Issue Date: September 16, 2001

WHO IS Jill Scott?

Now people know

AFTER HER BLAZING platinum debut album (Who Is Jill Scott?), the 29-year-old R&B singer and 2001 Grammy nominee is in the market for "a house with a front porch." Having spent much of the past year on a world tour (first with Sting) and singing at a Michael Jackson tribute earlier this month, the Philadelphian is finally taking time off to do what she loves: relax with fiancé Lyzel and go grocery shopping. We recently spoke with her:

You actually like to shop for groceries?

I love it! I can do it every day. I want to go in and smell grapes, oranges, squeeze them ...

You even sing about food -- a lot! You've said your man loves you whether you're a size 8 or 18.

[It's] helped me judge what kind of man I want in my life, ya know? I enjoy food. It's such a big part of family. I don't really enjoy eating alone. I like to be among friends with wine and laughter and prayer.

How else does your music reflect you?

It's about soul. It's about personal power. There are children to speak to in every city and every town to help them understand what music is about. Such as?

Community ... how easily we can change a ghetto to a community just by sweeping the front [steps].

So you're looking to settle down?

[And] just sit on the steps and read a book. I like that.

Should we expect another album soon?

I'm going to take my time with it. I got to take some time for lovin'.

So who is Jill Scott?

For me to define myself at this point would be foolish. This is my life! You only get one, and this is mine.

-- Tameka Hicks