Comparisions to Erykah Badu and D'Angelo, while accurate, fail to convey the power of Scott's expressive voice which can sound sensual or deeply spiritual on one track and have an innocent childish quality on another.

This Philly native's sometimes poetic lyrics are refreshingly honest and unique. Although much of the CD is concerned with love, she brings to the listener that urban female perspective that is just now receving airplay again after a long hiatus.

Artists like Scott are redefining soul music for a new generation and proving that one doesn't need a crew of backup dancers, a flashy image or vulgar lyrics to entertain.

The CD also contains a few "hidden tracks" that will delight the listener. I highly recommend this disk and can't wait to see her live.

Best tracks: "Exclusively", "A Long Walk", "Honey Molasses", and "Love Rain".

41 of 41 found the following review helpful:


Jill Scott, Where have you been?  Aug 16, 2000 By J. Highsmith
First of all, let me tell you that I would give this CD 10 stars if I could. When I put this CD in my stereo and gave it a quality listen, three CDs came to my mind right away. Adriana Evans' debut CD on Loud Records, Amel Larrieux's "Infinite Possibilities" and Erykah Badu's "Baduizm". Two amazon.com reviewers "Deldrick" and "Tony" told me to get this CD a long time ago and I just recently decided to follow their advice. This is the best CD of the year 2000. The album has a Roots vibe to it. The beats sound like something they would have put together but the production is primarily handled by Jazzy Jeff, (yes the same Jazzy Jeff of Fresh Prince fame), and other members of A Touch Of Jazz Productions. From there Jill Scott takes matters into her own hands. This is one of the most creative CDs I have ever heard. Jill Scott has an excellent way of presenting her vocals and her spoken word songs as well. She will remind a lot of people of Erykah Badu, which is a compliment, but Jill Scott does everything in her own way. The stand out tracks are "Do You Remember", "The Way", "He Loves Me" (Lyzel In E Flat) , "A Long Walk", "Slowly Surely", "Love Rain", etc. When this CD is in the stereo, you can ignore the fast forward button. If you haven't already, you should make it a point to buy this CD. The vibe will take you just like it did me. I recommend this CD to anyone that likes Erykah Badu, Eric Benet, D'Angelo or Chico DeBarge. This is the best current R&B CD out right now.

57 of 64 found the following review helpful:


AFTER THIS YOU WILL KNOW.. WHO IS JILL SCOTT  Jul 23, 2000 By Tony_Tone "Anthony Jamal Smith"
The Neon-Soul Movement is in high gear with the likes of folks Maxwell, Eric Benet, Macy Gray, D'Angelo, Erykah Badu, Lauryn Hill, Jazzyfatnastess move over because here comes Ms. Jill Scott you can add her to the growing list of this movement which blends old school r&b, jazz and hip hop in to an infectious mix.. Ms Scott debut is nothing short of breathtaking every track on here is simply incredible.. Ms Scott has been around doing backing vocals for such hip hop acts The Roots, Will Smith

When she sings Erykah Badu and Lauryn Hill will come to mind.. This CD hasnt left my CD player since i brought it .. Among the highlights : Do You Remember, Gettin In The Way, For my DC/MD/VA folks who may be reading this you all have to check out the track It's Love it has that sound we all know and love G0-GO the song is hot , Love Rain, Slowly Surely.. Are just some of the great songs on this great CD.. Pick this up you will love it .. Enjoy

23 of 25 found the following review helpful:


Inspiration And Education From The Queen Of Neo-Soul  Sep 04, 2004 By Busy Body
On a recent trip to London, I saw the debut album from Jill Scott on sale in a record store and bought it without hesitation. I have wanted this album for months and I now finally own it. I expected something good, but I didn't expect to be blown away by the genius, talent and immense artistry that Jill Scott displays on "Who Is Jill Scott? Words And Sounds Vol. 1." I remember hearing Scott's debut single back in 2000 and have heard nothing of her since, but my recent dive into an ocean of musical styles and sounds had prompted me to purchase this modern neo-soul classic. As I grow as a man I feel a desire to know more and a longer, more passionate and mature dedication to music which is my life exclusively. I think I can safely add Jill Scott to the array of real artists that bowl me over every time I pop their albums in my CD player.

"Who Is Jill Scott?" was released in the summer of 2000 and quickly floated towards the upper-end of the charts, swiftly garnering mass public respect and positive critical response selling 2 million copies. The album on the whole is just a beautiful and emotional experience of love. Everything that is in this album is sung exotically from the heart. Crammed with love and desire, Scott expresses her deepest, inner-most feelings in remarkable honestly and astonishing professionalism.

The album opens with "Jilltro," which is a fantastic intro to open such an accomplished album. She introduces herself with haunting vocals and echoing beats, before moving into "Do You Remember?" which is a classy and seductive slow-jam ballad. This is a vivid and soothing song that sets the standard for the rest of the album, as Jill's thick vocals slide over the heavenly beats. "Exclusively" follows this up, and is a humorous insight into Jill's personality and how in love she is with her man. The song only lasts for little over two minutes, but is an album highlight for sure. You don't hear many female artists singing with such honesty like this, so prepare to be stunned. The album's lead single and Jill's debut "Gettin' In The Way" is up next and is a classic straight off the bat! I once heard a remix of this song, sped up for radio to make it sound more accessible, but this is the real version that you want to be hearing! The second single "A Long Walk" is up next and is almost as good as the last track. The video to this song was amazing and this is another lush and deep song about true love. "I Think It's Better" is a slow and haunting interlude that serves as an intro to the next song.

That next song is "He Loves Me (Lyzel In E Flat)" and is a true album highlight for sure! The percussion in the background is mid-tempo and funky in its approach, working in perfect harmony to Scott's loved-up lyrics and chorus-cooing. When I first heard "It's Love," I was left thinking that I had heard this somewhere before, and I had! Some poor UK-based dance act had ripped this song off and turned it into a boring trance track. This is where it *really* is! At almost six minutes, this is a funky and upbeat track with a deep and close bass that swings through the entire composition. "The Way" is another album highlight and a firm fan favourite. Once more, Scott sings of indescribable and powerful loving, but what makes it so cute is the daily-life tasks that pepper the verses, such as getting a shower and making breakfast. "Honey Molasses" is a beautiful and haunting beat-riddled track that drips like syrup. Scott's answer-machine message is beautiful and inspiring. "Love Rain" is a song that took me a bit of getting used to. I didn't like it very much to begin with, but after a few listens, I really started to dig it. This is a beautiful song because of Scott's slow-rapping and the sweet violins in the background.

"The Roots (Interlude)" is a short interlude which is followed by the superb "Slowly Surely," which has to posses one of the most gorgeous and appetising basses I have ever heard! The way it rises and falls is just stunning and makes my heart ache because of its beauty. Sometimes I forget Scott is singing when I focus on the bass because it's just so hypnotic! "One Is The Magic #" opens differently to most of the other songs, with a Spanish/Flamenco-sounding trumpet and beat. Scott sings of multiplying and subtracting, dividing and adding which is all well and good, but it all boils down to her, which is precisely why 1 is the magic number! "Watching Me" continues the trend of chilled out grooves and sultry beats with a repetitive but catchy chorus. The sounds and background-vocals are superb and make this another album stand out! "Brotha" is a good song, but I don't listen to it very much. I often get caught up in the other tracks on the album, but it does have a very funky beat! "Show Me" is yet another seductive and beautiful song, which closes the album perfectly.

OVERALL GRADE: 10/10

The album also includes a fantastic bonus track, "Try." Jill Scott simply created a masterpiece with this debut album. That she possesses so much love and passion in her music, poetry and lyrics is an inspiration not only to women, but to men who experience similar feelings. This album is so amazing that it almost gives Lauryn Hill's "Miseducation" a run for it's money as the best R'n'B album I own! Jill's sophomore album "Beautifully Human: Words And Sounds Vol. 2" has just been released this week, and I am definitely buying it if it's anything (and I've heard it's even better) like this classic debut album.

13 of 13 found the following review helpful:


an instant classic  Mar 08, 2001
although i try refrain from using superlatives, jill scott's debut album is truly perfection. i do not forward through any songs on this album. she is an amazing artist, with songs the speak of deep personal experiences, mostly love, and not of "pimpin'..." and money and cars, etc. she neither oversings nor gets lost in her music, and the soul and wisdom in her voice and words transcend her youth. it's refreshing to see an r&b/neo-soul wonder like jill scott in this era of blah pop-music and played out, boring r&b artists (i.e. kelly price, r. kelly, sisqo). it's also great to see jill scott is getting the popular and critical acclaim that she deserves.

personal favorites include:

"exclusively" -- a beautiful spoken word piece with an ironic twist on fidelity, or should i say infidelity

"gettin' in the way" -- jill scott getting ready to give the "smack down" on some girl trying to mess with her man

"a long walk" -- my absolute favorite song on the album; great jazz/soul vibe

"love rain" -- another great song/spoken word piece on the pain of unrequited love (also remixed with mos def)

"slowly surely" -- great beat, of course great writing, showcases her strength in leaving an unloving relationship

"try" -- another great beat and a positive message

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