Singer Jill Scott Releases a New Album Entitled The Real Thing

When she walks into a room, she adds a light and a warmth to every corner of it. When she smiles, you can't help but smile with her. Her friendly and endearing personality is infectious; talking to her makes you somehow feel better about yourself. I am talking about singer/actress Jill Scott, whom I had the privilege to meet and speak with at a private party in Virginia a few years ago. The Philadelphia native has an air of regality about her, and yet she is like the best friend you've had for years. Jill Scott carries herself with class and grace, and her bohemian style perfectly fits her carefree, open personality. She first popped onto the music scene as a spoken word artist, and was featured on tour and on an album with The Roots, who are also from Philadelphia. However, she surprised everyone with her talent as a singer and captured the hearts of thousands of fans in 2000 with her debut album, "Who is Jill Scott?" and again in 2004 with "Beautifully Human". Now, she's perfected the Neo-Soul formula with her new album, "The Real Thing", which will be available in stores this month.

Unlike "Who is Jill Scott?" and "Beautifully Human", which featured songs that came from a very happy, very innocent, peaceful place, "The Real Thing" is a more mature look into the world of Jill Scott. Although Scott's voice is just as angelic and soothing here as it is on the other albums, "The Real Thing", gives the listener a sense that Scott has grown immensely, both as a musician and a woman, and that she's looking forward to ascending to a new place in her life, with new desires and aspirations. There is also a sense of newfound confidence emanating from Scott's sound, a confidence that she doesn't mind throwing right in your face. This can be seen in a few of the lyrics of "Hate on Me", the album's third track, where Scott states: "In reality/ I'm gon' be who I be/ And I don't feel no fault/ For all the lies that you bought/ You can try as you may/ Break me down but I say/ That it ain't up to you/ Go on do what you do".