The project has also been variably identified as a "concept album"[5] and "schematic, a successor to didactic concept albums like The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill".[6] Structurally, six "spoken word interludes"[5] "are followed by songs that flesh them out as character studies". The themes explored include feminism, sexuality, classism, and body-shaming among other lyrical topics supported by narrative interludes between each song.[6] The project received widespread critical acclaim and was also a commercial success, debuting at number four on the US Billboard 200 chart, marking Sullivan's highest position on the chart.
Sullivan cited artists Cardi B and Lizzo as women that inspired Heaux Tales.
Since establishing her recording career in 2008, Sullivan has been known to take long hiatuses between releases.[11][12][13][14]
"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 on the premise of Heaux Tales[11]
Complex magazine reports that Dev Hynes, Key Wane, DZL, and others contributed to the production on the project.[15] The promotional rollout for Heaux Tales included the premiere of her installment of NPR's Tiny Desk Concerts series on January 8, 2021.[13] Sullivan stated in an interview with NPR Music, "particularly on this project, I was influenced by a few women today that I felt like were busting through those barriers and helping me to feel more confident in who I am," citing artists Cardi B and Lizzo.[16]
Singles
The first single, an acoustic ballad titled "Lost One", was released August 28, 2020 and peaked at number 9 on Billboard's US Hot R&B Songs.[17][18] The second single was "Pick Up Your Feelings", released November 20, 2020.[19] In place of a traditional music video, RCA Records released a live acoustic performance.[11] The song has since reached number 1 on Billboard's Adult R&B Airplay Chart and number 9 on the R&B/Hip-Hop airplay chart.[20] The song also peaked at number 75 on the Billboard Hot 100.[20] Both singles were performed on BET during the Soul Train Music Awards on November 29, 2020.[21] Sullivan released her third single, "Girl like Me", featuring H.E.R., on January 6, 2021, marking the first time she has ever duetted with a woman on one of her own recordings.[14] The song debuted and peaked at number 96 on the Billboard Hot 100 and at number 29 on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.[20] "On It," duet with Ari Lennox, also peaked at number 40 on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop and R&B/Hip-Hop airplay charts despite not being released as a single.[20]
Heaux Tales received a score of 81 out of 100 from review aggregate site Metacritic based on nine reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".[23]Vulture lauded its displays of women's strength as seen in its "interludes [with] women like fellow singer Ari Lennox talking about femininity and sexual empowerment."[14] Alex Suskind of Entertainment Weekly called the project "a punchy concept album that tackles blissful romance, sexual freedom — and the complex moments that arise between."[30] Bobby Carter of NPR hailed it "a bold and timely conversation piece addressing truths regarding relationships, sex, social norms, self-worth and a myriad of other topics that women grapple with."[13] Wongo Okon of Uproxx praised it for casting "a light on the goalpost-shifting standards of this patriarchal society" while holding "the characteristics to be labeled a classic in the future."[31] Mankaprr Conteh of Pitchfork gave the EP the site's Best New Music distinction.[27]
Accolades
List of awards and nominations received by Heaux Tales
Heaux Tales debuted at number four on the US Billboard 200 chart, earning 43,000 album-equivalent units (including 7,000 copies as pure album sales) in its first week, according to MRC Data.[44] This became Sullivan's second US top-ten album (following 2008's Fearless) and her highest-charting album in the US.[44] The album also debuted at number one on the US Top R&B Albums and number two on the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts.[45] It also accumulated a total of 46 million on-demand streams of the project's songs that week.[45] On September 6, 2022, the EP was certified Gold by the RIAA.[46]
^Times, Mikael Wood Mikael Wood is pop music critic for the Los Angeles (2021-12-15). "The 10 best albums of 2021". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2021-12-19.
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