When it comes to soul music, Philadelphia is one of the many withstanding epicenters for the emphatic genre.
From The Stylistics to Teddy Pendergrass to Patti LaBelle, the city has birthed a soul movement that signified its impact on R&B. A gifted offspring of that movement is the incomparable Jill Scott.
To say that she hasn’t crossed your radar in the last 20 years in any capacity is a testament to one’s lack of cultural consciousness. Aside from releasing five intricately crafted albums in that time span, her presence remains acknowledged.
In May, her uplifting abundance of kinship with Erykah Badu for the first female Verzuz event generated over one billion impressions across the web.
The record-breaking match resulted in a major streaming boost, which increased significantly after the Instagram live broadcast. Her reach extends to the masses, but the homegrown vocalist had to dig her roots before bearing the richly satisfying fruit.
Hailing from North Philadelphia, Jill Scott wasn’t reserved about her place or talent in the industry. The certitude emanating from her invitingly bright energy made her introduction undoubtedly favorable.
She brought an affable aspect, prompting fans to hover around her radiance immediately. Like a good girlfriend, Scott shared just enough of her business to keep listeners satiated while inspiring them to recall their own love-related relationships and situations.
Her appeal was steeped in authentic relatability. As she penned and vocally painted vivid images of love personified, Scott exposed a glimpse of how love can feel and perform when it’s unapologetically real.
“I wrote this album like a human being,” she told Billboard in September 2000. “I sing like a Black woman. I didn’t talk about what everyone else is talking about. If the people who hear my album don’t share my experiences, at least they understand.”
From her personal accounts, the deep-rooted understanding translated precisely into her music. While the shared encounters forged and strengthened Scott’s connections with her fans, her attention to detail is another important component of her artistry.
Her notes danced in an assured familiarity that brought common human reactions to life. Synchronously, her lyrics sparked distinct memories that summoned fresh recollections down to the minute degree.
The presence of her poetry background looms here and there without imposing its dominance but simply supplementing the message with resolution.
Jill Scott released her debut album, Who is Jill Scott?: Words and Sounds, Vol. 1, on July 18, 2000, via Hidden Beach Records. The album is a nourishing serving of expressive phrases and poised tones that helped proclaim her distinguished arrival.
Scott explores different facets and levels of love and relationships, all of which many can relate to in some way. As all unions go through their ups and downs and many stages, Jilly from Philly has a song for each one.
Inspired by her first date with her first husband, “A Long Walk” explores all the possibilities and wonders of where things could go. She shows appreciation for her date and a keen interest in actually getting to know him.
The bridge leads to an assortment of in-depth date ideas, listed in excitement to the likeness of how well the first rendezvous goes. It became a staple on the Quiet Storm radio format in the early 2000s and formed into a bonafide classic over the years.
Doubling as a metaphor for taking things slow in a relationship and in life, she reminds us to enjoy and value the journey to the desired destination.
“It’s Love” ups the ante as the album takes a slight detour to Washington, D.C., for the track’s go-go-influenced sound. The proclamation of love wastes no time and quickly growls one minute and 15 seconds into the track. Congas, snare drums, and hi-hats marry to create a lively fusion as the horns amplify this romantic revelation.
In the breakdown, she parallels her affection to a good home-cooked meal, which is fulfilling and sustaining. Like a nice helping of comfort food, Scott graciously layers her passionate reasoning for a savory and generous dish.
A balancing act of poetry and song evens out on “Love Rain.” By this time in the album, her poetic side has already revealed itself but this narrative lends to a fervent performance.
The spoken word segment is set in a melodic surge that takes gradual force, drawing listeners in with each fierce stanza. Her delivery remains on par towards the latter as she goldenly wades in the melancholy of a deceitful love.
The song’s painstaking recounts deliver a bittersweet justice, yet one cannot help but get caught up in the whirlwind of the unknown dalliance and its aftermath.
While Scott revels in the bliss, she’s equally aware of the jarring reality exhibited by all sorts of bonds. For those who have become intimate with a potential lover, hoping the connection is felt on both sides, feel free to pour a worrisome glass of “Honey Molasses.”
In the newfound priority of self-care, “One Is the Magic #” will surely aid in discovering love and wholeness from within. Taking a page from her descendants of soul, “Watching Me” is an urgent call to remain cognizant in the age of surveillance.
The regal artist graced the music industry and was placed in the neo-soul lane during the subsect’s steady reign. It began to grow during the mid-‘90s but took a stronger form at the turn of the millennium.
Badu had already been illustrated as one of its bastions, yet Scott brought a less cerebral but emotive dimension. She has her moments of bringing awareness to social issues, providing an additional view for the masses.
Although her hometown had already delivered some renowned talent over the years, Scott led the way for artists like Kindred the Family Soul, Vivian Green, and Floetry to follow through the path.
For Kindred the Family Soul, she brought them into the fold of the Hidden Beach Recordings family. As for Floetry, her spoken word roots assuage their signature niche. Meanwhile, Green became Scott’s background singer before her major-label debut.
Her influence makes slight peeks in the current landscape among a few singers of today. H.E.R. has been known to utilize poetry on songs like “Pigment” and “Against Me,” adding context to her equally relatable lyrics.
Taking a note from Scott, R&B newcomer Ari Lennox occasionally leans on a similarly jazzy tone, displayed on “Up Late.” She exercises background vocals in a corresponding fashion and plays with conversational execution as well. Altering her intonation on “Grampa” resembles Scott’s knack for swiftly shifting her voice and range.
It may be surprising to know that Scott’s admirable debut took some time to catch on. The relationship with words goes beyond her scribe abilities, as the simple marketing technique of word of mouth is what increased album sales over a span of nearly two months.
Her magic lies in her proficiency in supplying ordinary topics in a grounded style. Taking cues from opera and jazz, her unique gift to stand in the power of her vulnerability truly sets her apart. She reaches to the core and vocally depicts with meticulous care what love, heartbreak, lust, and confidence feel like with a secure sense of determination. Jill Scott knows just how to get to us, slowly and surely.
Revisit Jill Scott’s debut album, Who Is Jill Scott?: Words and Sounds, Vol. 1, below.
