review
Jill Scott
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Phatmag:
Do you play any instruments at all?
No
just spirit. I just play my soul
Phatmag:
So you're just a vocalist - obviously you're voice is an instrument
Yeah
Phatmag: I believe you were with the Roots over
here sometime last year, weren't you?
Yeah
Phatmag:
I remember because I was at the concert and I remember them introducing
you on stage and you did a little something and I thought it was very
good
Thank
you
Phatmag:
So how did you hook up with them?
I
knew the Roots from being in Philadelphia. We'd see each other all the
time at poetry venues or concerts or...you know, we'd just see each
other. Philadelphia is a big city but it's very much a small town in
mentality. You know 'hey how ya doing?' You know 'what's up?' you know
and that kind of thing and they heard me reading poetry at a club and
my friend Roger Madeenus was on that show and invited me to.... they
called to say hey what's up and would I feel like writing something
for their new album'. Sure
Phatmag:
So did the record company hook you up with the producers or did you
hook up with the producers before hooking up with record company?
I
hooked up with the producers and then the record label. When I met the
producers, I didn't have any music or pictures or anything at all. Still
once I got with them, I still didn't have any pictures - I just sent
out the music and I met Steve McKeever if of Hidden Beach
Phatmag:
So I guess you're living large now yeah
Who
me?
Phatmag: Yeah
I'm
not quite sure what you mean
Phatmag:
Did the record company give you a big deal. Was there good financial
benefit from it?
I
wouldn't say a big deal no but I intend in stepping up. Take it slow
and easy - learn how to manage some money for a lot of money and I mean
working my way up even with record sales and all of it. Through the
music, you know, make my way up
Omar is the one I'm very.... I have very high regard
Phatmag: Did you hear of Omar over here or over there?
Over in Philadelphia
Phatmag: Anybody else?
Eric Benet. I would like to work with him again. Stevie Wonder. You know, I've had the pleasure of meeting him but that was about it
Phatmag:Relegion.. Would you call yourself religious or spiritual and why would you choose one over the other?
Well I would call myself spiritual because I've checked out pretty much... I can't say all the religions but very many of them. You know, Baptist, Protestant, Christian, Jehovah's Witness, Muslim - you know I just checked it all out to see what's out there and I realised that it's all the same thing. All the same book it's just written in a different language. A different cultural stance but at the end of the day it's all the same
Phatmag: Sexuality.. What do you think of the whole ghetto fabulous mentality. You know you've got all the youth - young girls wanting to be Lil'Kim, dressing in a provocative way and all the young guys, more or less in the same way, but obviously different. What do you think about the whole youth culture?
Well first I'm gonna talk about the young women. I see things in two ways. Looking at where we come from, you know black people?
Phatmag: Yeah
And we never really liked to wear much clothing in the first place. You know and if you know and think about that and that so much of what was still rubs off or is still very much a part of us even without our knowledge. And then also, not that I mind the showing of skin and being little sexy in clothing, but I think it's more a matter of having self respect. You know, not necessarily being lewd, crewed. Provocative is one thing, nasty is another so that's the other side of the game. And then with men, I really would want my brothers to know this, just 'cos you have a product, a pair shoes on or something fabulous.... I mean it's all great and good but it doesn't any smarter, it doesn't make you any funnier and it doesn't make you any more handsome - it just means you have something to show and if a young lady is interested in you just because you have something to show, she doesn't have any interest in having a love life, truly, then I would second guess that whole relationship. I want more for myself than just money. I want more than that
