Jazmine Marie Sullivan (born April 9, 1987) is an American R&B and soul music singer-songwriter from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She is also the protégé of famous rapper Missy Elliott. Her debut single "Need U Bad" featuring Missy Elliott has reached number one on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. Elements of reggae, dub, pop, jazz, classical music and doo-wop can be heard in her work. Born and raised in North Philadelphia, Jazmine Sullivan grew up in a two-parent household, the middle sister between two brothers. When she was 5 years old, her father landed a position as a curator for the city's Strawberry Mansion, and her family moved into the historical landmark, where they lived rent free. Meanwhile, Jazmine struggled to assimilate at school. She is a 2005 graduate of the Philadelphia high school for the Creative and Performing Arts where she was a vocal music major.
Still, Sullivan managed to persevere and began singing in the children’s choir, then a few years later with the adults, along with her mother. Jazmine’s exposure to secular music was initially limited, "I was doing solos in church and someone wanted me to sign to a gospel label when I was eleven but I wasn’t ready to do that," she recalls. “Then when McDonald’s had a competition for kids in major cities, I got a chance to perform ‘Accept What God Allows’ on ‘Showtime at the Apollo’ and the audience responded really well.”
Jazmine's debut album Fearless was released September 23, 2008. As an Executive Producer and sole songwriter on Fearless, Sullivan (along with her mother, Missy Elliott, Salaam Remi and Peter Edge) has orchestrated a debut opus full of lush musical arrangements by Elliott, Remi, Stargate, Jack Splash, and Fisticuffs. The singer also sang background vocals for Kindred the Family Soul's debut album on the track "I Am."
Source: http://artists.letssingit.com/jazmine-sullivan-g9f7s/biography
