Jill Scott

Think of Jill Scott as a neo-soul chameleon, a rare creature who can slip into multi-colored musical guises at the drop of a beat, who can blend a jazz-soul smoothie on "The Way," then turn around and lay it on the line in the hip-hop riot act "Hate On Me." Scott's berry-sweet pipes bring the past into the present and fit just right with the Philly-born poet's way with words, powering tunes like the too-sexy crooner "Cross My Mind," and lending some sugar to the free-flowin' Lupe Fiasco track "Daydreamin'."

Cross into Next Steps for more Jill Scott shape shifting.

Jill Scott likes to add the to-the-point subtitle "Words and Sounds" to her albums, a phrase that isn't just a declaration of content, but a short, sweet summing up of Scott's musical essence — the poet is simply inseparable from the chanteuse. Which means that the sensual pull of "All I" comes just as much from Scott's sultry description of what she has to offer as from her satin-wrapped delivery, and that tracks like the old-school R&B portrait painter "Family Reunion" put a smile on your face and a swing in your hips.

Dive into Deep Cuts for more Jill Scott words and sounds.

Jill Scott is a master bridge-builder — between styles, time frames, words, and sounds — so it only makes sense that the sultry songstress behind solo tracks like the new-school pleader "Do You Remember" and the tongue-tripper "One Is the Magic #" would also be in big demand when it comes to collaboration. And she's a perfect partner, whether paying tribute to her soul sister Billie Holiday on "God Bless the Child" with jazz greats Al Jarreau & George Benson, singing the hip-hopified song of praise "Kingdom Come" with gospel superstar Kirk Franklin, or gettin' down on the beat-heavy dance track "Funky for You" with Bilal and Common.

Jill Scott was reading her poetry around her Philadelphia hometown when Roots drummer ?uestlove caught her in action, dug what he heard, and asked her to join the band in-studio. All of a sudden, Jilly from Philly had a hit on the charts — check our live take of "You Got Me" — and a whole lotta listeners waiting for her next step. With her voice of liquid sugar, a righteous sense of self, and a sonic sex appeal to rival Marvin Gaye's, Scott transformed her poet's skills into songs that blurred the boundaries between the classic and the contemporary, R&B, jazz, and hip-hop. Our Jill Scott Essentials brings you the best of her neo-soul and beyond, with tracks like her quiet-storm love groove "He Loves Me (Lyzel in E Flat)," the rock-steady song of respect "Slowly Surely," and the tasty soul pop "Sometimes I Wonder" with Darius Rucker.