A writer who evolved into a triumphant #92;R&B performer and then a stage and film actress, Jill Scott grew up in Philadelphia and wrote lyrical, evocative poetry -- poetry that prompted her discovery by Amir, drummer of the #92;R&B band the Roots. A studio collaboration between Scott and that band yielded the 1999 Top 40 #92;pop hit "You Got Me"; afterward, in lieu of doing the expected by issuing her first solo recording, Scott first garnered legions of fans by touring across Canada in a powerhouse revival of the Jonathan Larson #92;musical Rent; she then began issuing solo recordings in the summer of 2000. Scott's film career largely grew out of her music act, beginning as it did with solo performances in the 2005 Dave Chappelle's Block Party and the 2006 #92;documentary Finally Sayin' What I Really Mean.... She segued into pure dramatic roles in 2007, with a pair of memorable performances -- one in the #92;comedy drama Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married? and an outstanding turn as #92;blues maven Big Mama Thornton in the #92;coming-of-age #92;period piece Hounddog. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide
- Born:
April 4, 1972 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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Job Titles:
Singer, Songwriter, Actress, Poet
Family
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Mother: Joyce Scott. Raised her daughter with her mother
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Son: Jett Hamilton Roberts. Born April 20, 2009; father, Lil John Roberts
Significant Others
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Companion: Lil John Roberts. Announced engagement on June 20, 2008 at a concert in New York s Carnegie Hall; ended relationship shortly after their son was born in April 2009
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Husband: Lyzel Williams. Married from 2001-2007; wrote and recorded the song He Loves Me (Lyzel in E Flat) about Williams
Education
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Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, education
Milestones
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2000 Began performing at a theater company in Philadelphia
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2000 Released her debut album, Who Is Jill Scott? Words and Sounds Vol.1
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2001 Released a live album, Experience: Jill Scott 826+
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2003 Earned a Grammy nomination for the single A Long Walk
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2004 Co-starred in the Showtime movie Cavedweller starring Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick
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2004 Made her TV debut in a recurring role on season four of UPN s Girlfriends
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2004 Released second studio album, Beautifully Human: Words and Sounds Vol. 2
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2005 Published a compilation volume of her poems, The Minutes, The Moments, The Hours
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2006 Performed with The Roots and Erykah Badu in the concert film, Dave Chappelle s Block Party
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2007 Appeared in Tyler Perry s feature film, Why Did I Get Married?
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2007 Made feature acting debut in Hounddog as Big Mama Thornton
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2007 Released the studio album, The Real Thing: Words and Sounds Vol. 3
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2009 Played the leading role in the HBO series, The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency
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Appeared in the Canadian touring production of the Broadway musical Rent
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Began performing as a spoken word artist
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Signed to Steve McKeever s Hidden Beach Recordings label
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Was discover by Quest Love of the band, The Roots and collaborated with them to write the song You Got Me