Jill Scott's To Whom This May Concern - Letters, Lessons, Legacy

In this episode of Replay Music Podcast, Sade takes a deep dive into To Whom It May Concern by Jill Scott, an album that feels less like a body of work and more like an offering. From the humanity of music to themes of Black greatness, intimacy, self-love, relationships, and authenticity, this episode explores why Jill Scott’s artistry continues to feel timeless and deeply personal.

Sade also reflects on Jill Scott’s incredible legacy as a Grammy-winning singer, poet, and actress, her impact on neo-soul, and her unforgettable NPR Tiny Desk Concert performance that reminded audiences why she remains one of music’s most powerful storytellers.

The episode includes an in-depth breakdown of Sade’s Top 5 tracks from the album:

✨ “Ase” — a spiritual and healing reflection on intentional love and higher self-awareness.
 ✨ “Me4” — a reflective anthem about mistakes, growth, and the ability to start over.
 ✨ “A Universe” — a poetic meditation on life, choices, and emotional accountability.
 ✨ “To Be Honest” — a raw and sultry exploration of yearning, vulnerability, and emotional honesty featuring JID.
 ✨ “Pressha” — a bold and empowering anthem about rejecting societal expectations and embracing authenticity unapologetically.

Alongside the deep dive, Sade also shares her current Top 5 tracks in rotation right now:

🎵 “Days Are Over” — Cortex
 🎵 “Disrespectfully (The Climb)” — Foggy Raw feat. Larry June
 🎵 “Bunce Road Blues” — J. Cole feat. Future and Thas, from The Fall Off
 🎵 “Desire” — Tiana Major9 from November Scorpio
 🎵 “Butterflies” — Brent Faiyaz from Icon, executively produced by Raphael Saadiq

🎧 Tap in with Replay Music Podcast for another episode celebrating timeless music, storytelling, and the albums that continue to shape us.

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:01

Hello, hello, hello. Welcome, welcome, welcome back to Replay Music Podcast. I'm your host, Sade, and we are on episode 4. Honestly, I feel like I took a semi-hiatus, you know, life has been lifing in a good way. But the music has been dropping left, right, up and down everywhere. There is so much to catch up with you guys. But honestly, I'm I'm really looking forward to the next few deep dives that we have. There's some big albums coming our way, and I can't wait to jump into them with you guys. But for now, I'm back. Like I never left, and I'm really excited for today's show, to be honest. So we'll be diving into an incredible body of work by the one and only Jill Scott. Plus, I'll be highlighting some of my favourite tracks at the moment. But before we start there, we have to get into the most important caveats of the show. So you can find Replay Music Podcasts on Instagram at Replay Music Pod, where you can find all the links, playlists, and context in the bio description and all our latest music content we release in between episodes. As always, like, follow, share, tell a friend to tell a friend. If you love RB that flows front to back, you're exactly where you need to be. Now, moving on swiftly to my top five tracks. It spurns across RB, hip-hop, and sometimes jazz. I think in this breakdown we're gonna see mostly a bit of hip-hop and RB because we had some really big, big contenders. You know, J. Cole dropped an album, Foggy War dropped an album, Tiana Major 9 dropped an album, obviously Jill Scott dropped an album. There's so much music, but these are my top five tracks, so I hope you feel them. Coming in strong at number five, we have Cortex Days Are Over. Honestly, I don't know how many times Cortex is going to be in my top five. At this point, I'm a fan, absolutely love what he's doing in the new school R and V theme. Uh, but every song that he drops is it's just amazing. Like it's a banner. The B, his voice, absolutely underrated, definitely an underdog to watch this year. And I I don't think enough people are talking about him, but there is a serious buzz on social media. Hopefully, he'll come and do a tour. I think he's been touring in a few countries at the moment with a few intimate gigs, which is really good to see. But yeah, hopefully he does come to the UK because that would be really dope. I absolutely love this track, the beat, his rich harmonies. But I would love to hear a K1 and Cortex collab. I just feel like their styles are fairly similar, but they both have something different. But as a collaboration, it could be serious. So hopefully this is a manifestation and it comes to pass. And if it does, guys, remember you heard it here first. That is Cortex days are over. Coming in strong at number four, we have Poggy Raw featuring Larry June disrespectfully decline. Now, this track is far too smooth. Like I love how Foggy Raw he's just such a cool, easy-going laid-back rapper. This was his debut album, and to me personally, I thought it was strong. You may remember Foggy Raw, I'd say probably in the past two years. He's done quite a few viral videos where he raps over well-known RB songs. One of his most popular ones was Psalm 22, which was over Alicia Keys, You Don't Know My Name. He's authentic. He's he's really heavy in his symbolism of black art, black empowerment. And I just think the track is so smooth, it's a headbox, and I'm not even surprised that it features Larry June because Larry June, in my opinion, is one of the smoothest rappers of our time. I love the flow, it just gets a lot of replay in my house. So that is number four. Now, moving on to number three Bunts Road Blues by J. Cole featuring Future and Ten. I love this song, I love it. I play it daily. Like I wish honestly, I wish I was in the studio when they recorded this because Futures Hook is so catchy, and you know, the first time I heard it, I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Not in a bad way, in a good way. I just thought this is genius, but I just think the way in which the production completely flips the symbolic chorus of nice and slow in in such a unique way to make it into a hip-hop song is so cool. And if we're talking about lyrical content, J. Cole is reflecting on his own upbringing and the streets that he grew up in, so it completely reverses the romantic element of the Usher song and the symbolism, but it just fits so well. J. Cole's flow is so consistent on the track, it fits the beat perfectly. He touches on artists losing their authenticity when they make it, and I love the opening verse where he touches on it essentially being a suicide note, but not literally, more figuratively. Essentially, he's killing this J. Cole persona and finding himself. I think this is one of the most interesting backdrops of the whole album, to be honest. And I feel like, in terms of the album rollout, J. Cole really speaks quite candidly in his interviews regarding The Fallout, which was a V-log series by J. Cole where he essentially drives around selling physical copies. I just think it's it's brilliant. The whole album rollout and album push out by J. Cole was very authentic. From the production to the harmonies with Thames, who's incredible, and future, just a brilliant collaboration. This song has some serious replay value. And if you haven't already, tap into the J. Cole Fall Off album. It's brilliant. Some really deep songs on there, and some heavy hitters definitely tap in. Coming in strong at number two has to be Desire by Tiana Major 9. I absolutely love this song. It's a bit of a cheeky one to be honest. You know, Tiana speaks about yearning for someone that they cannot have. It's fun, it's flirty, it's really catchy, and it comes off of their debut album, November Scorpio, which I'll be tapping into to stay tuned for that. Now, my number one track has to be Brentfire's Butterflies. Now, Butterflies comes off his latest album, Icon, which I personally thought was iconic. I couldn't believe we got a romantic RB love album from one of the most toxic RB artists of our generation. I really didn't expect it. And if you didn't know, the icon album was executively produced by Raphael Sadiq, another icon. So this was just a completely different take for Brent Flyers, I think, and quite a controversial one because I feel like the album split his fan base. Some people said they didn't really like the delivery, that it wasn't, it just didn't sound like Brent as in his usual stuff, whereas others were saying it was really iconic, it was a brilliant uh piece of versatility, and it worked. I personally agree with the latter. I love the album, and I will be covering it in my next episode, so stay tuned for that. But yeah, this is just a really nice song. I think Brent's voice soothes the track so effortlessly, and I and like I said, I really thought the album was a great switch up from him. His vocals were super warm, it was super smooth, and I love the 80s breakdown in this song and a few others. And that was my top five tracks. I hope you enjoyed it. You can find all those tracks amongst others on the replay music playlist, which will be dropping once this episode drops. So stay tuned and look out for it. Now, the most important part of the show. I really want to talk about this album because honestly, it felt like an offering. The first thing that really comes to mind when I I sat with the album is this album is like it's a black album. It's black empowerment, it's black joy, black teachings. It is an incredible album. It speaks about power of music, the humanity of music, and how music travels across time, generations, and experiences. The title itself, to whom it may concern, almost feels like a letter. It's as if Jill is saying, This is a message for whoever needs it. You know, you might not get it now, but you will in time, and I think that's one of the most beautiful things about music is that sometimes a song meets you exactly where you are, and sometimes it waits until life brings you to it, and that's what really makes music so timeless. I think across this album, Jill touches on real life in such an intimate way. This goes from family tensions, relationship highs and lows, vulnerability, black joy, black greatness, self-love, and authenticity. Listening to her feels like sitting with someone who's lived, reflected, and come back with wisdom. I feel like Jill gives us this auntie or big sister time in music, like a reflection almost. And I feel like the album is really saying, here's what I've learned. Essentially, take what you need, and I feel like there's something for everyone from this album, there's just something that you can relate to, and that is probably one of my favourite things about the delivery of this album. I honestly absolutely love the rollout. I love that she was doing different live performances and she did Tiny Desk and she done a colour studio, she was really delving into social platforms, and I love that because Jill isn't she's not a young artist, she's been in the game for time, and that's what we're gonna move on to. We're gonna touch on that briefly. Uh, I I wanna speak about Jill Scott's legacy because if we're gonna deep dive into this body of work, we have to speak about her legacy and what she stands for. Jill Scott is a Grammy Award-winning singer, a New York Times best-selling poet, and a critically acclaimed actress. But what many people don't realize is that she didn't even start as a singer. She actually began as a spoken word artist performing poetry in Philadelphia, and she was eventually discovered by Questlove from The Roots, which led her to co-write the Grammy Award-winning song You Got Me, which is performed by Erica Badou and The Roots. And when Jill Scott finally stepped out with her own music, she I would say, and I know this term is quite controversial, people don't even like to refer to it, but I would say she was one of the pioneers of NeoSoul, and her songwriting blends high art poetry with everyday relatability, and that was I think one of the most unique and authentic things about her that led people to really fall in love with her music. Her lyrics they don't just rhyme, they read like literature. And she studied English at university with the intention of becoming a teacher, and you can really hear that in her writing. Her wordplay is absolutely genius. So when she structures her lyrics, she uses a lot of techniques like enjantment and jazz-like phrasing, turning everyday moments into deep reflections on black life, love, and community. And she even released a poetry book in 2005 called The Moments, The Minutes, The Hours, which became a New York Times bestseller. So when you listen to Jill Scott, you're not just hearing music. I honestly feel like she's not an artist that you can just put on and that's it. I I feel like her music is timeless. I feel like her music has the ability to be something that you revert to when you're going through something, or something that reminds you of someone or an experience or a moment in your life. It's honestly poetry in motion. And when I was speaking about her album rollout, I said that she really utilized social media and social platforms heavily, and I think that is something that brought so much value to this album because I felt like the younger generations were discovering Jill Scott in real time, and it was so interesting to see. So I grew up on Jill Scott, but to see people from Gen Z discovering Jill Scott's older pieces of work and just being completely blown away, it's so refreshing to see because it's good that artists, especially artists that have legacy, are truly getting their flowers, and I think that's one of the most positive attributes about the social platforms, it can really bring a true love and community to an artist's portfolio. So yeah, Jill Scott's Tiny Desk, it didn't even feel like a concert, it almost felt like a welcome back party. Do you know what I mean? It just had that real good community feel to it, and despite her being such an industry veteran, I feel like Jill Scott still had this genuine excitement about being in that space, which is incredible. The whole performance just felt so intimate and so joyful, and she performed one of my favourite songs crossed my mind, and honestly, her, the band, the background vocalists completely stripped back the tune. Oh, it literally gave me goosebumps. I have watched it so many times. I feel I generally feel like that tiny versus has been one of my favourites today. So that's just a bit a bit of context to Jill Scott and her legacy. Like I said, I really enjoyed this album. I've played it back to front. It was really hard to pick my favourite top five tracks because honestly, I love the album as a whole, but for the context of this podcast today, I'm gonna share my top five tracks. Let's tap in. Starting in strong at number five is Asse. I love this song. I know you haven't seen it. It makes me a bit emotional because it's so poetic and it's also so spiritual and it's so healing. Asse comes from the Yoruba language, and essentially it's an affirmation of spiritual intent. It's quite similar to saying amen. So it's a powerful way to seal a prayer or a declaration. And in this song, that affirmation becomes the heartbeat of the chorus. Jill almost sounds as if she's speaking from this higher perspective, reflecting on love and the way people move through it. Because ultimately, the greatest force she's pointing to here is love. And I feel like this song is a celebration of reaching a place where you're so healthy, you're so grounded and aligned with your higher self. It's about living with intention and choosing love consciously. And for me, that energy is just seen throughout this whole song. It feels incredibly freeing. I've I've listened to this song when I've gone on my personal walks, and when you're walking and you feel almost one with nature, some people, when they go for walks, they might have a prayer walk where they're talking to God or whatever you believe in, however, you choose to connect. I really do feel that this song it touches that spiritual part with you, and the backing harmonies are just warm. It's just like a nice warm hug, and her voice is just constant. It it's honestly, I could really go on, I could go on about this song for time, but listen to it, it's a really good song. So that's I say okay. My next song has to be Me Four. Now this song feels like sitting down with an elder sharing wisdom. It's so reflective, it's honest, and it's a little cautionary. I feel like Jill's talking about the mistakes she's made, the decisions she's had to live with, and the moments where her line has forced her to reset. The one detail I really love is how the phrase to leave and screw up is slowed down and reversed in the production of the song. So at parts you hear this reversed phrase, and I think that is so symbolic because it's almost like each repetition is saying, you can rewind, you can start again. And I think that's really intentional. I think the song reminds us that bad decisions don't define you forever. Life always offers the possibility to start over. And it's empowering, it's reflective, and somehow it's still really catchy. Like the beat is really a headbop. So, yeah, absolutely love that song. Uh coming in strong at number three has to be a universe. Jill's voice on this track is so soft. This song is deeply poetic. She uses math as a metaphor for life, suggesting that the choices we make, good or bad, ultimately adds up to the life we create. Again, it's so poetic, right? But it's true. And the math essentially is in our hands. So I feel like the chorus feels like a mantra, repeating these ideas of responsibility and growth and awareness. And the song is a real interesting one because it feels both healing and confronting at the same time. It genuinely asks you to, in the most gentle way, look at your life and the choices you're making. And again, what better way to deliver that? So, yeah, that's number three. Okay, this was a struggle. Picking number two and number one was so hard. But number two has to be to be honest. Now, the first thing that stood out for me on this track was the rawness of Jill's vocals. It's sultry, but it's also incredibly direct. I feel like in this song, Jill is yearning. She's expressing desire and vulnerability, but also asking for clarity. She's almost negotiating with herself throughout the verses, going back and forth between what she wants and what she needs. The production is amazing, but there's this really dark bass guitar, and the smooth synth keys really create this moody atmosphere that Jill writes so perfectly. And then we have to talk about the feature with Jid because Jid is such a versatile artist. I feel like he can really split himself between genres so well. And I feel like his verse and his flow is so smooth. But what I really loved about this collaboration is that he essentially steps into the role of the lover who's responding to Jill's desires, and by the end of the verse, he's affirming what she's been asking for, and when their voices really come together, he even has little harmonies. I did not expect it, but I loved it. It's a playful song, and it's one of my favorites. Now, number one, this tune right here, pressure. This song, guys. This song was an instant replay. The first time I heard it, the production felt really sultry and intimate. So I think off of a first listen, you might think it's a central song, but it's such a deep song because it's so bold and it's so empowering. It's an album. Jill is talking about the pressure that women face, the pressure to look a certain way, the pressure to perform femininity, the pressure to meet societal expectations in relationships, and she rejects it all. She reflects on a relationship where essentially someone wanted her in secret, and this song becomes her declaration that she refuses to shrink herself for anyone. She deserves to be loved boldly and openly. Jill looks stunning, but aside from that, the song itself is bold and it's liberating. I love when women stand firm in who they are. That is some boss bitch shit, and that is how it should be. And that's why I think Jill Scott continues to be one of the most important voices in RB, Leo Soul, as some would say. But in music, she is a legend and she has left us with legacy. And if you haven't listened to To Whom It May Concern, I absolutely encourage you to sit with the album and allow it to speak to you because I'm sure it will speak to you in ways that you may not have felt from just a first listen. And I hope that the music touches you in a way that allows you to channel and challenge your inner voice. I think that's the most important thing. So, yes, an incredible body of work. And Jill Scott is also on tour, guys. She is touring, she is coming to London. I think she has some dates in September, and she's just added a date in October. The brilliant album. And that wraps up episode 4. What a body of work, guys. Thanks for joining me on this episode. Check out the album, tap into the episode 4 playlist that features all my favourite tracks from To Whom It Make Return and some amazing RB songs out right now with a little bit of hip-hop and a little bit of jazz. Like and share the episode if you enjoyed it. Follow us at Replay Music Pod for all of our music content and all of our affiliated links. Telephriend to telephone. As always, I'm your host Sharday, and this is Replay Music Podcast.