The history of America’s female soul tradition is deep, and at it’s most famous points deals intently with the idea that men, at our core basic principle, emotionally torture women and treat them wrong in a usually epic manner. From Big Mama Thornton’s “Hound Dog” to Aretha Franklin’s “I Never Loved a Man” to Mary J. Blige’s “I’m Going Down,” the history of heartbroken women in R & B defines the genre at its hitmaking height. Pop music is best when based on love, and when soul best enters that market it’s the nature of lost love that gives the sound its best potential. Rap queen Missy Elliot realizes this and is in the midst of crafting the next big superstar in this tradition, Philadelphia’s Jazmine Sullivan. With soul roots based in the legendary Black Lily gatherings that defined Philly’s bohemian contributions to R & B in the late 90s, Sullivan boasts the throaty and brassy gospel infusence of a Jaguar Wright or more famously Jill Scott, but it’s in the smooth appeal of Mary J. Blige where the crooner finds her appeal. On a debut album where she both “needed a man bad” and “busted the windows out his car” is opposing breaths, she laid claim to the same reigns of so many in pop trending soul before her. On latest release Love Me Back she continues in her vein of pity inducing heartbreak, and is well on her way to earning a place in the pantheon of legendary soul stirrers.
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Jazmine Sullivan succeeds because the woman can sing beautifully. Jazmine Sullivan is an unfinished product because she has yet to truly discover her voice. Missy Elliott is well aware of what she has here. Sullivan’s a superstar, and is couched in every possible prior mainstream construct of soul success to ensure she succeeds. Lead single “Holdin You Down (Goin’ In Circles)” samples “La Di Da Di” by Slick Rick and Doug E. Fresh, “Be Happy (Remix)” by Mary J. Blige featuring Keith Murray, “Top Billin'” by Audio Two, “I Can” and “Affirmative Action” by Nas featuring AZ, Nature, and Foxy Brown, “Let Me Clear My Throat,” “20 Minute Workout” by DJ Kool, and “Make the Music with Your Mouth, Biz” by Biz Markie. In 3:36, you’re assaulted by the familiar comfort of a plethora of mid 90s R & B and hip hop staples which attaches her with perfection to her market, the 18-35 year old who is on the fence about buying music, but will absolutely buy something that directly references every top influence from their era of really getting out, partying and having fun. Is it possible to blend heartbreak and escapism in the same track? This album succeeds at it over and over and over again.
Second single “10 Seconds” pulls the man widely credited with having the best success at articulating the sound of Lauryn Hill, Salaam Remi, into the studio, and he succeeds with “10 Seconds,” a terrific ballad that discusses the nature of a woman succeeding when on the brink of extreme angst. The key formulaic point to remember with this album is that Jazmine Sullivan has accepted the baton of shouldering the blanket of repetitive heartbreak and angst that shrouded the success of Mary J. Blige until 2001’s “Family Affair.” The other huge successes on this album are the duet with Ne-Yo “U Get On My Nerves,” who when not singing over synthetic production on new disasterpiece Libra Scale is the second coming of Smokey Robinson, infusing a well written song about not having to date a do wrong man anymore. “Stuttering” is another song that shows Sullivan’s ability like another melancholy soul pop diva that preceded her, Lauyn Hill, to overpower a lyric with one’s personal emotional strength, the song of meeting a man that exceeds expectation an absolute gem. “Good Enough,” an anthem for plus sized and socially awkward women everywhere is truly wonderful, an expected turn for the songstress but a necessary one to secure her place as a heroine for a very important sector of her fanbase.
This is a great release. However, Jazmine Sullivan has a ton of room left for growth as a singer. She writes a significant portion of her own material, and is being handled by some of the brightest and most talented minds in soul music. However, it is nearly impossible to believe that there is another woman who could be as perpetually attracted to the completely wrong men as Mary J. Blige. It’s also completely impossible to believe that there is anyone who has experienced heartbreak and happiness in twin breaths and plunged into their depths like Lauryn Hill. However, if you look at those as comfortable archetypes to assist Sullivan upon her arrival as a soul diva with potential, then you are aware that the best is truly yet to come.
FOUR OUT OF FIVE STARS
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