"Need U Bad" is a song performed by American recording artist Jazmine Sullivan from her debut album, Fearless (2008).

The song uses a sample from Nicholas Taylor Stanton's "Higher Meditation Riddim Version", and Tapper Zukie's "Papa Big Shirt".

Featuring prominent elements of reggae, R&B and soul music characteristics, the track was composed in a different style to co-relate with the title of its parent album, Fearless.

The old school styled video features Sullivan singing and dancing with Missy Elliott and other reggae musicians in a recording studio.

Sullivan revealed in an interview with music website, Urban Connectionz Online, that it made sense for her to release the song as her first single because of the connection and vibe between Missy Elliott and herself.

[6] Simon Vozick-Levinson of Entertainment Weekly reviewed the song saying it had been greeted by "a public and critical rush of adulation."

Vozick-Levinson went on to say that the "great tune" and "one of the catchiest singles getting airplay at the moment" is "an uncannily Lauryn Hill-y slice of reggaefied soul.

"[7] Jeff Harvey of Okayplayer reviewed "Need U Bad" in relation to its similarity to the rest of the tracks on Fearless, saying: "Fans of Sullivan's raw, reggae tinged single [...], may be a little put off by the prestine production and pop sensibilities of much of her album, and indeed, it is far from The Miseducation of Jazmine Sullivan that hungry L-boogie fans may have unfairly hoped for.

"[8] Joey Guerra of the Houston Chronicle mentioned that "reggae-flavoured" "Need U Bad" is a sample of Sullivan's eclectic musical approach.

[9] While Todd Martens from the Los Angeles Times felt that the song sees Sullivan comfortably veering into glossy mainstream territory, saying it slides from easy-listening R&B to a more clubby reggae beat.

[11] The song was nominated in the 'Best Female R&B Vocal Performance' category at the 51st Grammy Awards, losing out to Alicia Keys' "Superwoman".