We tapped into the Neo-Soul vault for this debate. Just so happens that the vault was hidden in Philadelphia. Let’s talk about Who Is Jill Scott?: Words and Sounds Vol. 1 and Aijuswanaseing by Jill Scott and Musiq Soulchild, respectively.
Between the two, Who Is Jill Scott? came first. Spirituality and spoken words, among other things, were some of the key ingredients for creating this album. The latter could be heard in “Exclusively.”
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The album was not filled with Maya Angelou type poems over smooth R&B instrumentals, however. The streets of Philly would come out of Jill in “Gettin’ In the Way,” a track involving her man’s old fling trying to cause mischief.
“Sister girl, I know you don’t understand/but you going have to understand he’s my man now/What you had is gone, our thing is sweet/Our thing is stronger than any lie you can tell on me/He knows my heart and that’s the part/Yo roots are dug up so you might as well give up/I see your intentions, you can’t handle the truth/He let you go a long time ago now it’s time to turn him loose.” -Jill Scott
The album was promoted by singles, “Love Rain,” “The Way,” “A Long Walk,” and the aforementioned “Gettin in the Way.”
Who Is Jill Scott? earned a Grammy nomination for R&B Album of the Year. It peaked at number 2 on the Billboard 200 and number 17 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. The album was certified double-platinum.
Musiq Soulchild’s Aijuswanaseing came months later. At the time, your typical love-inspired R&B cuts barely scratched the surface. But Musiq dug deep with songs such as “Just Friends” and “You And Me,” among others, to give different angles and perspectives on love and relationships.
Musiq took a page out of Common’s “I Used to Love H.E.R.” book to explain “Love,” metaphorically.
Aijuswanaseing peaked at the number 24 and 4 spot on the US Billboard 200 and R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts, respectively.
Because of Is Jill Scott? Life and Sounds Vol. 1 and Aijuswanaseing, Jill and Musiq, among others, was accredited for helping reignite Philly’s R&B scene.
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‘Who Is Jill Scott?: Words and Sounds Vol.1’ or ‘Aijuswanaseing’?
[Polls Are Closed!]
Jill Scott – Who Is Jill Scott?: Words and Sounds Vol. 1 – 88%
Musiq Soulchild – Aijuswanaseing – 12%
