Nothing was more difficult than selecting the album that would fill the final spot. Here’s why Jill’s first effort made the cut...

Jill was the first to make this new brand of soul, without stretching out into the eccentricities of hyper-creativity. It’s a testament to how capable and talented she is. Whereas there is an amazement about where Badu goes with her music, the fact that Jilly can make equally compelling music, while staying right there on a porch stoop in North Philly or in her kitchen, mixin’ cornbread batter, that she can do all this right here on earth is really powerful.

What we also don't ever give enough credit is the fact that Jazzy Jeff and his production squad put together a flawless backdrop. The eerie, yet breezy strings that begin “Love Rain” and then the way that first snare hits so tight....that's trouble. Stuff like that happens all over the album.

Most important is how Jilly connects so easily to her listeners, all while droppin‘ heavy thoughts. That spoken word and those lyrics she kicks are so deep, but her personality and way of articulating the profound and keen thoughts are so centered and grounded that everyone connects and understands.

And, she's such an artist, too. Peep the way she starts spittin’ her poetry in staccato on “Love Rain” when the bass drum starts stuttering. What about “Long Walk”? She's almost rhyming like an emcee at the end, except she's singing it in a voice that may be the best of her generation. Think about that -- Jill is singing poetry.

When she talks about pain and heartache, she does it like such a smart and insightful woman. That’s why “Slowly-Surely“ is more than your average R&B or soul song about abusive love.

“Getting’ in the Way” sums up this album. That beat drags and broods...its real deliberate. And Jill is real deliberate in what she's saying, too, in the way that people slowly enunciate their words when we’re angry and want someone to get our point before we go buck-wild. Jill even tells the song’s nemesis that she might take her "out in the middle of the street and whip yo a$$." Go on, girl.

The album is exceptionally well-crafted, creative and nearly flawless. This goes down as one of the great singing albums of our lifetime, perhaps ever.