Jazmine Sullivan - “Heaux Tales, Mo’ Tales” Album Review

Story posted February 17, 2022 in CommRadio, Arts & Entertainment by Jah-Preece Landrum

Jazmine Sullivan has done it again: she has blessed the world with another amazing album.

Sullivan is an R&B Singer with a lower register and vocal agility that is arguably unmatched. Similar to legendary artists like Mariah Carey, music critics have had trouble identifying her vocal type.

She is credited for her amazing song-writing skills and has lent her pen to artists such as Frank Ocean, Jennifer Hudson, Anderson Paak,  Mary J. Blige, and many more. Sullivan is also known for her runs, which many artists have claimed are unique and difficult to mimic.

Jazmine Sullivan’s voice is always soulful, buttery, and warm. Since her debut, she has managed to understand and convey the heart of R&B music. Such traits are exactly why Heaux Tales, Mo’ Tales is an album that, whether you can relate to it or not, will make you feel every word.

It’s important to note that Heaux Tales, Mo’ Tales is actually the deluxe edition of Sullivan’s 2021 EP Heaux Tales, which won the Album of the Year award at the BET Awards.

The project features a variety of stories from different women detailing toxic behaviors and past sexual practices. Sullivan follows each tale with a song that recounts feelings towards the experience.

However, the album is not promoting sexual behavior. Instead, it acts as a reflection on regrettable decisions or in other words ‘owning one’s truth.’

The first track, titled “Bodies,” is a perfect example. The song, which acts as the intro to the album, narrates a past habit of partying and frequent sexual engagements. The sense of shame heard in the tone of Sullivan’s deep rich voice is enough to make one feel the same.

“Pick Up Your Feelings” is inarguably the most popular track on the album and has earned Jazmine Sullivan her first platinum plaque. The song embodies confidence in one’s body and reassures that one can choose who to share it with.

“Girl Like Me” exhibits more pain as Sullivan narrates the story of a woman who uses sex as a superpower to make up for her lack of confidence.

“Hurt Me So Good” is Sullivan’s own tale. She describes a time when she craved desire and validation. The idea of being alone scared her so much, Sullivan did everything she could to maintain a relationship that she described as toxic.

The album ends with a track titled “Selfish.” Sullivan decides it is time to be selfish and put herself first for once. She encourages ending any negative relationships as it can be detrimental to one’s mental health.

This project is most certainly Sullivan’s most explicit project to date. It features Ari Lennox, Anderson. Paak, and H.E.R.

The layout is deliberate and makes the album feel like a storybook converted into a soulful musical. It is a unique and articulate design that assists in emphasizing the message of the album: One should not be ashamed of his or her past.

Of course, Sullivan has always demonstrated a keen ability for storytelling. Sullivan is currently on tour and fans continue to gush over this recent album release. However, fans still hope to see more come from the incomparable Jazmine Sullivan.

Rating: 9/10
Reviewer’s Favorite Song: “Lost One,” “Girl Like Me,” “Hurt me So Good,” and “Selfish”
Reviewer’s Least Favorite Songs: N/A

Jah-Preece Landrum is a third-year majoring in telecommunications. To contact him, email him at jahpreecelandrum@gmail.com.