Jill Scott Announces New Album ‘To Whom This May Concern,’ Her First in Over a Decade

After a ten-year hiatus from the studio, acclaimed R&B and neo-soul artist Jill Scott is set to release her sixth album, "To Whom This May Concern," on February 13. Distributed by The Orchard, the project is the long-awaited successor to her 2015 chart-topper "Woman." The new record boasts an impressive roster of featured artists, including Ab-Soul, J.I.D., Tierra Whack, and Too Short, with production handled by a diverse team that spans from hip-hop legend DJ Premier to collaborators Adam Blackstone and Om'Mas Keith.

Scott first rose to prominence with her seminal 2000 debut, *Who Is Jill Scott?: Words and Sounds Vol. 1*, an album that cemented her as a foundational figure in the neo-soul genre. She recently celebrated that album's 25th anniversary with a headlining performance at the 2024 Essence Festival. The announcement of "To Whom This May Concern" was paired with the release of its lead single, "Beautiful People." In a conversation on the *Million Dollaz Worth of Game* podcast, Scott suggested the album is deeply personal, born from "a lot of living." She expressed particular excitement about her collaborators, stating she "couldn’t have ever even imagined who is on this album," and highlighted tracks like "Pay You on Tuesday" and "Don’t Play."

This musical comeback follows a sustained period where Scott cultivated a successful parallel career in acting, appearing in series such as "Black Lightning," "First Wives Club," and a guest spot on the hit sitcom "Abbott Elementary." Her upcoming role is in Tyler Perry's Netflix film "Why Did I Get Married Again?" This strategic career diversification is viewed by many as a strength. As music critic Lena Shaw observes, "The discipline of acting—building a character from the script out—can profoundly influence a musician's approach to narrative songwriting, likely adding new layers of depth to Scott's already evocative work."

The album's rollout appears meticulously planned to reconnect with Scott's loyal audience while demonstrating her artistic growth. Given her pioneering status, "To Whom This May Concern" is positioned as a major moment in modern soul music, aiming to link her influential legacy with a vibrant new creative phase. Industry analysts will be watching its performance closely, as a successful return could inspire a wave of similar comebacks from other iconic artists from the early 2000s neo-soul era.