Plenty of tours are popping up this year, and Janet Jackson and Jill Scott are in the mix. With so many artists set to take to the stage, we want to—have to—pause, reflect and give Jill Scott and Janet Jackson their flowers for their talent, timelessness, and undeniable influence on the culture.
Just look at the track record. It’s hard to deny that Jackson and Scott have been and continue to kill the game.
Janet (Miss Jackson, if you’re nasty) was the first woman to debut a song on the Billboard Hot 100’s Top 10, the first woman to ever be Grammy nominated as producer of the year, the only artist to receive a Grammy nomination in five different genres—the list could go on!
She is a music video trailblazer, and it’s impossible to not acknowledge her influence on culture today. Artists including Britney Spears, Ciara, Teyana Taylor and Beyoncé all have been vocal about their admiration for Janet and her influence on their artistry. A clear example is Beyoncé’s 2016 NFL Super Bowl Halftime performance. The strong military aesthetic can be directly compared to Jackson’s “Rhythm Nation.”
Popular singer, rapper and flutist, Lizzo shared on Twitter that she considers Janet to be the Queen of Pop—right alongside her late brother, Michael Jackson, who’s the obvious choice as the King of Pop.
Singer, songwriter and poet, Jill Scott, is celebrating the 23rd anniversary of her Grammy-nominated debut album Who Is Jill Scott? Her first studio album set a precedent for the Neo-Soul and R&B genres. Through her authentic and sensual style of music, she provided Black women with a sense of empowerment, validation, and pride.
The renowned album, Who Is Jill Scott? saw a plethora of awards and nominations. It won Best Female R&B/Soul Album at the Soul Train Music Awards, Album of the Year and Best R&B/Soul Album at the Lady of Soul Awards and was nominated for Best R&B Album at the 2001 Grammys.
The announcement of Jilly from Philly’s tour has the culture hyped. Her Instagram post is flooded with comments from famous fans like Kindred the Family Soul, PJ Morton, David Banner, and more—all expressing how excited they are to see her live and to celebrate her ground-breaking album.
Music aside, these two queens continue to leave their indelible prints all over the entertainment industry, including television and film, through projects like For Colored Girls, Sins of the Mother, and the Why Did I Get Married? franchise.
If you haven’t swiped for tickets to see either Janet Jackson or Jill Scott (or both!) on tour this year, you’re missing out. The privilege of witnessing such truly legendary artists is an experience you don’t want to pass up—especially with shows being close to sold out so early. Don’t say we didn’t warn you!
