To Whom This May Concern

It took 11 years for Jill Scott to release <i>To Whom This May Concern</i> following its 2015 predecessor <i>Woman</i>, and she comes out of the gate swinging—with a little help from her friends. Opener “Dope Shit” features Maha Adachi Earth proclaiming, “I be good/I do dope shit,” and on the Trombone Shorty-assisted “Be Great”, Scott cooks up a funk-soul romp built around horn stabs and a shuffling drum groove. She tells herself, confidently, “I’ma go ahеad and be great, why not?” There’s an infectious spirit that pervades the album, a declaration from Scott to her listeners that they should go out and grab the things they want because that’s what she’s doing. “A Universe” showcases the many sides of the Philly songwriter’s artistry as she cooks up a swaggering ode to unexpected love. “I felt like my love life was finished/I was satisfied, believe me/I got my music, my family/Genuine friends who love me,” she admits. Then, a surprise: “I wasn't even feeling lonely/Then you pulled up on me.”