Jazmine Sullivan

Jazmine, a Philadelphia native is a native of Philadelphia, and was raised in the city. Her mother Pam was a backing singer at Philadelphia International Records. When she was five the father of her was appointed as one of the cities' Historic Strawberry Mansion curator. Her family later moved into the building's historic structure. She was a graduate in 2005 of the Philadelphia High School for the Creative and Performing Arts where she was an instructor of vocal music. Sullivan performed as the contralto singer for the children's choir and then in the years later, she was a singer in the adults choir. Sullivan was not exposed secular music initially. "I started singing as a soloist at church and a person wanted me to sign up to gospel records at age 11. However, I was not ready to go through with it," she says. "Then the time came that McDonald's was hosting a contest for children in cities of the world I was invited to sing 'Accept What God Gives' on Showtime in the Apollo and the audience was very enthusiastic". She performed with Stevie Wonder at his grandson's birthday party at thirteen. Sullivan signed her first contract to Jive Records when she was fifteen. In the age group of 15 She was signed by Jive Records. The label recorded an entire album in Jive Records however it was never released. Sullivan was then removed by the labels. She maintained a working relationship with Missy Elliott who wrote and recorded a number of the tracks from her debut, such as the brash single "Backstabbers" which was produced by Timbaland and composed by Elliott.