Black History Month already comes with its personal rhythm, soul, and ancestral bassline however this 12 months, Jill Scott determined to slip us a present that sparked “dialog, verbal elation and stimulation” After greater than a decade away from the album recreation, Ms. Jilly from Philly is again with To Whom This May Concern, a 19-track physique of labor that dropped Friday, February 13, and sure, it was well worth the wait.
The album is a wealthy mix of soul, R&B, hip hop, and spoken phrase, mainly a sonic gumbo that solely Jill Scott may stir with out spilling a drop. She additionally tapped a lineup that bridges generations and vibes, together with Tierra Whack, Too $hort, and JID. This album ain’t boxed in. It’s grown, playful, reflective, and is aware of precisely who it’s speaking to.
AS for her followers? Oh, they confirmed up instantly. Over on Threads, the reward poured in heavy. Listener @thedanielleyoung wrote, “I really like that you could inform when Jill Scott is smiling when she is singing.” And that’s straight details. If you’ve been rocking with Jill since Who Is Jill Scott?, you understand precisely when she’s smiling mid-lyric. Her expressions don’t simply keep on her face; they dwell within the music. Another listener, @kristen.grey, summed it up completely: “Being in your 30s experiencing a Jill Scott album rollout is a present. It’s attractive, religious, so stunning to witness.” No lies detected.
Scott defined that even the title, To Whom This May Concern got here to her like a sigh of aid — a quiet exhale that signaled the album would land precisely the place it wanted to. It’s for who it’s for. And she hopes listeners stroll away fed, sustained, and possibly even healed.
In a sit-down with Billboard, Scott opened up about why it took her greater than ten years to launch a brand new undertaking. She made it clear: “it wasn’t a artistic block, it was a artistic break.” Life needed to be lived. From navigating premenopause to elevating a youngster, she selected to prioritize being human earlier than being an artist. As she put it, Jill Scott doesn’t dwell in her home. Nobody calls her that at residence. That separation is what permits her to refill herself so she will pour again into the music when the time is correct.
“It’s the power that follows me round the home: within the bathe, after I’m cleansing, making a mattress. But I wanted to take a break from that in order that I may dwell life. I’m, you understand, a human being. So after all, there’s all types of stuff like perimenopause. That’s fascinating. I’ve a youngster now; that’s totally different than ever earlier than.”
And for the followers who’ve been begging the universe (and NPR) for years? Your prayers have been answered. Jill Scott is formally pulling as much as Tiny Desk Concerts, premiering Monday, January sixteenth. Black History Month blessings, certainly.
To Whom This May Concern is now streaming on all platforms. Press play, mild a candle or the rest of your selection, pour some wine, and let Jill do what Jill does greatest: remind us who we’re.
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