Jazmine Sullivan is the best artist to ever ive on this side of the Earth,, how could you comepare her to j.hudson.. jazmine would sing circles around j.hudson in her sleep! Jazmine sullivan is juss the best and yes she does remind me of Phyliss. Jazmine sullivan has been out since she was 12 years old.. ad j.hudson juss came out.. GE ME OUT OF HERE.. how could you even compare the to of them ? idiots !

Ooh wee...

In my opinion, it's definitely just a matter of taste here. I like both ladies as well, but will ALWAYS put Jazmine ahead. For me, I grew up listening to mostly Gospel music, by choice, which is why I'm always playing catch up to most of you here that know R&B, Soul, Hip-Hop, etc. so well. That being said, I immediately felt in love with Jazzy because her voice channels my favorite female Gospel vocalists (kim burrell, dorinda clark-cole, karen clark-sheard, etc.) yet doesn't sound too churchy that she turns me off. I just don't understand it when ppl consider her talent as 'average' or better yet I don't even understand some of the 'wannabe' Lauryn Hill references..But like cornfed said, her unreleased stuff, though a lot are covers, kills much of what ended up on her album and truly shows her skills a lot more. I like Jennifer as well, but just feel since Dreamgirls, her music hasn't completely broken away from that mold (just like Bey spent an annoying year or so growling and yelling because she still felt like Deana Jones). It's like Broadway gone R&B, and I just can't get with it sometimes even though I like her voice. I'd also really like to see her in more films and really look forward to seeing Jazmine too, but at the end of the day, comparing these two is like comparing Biggie and Tupac for G.O.A.T. That's just me tho..

Don't make me hit you wit' my pocketbook.

nOvaMatic   |   February 19, 2009 9:19 PM   |   Permalink

audiodiva, well said...

but jazzy >> j-hud still lmao.

Well put Audio Diva.

To put my "two cents" down on this heated discussion, I believe that while both ladies have beautiful voices, whenever I hear Jennifer's music on the radio, I turn the station. I can't stand hearing that generic sounding "R&B". I don't even believe that she should be included on this sight. When I think of "soul" I think of music that moves me in some way. Whenever I hear "Lions, Tigers and Bears" by Jazmine, it moves me. Jennifer's music, however, does not.

Audio Diva wins.

nOvaMatic   |   February 19, 2009 7:24 PM   |   Permalink

@ Butta: You may like Jean Terrell and her time with The Supremes from 1970-1973, especially their first outing, 1970's "Right On." She has a soul stirring vocal workout approach with a splash of churchiness.

Donna has pretty cool range as well, and I figure you're already hip to Miss Cole. ;) -QH

P.S.-A possible lead, Mary Wilson, longtime member and founder of The Supremes is headlining a show of four days, starting today, at the prestigous Blues Alley. I'm flying out tomorrow for a Saturday show, just something you may wanna jump on.

Whoa, the heat is on here! First off, I like Jazmine and Jennifer equally...two great vocalists, on their OWN accord, but I think we are all putting the cart before the horse here. Whitney Houston had THREE albums out before she even did 'Bodyguard' and Jaz and Jen are sitting at one album a piece, Jaz's underpromoted debut one and Jen's mediocre Grammy winning debut. It's really unclear where these two ladies are going to go, even though you can kind of gauge with Jen because of an Oscar and a Grammy win but sometimes awards don't mean squat unless you can keep putting out quality material.

Second, we have not seen Jaz's acting ability, what if she sucks? Then will she be the next J. Hud? We have to see, so I'm not going to base my decision until I see her on screen giving a geniune performance. So we'll pause on that...

Third, really, how can Jaz be the next J. Hud when J. Hud is just now being prepped as...dare I say, the next Whitney Houston...give homegirl a chance to have a couple of more hits, before we start comparing her with someone else. And we must remember how underpromoted Jaz has been in the mainstream...Maybe this movie role will get her name out, but for now, Jaz is going to have to pull her weight just like every singing diva before her.

Why all the hate? I like them both. Though J-Hud is older and Jaz had the slightly better album, I don't understand why people feel the need to bash one just to praise the other? I guess that what being a "stan" is all about.

Why Jaz Sullivan could portray Phyllis Hyman.

"In Love With Another Man"

'Nuff said.

LOL.

For those ripping into Jazmine Sullivan, I'm wondering what you tone deaf kats are hearing. Now Jazmine's unreleased material was largely better than what got placed on "Fearless," and "Lions, Tigers and Bears" has recently tested her live vocals (that and touring so hard on this project without breaks), but Jazzy kills JHud. I love the power of Jennifer's voice, but her material is crappy synth pop and she has been--and remains--inconsistent in her control. Jazmine is a more substantive and nuanced artist, one listen to "I'm In Love With Another Man" should shut all this chatter down about vocal skill and interpretive abilities. The only thing that JHud has done that comes close to Jazmine's material is "All Dressed Up In Love," and even that was because of the vocals not the tune. We have heard Jennifer's writing abilities on her limited released EP and they weren't that good. Jazzy wins again, long live Jazzy!

@ QH: Ah, I see. Now I get it after seeing your preferred artists. I can appreciate all of the musicians who you named, but I tend to really be moved by those soul-stirring, church-choir-soloist-sounding types of singers. You can't help who you dig and who you don't.

Now that that's settled (LOL), I'm personally looking forward to seeing what Jazmine Sullivan has in store on the acting front. Hopefully we'll all be pleasantly surprised in that her acting will be natural along the lines of a Jennifer Hudson and not forced as is often the case with Beyonce.

@ Butta: It's cool. I tend to be a hothead for a Pisces and I didn't mean to get so upset. While I'm not impressed by Ms. Sullivan, my comment most likely came from anger.

I prefer the sounds of the aformentioned Brenda Russell, Phyllis Hyman, Mariyln McCoo & Florence LaRue (of The 5th Dimension), Mary Wilson & Jean Terrell (of The Supremes), Natalie Cole, Donna Summer, Amel Larrieux, etc.

I respect Aretha, Lyn, and Mavis, but they don't move me too much. Which may explain my not being fond of Ms. Sullivan. Not to say I don't like more traditional soul vocalists, but I guess am moved by a lot more uncoventional black female voices, lol.

All in luv.-QH

@ QH: No disrespect intended with my TV One comment. Was meant as a joke, but it came across as rude and for that I apologize.

In essence I just don't understand the vitriol toward Jazmine Sullivan. To call her a "ridiculous post-neo-soul reject" is not only harsh but it makes me seriously question if you know your music as you claim. Jazmine is vocalist in the tradition of Aretha Franklin, Mavis Staples, Lyn Collins, etc. Clearly its a matter of taste. One man's treasure is another man's trash. Fine if Jazmine Sullivan isn't your cup of oolong but I'm floored by your "analysis".

This is an interesting post. You are comparing a cameo as a band singer, to a breakout role. Jennifer Hudson is an amazing talent and she is a real singer in my opinion. She didn't win American Idol, but there was widespread shock and dismay from people in the industry such as Elton John, Barry Manilow, and others when she was eliminated. She sing's with a lot of conviction and it is that ability that allows her to overcome even some mediocre material. Granted some people are not a fan of her vocal runs, but she has already gotten better at controlling those. I admit her album was mediocre, but there were some good songs on there. Secondly, she is a good actress. She didn't just sing her way to an Oscar, she acted. I love Jazzy too, and she's got a great voice and she is a talented songwriter but not every cut on her album was a great either. People should stop saying that Jhud is just getting more famous because of her family tragedy. She was already a big deal before that, and yes that story of loss does striek a chord with people. I don't think we've seen the best she has to offer in music, so I'm excited about her second project. I suggest you all catch J.Hud in concert with Robin Thicke, to see if she can bring it in a live performance.

Pretty heated discussion....I fall on the side of those that give the edge to Jazmine Sullivan. J Hud did not have mass appeal until Dreamgirls and then her personal tragedy really endeared her to the public. J Hud did not win American Idol.

I think the real comparison for Jazmine Sullivan is Alicia Keys, but that introduces new dynamic. But's let do it for S&Gs.
Both childhood prodigies.
Both signed at an early age
Both write their own material
Both signed by clive davis to J records.
Both had very strong lead singles.
One had a strong second single.
One had the more critically acclaimed album, but the other was heavily promoted despite a lackluster second single and had mega sells.

What is the difference?????

Although, I was slightly disappointed by Jazmine's album I am more hopeful for her growth as writer and singer because she is so young. J Hud is loud and she real needs to work on vocal control and her album was very bland.

@ Ro: I agree. J-Hud is average as well, but I don't see the point in comparing them since they both have their own way being generic. I guess J-Hud isn't as grating to me as Sullivan is.

And it isn't about the film role of playing Miss Hyman being a commercial or critical breakout for Sullivan. It is about finding someone worthy in every way of channeling the ethos of Phyllis Hyman, not just because she is the solvent to the generic crisis in modern soul and R&B. Much luv and respect to you though.-QH

@QH: I would argue that for as talented as JHud truly is her album was more generic than a store-brand, and was definitely more "average, BET J fare" than "Fearless."

In regard to crossing-over to film, I don't know if this small role will be her big acting break. It certainly doesn't sound like an Effie-level part that could gain her the critical acclaim Hudson got in her debut.

@ Butta: My dear, I did see the special and interviewed Jason A. Michael who wrote "Strength of a Woman," the book that Unsung ripped their basic blueprint for the special from. With no credit TO Mr. Michael I might add.

Also, I own every Hyman CD and LP released. I would not cast Beyonce, but nor would I cast some ridiculous post-neo-soul reject to portray one of greatest, most slept-on vocalists (worth title of vocalist I might add) to portray her in a film of her life and times. Dont assume because I'm not a fan of Sullivan, that means by default I support Knowles, that is a bit stereotypical, wouldn't you say?

I have yet to hear what Ms. Sullivan can do that would bring her close to the heights of Hyman classics such as: "I Don't Wanna Lose You," "Falling Star," "I Found Love," "This Too Shall Pass," the list goes on. The only women worthy of sharing a stage with Ms. Hyman would be her three other contemporaries, and women who helped bridge jazz and R&B in the late '70's and throughout the '80's :Brenda Russell, Angela Bofill, and Miss Patti Austin.

You know REAL singers, who don't need bloated hype to get them out there. All with unique vocal approaches and sounds that are original. You're a cool chick, but that comment about TV One was quite unneeded. I know my music.-QH

@QH: Clearly you didn't see UnSung: Phyllis Hyman on TV One. It's on one of those Black channels so you may have missed it. But Jazmine does have the look of a young Phyllis and she has the chops to tackle her material. And appeal is relative. For the majority of her career Hyman was no crossover star. Who would you cast? Beyonce? o_O

@ Butta: I am sorry, Sullivan does not have the vocals, look, or appeal to play Miss Hyman. For someone to portray her, and capture her true appeal they will most likely need an unknown actress/singer to do this, not someone established.

I hope that some casting director has the foresight to cast Jazmine in the role of Phyllis Hyman whenever they make that film.

I have honestly tried to get into her (JS), and personally I think she is a lot of bloated hype, no disrespect to her fans. She's just an average, BET J fare vocalist with an average sound, personally there are far more talented young ladies and gents out there.

With that said, I don't see where this comparison comes in. While both contemporary R&B acts, they have two distinct approaches to their sound. Apples and oranges. But while I am not a fan of either, I would roll with J-Hud...at least her songs aren't as grating.-QH

I listened to these albums in the same evening after they were both released. The next day I bought Jazmine's.

That's all.

Ugh--I hope she's not the next JHud. I love that woman's voice but I absolutely can't stand her music; it's that American Idol, puffy pop, soul-less sound that won't ever find its way onto my playlists, despite its constant rotation on pop radio. Just one good song outside the Dreamgirls soundtrack. That's all I'm asking.

But Jazmine? She's just sick with it. And I hope that in her quest for a wider audience, she doesn't lose her soul. Her voice/music/songwriting means too much to R&B for it to be watered down for mass consumption. I want her to grow, but not in THAT way.

Nope. Jas can't cross over. She's good at what she does but Jenny has universal appeal that's already been proven. Why does one have to replace the other anyway? Can we say crabs in a bucket...

I don't think she's the next JHud, I think she's the next Jazmine Sullivan. Both ladies have pipes out the wazzoo, but Jazmine is a writer and if her current work, "Fearless" is evidence of her writing skills to come, then still there won't be real comparison betwixt her and JHud, until JHud steps up on the writing front (if ever). Both ladies are mad talented and can blow, but I believe Jazmine has JHud beat by the writing end of things. I'm happy Jaz was nominated; am ready to see her live and am definitely waiting on new material as I've about worn a hole in my Fearless cd. LOL.

Dare I say Jazz is more talented, AND even sexier. Baby doll is about to blow up....................