and its music video premiered in October 2008.[14][15] It reached number 31 on the Hot 100 and serves as Sullivan's most successful single. It also reached number four on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, becoming her second top-ten hit on that chart.[16][17] Two other singles "Lions, Tigers & Bears" (which reached number 74 on the Hot 100) and "Dream Big" were later released and were accompanied by music videos.[18][19]

In a September 2008 interview with Pete Lewis of Blues & Soul, Sullivan disccused the album's title and lyrical themes,

I named the album 'Fearless' because I'm just not afraid of ANYTHING right now. I'm young, I'm 22 years old... And I just feel that, if YOU embrace your uniqueness by not being afraid to take chances and being different, then everybody ELSE will! You know, I definitely did not wanna exclude ANYBODY! So, if you buy my record and think you're gonna get just a bunch of reggae beats or just a bunch of R&B beats, you'll be wrong! You're gonna get EVERYTHING! I mean, the genres can range from jazz, to gospel, to pop... Because that's who I AM! And, with me having been inspired by so much, I wanted everybody to SEE that diversity in me.[20]

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
About.com[21]
AllMusic[22]
Entertainment WeeklyC+[23]
MSN Music (Consumer Guide)(3-star Honorable Mention)(3-star Honorable Mention)(3-star Honorable Mention)[24]
musicOMH[25]
NOW[26]
Okayplayer86/100[27]
Slant Magazine[28]
USA Today[29]

The album received generally positive reviews from most music critics. Sullivan received many comparisons by critics to other well-known female R&B artists, such as Lauryn Hill, Amy Winehouse, Mary J. Blige, and Alicia Keys.[27][30][31][25][32] AllMusic writer Andy Kellman gave the album four and a half out of five stars and praised her performance, stating: "There's a lot of range on display here, and there is just as much depth."[22] Vibe's Erika Ramirez praised Sullivan's singing and lyrical substance, writing "Sullivan's vocal perfection pilots her debut album [...] and boasts her self-penned lyrics which are filled with struggle and heartache, embodying every inch of the soul star she is."[33] NOW's Benjamin Boles commended Sullivan for her "strong voice" and the album's production, stating "she’s pulling from a pleasingly wide range of influences – dropping bits of doo-wop, roots reggae, Motown and hip-hop into the mix while maintaining a consistent feel."[26] Houston Chronicle writer Joey Guerra wrote favorably of her songwriting and called the album "a collection brimming with attitude, edge and soul."[31] Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine gave it four out of five stars and commended Sullivan for her lyrical honesty and musical range.[28] The Washington Post's Allison Stewart described Fearless as "a mix of awkward-but-novel devices (reggae beats, Daft Punk samples) and nakedly confessional songwriting" and called it "a snappy, intensely human debut."[30]

However, Entertainment Weekly's Simon Vozick-Levinson gave Fearless a C+ rating and described most of its music as "schmaltzy pop-&-B."[23] Giving the album three out of five stars, About.com's Mark Edward Nero viewed her vocals as "generic and lack emotion or urgency" on some songs, but ultimately wrote that "there are more hits than misses here."[21] Nero lauded Sullivan's vocal performance and compared her songwriting to that of R&B musician Ne-Yo, writing "due to both artists' talent for writing on-point, introspective lyrics. Like Ne-Yo, Jazmine has a knack for crafting intricate, deeply personal verses that make you feel at one with the singer. Even on the weaker songs on Fearless, the songwriting is still above par."[21] USA Today's Steve Jones gave the album 3 out of 4 stars and wrote that she "sings every word as if she means it."[29] MusicOMH writer Michael Cragg praised Sullivan's vocal range and themes on the album, writing "Sullivan has created a mature, engaging R&B album that doesn't rely solely on the usual tropes of sexuality, money and posturing. Instead, Fearless deals with real emotions sung in a way that convinces the listener she means every single word."[25] Okayplayer's Jeff Harvey called it "a well produced urban pop album" and wrote that Sullivan's voice "carries a subtle tenderness that adds intriguing nuance."[27] Jon Caramanica of The New York Times wrote favorably of Sullivan's performance, citing "Her sense of humor" as "her best asset. She doesn't have a huge, imposing voice, but she's versatile, dabbling in jazz and reggae phrasings with ease."[34]

Commercial performance

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Fearless entered at number six on the Billboard 200, with first week sales of 65,000 copies.[35] It fell to number 10 in its second week, selling 42,000 more copies.[36] The album also peaked at number one on Billboard's Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.[37] As of November 2010, Fearless has sold 517,000 copies in the United States.[38]

Accolades

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She earned five 2009 Grammy Award nominations for the album including Best Female R&B Vocal Performance ("Need U Bad"), Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance ("In Love with Another Man"), Best R&B Song ("Bust Your Windows"), and Best Contemporary R&B Album, while Sullivan herself was nominated for Best New Artist.[39]

She also earned two 2010 Grammy Award nominations for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance and Best R&B Song ("Lions, Tigers, and Bears").[40][41][42] Vibe magazine named the album one of the Ten Best Albums of 2008.[43]

Track listing

[edit]
Fearless – Standard edition
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Bust Your Windows"
Remi4:26
2."Need U Bad"
4:17
3."My Foolish Heart"
Carvin & Ivan3:39
4."Lions, Tigers & Bears"
  • Sullivan
  • Remi
Remi4:11
5."Call Me Guilty"
  • Sullivan
  • Remi
Remi3:25
6."One Night Stand"
Fisticuffs3:33
7."After the Hurricane"
Stargate3:58
8."Dream Big"
3:35
9."Live a Lie"
  • Sullivan
  • Remi
Remi3:16
10."Fear"
Sullivan
DJ Dirty Harry3:54
11."In Love with Another Man"
  • Sullivan
  • Anthony Bell
  • Sullivan
  • Bell
4:10
12."Switch!"
Jack Splash3:02
Total length:47:53
Fearless  – iTunes Store and international digital edition (bonus track)[44]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
13."Best of Me"
  • Remi
2:47
Fearless – Deluxe edition (bonus tracks)
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
13."Need U Bad" (Remix featuring T.I.)
  • Sullivan
  • Elliott
  • Lamb
  • Osbourne
  • Stanton
  • Sinclair
  • Elliott
  • Lamb[a]
4:25
14."Dream Big" (StoneBridge Club Remix)
  • Sullivan
  • Elliott
  • Lamb
  • Osbourne
  • de Homem-Christo
  • Bangalter
  • Elliott
  • Lamb[a]
6:48

Notes

  • ^[a] signifies a co-producer

Sample credits

Personnel

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Credits for Fearless adapted from Allmusic.[45]

Charts

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Certifications

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Sales and certifications for Fearless
Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[56] Platinum 1,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Kindred The Family Soul - Surrender To Love (CD liner notes). Hidden Beach Recordings/Epic Records. EK 86491
  2. ^ "Philadelphia's Musical Legacy: The Home R&B and Soul". BBC News. December 1, 2010. Retrieved January 1, 2011.
  3. ^ "the philadelphia high school for creative and performing arts" (PDF).
  4. ^ Ellis, Stacy-Ann. "The Psychology of Jazmine Sullivan". Vibe. Retrieved January 13, 2015.
  5. ^ "Breaking: Jazmine Sullivan". Rolling Stone. November 19, 2008. Retrieved June 3, 2019.
  6. ^ "Jazmine Sullivan has breakthrough year". www.metro.us. February 4, 2009. Retrieved June 3, 2019.
  7. ^ Matthews, KJ. "Grammy nominee rises high and fast". CNN. Retrieved January 30, 2009.
  8. ^ "Need U Bad - Single by Jazmine Sullivan". iTunes. Apple.com. May 13, 2008. Retrieved April 20, 2010.
  9. ^ "Video: Jazmine Sullivan – "Need U Bad"". Concreteloop.com. July 7, 2008. Archived from the original on July 8, 2008. Retrieved December 16, 2010.
  10. ^ "Need U Bad - Jazmine Sullivan". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved October 28, 2010.
  11. ^ "Pink Notches First Solo Hot 100 No. 1". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved October 28, 2010.
  12. ^ "Jazmine Sullivan Performs "Need U Bad" On BET Special". BringDaBeatBack.com. September 27, 2008. Retrieved September 27, 2008.
  13. ^ "Jazmine Sullivan - Bust Your Windows". Amazon Music. Retrieved May 26, 2009.
  14. ^ "Halle Berry Is Esquire's Sexiest Woman Alive+Jazmine Sullivan's "Bust Your Windows" Video". Retrieved October 6, 2008.
  15. ^ "Jazmine Sullivan – 'Bust Your Windows' Video". ThatGrapeJuice. Retrieved October 8, 2008.
  16. ^ Billboard Hot 100 Billboard. Accessed October 31, 2008. Archived May 19, 2014, at the Wayback Machine
  17. ^ "Billboard HOT R&B/HIP-HOP SONGS December 6, 2008". Billboard.
  18. ^ "Single Cover – Jazmine Sullivan – 'Lions, Tigers, & Bears'". Rap-Up. December 8, 2008.
  19. ^ "Jazmine Sullivan – Dream Big". Singersroom. April 11, 2009.
  20. ^ Lewis, Pete. Jazmine Sullivan Clear for Take Off. Blues & Soul. Retrieved on 2010-06-11.
  21. ^ a b c Nero, Mark Edward. "Jazmine Sullivan – Fearless". About.com. Archived from the original on September 25, 2008. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
  22. ^ a b Kellman, Andy. "Jazmine Sullivan, Fearless". AllMusic. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
  23. ^ a b Vozick-Levinson, Simon (October 22, 2008). "Jazmine Sullivan, Fearless". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on November 16, 2008. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
  24. ^ Christgau, Robert. "Consumer Guide Reviews". MSN Music. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
  25. ^ a b c Cragg, Michael (September 14, 2009). "Jazmine Sullivan – Fearless". musicOMH. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
  26. ^ a b Boles, Benjamin (October 29, 2008). "Jazmine Sullivan, Fearless". Now. Archived from the original on January 30, 2013. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
  27. ^ a b c Harvey, Jeff (September 26, 2008). "Jazmine Sullivan, Fearless". Okayplayer. Archived from the original on January 13, 2009. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
  28. ^ a b Cinquemani, Sal (December 21, 2008). "Jazmine Sullivan, Fearless". Slant Magazine. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
  29. ^ a b Jones, Steve (September 22, 2008). "This week's reviews: Dolls, T's, Kings, Demi, Jazmine and more". USA Today. Archived from the original on September 25, 2008. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
  30. ^ a b Stewart, Allison (September 1, 2008). "Our View > Jazmine Sullivan: Fearless". Washington Post. Archived from the original on November 11, 2012. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
  31. ^ a b Guerra, Joey (September 23, 2008). "Fall brings fresh crop of music from female acts". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
  32. ^ Columnist. Breaking: Jazmine Sullivan Archived 2009-05-15 at the Wayback Machine. Rolling Stone. Retrieved on 2010-03-29.
  33. ^ Ramirez, Erika (September 23, 2008). "Jazmine Sullivan: Fearless". Vibe. Archived from the original on May 6, 2009. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
  34. ^ Caramanica, Jon (October 6, 2008). "CRITICS' CHOICE; Jazmine Sullivan". The New York Times. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
  35. ^ Harris, Chris. Metallica Are #1 For Third Week In A Row, As Death Magnetic Nears Million-Sold Mark Archived 2010-04-03 at the Wayback Machine. MTV. Retrieved on 2010-03-29.
  36. ^ Hasty, Katie. T.I. Debuts Big Atop Billboard 200, Hot 100 Archived October 14, 2008, at the Wayback Machine. Billboard. Retrieved on 2010-03-29.
  37. ^ Billboard Charts: Fearless. Allmusic. Retrieved on 2010-03-29.
  38. ^ Jazmine Sullivan to Receive Billboard's Rising Star Award for Women in Music (November 12, 2010). Billboard. Retrieved on 2010-11-12.
  39. ^ "Jazmine Sullivan". GRAMMY.com. February 15, 2016. Retrieved March 21, 2016.
  40. ^ "The 2010 Grammy Nominations". idolator. December 3, 2009. Retrieved May 26, 2019.
  41. ^ charice2008 (April 24, 2010), Grammy Awards 2010 - Best Female R&B Vocal Performance - Wins Beyoncé, archived from the original on December 21, 2021, retrieved May 26, 2019{{citation}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  42. ^ "106 & Park Guest Rewind: Jazmine Sullivan Duck Tape". BET.com. Retrieved May 26, 2019.[dead link‍]
  43. ^ Cummings, Jozen. The Ten Best Albums of 2008: 808s & Heartbreak Archived 2009-05-09 at the Wayback Machine. Vibe. Accessed April 13, 2009.
  44. ^ "iTunes – Music – Fearless by Jazmine Sullivan". Phobos.apple.com. September 19, 2008. Archived from the original on July 14, 2012. Retrieved February 16, 2012.
  45. ^ Credits: Fearless. Allmusic. Retrieved on 2010-03-29.
  46. ^ "Lescharts.com – Jazmine Sullivan – Fearless". Hung Medien.
  47. ^ "South Korea Gaon International Albums Chart". Gaon Chart.
  48. ^ "Official R&B Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
  49. ^ "Jazmine Sullivan Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved June 1, 2022.
  50. ^ "Jazmine Sullivan Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 1, 2022.
  51. ^ "Jazmine Sullivan Chart History (Top Tastemaker Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 1, 2022.
  52. ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2008". Billboard. Retrieved October 18, 2020.
  53. ^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2008". Billboard. Retrieved October 18, 2020.
  54. ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2009". Billboard. Retrieved May 20, 2021.
  55. ^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2009". Billboard. Retrieved May 20, 2021.
  56. ^ "American album certifications – Jazmine Sullivan – Fearless". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved April 25, 2022.
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