Fearless (Jazmine Sullivan album)

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.

Fearless
Studio album by Jazmine Sullivan
Released	September 23, 2008
Recorded	2007–2008
Genre	R&B pop
Length	47:53
Label	J, Arista
Producer	Missy Elliott Stargate Lamb Salaam Remi Jack Splash Carvin & Ivan Fistcuffs Anthony Bell
Jazmine Sullivan chronology
Fearless (2008) Love Me Back (2010)
Alternative cover
International cover
Singles from Fearless
"Need U Bad" Released: May 13, 2008 "Bust Your Windows" Released: September 16, 2008 "Lions, Tigers & Bears" Released: December 16, 2008 "Dream Big" Released: April 14, 2009

The album debuted at number six on the US Billboard 200 chart, selling 65,000 copies in its first week. It also produced four 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 gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for exceeded sales of 500,000.

Background

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] The song was based on It reached number six 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" 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

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[21]
Entertainment Weekly	(C+)[22]
MSN Music (Consumer Guide)	[23]
NOW	[24]
Okayplayer	(86/100)[25]
Q	[26]
Slant Magazine	[27]
USA Today	[28]

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.[25][29][30][31][32] Allmusic writer Andy Kellman gave the album 4½ out of 5 stars and praised her performance, stating "There's a lot of range on display here, and there is just as much depth".[21] 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".[24] Q gave it 4 out of 5 stars and wrote "[H]er voice merges Beyonce and Amy Winehouse and is backed by slick productions".[26] Houston Chronicle writer Joey Guerra wrote favorably of her songwriting and called the album "a collection brimming with attitude, edge and soul".[30] Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine gave it 4 out of 5 stars and commended Sullivan for her lyrical honesty and musical range.[27] 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".[29]

However, Entertainment Weekly's Simon Vozick-Levinson gave Fearless a C+ rating and described most of its music as "schmaltzy pop-&-B".[22] Giving the album 3 out of 5 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".[34] 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".[34] 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".[28] 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".[31] 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".[25] Jon Caramanica of The New York Times wrote favorably of Sullivan's performance and wrote "Her sense of humor is her best asset. She doesn't have a huge, imposing voice, but she's versatile, dabbling in jazz and reggae phrasings with ease".[35]

Commercial performance

Fearless entered at number six on the Billboard 200, with first week sales of 65,000 copies.[36] It fell to number 10 in its second week, selling 42,000 more copies.[37] The album also peaked at number one on Billboard's Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.[38] As of November 2010, Fearless has sold 517,000 copies in the United States.[39]

Accolades

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 ("I'm 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.[40]

She also earned two 2010 Grammy Award nominations for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance and Best R&B Song ("Lions, Tigers, and Bears").[41][42][43] Vibe magazine named the album one of the Ten Best Albums of 2008.[44]

Track listing

Fearless – Standard version

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Bust Your Windows"	Jazmine Sullivan Salaam Remi	Remi	4:26
2.	"Need U Bad"	Sullivan Missy Elliott Cainon Lamb Taurian Osbourne Nicholas Taylor Stanton David Sinclair	Elliott Lamb	4:17
3.	"My Foolish Heart"	Sullivan Carvin Haggins Ivan Barias Edward Brigati Felix Cavaliere	Carvin & Ivan	3:39
4.	"Lions, Tigers & Bears"	Sullivan Remi	Remi	4:11
5.	"Call Me Guilty"	Sullivan Remi	Remi	3:25
6.	"One Night Stand"	Sullivan Iman Jordan Brian Warfield Mac Robinson	Fisticuffs	3:33
7.	"After the Hurricane"	Sullivan Mikkel S. Eriksen Tor Erik Hermansen	Stargate	3:58
8.	"Dream Big"	Sullivan Elliott Lamb Osbourne Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo Thomas Bangalter	Elliott Lamb	4:11
9.	"Live a Lie"	Sullivan Remi	Remi	3:16
10.	"Fear"	Sullivan	DJ Dirty Harry	3:54
11.	"In Love with Another Man"	Sullivan Anthony Bell	Sullivan Bell	4:24
12.	"Switch!"	Sullivan Jack Splash Ivy Hunter William "Mickey" Stevenson	Jack Splash	3:02
Total length:				47:53

Fearless – Deluxe version[45]

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
13.	"Best of Me"	Jazmine Sullivan Salaam Remi	Remi	2:47
14.	"Need U Bad" (Remix featuring T.I.)	Sullivan Elliott Lamb Osbourne Stanton Sinclair	Elliott Lamb	4:25
15.	"Dream Big" (StoneBridge Club Remix)	Sullivan Elliott Lamb Osbourne de Homem-Christo Bangalter	Elliott Lamb	6:48

Sample credits

• "Bust Your Windows" uses a sample from Salaam Remi's "Bad Man Waltz" and interpolates a lyric from Soulja Boy Tell Em's "Crank That (Soulja Boy)"
• "Need U Bad" uses a sample from Nicolas Taylor Stanton's "Higher Meditation Riddim Version", and Tapper Zukie's "Papa Big Shirt"
• "My Foolish Heart" uses a sample from Willie Mitchell's "Groovin'"
• "Lions, Tigers and Bears" uses a sample from Salaam Remi's "Sheila's Playground"
• "Call Me Guilty" uses a sample from Salaam Remi's "Police Theme"
• "Dream Big" uses a sample from Daft Punk's "Veridis Quo"
• "Live a Lie" uses a sample from Salaam Remi's "The Truth"
• "Fear" samples Art of Noise's "Beat Box" and interpolates elements from Stevie Wonder's "I Was Made to Love Her"
• "Switch" uses a sample from Ivy Hunter & William Stevenson "Your Cheating Ways" performed by the Marvelettes

Personnel

Credits for Fearless adapted from Allmusic.[46]

June Ambrose – stylist Ivan "Orthodox" Barias – various, producer, engineer, tracking, audio production, instrumentation Anthony Bell – various, producer, engineer, audio production, instrumentation Biz & Riz – bells, Fender Rhodes Tim Blacksmith – management Anita Marisa Boriboon – art direction, design Danny D – management Dirty Harry – programming Peter Edge – executive producer Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott – producer, engineer, executive producer, audio production Mikkel S. Eriksen – various, engineer, instrumentation Paul J. Falcone – engineer Ron Feuer – piano Fisticuffs – various, audio production Erwin Gorostiza – creative director Carvin "Ransum" Haggins – producer, engineer, tracking, audio production Vincent Henry – clarinet, flute, guitar, alto saxophone, baritone saxophhone, tenor saxophone Tor Erik Hermanson – various Trevor Jerideau – A&R Iman Jordan – piano

Lamb Audio – production The Love Life – orchestra various Manny Marroquin – mixing Pepa – vocals David "Mr. Somebody" Pierre – piano, keyboards Christian Plata – mixing assistant Rebel One – management Salaam Remi – bass, percussion, piano, strings, drums, keyboards, executive producer, Fender Rhodes, audio production, instrumentation Harold "Jukebox" Robinson – bass Malachy Robinson – performer Johnnie "Smurf" Smith – keyboards Franklin Emmanuel Socorro – engineer Jack Splash – arranger, various, producer, performer, audio production Jazmine Sullivan – performer, background vocals, producer, executive producer, audio production Brian Warfield – performer Yusef Williams – hair stylist James M. Wisner – engineer James Wisner – audio engineer

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2008) Peak position French Albums (SNEP)[47] 95 US Billboard 200[48] 6 US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[49] 1

Year-end charts Chart (2008) Position US Billboard 200[50] 185 US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[51] 43

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[52]	Gold	500,000^^
^^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

See also

• List of Billboard number-one R&B albums of 2008

References

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 1 January 2011.
3. "the philadelphia high school for creative and performing arts" (PDF).
4. Ellis, Stacy-Ann. "The Psychology of Jazmine Sullivan". Vibe. Retrieved 2015-01-13.
5. "Breaking: Jazmine Sullivan". Rolling Stone. 2008-11-19. Retrieved 2019-06-03.
6. "Jazmine Sullivan has breakthrough year". www.metro.us. Retrieved 2019-06-03.
7. Matthews, KJ. "Grammy nominee rises high and fast". CNN. Retrieved 30 January 2009.
8. "Need U Bad - Single by Jazmine Sullivan". iTunes. Apple.com. Retrieved April 20, 2010.
9. "Video: Jazmine Sullivan – "Need U Bad"". Concreteloop.com. 2008-07-07. Archived from the original on 2008-07-08. Retrieved 2010-12-16.
10. "Need U Bad - Jazmine Sullivan". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved 2010-10-28.
11. "Pink Notches First Solo Hot 100 No. 1". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved 2010-10-28.
12. "Jazmine Sullivan Performs "Need U Bad" On BET Special". BringDaBeatBack.com. Retrieved 27 September 2008.
13. "Jazmine Sullivan - Bust Your Windows". Amazon Music. Amazon.com. Retrieved 26 May 2009.
14. "Halle Berry Is Esquire's Sexiest Woman Alive+Jazmine Sullivan's "Bust Your Windows" Video". Retrieved 2008-10-06.
15. "Jazmine Sullivan – 'Bust Your Windows' Video". ThatGrapeJuice. Retrieved 8 October 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".
18. "Single Cover – Jazmine Sullivan – 'Lions, Tigers, & Bears'". Rap-Up. 2008-12-08.
19. "Jazmine Sullivan – Dream Big". Singersroom. 11 April 2009.
20. Lewis, Pete. Jazmine Sullivan Clear for Take Off. Blues & Soul. Retrieved on 2010-06-11.
21. Kellman, Andy. Review: Fearless. AllMusic. Retrieved on 2009-08-28.
22. Vozick-Levinson, Simon. Review: Fearless. Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved on 2009-08-27.
23. Christgau, Robert. "Review: Fearless". MSN Music: January 2009. Archived from the original Archived 2009-09-28 at the Wayback Machine on 2009-08-27.
24. Boles, Benjamin. Review: Fearless. Now. Retrieved on 2009-08-27.
25. Harvey, Jeff. Review: Fearless. Okayplayer. Retrieved on 2009-08-27.
26. Columnist. "Review: Fearless". Q: 107.
27. Cinquemani, Sal. Review: Fearless Archived June 25, 2013, at the Wayback Machine. Slant Magazine. Retrieved on 2009-08-27.
28. Jones, Steve. Review: Fearless Archived 2008-09-25 at the Wayback Machine. USA Today. Retrieved on 2009-08-27.
29. Stewart, Allison. "Review: Fearless". The Washington Post: C.5. September 23, 2008. Archived from the original on 2009-08-27.
30. Guerra, Joey. Review: Fearless. Houston Chronicle. Retrieved on 2010-03-29.
31. Cragg, Michael. Review: Fearless. MusicOMH. Retrieved on 2010-03-29.
32. Columnist. Breaking: Jazmine Sullivan Archived 2009-05-15 at the Wayback Machine. Rolling Stone. Retrieved on 2010-03-29.
33. Ramirez, Erika. Review: Fearless. Vibe. Retrieved on 2009-08-27.
34. Nero, Mark Edward. Review: Fearless. About.com. Retrieved on 2010-03-29.
35. Caramanica, Jon. Review: Fearless. The New York Times. Retrieved on 2009-08-27.
36. 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.
37. Hasty, Katie. T.I. Debuts Big Atop Billboard 200, Hot 100. Billboard. Retrieved on 2010-03-29.
38. Billboard Charts: Fearless. Allmusic. Retrieved on 2010-03-29.
39. Jazmine Sullivan to Receive Billboard's Rising Star Award for Women in Music (November 12, 2010). Billboard. Retrieved on 2010-11-12.
40. "Jazmine Sullivan". GRAMMY.com. 2016-02-15. Retrieved 2016-03-21.
41. "The 2010 Grammy Nominations". idolator. 2009-12-03. Retrieved 2019-05-26.
42. charice2008 (2010-04-24), Grammy Awards 2010 - Best Female R&B Vocal Performance - Wins Beyoncé, retrieved 2019-05-26
43. "106 & Park Guest Rewind: Jazmine Sullivan Duck Tape". BET.com. Retrieved 2019-05-26.
44. Cummings, Jozen. The Ten Best Albums of 2008: 808s & Heartbreak Archived 2009-05-09 at the Wayback Machine. Vibe. Accessed April 13, 2009.
45. "iTunes – Music – Fearless by Jazmine Sullivan". Phobos.apple.com. 2008-09-19. Archived from the original on 2012-07-14. Retrieved 2012-02-16.
46. Credits: Fearless. Allmusic. Retrieved on 2010-03-29.
47. "Lescharts.com – Jazmine Sullivan – Fearless". Hung Medien.
48. "Jazmine Sullivan Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard.
49. "Jazmine Sullivan Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard.
50. "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2008". Billboard. Retrieved 2020-10-18.
51. "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2008". Billboard. Retrieved 2020-10-18.
52. "American album certifications – Jazmine Sullivan – Fearless". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH. 

External links

• Official website
• Fearless at Discogs
• Jazmine Sullivan Clear for Take Off at Blues & Soul