Jill Scott has proven herself talented in word, song, theater and television in a few short years. Discovered while speaking the words she'd set to paper at a poetry reading she has gone from collaborations and guest spots on hip hop artist's albums to holding three Grammy Awards.

Jill Scott - A Woman Of Substance

"I'm livin' my life like it's golden"

Jill Scott has proven herself talented in word, song, theater and television in a few short years. Discovered while speaking the words she'd set to paper at a poetry reading she has gone from collaborations and guest spots on hip hop artist's albums to holding three Grammy Awards.

Jill Scott-Strong roots

Born on April 4, 1972 Jill Scott grew up happy in an all women household which consisted of herself, her mom and her grandmother in the neighborhood called North Philadelphia. Jill excelled in school and went on to attend Temple University with the intention of becoming a teacher. After three years of working two jobs and going to school for secondary education Jill spent some time as a teacher's aide and promptly quit after experiencing what the teaching profession actually was. While searching for inspiration as to what she wanted to do with her life Jill worked a variety of jobs which even included a few stints on construction sites.

Participating in live poetry readings of her work lead to collaboration with the hip-hop group, The Roots, after Amir "QuestLove" Thompson heard her and invited her to work with them in their studio. In 2000 the Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group Grammy went to Erykah Badu and The Roots for the 1999 Top 40 hit You Got Me which Jill Scott co-wrote. She also collaborated with fellow North Philadelphian, Will Smith, as well as rapper Common and R&B singer Eric Benet. Scott took a part in the Broadway musical Rent and toured Canada to experience performing in a musical production.

The Roots showcased Jill on one of their live road shows which lead to Scott being the first talent Steve McKeever signed on his Hidden Beach Recordings label in 2000. That same year her first album, Who Is Jill Scott? Words and Sounds Vol. 1 was released and charted successfully by peaking in the Top 20 of Billboard 2000. Considered one of the best R&B albums of the year it reached #2 on the Top R& B/Hip Hop Albums chart. The outstanding single from the album, A Long Walk, received a Grammy nomination in 2003 for Best Female Vocal Performance.

Neo soul sound

Jill Scott's distinct style comes from her incredible skill as a wordsmith and her rich vocal abilities. As a vocalist she draws R&B, jazz and the spoken word together into her songs in what is being called neo soul. Her songs contain the lyrical substance and emotional integrity of the largely underground R&B genre. Critics have praised her as a mature R&B singer who commands the versatility to sing slow sensual songs and deliver empowerment anthems with gusto. Her abilities are being compared to those of late singer-songwriter Minnie Riperton and Niecy Williams.

Human dynamo

Between 2001 and 2007 Scott released four more albums which have all ranked in the low numbers on the R&B Albums and Billboard 2000 charts. The live album, Experience: Jill Scott 826+ was released in the Summer of 2001, Beautifully Human: Word and Sounds Vol. 2 was released in 2004, The Real Thing: Words and Sounds Vol. 3

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