Erykah Badu was my strength and salvation during my most lonely and excruciating hour. BADUIZM is an album I truly love. So for me to say that Jill Scott's work may surpass Ms. Badu's LP, is a statement indeed.

Like Erykah, one song addicted me to Scott - "Love Rain". This song puts to shame 99% of the tripe classified as r&b. Both funky and tranquil this track is addictive with or without the mighty Mos Def - he only appears on the 12" single.

But Ms. Scott didn't make no one hit album! This project can be appreciated completely. On an album that stands skyscraper high among others, EXTRA extraordinary tracks include "My Way," "Tell You By Now" and "Show Me". Scott's rotation between singing and spoken word diversifies this project and powerfully conveys the emotion of each song; no where is this better evidenced than the phone conversation which ends "Honey Molasses".

Production on this piece is consistently phenomenal yet wide-ranging. "It's Love" even offers a (rim)shot of go-go. You can dance, kiss, or "take [your] ear rings off, get [you] some Vaseline, and go all in" somebody's face - check out the hilarious "Getting' In The Way", where Scott gets unlady like with a female trying to disrupt her relationship.

Five mics are not enough, and ten stars is too low. Who is Jill Scott? I don't know - I haven't even seen her face, but I do know she has a phenomenal debut.