Reviews (page 5 of 7)
Some great tunes! But also a few duds. Frank ocean meets deangelo
I need more time to take this in.
This is a super-interesting and bold album that has some truly funky tunes exploring important topics. That said, I'm a white male prude who listens to music that doesn't challenge or intimidate me too much so I still have a way to go to feel this might be for me.
Pleasant enough rnb. Not sure specifically why on list?
3.5/5. This was alright. Not bad, but nothing amazing.
I listened to this on a weekend, and didn't have a great opportunity to really focus on this album. This was okay overall. Nothing I really didn't like, but nothing that particularly stood out. I'd like to listen again while better being able to focus on it.
Too many skits. Good music
cool?
Not bad, but certainly nothing exceptional.
Jazmine Sullivan has a wonderful voice and chooses her collaborators well. But this is an EP where the idea of it(women taking control of their sexuality and grappling with their places in a man’s world) is more intriguing than the execution.
I guess I grasp the accolades here. Giving voice to women and using true stories and feelings drive the expression in each song. It’s a novel approach. I think my favorite song was the last one, Girl Like Me, but many were good. Some parts of these stories, like where people express materialistic goals as some form of liberation, just makes me sad that they aren’t looking at their own self worth first. But I guess part of the point is just to listen to how they feel. So this gets that across.
3.5. Decent overall album, fun listen. Lost One is very poignant. Standouts: Price Tags, Lost One, The Other Side.
Some good jams here. Wish I could give it 3.5.
3.5/5
70/100: Never heard of this artist before, but this was a really good album. In general, though, I wasn’t vibing a bunch with how much this album harps on sex. It’s unfair because male artists, especially rappers, do the same thing and no one bats an eye, but it still bothers me then too. If your entire album is just rapping about tits and ass, I’m not gonna listen to it. I felt a similar way hearing Jazmine Sullivan talk about how “that dick spoke to her.” It just doesn’t feel very substantial to me. With that being said, I still enjoyed this album musically. The highlight was definitely Anderson .Paak’s verse on “Price Tags.”
That was alright. Felt like I was in an episode of This is Us quite a lot.
Yeah, ok.
Feeling myself with this one. I liked it.
This is a funny one. I think the vibe and themes on the album are great, I love it's honesty to a fault, I think the skits are great and the features are great too. There's a lot to love. Unfortunately, what let's it dow is the fact that the tunes just aren't that memorable!
Este lo escuche cuando p4k lo puso como mejor álbum del 2021 y aunque no me parece malo creo que estoy muy desacuerdo en esto de que sea el mejor disco del año, en mi opinión hubo mucho mejores pero bueno tampoco soy muy fan del género.
Good R&B, but the only weird parts were when the singer talked between songs about her personal experiences.
Interesting to hear something so new on the list, seems like pretty progressive hip-hop but overall not my thing, sounds pretty typical for R&B these days.
I found it more interesting than expected, though I feel it could be a bit generic at points. As part of the series it seems kind of early to put this as a must-listen, but if you're gonna put anything by Jazmine Sullivan this ain't a bad place to start. I've heard stronger and more memorable R&B though, so I don't know how often I would return to this.
I knew this one was on the list, and frankly, I dreaded the day it would pop up on this app. Not because it is a bad album by any means. As a matter of fact, the music in it can be pretty good at times, especially on its last half, with the groovy, A-Tribe-Called-Quest-flavored "Price Tags" (featuring Anderson Paak), or the minimalistic-yet-moving, acoustic-guitar-driven "Lost Ones" and "The Other Side". But the problem is, can this record be seriously considered as 2021's album of the year, just as Pitchfork, Entertaiment Weekly or NPR said? I mean, really? If you take a look at all the other records released that year, I can at least see twenty other that could win that trophy instead of Heaux Tales, and this in a wide variety of genres. So what did those critics see in this record that I couldn't see? Or, should I rather say, what did they *fail to see* that makes this album quite *corny* sometimes (and even problematic on some of its songs)? First let me elaborate on that issue of critics conveniently NOT drawing attention to the obvious flaws of this record. Seems to me they singled out this loose concept album about African American women's agency because they couldn't agree on a less "topical" record, where music would be at least as important as the lyrics. So they chose a record that looked like it made a strong overall topical statement instead. I'm not too bothered by this, but that default consensus also implies they didn't know where to look to find good stuff. To be honest, I fear that retrospective looks on the year 2021 will be harsh on such critics' choice. But maybe I'm wrong, who knows? Now about the flaws themselves, at least as I see them: First the music. As I said before I quite like the songs on the second side. I also admit that Sullivan's strand of modern r'n'b / nu soul has a wide stylistic range, just as her very nice voice has. The thing is, as wide as that stylistic range is, it seems to me that tracks such as "Put It Down" or "On It" of the first side are way too generic musically speaking. There are probably dozens of other female r'n'b singers out there doing that sort of stuff better than those borderline-clunky tunes here. And since the album is *very* short, that couple of clunky tunes takes its toll on the whole thing. Now comes the moment I truly dreaded, which is explaining why I think the "message" of this album is terribly awkward at times. What starts as a record defending women (especially African American ones)'s right to own their sexualities and bodies against patriarchal prejudice too often ends up being muddled by the *other* important theme of this record, clearly emerging in tracks such as "Price Tags" and "The Other Side": and that theme, just as in many other hip hop / r'n'b records of the last twenty years, is good old Capitalism. Sullivan here naïvely rehashes tired and worn-out clichés about "success" in America, suggesting that true emancipation from mysogynistic prejudice against the liberation of women can't be accomplished without having access to money and material goods. True, you can also interpret all of this as a realistic commentary about said capitalism and its sway on us all. But frankly, if there is self-irony in Jazmine's takes on the issue, it needs to be more clearly stated. Before anyone tells me that *as a male*, I'm not well positioned to address such criticisms about how ambitious women can navigate through the challenges of the world of success and money, let me just point out that I would express the exact same reproach about a whole chunk of Jay-Z's songs, that is to say songs expressing a similar idea from a male point of view. OK, I'm also *white*, so I understand if someone takes my skepticism with a huge grain of salt. But I won't pretend that skepticism of mine isn't there. If the "message" here is that individuals should just get rich to be "free" (obviously at the expense of those who *can't* get rich), I can't possibly *fully* condone it. It doesn't matter what my gender or my skin color are. It's a matter of principle, as far as I'm concerned. On a more positive note, and to go back to Sullivan, I readily admit that she does pepper her *Heaux Tales* with very funny one-liners once in a while. But even there, I find there's something lacking in the execution and overall presentation of that humorous side of things. One striking example is when she mentions her "pussy is wetter than water" in one song to then say it is "wetter than Chesapeake Bay" on the NEXT one. Objectively, the second joke is funnier. But by the time you get there, having heard the first one takes off the edge of the second one-liner. Repetition here makes the whole idea sound tired and lazy instead. Just as some of the music, actually. As a conclusion, I can see many missed opportunities in this record. The whole thing is not so bad, but it's not brilliant either. Admittedly, I've only properly listened to it three times by now. Maybe there are intents and subtleties I didn't properly perceive during those few spins, so I'm ready to give Jazmine Sullivan the benefit of the doubt here. But not much more than this. There are things that all the money in the world *can't* buy. Number of albums left to review or just listen to: 845 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory: 83 Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 39 (including this one) Albums from the list I will certainly *not* include in mine (many others are more important): 32
i love this concept for the album!! it's so daring even in the year 2021. the stories in spoken word format in between the songs is a brilliant choice. the stories are varied but still are women's stories. i loved hearing the different perspectives! sullivan touched on so many topics that are important to women and in such a well done way. the album's actual music was good but it didn't really grab me. an enjoyable listen and i was able to really listen to the lyrics.
7th July 2022 Listened while walking in to work from Douggie’s. Drove back home and painted the ceiling in the evening. Really liked this, down to earth with a strong feminist message and some tight beats and lines.
Heaux Tales is a very poignant album, released in 2021, with themes of feminism, sexuality, classism, body-shaming and all other struggles that women face, and seems to have become even more relevant in mid 2022. Having never heard of Jazmine Sullivan she is not my general go to listen or even something to have in rotation on a playlist, however I can see the importance of this album in the overall worldview. Best: Pick Up Your Feelings Worst: The Other Side
Huh. Can't really say this was my thing but I appreciated it just the same. A very honest, soulfully sung album. I wasn't in love with any of these tracks but they were all solidly good. "Lost One" was by far my fave.
Goed album en toffe listen maar nu niet iets dat (al) in deze lijst thuis hoort imo
Soul. R&B
Þyrfti kannski að hlusta aftur og hlusta betur á textann, en ég veit ekki hvort ég nenni því. Fín tónlist en ekki mjög eftirminnileg.
allt i lagi bara eins og meirihlutinn af plötunum herna...
I'm really not a modern R&B guy, I have never heard of this album or artist before. Even though this is not a genre that I like, generally I can't deny the quality and uniqueness of this album. The spoken word intros are interesting and generally delivered with a sincerity and conversational style that lends an authenticity that I found provocative. The songs are strong and intelligent. I appreciate the brevity of this album as well. 3.5 🌟
Sin pena ni gloria. No sé qué pinta en este listado. Canta bien.
Unusual to hear a concept R&B album. It was pretty good, but probably not something I’ll come back to.
contemporary r&b, bit slick for a scruffy manc
3/5 I liked it, her voice was quite distinct to the average hip hop colored woman's voice. But in terms of the album itself, it's just nothing new or different to it. Still liked it tho
The production was quite nice and the theme of the album was different than what I am used to hearing (in a good way). The music itself is a bit derivative, but she sings well and has a nice voice.
Buen disco
Interesting, but not really my thing.
This was a pretty interesting RnB album, I appreciate the narrative elements woven into it.
Not my style AT ALL. Charmed anyway.
2021? Dakle, vidim da je ovaj album prošao meni preko glave ili stvarno nisu ni pitchfork, ni consequence ni reddit gdje pronalazim albume iz istoimene godine rekli nešta o ovom EP-ju. *Osvrt*: I dig that concept shit, općenito. Podsjeća me na Little Simz - Sometimes I Might Be Introvert, ali samo u vezi koncepcije. Tematika se tiče seksualnosti, odnosa i osjećaja u vezi toga, to je što sam pohvato. Prvi dio me nije baš nešta držao, ali pjesme poput: Lost One, The Other Side i Girl Like Me su mi digli za zvjezdicu. Vjerujem da će ovo biti nekako Anitin štih, da će joj bit ovaj EP dobar, bar bolji nego što je meni.
Not my thing, but an accomplished piece of work
Not bad
Enjoyed this album and made a change from what I've heard this far. The music reminded me of Missy elliot and the lyrics seemed to tackle issues!
Listenable but not outstanding
It wasn't bad, but nothing stood out for me.
some sexy r+b
Lot's of nuanced sex in this album. I doubt that I'm the ideal demographic of this album, but I appreciated Jazmine Sullivan's attempt at pulling back the curtain to expose realities and thoughts of her audience. That was enough for me to engage with this album. Different self-reflection interstitials connect themes of sexuality and feminism and provide short glimpses into the headspace of the artist. These are the highlights of this album. The 'tales' are short (each one less than two mins.) and convey candid, and I assume genuine, thoughts from different women about the pussy, the money and the self-worth. The tales are relatable (even for those without vaginas) and the effect on the listener is a stronger connection to her music. In an age where artists are defined more by their carefully choreographed social media splashes than their music, it's a welcome change that JS has opted for. The inclusion of some authenticity seems to be counterintuitive for aspiring singer / songwriters but that's what I love about this one.
The 1001 albums generator has embraced the updated edition, and after a long streak of albums that never got more recent than the early 90s, here comes "Heaux Tales" from 2021. I think the process of updating a list like this is tricky. It's hard to properly judge the place in music history for an album less than a year old. But to be one of only 2 albums added from this year, this must be a revolutionary, stand out album, right? Well, yes and no. But mostly no. "Heaux Tales" bounces back and forth from fine but not special R&B to short vignettes of women presenting their "tale." The tales offer glimpses of modern sexuality, from the too often overlooked perspective of ordinary women. They are real and raw, but in their rawness and prevalence they dominate the album. They make up 5 of the 14 tracks, and made more of an impression than most of the songs did. One exception from the songs was "Put it Down," which clearly stood out from the rest. While most of the tracks are fairly average R&B, "Put it Down" features a trap beat and a mix of rapping and singing. I generally find trap beats to be super similar and very repetitive, but it was actually put to good use here, and the blending with R&B provided something fresh.
Reminiscent of the miseducation
This album offers an interesting perspective on womens’ self worth, sexuality, and relationship power dynamics. Also interesting is the spelling “Heaux”. I’m always down for the Cajun version of words that rhyme with go (e.g., geaux). I’m not really sure what to make of this album. Is it positive? Negative? Or just is? I lean toward positive. There is some objectification present, similar to what is found in male r&b. However, women have taken over the narrative here. And there are certainly more favorably buoyant views of women than what I’d expect from a male lead. In the end, I like the music, but it’s not really my thing and there are too many interludes for me.
Not a bad little hip hop / neo soul album. Nothing remarkable though interesting conceptually where themes of female (sexual) empowerment. 3.5 🌟
funky and soulful.
Enjoyed more than I thought I would
Honestly it was pretty average R&B. I did really enjoy the songs On It and The Other Side, though.
just not for me I really struggled to connect but she has a great voice
Cool for what it is but not real cool for me. Just couldn't connect to it or really appreciate it.
You know, the other day i was listening to the top one billion albums and i heard this one and thought to myself, woww, this is a must-listen album. -said no one ever Pretty sure when Jazmine herself was making this album, even she wasnt thinking this would make that thousand album list. maybe they had to include an r&b album from 2021, but even then i might have chosen differently. Its mostly about sex, at times contradictory, or as she would probably say contradicktory. maybe im missing something some of the skits were ok
I am so close to throwing in the towel and not doing the last 400 albums, it's been 70/30 on what I've disliked vs what I've liked. Who the fuck is Jazmine Sullivan, I mean really. Apparently she was up for 7 Grammy's, wtf, I have never heard her name mentioned between her 2008 debut and today. Hated every single minute and then you add in a dozen skits, this album Blllllloooooowwwwwsss! Why is Annie Lennox slumming on "On It"? I couldn't even make out her voice. I just don't get it, missed the mark altogether. It sure isn't a Must Listen Before I Die album, in fact just the opposite.
Yeah... nah, good on her for making a women's empowerment album, but that doesn't mean the result will be any good. If the book hadn't come out in 2021, there is no chance that this album would have made the list. The lyricism isn't great, and I'm not a fan of her vocal delivery.
If I wanted some okay r&b intertwined with women yelling at me I would go out to the club
++: Bodies (Intro), Put It Down, Donna's Tale, Price Tags, Rashida's Tale +: Pick Up Your Feelings, Lost One, Precious' Tale +-: Ari's Tale, On It, Amanda's Tale, Girl Like Me -: Antoinette's Tale, The Other Side 6,3/10
Respect the concept, but a tedious listen.
Failed to make an impression on me.
Jazmine you might be a serious contestant in the game "Who can create the most rap trap crap album of the year". Guess that all the youth of today digs this, I don't get it.
Oddly enough I've listened to this one before - pulled it from a "best of the year" type of list. I'd marked it as a 4/10 last time. Returning a year later, I'd still put it there or lower. A lot of it's just that I'm very, very much not the target audience for this. But even if you could somehow boil the themes off the songs - convert them to Weird Al parodies or something - I still don't think I'd really be excited by anything here. And then there are the interludes - some real downers. I especially dislike the one ("Rashida's Tale") where she describes the fallout from cheating on her fiancée. We'll say 4/10 means a weak 2 on the 5-star scale.
genérico + vapid e raso
From the Vault #39 (March 4, 2026) Wooooooo!!!! The final hip-hop album ever. I'll never have to listen to another one of these things again. Well, I didn't finish writing my review of Paul's Boutique and I completely forgot to listen to Ill Communication, but other than that, this is my last hip-hop album ever forever. It's been a long fucking ride. I'm so glad that it's (very nearly) over. I kind of dig this album cover. The colour palette is nice, I like the typography and the logos at the bottom are pretty sweet. The jury is out on what it could be, however. I'm getting Cardi B vibes from this photo of Jazmine, so I'm expecting this album to have a buzzing electronic sound with aggressive vocals. Here goes I was kind of wrong, but I was also kind of right, surprisingly. I mean, I don't want to politisperg too hard, but this album is perfectly aligned with the politics of the book. A "feminist" album from a Black woman about hedonism and excess under the guise of female empowerment. Very semitic, though more importantly it's kind of surreal to return to this lame, gay period of the lockdowns. You don't really see the left defending sex work and promiscuity to the extent that they were during this period. Here's to that runtime, aye? These hip-hop albums have been too long for too fuuuuucking long. It is so unbelievably perfect to close out the current hip-hop line-up with something that is actually short and concise. This music is okay. The instrumentals are generally listenable and there's a decent, warm sound to many of these tracks. I especially like the misty, echoing acoustic guitars that appear across many of these songs - they have a good sound and create a nice atmosphere. The more conventional, electronic hip-hop production on the remaining tracks is less inspired and I dislike the trap beats, but there isn't anything in here that bothers me too much. The vocals are a different story, however. Jazmine's vocals are mastered in an annoying way, and the guest vocalists are even worse. They're all too loud and uncharismatic for this style of music. Overall, I dislike the subject matters and performances on this album, though there wasn't too much in here that chafed. I don't have a scan of the 2021 1001 Albums book, so right to Wikipedia I go :( Has a few collaborators and many producers, is a concept album about feminism and shiett, won two awards for album of the year in addition to receiving similar accolades from the music press, is her most successful release in the US, but didn't have much chart success elsewhere. No idealism. No standards. I'm letting this album through because we need more short albums on the list. It's also a decent representation of the time period that it released in and I have a deficit of albums to replace this with, therefore I cosign this inclusion.
Never even heard about this artist but that doesn't surprise me at all due to genre. This album falls into slot of positive nonsense. Listening this doesn't bother me but doesn't provide much.
Mostly boring, one-in-a-million R&B stuff, but there were a few good songs as well, for example “Pricetags.” Don’t know if the feat lifted it up or what, but anyway, it was that song and maybe two other songs that earned this album its second star. So 2/5 from me. Those interludes are a major downer for me on albums like this. I don’t really get why they’re there.
#473 / 1089 Heard before? ❌ Revisit? ❌ ✅ I've not even glanced at local mainstream charts for so long, that I don't even recognise many of the artists names, let alone US r'n'b ones. I've no idea what to expect, since the whole of top of American r'n'b charts has been mediocre dance music as long as I remember. Well, this one turned out to be hiphop beats with vocal acrobatics, not much music between them. Strong female message is cool, but doesn't carry very far for me when it is actual music I'm looking for. Weak 2/5 for me.
Not my genre clearly, and having read the description apparently it's considered feminist? Well, the sexuality aspect is really far away from my reality, I get that many people care about it a lot, however it doesn't sound very empowering. Like having sex with a man to get something? Looking for a man to pay for you? That's kind of the most patriarchal model one could come up with. And then there's the obsession with money... If this is all earnest I'm quite sad for people who have such worldview. That said, there were some catchy parts like the song Pick up your feelings and her voice is quite good too. Wouldn't listen to it again, but it's not completely unlistenable like some of the other albums I had to endure, therefore 2 stars.
I’m really happy for her, but this isn’t my thing. I hope she’s doing well.
Mid album. Subject matter from a woman's perspective on sex/dick. Opposite of men rapping about hoes. But the beats where nice!
What a joke to include this album
mid r&b interspersed with weird preachy annoyances
Didn't get much from this tbh. Probably should have paid more attention.
ok
More evidence of R&B not being my thing. There's quite a bit of variety here, though, and I liked "Pick Up Your Feelings" and "Price Tags," but in general the sound is not one I vibe with.
390/1001 Jasmine Sullivan - Heaux Tales Heard before? ❎ Revisit? ❎ First song in, I thought uh oh this is going to be an auto-tune mess of an album, but moved away from that, however this is very run of the mill when it comes to R'n'B beats etc. It's frustrating, as she does actually have something to say, rather than falling into the clichés typical of the genre.
Ultimately, this album isn't for me. While R&B is rarely a genre I reach for, I have a far greater appreciation for classic 1960s and 1970s Soul and R&B than for contemporary iterations. The modern, loop-driven, hip-hop-adjacent production here feels stark and one-paced, chasing an atmospheric mood that falls entirely flat for my ears. Two stars. 1 "Bodies (Intro)" (3/5) 2 "Antoinette's Tale" (1/5) 3 "Pick Up Your Feelings" (3/5) 4 "Ari's Tale" (1/5) 5 "Put It Down" (2/5) 6 "On It" (2/5) 7 "Donna's Tale" (2/5) 8 "Price Tags" (2/5) 9 "Rashida's Tale" (2/5) 10 "Lost One" (2/5) 11 "Precious' Tale" (2/5) 12 "The Other Side" (3/5) 13 "Amanda's Tale" (2/5) 14 "Girl Like Me" (3/5) Total - 30 Average - 2.1 399/1001 209/399 albums reviewed were new to me.
I have already forgotten about this album.
R&B interessante. A temática do álbum é dinheiro. Os vocais são bem marcantes. É um álbum legal na mensagem mas apenas ok musicalmente. Soa bem genérico. CVJ Kira.
I wasn’t too impressed with this
Hip Hop, 63 eme album =>2/5. Répétitif comme d’habitude, mais le chant passe plutôt bien. Et l’album est court, surtout quand on zappe les interludes.
It’s fine, decent sound, mildly interesting lyrics: more like an intriguing EP than album of the year
Around half the tracks on this are spoken word pieces, they are all short but still take away those five minutes from the runtime and you've got under half and hour of actual music It feels like an EP rather than an album to me and I'm not sure why this is on the list as it doesn't really stand up well to Beyonce or SZA's recent efforts.
No standouts
Feminist rap/r&b - not bad but I don’t need to listen to this again
I like how she talks to me in little bits songs were quite nice but not too nice
Pretty voice. Lots of Me Too language. End of the day, it’s a lot of bitching about fucking of fighting with their N****s. I do hate that word. ABSOLUTELY nothing special.
Only 32 minutes in duration, so I managed to get through this album about female sexual politics and empowerment, but I am clearly not a member of the audience this was intended for. As a middle aged male, I, nor anyone I know, holds the antiquated views that she is raging about. Jazmine Sullivan is a sexual creature and she makes sure you know it.....many times. So, it is not an essential album for me, but perhaps it is for a horny female listener. On the musical level, I couldn't detect any production experimentation that would differentiate or elevate this from any other R&B album over the past 3 decades. If you are into the genre it is worth your time. Yes there are interludes, but they are respectful of your time and attention with them. Having said that, I will be surprised if this album survives on the list long term. It should not go unsaid that I did enjoy a break from the taken far too seriously singer songwriters that litter this list.
Never listened. Expectations: None - Verdict: Not For Me - The opening track gives me the impression of a female Frank Ocean type thing. Pick Up Your Feelings is a decent track but I find Put It Down somewhat generic. On It is a bit boring but I do like some of the vocals. Price Tags is alright, I like the Anderson .Paak feature. The rest kind of blends into a nice sounding but not particularly interesting collections of songs.
Probably not bad if you're into this kind of music, but it's a sound I don't enjoy at all.
Nope, nope, nope. Not for me. Uh huh. No, no, no
Nice
This album falls squarely into one of my musical pet peeves: when an artist (and it is usually a solo singer) doesn't have any actual music in their songs. There are tones. There’s a drum loop if you’re lucky. There are the sounds of synths doing . . . something. But there is no actual music. It is like they want you to concentrate on their voice and not get distracted by melody or rhythm or anything else. They can't get away with putting out a purely a cappella album - only real superstars like Pentatonix and Rockapella can be so bold - but this is the next best (or actually worst) thing. Lyrically, I suppose I am glad that women whose IQ isn’t quite low enough for the special class, but is so close that the difference is almost imperceptible, have someone making music that speaks to them. You go girls!
Reminds me a lot of 'The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill' which I've heard earlier on the list already. I liked the R&B parts more than the hip-hop parts Standouts Pick Up Your Feelings 2/5
She makes TLC seem like conservatives.
Provocative title but I found it pretty dang boring.
💀💀💀
This one disappointed me. Was not a fan of the interludes between songs.
who is this this was released in the last 5 years what is it doing here fr tho, not bad album bit outside my wheelhouse, dunno if i'd go back
I just found the whole album to be immature.
Ik denk dat ik wel snap wat ze probeerde te doen, maar het was helaas niet echt iets voor mij.
4/10
This was interesting but didn't particularly grab me. Probably needs more than one run, but it's not really in my wheelhouse.
Not bad. Just not my thing.
I just really don’t understand the point of this album being on this list. Out of all of the 2020s R&B, you could pick this one just doesn’t really do it for me.
I really don’t enjoy rnb, so I struggled hard with this. It’s hard to stay objective when a particular genre of music grates on you as hard as this one does. I could see how others would enjoy it, and could appreciate what she’s trying to achieve on this album so going 1 star feels a bit harsh
Only reason why this is a 2 is because the candid sex talk feels like it overshadows the music. By another definition, it empowers it, but I physically scrunched my face at "that dick spoke life into me" and "money makes me cum". On the positive, there's fantastic features from H.E.R. and Anderson .Paak as well as the hit "Pick Up Your Feelings" which I know famously as my 9th grade teacher's ringtone. In fact when I used to frequent the AOTY.org community, this album was the hottest thing out. It's technically not even an album. It was labeled as an EP at release - but 14 tracks (8 non interludes) and a little over 30 minutes with a concept? That's an album. In conclusion, I can't get it up (6/10, 2/5 on this scale)
The second newest album on the list. At least until the new edition comes out. I’m deeply skeptical about including recent albums on lists like these, and once again I’m proven right. You have got to let the hype die down before labeling something as must-hear. Mostly it sounds like a pretty generic R&B album from the late 90’s to early 00’s, but with a couple of contemporary elements woven in. Using the rap album skit format to do character sketches is interesting. I guess the main draw is the lyrical content. This is the part of the album I expect will age very poorly. Uncritical appeals to a nebulously defined “empowerment” are de rigueur now, but in another couple of decades the sorts of ideas expressed here will hopefully be widely regarded as regressive and materialistic, much like gansta rap is now. At least “No Scrubs” and “Bills, Bills, Bills” had hooks and didn’t pretend to be political.
half the album was just talking bruh those arent songs they just podcast clips
Mejor que el de Jay Z ayer, estuvo bien.
This one did not do it for me.
Absolute troll pick on this list. Okay singing but wild lyrics. If they had any balls, they would put R Kelly on this list.
This is not typically my thing, but I find myself enjoying the melodies of the early tracks. Lyrically, I wasn't as impressed -- sometimes I wasn't sure if they were meant to be funny or not.
did nto care for this but can t least admire that it's less misogynistic
did kanye ghost write these lyrics?
electric lady without the good bits
2 out of 5. Nice vocals and makes a statement with the tales tracks.
Review - pretty standard R&B. My favourite track was when the album finished and it auto played to How Does It Feel? by D'Angelo. Score - 4/10 Need to listen? NO
Didn't really do anything for me. Nice voice.
I did not think I would like this much, that it'd be a "not my thing but I get why it's good". But I liked it a decent amount! I don't think I'll listen to it again but I'm glad I did.
If nothing else, I appreciate the concept of the album. Even though I'm completely outside of the target audience, it's obviously important for BIPOC women to be represented, particularly in Feminist circles, and exploring sexuality is usually scorned for women. With that being said, the album was literally too quiet. Like, the production itself was non-existent. This felt more like a vibe than an album. Favorite Track: "Pick Up Your Feelings".
This album wasn't to my tastes completely but that being said there were a couple of tracks that I really enjoyed. Favourites: Pick Up Your Feelings Price Tags
The Other side is enigste "çava" nummer. 2 sterren
By genre and overall sound, this is a 2 bordering on 1. But she does have something. I keep not wanting to like it but I can't hate it either. Not an album I will ever reach for again, but I guess it's good I heard it before I died? Maybe? I mean I think I could have died and been OK with out this. So I guess maybe this has fallen back to the 2 range...
Female empowerment for male-centered women
Meh
Сара 2 Марко 2,5
Sex, catharsis, and not enough substance. Heaux Tales feels undercooked for a list that’s supposed to represent the canon. It hasn’t been around long enough to show real influence, and the album itself is slight — 33 minutes with only a handful of actual songs. The tracks we do get are good, but they’re cathartic in a way that feels more like emotional venting than fully formed songwriting. There’s also a reliance on sexual framing that comes off a little gratuitous. Not because sexuality in music is a problem, but because it feels like the album leans on explicitness as a shortcut to intensity. Jazmine Sullivan has the voice, the skill, and the presence to carry an album without needing to foreground “pussy talk” as the main selling point. She doesn’t need that crutch. Overall, it’s a strong snapshot of a moment, but not a fully realized statement and definitely not something that feels ready for canonization. My Rating: 2/5
Apparently this was a top album of 2021 pretty much unanimously? And that was only what like 5 years ago? Anyway time flies and I don't think time has been kind to this album. Jazmine Sullivan doesn't command the room like a Beyonce or Meghan Thee Stallion. Artists like Doechii have done this type of confessional R&B/hip hop much better since then. The album was only 32 minutes but felt more like 72. Disappointing.
Reminded me of Mary J Blige but more cringey. Not too original but some good beats.
Я правда хотів щоб мені сподобався цей альбом. Хотілось зарядитись феміністичною енергією, хотілось щоб альбом змусив мене кричати "ГЬОРЛ ПАВЕР! ТУДИ ЇХ ДІВЧИНКО!" але не зійшлось. Нудні, ненатхненні біти, посередній продакшн, не надто цікаві мелодії, і тільки вокальне виконання рятує цей альбом від потрапляння в 1 зіркову категорію. Оцінка: низька-середня 4
Before this morning, I had never heard of Jazmine Sullivan, which always surprises me with a recent American artist who makes it into this list/project. This is not a genre I'm very interested in, but the music sounds good for what it is. I cannot imagine that I or anyone else needed to hear this before death. I suppose the concept is interesting, with the spoken interludes leading into the songs, but it just didn't do a lot for me.
Just not my cup of team. Like R&B but don't see myself looking into buying this album.
Still not big on the R&B. This was alright but not really my cup of tea.
So given everything that's wrong about male-driven hip-hop: chauvinism and sexism in the lyrics, etc., I don't think the response is to have *equally* sexist and chauvinist lyrics written by a woman. Musically, fine, but doesn't really earn its spot, I think.
I have mixed feelings about this album. On one hand, the production is great with beats that help differentiate Jazmine from the generic pop crap that is on the radio nowadays. And I like the track order too. I don't see many concept albums in this day and age so having a spoken word track preface every track helped cement what each song talked about. However, the lyrics seem contradictory to me? Like sure, this is no different from a male rapper singing about making money and fucking bitches. Women can do that too. But if you're actually trying to empower women and talk about these issues, you should maybe add some of your own commentary to it. Like others have said, the actual lyrics are a bit juvenile. Talking about "the D" and shit like "let me sit on it" just doesn't get your message across. A lot of toxic relationship signs hidden in these songs with women saying "I have sex with my husband because that will get me what I what" or "I want to be rich so I'll sell my body to a pimp". Instead of using those women's stories to benefit yourself - making an album and profiting off them - how about you blame the men for building this society in which some women have no other option but follow those career paths. 2/5
For me, this is not appealing or interesting in any way.
Not my thing, sorry
Rhythm and feel A+. Lyrics on the other hand made me cringe deeply.
I listened to this when it came out and remember none of it. I guess that is worth noting. I guess that'll happen when you put out an album that starts on track 3. Like, I -want- to be for this. That's why I listened to begin with. Women in rap deserve support. Women owning their own sexual agency deserve support. This is all shit I'm for. Conceptually. But in execution? This is B-grade generic hip-pop with C-grade Vagina Monologuing. It doesn't make an impression as music, except inasmuch as it walks a line between overproduction and untuned. But it doesn't even really live up to the salaciousness it suggests. And while sure, songs about money turning her on certainly check out regarding “heauxing”, the only real pushing of the envelope is “On It,” which falls into the common trap: trying too hard to be overt in sexuality and actually sounding like you've never actually had sex. Nothing hits the boldness of a WAP, the tunefulness of a Kiss Me More, not even the single minded mania of a Nicki Minaj rapping about her ass for four minutes. The best bits? The backtrack on Lost One, which could have been something, and the beginning statement of Antoinette's Tale, which isn't very heauxy (only Ari's tale feels remotely confessional) but is at least a political statement. The rest of this sounds like something anyone could write after getting disappointed after a month on tinder. 2*, and proof that you really need to let an album age more than 5 years before declaring it special.
A whole week of classics like Solomon Burke and Merle Haggard and Nirvana… and this is how it ended?
Forgettable. 2.1
I'm so glad it picked up after the first track, because I thought I was going to be in for quite a brutal ride there. Once it picks up and she actually starts singing it becomes a more soulful time and way more listenable. The music for the most part is actually not bad, and pretty good in places even - However, let's be clear, the lyrics and content in this are absolutely fucking awful. The write-up makes it sound like she she's exploring all these vast important themes, but the whole thing is as shallow as a puddle. 2.5 rounded down.
Absolutely nothing special here. It’s definitely in the genre. The artist spends time talking about how great she is, materialistic, and a slave to her desires and cravings. This has been done to death
I can't help but feel that "Heaux Tales" was added to this list too hastily. I don't imagine it will stand the test of time. I expect it will disappear into the noise of the dozens of similar hiphop/R&B albums that have come out in the last few years. 2⭐️
Solid production, but most modern R&B just doesn’t do it for me. This album didn’t do it for me.
OK, this rant may be a little unfair because I don't wirecutter like contemporary R&B to begin with, but I really struggled here. I don't like interstitial taking between all the sings. I don't melismatic singing. I don't like the tinny-sounding production -- and sometimes her voice is tinny whereas at other times it can sound pretty nice. The music mostly feels jittery and chaotic. I will credit the lyrics for often being feminine and powerful. But overall, I don't want to listen to this again.
This was fine. I feel like it's kind of forgettable.
It's okay. Jazmine has some interesting things to say but to me it seems like standard R&B music.
Обкладинка мені подобається))) А музичка ні)
Grammy awards et tout askip, mais je connaissais pas. Pas fan du style RnB, les chants etc., et j'ai trouvé ça boring de fou
abuse les interludes
Les mélodies sont sympa et le sujet important, mais wow les lyrics c’est vide. Et surtout qu’est ce que ça fout là !?
Git doch öppe 20 besseri albe us em 2021. wenns scho so wenig neus in dere liste git chönnts doch wenigstens ultraguet sii.
I like music about female empowerment but this album is just kind of boring. There's some good raw emotion here but nothing to keep me coming back 5/10 Favourite: Pick Up Your Feelings Least Favourite: Lost One
no me encantó y no es mi estilo
Aivan perus pop rnb. Eipä mitään erikoista. Parhaat: The Other Side
Not music I particularly enjoy, and the interruptions with talking were kind of annoying.
Hip hop is probably my favorite genre but albums like this cause its rating to drop
like the message, but the songs.. eh. 2.5.
Very generic and boring R&B album. The atmosphere is just unfun. Most of the vocals is just her stretching out random syllables. It wasn’t painful to listen to, but it defines wasn’t entertaining.
As a concept, creating a set of songs about women being 'Heaux' or 'Hoes' from the perspective of women rather than men in hip hop and R&B labelling women as hoes with very little other context or story, is a smart idea. The layup of also having a woman tell her tale and then Sullivan doing her thing to tell it, is also quite a nice approach - as a concept I can understand its conclusion. In execution terms, the songs are pretty weak, the production is very poor and I couldn't help but think that there are some artists who could have done much better justice to the 'idea' than Jasmine managed. Good candidate for removal on the next edition.
Meh
Not really into it, beats are pretty good, but not a fan of this
All the write-ups on this site are either "patrick bateman talking about heaux lewis and the news" or "guy with Dark Side of the Moon printed Klan hood feverishly telling me he's not racist but..." Can I filter you guys by age? Or voting record? That said, this is a bit thin. Pop feminist stuff which comes from a good place but is overly literal, lacking abstraction and variation which could make it more interesting. The project feels like a nuts and bolts project; simple, direct lyrics and basic, catchy beats which could be interesting but felt to me like something made to overcome writer's block. This got a ton of praise when it dropped (including pitchfork AOTY) and idk I thought 2021 was a pretty tepid year for music & this isn't convincing me otherwise.
Alt for mange interludes og musik der ikke siger mig noget
"Pick Up Your Feelings" is a fine enough song. I don't think this album is dreadful or offensive, but I could think of a thousand and one albums better than it. Wake me from a drunken stupor and I could still probably name like eight hundred.
The songs are okay, but the recorded bits of self-affirmation and therapy session outtakes are where this album truly shines.
I had never listened to Jazmine Sullivan. Really enjoyed the vibe, not blown away.
Extremely listen-to-able but boring R&B. Themes are very mature and explicit.
Not sure why the default version on Apple Music was censored, but it was oddly jarring to not hear cursing. Thought I was on my kids profile for a minute. Not really my style but I can appreciate the concept of it.
Never heard of this artist. It kind of reminds me of Lizzo who I really like. It mostly just sounds like current generic R&B music with the same lyrical phrasing everyone is doing but it is kind of catchy.
2 - Not bad, but not my style. Skits are rarely a good idea.
I support the sentiment of Jazmine here, but this album strays into juvenile tantrum more than it should.
Maso
This really confused me
First album i couldnt finish
SZA’s S.O.S should be on here if this was
It’s fine but sounds a lot like SZA’s SOS album and Doechii’s Alligator Bites Never Heal and I like those two albums a lot more…
Som med många andra album: Bra budskap men musikaliskt inget som tilltalar mig alls. Också så pass nytt att det känns något tidigt att motivera en plats på listan.
I guess viktiga texter men det är inte därför jag är här tyvärr, i övrigt inget som tilltalar mig.
Very odd album for me. Hated the lyrics but enjoyed the beats. Also hated the monologues.
I'm unsure if this music is supposed to be satire or a genuine expression of human emotions and experiences. If it's the latter, Sullivan's life experiences have taught her nothing except that she wants money and that sex is the best way to get it. For all of the feeling expressed in her vocals, her lyrics ring hypocritical as one of the major themes of the music is the independence of women and their struggles, but repeatedly the lyrics remind the listener that men are essential because of their money and their genitals. So what is it, yass queen, are women independent to win their own struggles and make their own mistakes, or are they dependent on men for money and sex? This dichotomy has been explored ad nauseam by other artists, so Sullivan's attempt in this album falls flat as crass and unnecessary.
Nice voice, but hate this shite minimal production modern RnB seems to have these days.
Good concept but I found the songs pretty forgettable
This wasn't bad hip hop. I didn’t really enjoy the interludes/skits and I still don't understand why some albums include them, but this wasn't bad, but wasn't great either. It didn't do too much for me. Liked Songs: "Bodies" , "Pick Up Your Feelings" , "On It" , "Price Tags" , "The Other Side"
No idea how this album was so big and I never knew about it. Honestly it’s a pretty run of the mill R&B soul album. It’s got really good hooks and is a well produced album, but I’m not sure why this one would stick out more than any other in this genre. I get heavy early 2000’s vibes here. I prefer side A and I feel like it tapers off hard on the second side. I actually quite enjoyed “pick up your feelings” and “put it down”
Medium, hat jetzt nicht unbedingt n Platz bei 1001 Alben verdient imho
doesn't even sound good enough to make up for these bird brain corny lyrics. especially knowing this album was picked over an album like fearless?? madness Girl Like Me wasnt bad
No private session used for Spotify. I hate auto-tune, I am not a fan of "spoken word interludes" and not a huge fan of R&B, so I had pretty low expectations on this one. I didn't hate it, but don't want to hear it again. On a positive note is was under 33 minutes.
I can absolutely get down with the content, but musically this genre isn't it for me
Never heard of her previously, at all. So I was interested to hear. As with Amy Winehouse yesterday, this is perfectly good for what it is. I appreciate it but it’s not for me. Not sure why it would be on this list as it does nothing particularly remarkable.
Boring.
Like the concept of the album. But didn't like any of the tracks ...
I understand the concept and idea, but the overuse of auto tune remains so annoying...
Not my cup of tea at all
She's got a good voice, the tunes are half decent, but I found myself ignoring most of it. There are probably people involved in the album who think it's a bit more profound than it is.
Talking before every damn song. Not a fan
What is this? 1001 albums you should hear when you’re horny?!
good message. bad music
47/100. There are definitely some good songs on here that I enjoyed, but as a full listen it felt like a bit of a slog to get through. There’s plenty of social commentary about growing up poor, navigating relationships, and the desire for success and wealth, and I respect how open and personal it is. It just didn’t really click with me musically.
2/5
Overly sexual.
Not great. I respect it but definitely not my kinda music.
Is it an R&B week? I am not happy about it. Not strong neither interesting album.
I don't think I should listen to this album before I die. At least her vocal range is nice and the production is also great.
It was fine. Not to be old man yells at cloud but it sounded like Lauryn Hill but not as good? If these are the best 1000 albums….
Clearly a very strong practitioner in this genre, just a shame I find it hard to love this stuff. Not something that gives me great joy
nope
It's a fine collection of R&B songs, but I don't see what really sets this apart from anything else. 2.5/5.
Ok
Not much to shout home about. And I hate the album cover. Reminds me too much of Spotify playlists. Surely as an artist you want more than this.
The commentary was interesting but nothing really felt like a song.
Did not enjoy
This really isn't very good, it was quite difficult to get through in honesty. I think of plenty other female R&B artists that would be a better choice
Gosto do conteúdo, a reflexão sobre sexo e dinheiro no gênero de Rap/R&B, mas a forma, pra mim, deixa a desejar Acho que gosto de mais originalidade na produção Faixas favoritas: Pick Up Your Feelings
Well that’s the horniest album on the list.
Not my kind of music. Sexhaver RNB
this is some awful bitch-ass shit. Can't listen to much of it with all the autotune whale cries but the message I got was "girl power." That got her a second star.
Mid
loses a star by virtue of not deserving to be in this book
Was gonna say it was decent but too unoriginal but actually listening to the lyrics I hate this. More than half the album is just about wanting to marry rich and spend his money but in a 'female-power' way. It's so stupid and superficial. Also hate the album cover - girl clearly has no fashion sense so why does she need the money anyways
Meh I didn’t find anything outstanding about this album.
Wikipedia says “Heaux Tales” is R&B and hip-hop—basically everything I don't need. Fortunately, I was pleasantly surprised right at the beginning by a tasteful vocal arrangement. Unfortunately, this good impression is destroyed in most of the other songs by the pointlessly monotonous electro beats that were probably necessary for the hip-hop label. A pure vocal album by Jazmine Sullivan, on the other hand, could have been really good. Still not quite my cup of tea, but it could have been much worse!
meh
Urgh. Messages within the album are relevant, but instead of elevating the genre above the misogynistictic shite that talentless trope-hustler Kendrick Lamar pumps out this album flips it to heaux’s and inches instead. I’m saddened that this album exists let alone had a place on this list.
"Heaux Tales is about my observation of today's women standing in their power and owning who they are — No longer is male patriarchy dictating what it means to be a 'good girl.' The truth is, women of all ages have been called a 'heaux' at some point in life, whether deserved or not, by some man trying to put us in our place; a place designed to keep us under control, out of the way and usually beneath them. [...] We all have a journey to make and it's our choice alone how we get there." Jazmine Sullivan, Revolt (January 2021) Highlight: On It In a nutshell: "tell 'em, heaux!" As you can see from my review history, hip hop isn't really my thing. This very British style hip-hop. Probably taking a page from Solange's A Seat At The Table and The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill as well as the cited Cardi B and Lizzo. I didn't hate it but I didn't mind it. It's too early to tell if this album will be a future classic. Four years from release (at time of typing) is not long enough to make that call. And Jazmine is correct. Anyone who identifies as female has been called a heaux or a variant of heaux by a man at least once in their life. I've been called one, and much worse. So fellas, please don't call us one unless we ask you to. Thanks. Overall: 3/10
Not my kinda thing, also boy I hate interludes.
I have NEVER liked a skit from an album before this one. Candid and interesting. That said, the absolute worst kind of music for me is mumbled rapping into a steel bucket with some kind of distortion effect. Fucking HATE, HATE, HATE that style. There are some moments on this album that don't run afoul of my musical tastes, but I can't say I'd ever listen to this again, that I'm glad I heard it, or that I think it has any place on this list. I can say that it was blissfully short, and that for a message as important as Jazmine Sullivan's, I wish it came in more enjoyable packaging. ⭐⭐
i like the message but the music is just not my thing
ABBA is not for Bee. I think it’s just too happy-go-lucky or something.
Didn't do anything for me really. I wasn't offended, however there was nothing exciting in this and I don't understand out of all the very good music there has been recently that this would be on the list. Within the same genre there have been many very good albums that should be on the list ahead of this.
Given how recent this was, I was expecting much more. Perhaps I would have enjoyed it more with more active listening, but not bothered by this based on what I did hear.
Lo grade Beyonce - even the collabs with Anderson Paak and HER were only OK (and the best songs on eth album). Spoken work interludes suck.
503/1001 🌕🌕🌑🌑🌑
nice enough but there must be more than 1001 better albums out there.
Nothing special.
This would have been tolerable if not for the lyrics. They are explicitly sexual and the sex is all transactual. It’s supposed to be some kind of feminist statement but it all boils down to women using their bodies to get what the want.
Generic, boring and derivative. I don’t think it’s one of the top 1001 albums of that year.
There's an odd feel to this album that a lot of pandemic-era productions have. The music feels underdeveloped and impersonal, which ends up feeling strange in the context of such intimate subject matter. The framing device for the album is interesting, but the way the stories are integrated feels completely detached from the rest of the album. I wonder how it would feel without those segments? That being said, I didn't find it easy to get into this album, but I came around on it some by the end. As I write this, the album is a mere 4 years old; I wonder how it will be regarded in the future. Favorite track: "Lost One"
meh, ça existe, pas désagréable mais j'ai rien retenu de bien intéressant non plus.
I enjoyed the lyrical content more than the music, but overall it was okay. 2+ stars, not quite the standard 3.
Nothing here that draws me back to listen to it again. Straight up R&B and nothing too exciting.
This was pretty ok, nothing special R&B to me.
While it wasn't bad per se, I didn't see anything that was somehow outstanding to make it onto this list. You heard the same pro-sexuality feminism and "grrrrrl" stuff and that over melodies and beats that neo-soul already did better in the mid- and late 90's.
not my cup of tea
The message of the album is great but it’s just not for me. I hate this kind of music and so I didn’t care for the album itself
Did not manage to enjoy it.
Interesting to hear as it was clearly an impactful album at the time. I just don't know what to do with it... I don't think i'll find myself singing along.
I enjoyed the composition of the album, with the spoken interludes, and I enjoyed the realness of the album. But I don’t think it would stand up on its own with out the interludes, and the songs themselves were largely bland.
I'm always a little suspicious of albums inducted into the book that came out in 2020 or after, based on not yet having enough time to reflect on all the music released and pick the true gems. Then I'm reminded that collections like this (1001 Albums, NME's 500, RS's top 500, etc.) are essentially lists of popular music, so why wait? Why bother to look far and wide for the best, most inventive musics from everywhere? Why not just watch what charts and what makes other critics' year-end lists and go from there? But what if — and hear me out — the album was both popular and inventive? Something appealing to casual listeners and revealing of some greater truths about the times? Maybe it could slip into the mix a little ahead of any arbitrary gatekeeping timetable. Heaux Tales might be that record. Then again, it might not.
This one was a bit of a mixed bag for me. I respect Jazmine Sullivan’s talent — she can clearly sing, and there are moments on this album where the production and vocal performances really click. But the album’s structure and framing ultimately pulled me out more than it drew me in. The spoken-word interludes are the biggest hurdle. They’re meant to tie the themes together, but for my ears they broke the musical flow and leaned too hard into shock value. Tracks like “Donna’s Tale” — complete with churchy organ underscoring a monologue about sleeping with husbands — were more distracting than illuminating. And songs like “Price Tags” just didn’t land for me stylistically. There’s good work here, and I can appreciate what Sullivan was aiming for, but the combination of the interludes and the subject matter pushed this one outside what I genuinely enjoy. It didn’t quite work as a complete listening experience. Rating: 2/5
I was not previously familiar with the artist or album. This is a sort of R&B women's anthem album. The vocals are pretty good, and I can respect this for what it is. There is nothing particularly objectionable here, but nothing special either. Hard to understand how this made the cut. This isn't something I could see myself listening to again.
he so rnb-pop 2020er gschmeuss holt mi zero ab. vill meh wetti da au nöd üssere
I guess it’s well done and I like her grit but outside the ‘’concept’’ I don’t really get why this one is special.
Tell me you don't know what to put on this list after the 20th Century without telling me.
Well.. Who knows!
Heaux Tales indeed. Jazmine tells us she wants to ride it and spit on it. I guess the overt sexual theme wore thin immediately for myself. I just didn’t find it interesting. Standard r&b tracks with vocal runs amock is the only thing that I got from this.
Surface level take on gender dynamics. Nothing like the miseducation of lauren hill. Flows similar to popular songs of the era - if that’s laziness -1, if that is commentary of a woman’s take on a male dominated landscape +
This music on this album is annoying, although I did enjoy the spoken (shouted) pieces between the songs.
Did Lauren Hill grow up and become a 'Heaux'? My favourite bits of this album were the spoken word interludes - they showed more insight than the tracks, and were an nice way to break up the fairly basic music and ordinary production. I personally reject the idea that tracks like these are about female sexual empowerment - its still entirely for men and for the male gaze, screaming 'pick-me' energy and female self-deprecation (which I suppose makes a change from the male deprecation of women so often heard in this genre!). While I don't feel like like this album was even remotely empowering, I am all for women singing about whatever they want, especially breaking down barriers around sexuality and power imbalances. There are far too few female artists on this list. This music just isn't for me, not only in the lyricism but in the style, the whole thing felt very superficial - or maybe I just need to check my privilege? It really feels like Dimery phoned it in with this addition.
Nah. This ain't it fam. The album doesn't sound good. Maybe get another producer/engineer. Let's work on the mix here. Even that might not save this trainwreck. Lyrically, not great. Her voice is nice and could probably sound great on the right track. This isn't an unlistenable album; I just don't ever want to listen to it again.
Meh
Sounds like every other R&B album
“Heaux Tales”, huh?? Yeah, I’m sure this is empowering for women somehow. Nah, this is not it fam. This is the latest album to be added to the book, and I’m sure when they did so they probably figured it would become a classic at some point. While I can’t vouch for how it’s held up myself, I can tell you personally that I just did not care for it at all. First of all, I don’t get why every one of these Hip-Hop albums has to constantly be interrupted by these annoying ass skits. I hadn’t realized it before, but I guess that’s just integral to the genre, so while I can’t hate on that aspect specifically, I still just don’t like it. Second, I find this to be wholly generic, and unfortunately don’t enjoy Jazmine’s singing style very much. When I don’t like someone’s voice, it’s always going to make the album substantially less enjoyable. I really don’t think this album was made for me. That’s ok, but this one was pretty hard to get through. An occasional good song or 2, like “Pick Up Your Feelings”, but I couldn’t last the day listening to this one. Ironically, the best part of this album was the feature where someone else was singing instead of her. It’s nice and short at least, but the length just draws attention to the skits that much more. Not a questionable choice to add this album, I get why they would feel the need to do so, but it just wasn’t for me. Oh well, on to the next one I guess. Sorry Jazmine.
Not sure why this was included. I hadn’t heard of her (although I do know most of the featured artists like Anderson Paak and H.E.R) and it’s too recent to have cemented any kind of status or influence. Her voice is nice but the content of the songs I found pretty cliche and actually kind of off-putting, like it’s not particularly feminist or sexy or anything I think it’s going for. (1.5 stars)
The best point of that album is that unlike of most boring contemporary R&B it's not a hour long. I've read that this is supposed to be a concept album, I don't know what it's supposed to be about but musically it's pointless
2.5
I think she likes penis.
RnB, Rap, 2021 ->1-2
I hate spoken word tracks. If I wanted them, I would be listening to a podcast instead This album has SIX spoken word interludes. The 8 songs of "Heaux Tales" are a bit dull. Most of them sound like stuff on Radio 1. 2 stars for "Heaux Tales".
Not my style of music
Idk who the terrible man is that she's singing about, but the D must be insane. Great vocals, horrific content. 2.4.
Personal enjoyment: 2/5 Relevance to this list: 1/5
She really doesn't like men
not for me
Not my favorite. Surprised I had never heard of this before.
Buh, did really not much for me. Objectively I don’t think it is a bad album, but it’s not for me.
Bof
Some ok moments, but didn't really feel this
Another album that, as a white middle-aged aged man, I just can't understand or appreciate very much. But even if I could, I really disliked the spoken interludes and the view into the sexual lives of these women. And the songs were boring and generic and went in and out of my ears barely registering. Seems like there were better representations of modern female soul/R & B that could have been included on the list
I can find at least ten other albums from 2021 alone that are more deserving of a spot on the list than this one.. its not altogether bad, the vocals are quite good most of the time, but it lacks real emotion, and the lyrics are pretty mediocre. I just cant see how this is essential. Its not like its the first album to be about empowering women, and even then, the empowerment is twisted..to be a strong woman you need to find a millionaire rapper? Not exactly a feminist take. Inclusion of this one is a head scratcher
This is kind of the worst. When you have zero talent, resort to filthy songs about sex.
Not bad, she can definitely sing, but I didn't really enjoy. Pick up your feelings was pretty good.
Ratings: 5: I will happily play this album anytime 4: I may occasionally play this album of my own free will 3: I will happily listen to this if someone plays it in the background 2: I will tolerate this if it is playing in the background 1: I will leave the room if someone plays this in the background Nothing particular novel here. Not terrible. Not essential.
mmm... maybe y'all should take this off the list for the next edition i had higher hopes for this but sadly, i shut this off halfway through. i feel like i heard all there was to hear at that point. aside from maaaaybe a song or two, this just wasn't giving the messaging in her music is admirable, but good social commentary does not automatically make an album good. i can see some potential for a good artist with some more polished production tho
Э. Лучшая песня - Lost One.
Structurally, it calls to mind the talking head inserts of Spike Lee's first joint, She's Gotta Have It, mixed with the Cindy Shermanesque character portraits of Tori Amos' Strange Little Girls. However, it lacks the depth of either of those, reducing human sexuality to the transactional and desire to objectification. While the record ultimately admits the sadness of such a viewpoint, it gets there after much wearying, distancing, dehumanising language and without any seeming sense of how depressing the whole thing is. Why is it the generalised, objectified "That money keeps that pussy wet?" rather than the specific, humane "Your money keeps my pussy wet?" Maybe this is just an observation on the materialist vernacular of much contemporary r'n'b, but Audre Lorde was very clear that the master's tools will not dismantle the master's house. Especially if your master is R. Kelly: filling up every inch of sonic real estate with vocals, believing so completely in your voice that you will sing anything, however unmusical the meter. I kept hearing the cramped and indulgent I Admit It throughout, which I'm sure isn't what Jazmine Sullivan wants. But, then, I'm not entirely sure what she wants: not the banal, nihlisitc worldview expressed by her characters but never challenged. 2 Well, it’s 32 minutes long and I can’t say I was bored exactly. Insofar as its quality is staked on its music, I can say I don’t think very much of this album. This style of RnB with its showy vocal sophistications of dull, stock melodies, can fuck off generally, regardless of the technical quality of whoever is doing them and the number of overdubs. It’s not good music - this is posing. Insofar as this album’s quality depends on the power and boldness of its presentation of a multifaceted account of female experience of sex and relationships, as many glowing reviews of it suggest…well I still don’t think much of it. The half-formed ideas and utterances that appear in the ‘tales’ along with the half dozen songs that riff on their themes would seem to me to add up to an account of human experience that is, while not exactly niche, definitively an American experience. The sadness of this account of destructive hedonism and transactional sex as ‘empowerment’ - briefly glimpsed at in the final ‘tale’ - is underpinned with a sort of body horror. There is an almost Cronenbergian fusion of the female body and capitalist accumulation, especially in the second half of the album: ‘ima take all I can get/ that money keeps that pussy wet’ (Price Tags) ‘To be honest…money makes me cum’ (Precious’ Tale) ‘Ima find me a rapper/ He gon' buy me a booty…/ I’m hoping these titties can get me out the city’ (The Other Side) While this is territory long acknowledged in RnB and Rap (TLC’s No Scrubs and Missy Elliott sprung to mind) it is striking here both for its viscerality and its nihilism. Nothing is ironic (as far as I can detect) and nothing is analysed or problematised. It is simply all dumped on the listener as someone’s ‘truth’. This album, itself product and conspicuous branding/re-branding exercise (‘Heaux’), might perhaps make itself ridiculous trying to supply meaningful critiques of the soulless, dehumanising feeding-frenzy in late stage Capitalism in America. Nevertheless - that is plainly the major antagonist in this horror film of a record and utterly, horrifyingly unacknowledged. Perhaps I am being naive here, forget that I have heard very little RnB from the last 20 years - I have heard very little popular music at all from the last 20 years. Is it all this depressing? 2/5
Mediocre rap
I find it difficult to rate this type of R&B because I really don't like it. I suppose she can sing. AS a "concept" album I find it quite weak - yes it has a concept which I quite like (emancipation, sex, etc.), hence an extra star, but it's implemented in a too pubertal and unpoetic way. Musically, nothing going on that piques my interest. Struggled to make it to the hole (pun not intended).
Kinda some good jams, but not really my thing.
This type of album never does it for me….no matter how lauded it is. 1.5/5
Any more modern album really needs to be out of the park in a different way to end up on this list. This album isn’t that. It’s not bad, has some standout tracks, but I already had Miseducation of Lauren Hill and that knocked this style out of the park. This is just a pretty good album.
Appreciate the importance of the message for young WOC, but I'm an old white dude. Not meant for me. I didn't need to hear it and I don't really like this type of R&B.