Jill Scott

Jill Scott was all set to burst on the scene, having recorded the catchy hook (and featured single) to the Roots smash hit "You Got Me." Whoops -- the carpet gets pulled out from under her feet and Erykah Badu is called in to give the single "star power." Luckily the story has a happy ending -- Scott's lovely vocals shined through and earned her heaps of respect and decent sales on her soulful debut Who Is Jill Scott? -- featuring earthy funk backing from fellow Philly friends, the aforementioned Roots. Her voice has a feel very similar to Badu's, rising with jazzy flourishes and guaranteed sensuality on each track, covering everything from relationships to sunny afternoons of her youth. Hopefully we'll hear a lot more of Scott as her individuality emerges.