S-P-(((o)))-T-L-I-G-H-T ::: 3 Songs with Jill Scott

As Season 3 of Blue-in-Green:RADIO's S-P-(((o)))-T-L-I-G-H-T series commences, celebrating the efforts of some of our favourite vocalists, we thought we'd take a little extra time and prepare a 3-song round-up of some of our favourite under-appreciated collaborations or under-the-radar remixes that may have passed listeners by.

We begin tonight celebrating the music of Philadelphia treasure Jill Scott.  With the release of her sixth studio album due February 2026 - her first in over ten years - Scott's status as contemporary and neo-soul icon has never wavered.  Since wow'ing with her penmanship for The Roots' Grammy-winning 'You Got Me' in 1999 to the release of her flawless and timeless debut full-length in 'Who Is Jill Scott?: Words and Sounds Vol. 1' the following year, Scott has consistently delivered as an artist that stood tall amongst a genre that was never short on its own luminaries.

Aside from the list of full-length albums, there's an extensive list of collaborations, live recordings, remixes and b-sides to Scott's name which have helped her to cultivate an incredible catalogue of music over the years.  While certain collaborations with The Roots, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Common and Robert Glasper Experiment may be well-known, we'll try to put you on to a few things that you may not have been aware of.

Here are three Jill Scott tracks that no Jill Scott collection should be without...

1. 'Dreamin'' by Jill Scott (1999)

Serving as very possibly the first Jill Scott song many listeners would have stumbled upon, this definitive gem was housed on the soundtrack to the LL Cool J and Omar Epps film, 'In Too Deep' from 1999.  An excellent compilation in its own right with contributions from Redman & Method Man, Nas, Mobb Deep and Jagged Edge, this super jazzy and understated number from Scott will ensnare you immediately.  Disappointingly, it's a track that didn't find its way to her debut in 2000 but it set the scene perfectly for the incredible ambition and scope that the album would aim for.

2. 'To Be We' by Theo Croker featuring Jill Scott (2022)

Trumpeter Theo Croker's 'Love Quantum' album certainly boasted a guest-heavy affair with some typically exceptional names included like Chris Dave, Kassa Overall, Wyclef Jean and Gary Bartz.  The wonderful inclusion of Scott in the line-up helped to deliver another fantastic release for Croker - the dreamy, slightly trippy soundscape finds Scott soaring as she delivers a typically outstanding vocal interspersed with moments of her spoken word brilliance.

3. 'All I Do' [Jeremias Santiago's FTL Rework] by Jill Scott (2019) 

Any music fan with an internet connection will be aware of the inconceivable amount of remixes that DJs, producers and bedroom DJs alike will have unveiled expressing their affection for Jill Scott's music.  And while there are a litany of remixes that adorn Bandcamp including takes on tracks by Makèz, DJ Kwamzy and Freddie Joachim, we wanted to show love to New York's Jeremias Santiago and his remix of Scott's 'All I'.  Originally housed on 'The Real Thing: Words And Sounds Vol. 3', under the title 'All I', the lush R&B number is transformed into a soulful house gem that reimagines the track wonderfully but still manages to remain Scott's warmth and intimacy.