Jazmine Sullivan Covers Nina Simone’s ‘Baltimore.’

Jazmine Sullivan


Jazmine Sullivan’s cover of Nina Simone’s 1978 song “Baltimore,” is definitely rather timely, to say the least. The track is the first release off of the upcoming Nina Simone tribute album, which also features covers of the late artist by Sullivan, as well as Mary J Blige, Common, Lauryn Hill, Simone’s daughter Lisa. The album accompanies the upcoming authorized documentary on the life an art of Nina Simone.

The video for the song features images of Baltimore as well as footage of protests dating back to 1968. There is also a clip of the late, great Nina Simone talking about what it feels like to be an artist in the time of uprising.

“I choose to reflect the times and the situations in which I find myself. That, to me, is my duty. At this crucial times in our lives—when everything is so desperate, when everyday is a matter of survival — I don’t think you can help but be involved.”