Jilly From Philly Neo-Soul Artists
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.
It took 11 years for Jill Scott to release To Whom This May Concern following its 2015 predecessor Woman, and she comes out of the gate swinging—with a little help from her friends. Opener “Dope Shit” features Maha Adachi Earth proclaiming, “I be good/I do dope shit,” and on the Trombone Shorty-assisted “Be Great,” Scott cooks up a funk-soul romp built around horn stabs and a shuffling drum groove. She tells herself, confidently, “I’ma go ahеad and be great, why not?”
There’s an infectious spirit that pervades the album, a declaration from Scott to her listeners that they should go out and grab the things they want because that’s what she’s doing. “A Universe” showcases the many sides of the Philly songwriter’s artistry as she cooks up a swaggering ode to unexpected love. “I felt like my love life was finished/I was satisfied, believe me/I got my music, my family/Genuine friends who love me,” she admits. Then, a surprise: “I wasn’t even feeling lonely/Then you pulled up on me.”
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