Heaux Tales

Heaux Tales is the fourth studio album by American R&B singer Jazmine Sullivan. It was released by RCA Records on January 8, 2021. Its release date was confirmed on December 2, 2020. [2] Described as Sullivan's "fourth and bleakest album",[3] it is her first release since 2015's critically-acclaimed Reality Show.[4][5] It includes features from Ari Lennox, Anderson .Paak,[6] and H.E.R..[7] The album was primarily recorded in Sullivan's Philadelphia home.[7]

Heaux Tales
Studio album by Jazmine Sullivan
Released	January 8, 2021
Genre	Hip hop R&B[1]
Length	32:21
Label	RCA
Producer	Key Wane DZL Cardiak Kevin "Wu10" Wooten Jairus "JMO" Mozee Dev Hynes Dave "Pop" Watson Dilemma Joe Logic Gee Uforo "Bongo ByTheWay" Ebong
Jazmine Sullivan chronology
Reality Show (2015) Heaux Tales (2021)
Singles from Heaux Tales
"Lost One" Released: August 28, 2020 "Pick Up Your Feelings" Released: November 20, 2020 "Girl Like Me" Released: January 6, 2021

While an extended play,[7] it has also been variably identified as a "concept album"[8] and "schematic, a successor to didactic concept albums like The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill".[3] Structurally, six "spoken word interludes"[8] "are followed by songs that flesh them out as character studies". The themes explored include feminism, sexuality, classism, and body-shaming among other lyrical topics supported by narrative interludes between each song.[3] A short teaser was released upon the album's announcement.[4] The project has received critical acclaim.

Background

Since establishing her recording career in 2008, Sullivan has been known to take long hiatuses between releases.[5][9][10] According to Revolt, Sullivan explained the inspiration behind the project in a video:[4]

"Heaux Tales is about my observation of today's women standing in their power and owning who they are — No longer is male patriarchy dictating what it means to be a 'good girl.' The truth is, women of all ages have been called a 'heaux' at some point in life, whether deserved or not, by some man trying to put us in our place; a place designed to keep us under control, out of the way and usually beneath them. [...] We all have a journey to make and it's our choice alone how we get there."

Complex magazine reports that Dev Hynes, Key Wane, DZL, and others contributed to the production on the project.[11] The promotional rollout for Heaux Tales included the premiere of her installment of NPR's Tiny Desk Concerts series on January 8, 2021.[9]

Singles

The first single, an acoustic ballad titled "Lost One", was released August 28, 2020 and peaked at number 9 on Billboard's US Hot R&B Songs.[12][13] The second single was "Pick Up Your Feelings", released November 20, 2020.[14] In place of a traditional music video, RCA Records released a live acoustic performance.[4] Both singles were performed on BET during the Soul Train Music Awards on November 29, 2020.[2] Sullivan released her third single, "Girl Like Me", featuring H.E.R., on January 6, 2021, marking the first time she has ever duetted with a woman on one of her own recordings.[10]

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	83/100[15]
Review scores
Source	Rating
Beats Per Minute	80%[16]
Clash	8/10[17]
Exclaim!	8/10[18]
Rolling Stone	[19]
Pitchfork	8.6/10[20]

Heaux Tales received a score of 83 out of 100 from review aggregate site Metacritic based on seven reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".[15] Vulture lauded its displays of women's strength as seen in its "interludes [with] women like fellow singer Ari Lennox talking about femininity and sexual empowerment."[10] Alex Suskind of Entertainment Weekly called the project "a punchy concept album that tackles blissful romance, sexual freedom — and the complex moments that arise between."[21] Bobby Carter of NPR hailed it "a bold and timely conversation piece addressing truths regarding relationships, sex, social norms, self-worth and a myriad of other topics that women grapple with."[9] Wongo Okon of Uproxx praised it for casting "a light on the goalpost-shifting standards of this patriarchal society" while holding "the characteristics to be labeled a classic in the future."[22] Mankaprr Conteh of Pitchfork gave the EP the site's Best New Music distinction.[20]

Track listing

Heaux Tales track listing[23][24]

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Bodies (Intro)"	Dwane Weir II Jazmine Sullivan	Key Wane	2:01
2.	"Antoinette's Tale"	Antoinette Henry	Sullivan	0:37
3.	"Pick Up Your Feelings"	Audra Mae Butts Denisia "Blu June" Andrews Kyle Coleman Brittany "Chi" Coney Sullivan Michael Holmes	DZL	3:49
4.	"Ari's Tale" (performed by Ari Lennox)	Ari Lennox	Sullivan	0:49
5.	"Put It Down"	Jason Vaughan Weir II Sullivan	Key Wane	3:21
6.	"On It" (featuring Ari Lennox)	Lennox Kevin Wooten Carl McCormick Sullivan Courtney Salter	Cardiak WU10	3:25
7.	"Donna's Tale"	Donna Anderson Cheryl White Anitra Sasser	Sullivan	1:10
8.	"Pricetags" (featuring Anderson .Paak)	Jairus Mozee Brandon P. Anderson Sullivan	J.Mo	4:23
9.	"Rashida's Tale"	Rashida Northington	Sullivan	1:00
10.	"Lost One"	Sullivan Dave Watson, Jr.	Dave "Pop" Watson	2:58
11.	"Precious' Tale"	Precious Daughtry	Sullivan	0:43
12.	"The Other Side"	Dan Thomas Matt Wong Joe Gallagher Sam Wishkoski Sullivan	JoeLogic Gee Dilemma	3:37
13.	"Amanda's Tale"	Amanda Henderson	Sullivan	0:37
14.	"Girl Like Me" (featuring H.E.R.)	Sullivan H.E.R. Stephen Feigenbaum (a.k.a. johan lenox) Tarron Crayton Uforo Ebong	Bongo ByTheWay	3:44
Total length:				32:21

Notes

• "Antoinette's Tale" features vocals by Antoinette Henry
• "Donna's Tale" features vocals by Anitra Sasser, Cheryl White and Donna Anderson
• "Rashida's Tale" features vocals by Rashida Northington
• "Precious' Tale" features vocals by Precious Daughtry
• "Amanda's Tale" features vocals by Amanda Henderson

Charts

Chart performance for Heaux Tales

Chart (2021)	Peak position
UK Albums (OCC)[25]	79
US Billboard 200[26]	4
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[27]	1

References

1. Adhya, Arpita (January 8, 2021). "Jazmine Sullivan 'Heaux Tales': Tracklist, how to stream and all you need to know about album with HER, Ari Lennox". Media Entertainment Arts WorldWide. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
2. Monroe, Jazz (November 30, 2020). "Watch Moses Sumney, Jazmine Sullivan Perform at the 2020 Soul Train Awards". Pitchfork. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
3. Pareles, Jon (January 7, 2021). "Jazmine Sullivan Ponders Love and Materialism on 'Heaux Tales'". New York Times. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
4. DJ First Class (January 8, 2021). "Jazmine Sullivan tells some 'Heaux Tales' in her new album". Revolt. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
5. Folk, Antwane (January 6, 2021). "Jazmine Sullivan Shares Track List for 'Heaux Tales,' Releases New Song 'Girl Like Me' Featuring H.E.R." Rated R&B. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
6. Murray, Robin (January 8, 2021). "Jazmine Sullivan - Heaux Tales". Clash. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
7. Owens, Cassie (January 8, 2021). "Jazmine Sullivan speaks on her struggles, spiritual growth, and her sultry new release, 'Heaux Tales'". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
8. Sacher, Andrew (January 8, 2021). "Notable Releases of the Week". Brooklyn Vegan. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
9. Carter, Bobby (January 8, 2021). "Jazmine Sullivan: Tiny Desk (Home) Concert". NPR. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
10. Curto, Justin (January 8, 2021). "'Girl Like Me' is the Heart of Jazmine Sullivan's Heaux Tales". Vulture. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
11. Mahadevan, Tara C. (January 9, 2021). "Listen to Jazmine Sullivan's New Project 'Heaux Tales' f/ H.E.R., Anderson .Paak, and Ari Lennox". Complex. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
12. Leight, Elias (August 28, 2020). "Jazmine Sullivan Returns With Heartbreaking Ballad 'Lost One'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
13. "Jazmine Sullivan Chart History (Hot R&B Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
14. Leight, Elias (November 20, 2020). "Hear Jazmine Sullivan's Swaggering 'Pick Up Your Feelings'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
15. "Heaux Tales by Jazmine Sullivan Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
16. Early, JT (January 13, 2021). "ALBUM REVIEW: JAZMINE SULLIVAN – HEAUX TALES". Beats Per Minute. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
17. Murray, Robin (January 8, 2021). "Jazmine Sullivan - Heaux Tales". Clash. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
18. Ankrah, Veracia (January 11, 2021). "Jazmine Sullivan Explores Love, Sex and Money in the Instagram Age on 'Heaux Tales'". Exclaim!. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
19. Ihaza, Jeff (January 12, 2021). "Jazmine Sullivan's 'Heaux Tales' is a Nuanced Take on Romantic Realism". Rolling Stone. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
20. Conteh, Mankaprr (January 13, 2021). "Jazmine Sullivan: Heaux Tales Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
21. Jones, Marcus; Enis, Eli; Suskind, Alex (January 8, 2021). "Friday Five: Duran Duran's Bowie tribute, Zayn's bedroom vibes, and more". EW. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
22. Okon, Wongo (January 11, 2021). "Jazmine Sullivan's 'Heaux Tales' Fights Social Norms While Flaunting Sexual Liberation". Uproxx. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
23. "Heaux Tales - EP : Jazmine Sullivan". Genius. Genius Media Group. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
24. Gooden, Darren (January 8, 2021). "Jazmine Sullivan – Heaux Tales Credits and Streams". FreeMusicCredits.com. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
25. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
26. "Jazmine Sullivan Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved January 19, 2021.
27. "Jazmine Sullivan Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2021.