Jill Scott

Jill Scott, a multi-faceted artist from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, has been active in the music industry since the 1990s. A celebrated singer and songwriter, Scott's debut album, "Who Is Jill Scott?: Words and Sounds Vol. 1," achieved platinum status, setting the stage for several successful albums that followed, including "Beautifully Human: Words and Sounds Vol. 2" and "The Real Thing: Words and Sounds Vol. 3." Scott's distinctive neo-soul style, which blends elements of jazz, opera, R&B, spoken word, and hip hop, has won her multiple Grammy Awards and recognition for her soulful voice and four-octave vocal range.

Scott's talents aren't limited to music, she has also made her mark in the film and television industry, having appeared in various productions since 2000. Her film debut came in 2007 with Hounddog and Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married?. She later starred in the BBC/HBO series "The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency," and has held roles in a number of other films and television shows, including the CW's "Black Lightning." Scott's acting endeavors have earned her several NAACP Image Awards for Outstanding Female Artist, Outstanding Music Video, Outstanding Song, and Outstanding Album for "The Light of the Sun."

Apart from her musical and acting pursuits, Scott is also a published poet, having released a compilation volume of her poems titled "The Moments, The Minutes, The Hours." Her poetry, like her music, often explores themes of love, womanhood, and empowerment. Scott is also actively involved in philanthropic work. She established the Blues Babe Foundation in 2003, to which she donated $100,000. She has also used her platform to vocalize concerns about the portrayal of women of color in hip-hop songs and music videos.