The anticipation was immense and the crowd stretched for as far as the eye could
see at New York City hot spot Dominion NYC, undoubtedly even snaking around
corners. It was a crazy scene; like something out of a movie. There were cameras
and camera phones at the ready, all set just to catch a glimpse of what's next. The
beautiful people where everywhere. From celebrities (namely Q-Tip the Abstract
and Real Housewives of New York's Kathy Bensimon) to the average Prada toting
patrician, everyone (and I do mean EVERYONE!) wanted to be in the know. The text
messages and tweets were flying around with curiosity and reckless abandon: "Is
she here yet?," "What's going on @ the door...does any1 know?" This sister's security
detail rivaled that of a major head of state or even a queen. Big tall dudes with
authoritative stares where all over the place. It was made clear to all of us, however,
that one would have to be patient.
Center
And it's safe to say that this frenzied calm would pay off in a major way. Who
is it that could elicit such fanfare, you ask? None other than Jill Scott. With the
accompaniment of a five-piece band and her three background singers, The A Group, the North
Philadelphia powerhouse unveiled a bangin' new 'do, a svelte new figure, and new
work from her upcoming Warner Bros. debut release and fourth studio album overall, The Light Of The Sun. It was
obvious by her swagger that this woman has come a long way from just being "Jilly
from Philly." She is now a woman comfortable in her skin and at peace with her life
and decisions.
She began by stating "the majority of this work...was freestyle and
happy. Just allowing myself to drink a lil' too much Grand Marnier and tell the
truth!" Her set consisting of what she called "pure lyrics" began with "Quick," a
song that puts her baby daddy (former drummer/fiancé Lil' John Roberts) on Front Street. Next came "Boom," an up-tempo declaration of independence with
lyrics like "I can't wait no more...somebody's sniffin' at my dress, hey...somebody's
checkin' for a sista and I'm sorry you're about to get left...Boom!" Her next
joint, "Rolling Hills," was a direct statement to the ladies and the power they possess,
saying, "your rolling hills are gifts to the world and not everyone is deserving of
them!" PREACH!!! For her next song, she took us back to her "humbled" beginnings
with a song that she didn't even really sing bceause the audience knew "The Way" note for note. She couldn't have been more flattered, I'm sure. Next was
collaboration with So So Def/Zomba artist and southern crooner, Anthony Hamilton
on the single "So In Love." When he stepped on stage, the crowd went wild. The
last song, "So Blessed," perfectly illustrated where she stands today in all aspects of her life.
"I've always looked to empower my fans through my message of love, independence,
and strength," Jill stated. "A lot has gone on in my life since my last album, so I'm
extremely excited to share the new music with all the people that have supported
me these past ten plus years. This album is very revealing, and I can't wait for
everyone to hear it."
Where is the pre-order button on iTunes? I'm ready to hear it, too! Look for
Jill Scott's The Light Of The Sun this June.
