Top 10 Jill Scott Songs

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Our Top 10 Jill Scott Songs list looks at the work of a female vocalist who stands as one of the greats in multiple musical genres. With a sound that mixes the soulfulness of an Aretha Franklin and the pitch of a Whitney Houston with the phrasings of a Billie Holiday, Jill Scott is a joy to listen to.The multi-talented Jill Scott is known for her contribution towards acting, modelling, poetry, singing, and songwriting. Hailing out of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, she was raised by her mother and grandmother in a Jehovah’s Witness environment. Originally, she intended to become a school teacher, but the work experience in the field left a bad enough taste in her mouth where she opted to choose a different career path.

New Road

Starting in 1999, Scott began as a spoken word artist, which included poetry readings. Soon afterwards, she collaborated with the band, Roots, with a hit single that would make her official debut while performing live at one of their shows. “You Got Me” won a Grammy Award in 2000, which officially put her name on the map as an elite class musician. It lead to additional collaborations for Scott that saw her horizons as an actress and vocalist open up more doors of opportunity for her than ever before. That door lead to five studio albums, four compilation albums, a remixed album, two live albums, and twenty-one charted singles.

Top 10 Jill Scott Songs

#10 – Golden

From Beautifully Human: Words and Sounds Vol. 2, which was released on August 31, 2004, “Golden” appeared on the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart at number thirty-one. On the UK Singles Chart, it appeared at number fifty-nine. The melodic performance of Jill Scott’s voice delivers a soulful touch to the soft rhythm of an easy listening song that serves as an inspirational piece fueled with faith.

#9 – Cross My Mind

Jill Scott’s second album, Beautifully Human: Words and Sounds Vol. 2, brought forth the third of its charted singles, “Cross My Mind.” On the US Billboard Urban R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, it peaked at number ten. On the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, it peaked at number thirty-eight. The song also won Jill Scott a Grammy Award in 2005 for Best Urban/Alternative Performance. The piano rich song starts with Scott’s narrative that later breaks into song a sultry, seductive piece that reminisces the best of the past with the subject of her song, which was a former lover.

#8 – So Gone (What My Mind Says) (featuring Paul Wall)

The fourth studio album from Jill Scott was The Light of the Sun, which was released on June 21, 2011. In a duet performance with Paul Wall, “So Gone” peaked as high as number seven on the US Billboard Urban R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and at number twenty-eight on the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. Soft and sultry, the twang of the guitar accompanies Jill Scott’s melodic voice and Paul Wall’s hip-hop style from the start of this soulful song to its end in rhythmic harmony.

#7 – My Love

On the US Billboard Urban R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, “My Love” peaked at number ten. It charted at number thirty-eight on the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. The song comes from Jill Scott’s third studio album, The Real Thing: Words and Sounds Vol. 3, which was released on September 25, 2007. Starting the song as if speaking on the phone, Jill Scott’s shock and disappointment of her former lover has married another woman. Once she breaks into the slow, seductive vocals, Jill Scott’s soulful voice adds to the mood of what a classic R&B song is about.

#6 – Hate on Me

In 2007, “Hate on Me” was the first single from Scott’s third studio album, The Real Thing: Words and Sounds Vol. 3. On the US Billboard Urban R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, the song peaked at number nine. On the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, it peaked at number twenty-four. With the style of music coming across as a soft challenge, especially with the trombone and trumpet seeming to put their two cents’ worth into the song, Jill Scott’s powerful vocals deliver a perfect one-two punch of rhythm and blues.

#5 – The Way

Coming from her debut album, Who Is Jill Scott? Words and Sounds Vol. 1, is the fourth of her singles, “The Way.” It was the third to chart as it appeared at number fifteen on the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and at number sixty on the US Billboard Hot 100. The album was released on July 18, 2000, and was certified double Platinum by the Recording Industry of America (RIAA). It was also certified Gold with Music Canada (MC) and UK’s British Phonographic Industry (BPI). The Way is one of those ideal songs to slow dance to when caught up in a moment where the soul simply wants to relax and enjoy the mood.

#4 – A Long Walk

“A Long Walk,” already appeared on the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart at number nine in 2001. It came from the July 2000 debut album, Who Is Jill Scott? Words and Sounds Vol. 1. On the US Billboard Hot 100, the song charted at number forty-three. On the UK Singles Chart, it peaked at number fifty-four. Rhythmic and bluesy, the song’s soft beat parallels itself perfectly with Scott’s soft, melodic voice as she delivers a soulful performance that has become her trademark.

#3 – Gettin’ In the Way

From Jill Scott’s debut album, Who Is Jill Scott? Words and Sounds Vol. 1, was her debut single as a solo artist was “Gettin’ In the Way,” which peaked at number three on the US Billboard Urban R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. On the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, it peaked at number twenty-eight. For the first time in Scott’s career, she also realized a chart hit on the UK Singles Chart when “Gettin’ in the Way,” peaked at number thirty. Scott’s melodic talking to against her rival serves as a soulful delivery that letting go of what’s already been lost is a better alternative than hanging onto something that’s now a lost cause.

#2 – Blessed

“Blessed” charted at number one on the US Billboard Urban R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart in 2012, as well as number twenty-one on the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. It was the fourth and final single from Scott’s fourth studio album, The Light of the Sun. The piano in the background, plus the rhythmic performance of the band, adds to Jill Scott’s inspirational piece as she sings out the joys of her life in what serves as the ideal contemporary piece to the genres of R&B, blues, and gospel.

#1 – So In Love (featuring Anthony Hamilton)

On the US Billboard Urban R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, “So In Love” peaked at number one in 2011. The duet performance of Anthony Hamilton and Jill Scott is featured on the album, The Light of the Sun. Tied with Maxwell’s 1999 single, Fortunate, Scott’s So In Love remained at the top of this specific music chart for the longest stretch of time. On the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, the song peaked at number ten. If a listener didn’t know any better, listening to “So in Love,” could just as easily fit into the vintage of classic R&B hits that graced the soul train of radio stations as of the 1970s. It’s a timeless song that is easy to listen to. Getting caught up in the moment of a cheerful, yet romantic, number is what the best of the R&B classic hits is supposed to do.