Jazmine Sullivan

Jazmine Sullivan is a native of and was raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Her mother Pam is a former vocalist for the backup band of Philadelphia International Records. When she was 5 years old, her father landed job as curator at Philadelphia's Historic Strawberry Mansion in the Strawberry Mansion section, and her family moved into the historic landmark. In 2005 she graduated from the Philadelphia High School for the Creative and Performing Arts with the vocal music major. Sullivan performed as the contralto for the youth choir, and later sang in the adult choir. Sullivan's exposure to secular music was initially minimal "I had solos singing in church and someone wanted me to be a part of the gospel label at age had turned eleven, however I wasn't at the point of doing that," she recalls. "I had the privilege of being able to be chosen for in a McDonald's contest, where youngsters from cities across the country the opportunity to perform 'Accept what God Allows'. The audience responded very well." In the year 13 she sang to Stevie Wonder for his grandson's birthday celebration. Sullivan was 15 when she, was first signed to Jive Records. There, she recorded the entire album but the album was never released. Sullivan was eventually removed from the label. The singer maintained a relationship with Missy Elliott who wrote and recorded many of the tracks from her debut, including the buzz single "Backstabbers" that was written and produced by Timbaland and written by Elliott.