Jill Scott

Singer/songwriter Jill Scott blew up in 2000 as part of the second wave of neo-soul artists who fused R&B, ‘70s-style soul, and hip-hop with heartfelt and hopeful messages. Born in 1972, “Jilly from Philly” grew out of a softer, gentler scene that produced The Roots and Musiq Soulchild. Her debut album, Who Is Jill Scott?: Words and Sounds, Vol. 1, challenged ideas about what sexy meant in the macho jiggy era (“He Loves Me [Lyzel in E Flat]”) and made solitude feel powerful (“One Is the Magic #”). Scott's emotive, deeply textured voice is equally at ease with jazz instrumentation and rap beats; she comes across as the shoulder to cry on, helping listeners through heartbreak and teaching them to believe in themselves. Her 2004 release, Beautifully Human: Words and Sounds, Vol. 2, celebrates blood ties (“Family Reunion”) and her right to make art (the Grammy-winning “Cross My Mind”). On 2015’s Woman, she sounds utterly composed, ready to face any emotional storm ("Prepared"). When in 2020 she turned a Verzuz webcast battle with fellow neo-soul artist Erykah Badu into a celebration of her opponent, it was no surprise: Jill Scott uses her talents to turn war zones into comfort zones.