Jill Scott - To Whom This May Concern

A decade is a long time to wait, but Jill Scott is an artist worth waiting for. The neo-soul queen's first new album since 2015, To Whom This May Concern, arrives with the authority of someone who refused to release a word until the words were ready to be released.Andre Harris and Adam Blackstone provide the familiar foundation with DJ Premier, Om'Mas Keith and Trombone Shorty pushing the palette somewhere newer and more adventurous. 'Beautiful People' roots itself in live-band gospel-soul, 'Pressha' unpacks emotional labour with characteristic honesty, and 'Don't Play With It' lands as a pointed statement on consent. Guest verses from Ab-Soul, JID and Tierra Whack add further depth. Worth every year of the wait.