Most 21-year-olds we know have messy apartments (if they even have their own place), and no clue what they want to do with their lives. Then again, most 21-year-olds we know aren’t rising superstars who’ve been singing since before they were still in Pampers. But don’t hate on Jazmine Sullivan just because she’s got a hot new single — “Need U Bad,” off her new LP, Fearless, out in September — and the co-sign of Missy Elliott.

The overachiever’s been at it since she was five, but she didn’t catch her first big break until her early teens, when she traded in her church hymnals for a spot on Showtime at the Apollo, followed by a gig singing for Stevie Wonder. Since then, she’s seen one record deal fizzle, but rebounded by landing a new contract with J. Records, and collaborating with Christina Milian and Fantasia. If we were Alicia Keys, we’d be slightly nervous right now.