There is a sense of accomplishment when an artist is able to put his or her music out there for the world to enjoy. There is also a sense of success when the artist is able to win a Grammy award. But has the music industry become more about the message or the popularity? What about the inclusion of R&B artists as black R&B artists? In an Adele world, the competition seems scarce. With the success of her most recent album, "25," Adele doesn't seem to come up short.
The 11-time Grammy nominee Jazmine Sullivan, who is an R&B artist known for her hits, “Bust the Windows” and “I Need You,” does not share the same success as Adele. Back in 2008, they were both nominated for best new artist and Adele took home the Grammy. Both are considered soul artists, started around the same time, not much of a different approach lyrically and even compare in the controversial physical stature. So why is one so much more successful than the other? Could it be because of color?
These are questions that need to be brought up to surface. Both artists’ music is relatable because most people deal with the comparable topic of heartbreak, but can people get through the color barrier? There is no denying that Adele is a talented individual who has reached great heights in her career within her musical genre, however there are similar artists who are black and have yet to achieve such accomplishments. In an interview with the Associated Press, Sullivan says, “I guess I’m glad that people are recognizing me in some way, and kind of see there’s a little injustice in how black soul artists are received. But, at the same time, I try not to focus so much on the negativity.”
Sullivan is looking past all the materialistic things that success brings and is focusing on the connection her music brings to the people that do listen to it. Sullivan has said, "I don't get too much into album sales and anything like that. What I do tend to do is, if I go to a show and it's sold out, and if people are singing the lyrics to the songs, that's the kind of stuff that makes what I do so great." Racism has affected music, film, professional careers and schools but that does not stop the minority from striving to be successful.
Every race has a voice and has a right to be heard but the recognition is only to a minimum. As long as there continues to be appreciation and love, we will all learn that it's those two things that really matter. For the fans that do listen to and appreciate Sullivan's music, she says, “There may not be as many people (who) listen to Adele, but there are people who are listening. There are people who appreciate me. There are people who love my music." Sullivan is nominated for three Grammy Awards this year from her latest album "Reality Show" in the following categories:
Best Traditional R&B performance: "Let It Burn"
Best R&B Song: "Let It Burn"
Best R&B Album: "Reality Show"
Best of luck to her and the rest of the nominees!
