To Whom This May Concern by Jill Scott
#3
on her first album in 10 years, Jill Scott’s voice is both hopeful and lived-in. The warm instrumentals and production of this album work to center her vocals - particularly on tracks like “Offdaback” where she sings more conversationally over pensive piano chords. There are lots of flourishes over the record’s warm neo-soul palette, like the grandiose horns on “Be Great,” but none of them ever crowd Scott’s vocals and lyrics. Touching on themes of black joy, community and love, as well as reflection and aging (see the excellent jazzy single “Pressha”), To Whom This May Concern is a career-defining album and an early highlight of 2026.