In a time when Snoop has added bubblegum-pop and vocal house (heavy on the autotune) to his resume, and every second urban artist has joined forces with David Guetta, it's refreshing to see a long-standing superstar like Jill Scott stay true to her roots and continue to churn out heartfelt, down-to-earth neo-soul.
The three-time Grammy Award winning singer-songwriter has released her forth studio album The Light of the Sun.
Although four years since her previous release, Scott has had a consistently successful career spanning over a decade, primarily in music but also dabbling in film and television.
This New York Times best-selling poet has incorporated her poetry into her music, fusing spoken word with R&B, hip hop and, of course, soul.
Scott's uniqueness places her alongside great artists like Erykah Badu, Musiq Soulchild and Maxwell.
Not fixing what ain't broke, The Light of the Sun is classic Jill Scott, embracing all these genres, and fans have likewise responded.
The album hit #1 on the US billboard 200 chart, selling 135,000 copies in its first week.
Two singles have been released to date.
So in Love with Anthony Hamilton is an upbeat, feel-good number, ideal for the summer iPod playlist.
Hamilton and Scott flawlessly complement each other, both stylistically and vocally.
Shame is the token independent woman track, and who better to provide the sassy rap but Eve.
As an executive producer on the album, and not surprisingly a writer on every song, Scott's bright talent and experience keeps The Light of the Sun true to her personality and style; raw but polished, classy but real.
Her recent life experience mean pain and growth are evident, but the album is positive overall.
Stand-outs include the jazzy Quick, the souled-out Rolling Hills, and for those who prefer Scott's spoken word, Womanifesto.
Props also go to Ms.
Scott for the out-of-the-ordinary La Boom Vent Suite which is quite a crowd mover.
Scott is timeless, not confined to a certain musical era and can move a person physically and mentally.
Her videos, like her music, are wholesome, warm and unpretentious, embracing classic American muscle cars, afros and b-boys.
The talent is true without the need for glitz and glamour.
Although The Light of the Sun isn't going to revolutionise urban music as her first 'golden' offerings did, it's a solid effort by the soul superstar with little need for the skip track button.
7/10