Jill Scott has been here before. Her soul comes from another place, another time. In an industry that celebrates style over substance, Jill brings both... like they used to. She makes music from her soul that touches your soul. But, Jill isn't just on some sentimental journey, she can make your head bob ['cause your neck knows]. On "Epiphany" she drops a slow flow that opens your eyes to her emcee skills. But, as with most of her songs, you have to listen... the track details an encounter with a lover that takes it to another level physically but... at the last minute... she let's you know it's not enough. Of course, "Crown Royal" is a different story. On a note-for-note basis, this could be the sexist song ever recorded. The joint is only 1:49, but she packs in about 10 minutes of sexy.

Ms. Scott gives us the whole range of emotion. On "The Real Thing" she is that strong sistah, the backbone who tells a brotha "when you're lost and you need some focus come see me..." - she's got you. Jill flashes her tough skin on "Hate On Me" when she tells the haters "in reality, I'm going to be who I be" since she realizes they can't be satisfied. Crazy, sick line, "if I gave you diamonds out of my own womb, would you feel the love in that or ask why not the moon?" Say Word. But Jill also gives us the raw, the vulnerable... on "Insomnia" she let's us know that a dude who doesn't deserve her devotion has her open... doing things she never thought she would... spying, throwin' bricks, etc. You can feel her shame when she says, "after being chased, I have been dismissed... you have managed to turn me from a woman of substance to this." Despite some tough times Jill let's you know she doesn't want your pity "'cause [she's] going through a couple things..." in "Wanna Be Loved"... she is basically saying, like everyone else, she just wants to find that one cat to vibe with.

For me this album represents a return to form, not for Jill but for her team. I liked her last joint, "Beautifully Human: Words & Sounds, Vol. 2 but it seemed like the production was a few steps behind. Jill still gave us gems like "I'm Not Afraid", "The Fact Is [I Need You]", "Spring Summer Feeling" and "Not Like Crazy" but many of the beats on the album just felt like leftovers. Again, I dug it but it didn't hit as hard. On Vol. 3 everybody is playing their position... the joints feel good... like music is supposed to feel.

She has inadvertently answered the question in her first album title, "Who Is Jill Scott?"... she is most definitely "The Real Thing"... go get it.