On a hot summer evening in Atlanta, GA, two veterans took the stage. As I moved through the crowd of people at Chastain Park, I could smell the wonderful aromas of home cooked and store bought food. I could see the many floral prints of summer dresses and the bottles upon bottles of wine at each table. The conversations around me detailed the number of times folks had seen these two artists perform. Now I must admit, this was my first time seeing these great musicians, but I have always been a big fan of both of them. The first performer hails from Chi-Town, the Windy City (Chicago for those that don’t know); Common, a true emcee from the “golden era” of Hip-Hop, when lyrics and flows that told a story along with witty word play, was required! His set was structured to sync perfectly with his audience. He was truly performing for us. There are lots of beautiful women in the crowd, in every shade of brown, who are obviously huge fans of Common. Common showcased his true emcee skills by requesting the company of a single lady, from the crowd to serenade. He effortlessly composed a rhyme that had the young lady wiping off his head with a towel and hugging him as if she never wanted to let go. As we waived our hands from side to side, while listening to Come Close, I couldn’t help but think; this is what music is all about, harmony, rhythm, togetherness, love and peace. This was a great way to start the night.
As Common ended his performance the crowd waited in anticipation for the next artist, who hails from Philadelphia; Miss Jill Scott or as we love to call her Miss Jilly from Philly. From her first album, Who is Jill Scott?, I knew she was going to be a staple in the industry. She is a true artist who writes her own songs that are a harmonious mix of Jazz, Hip-Hop, R&B and spoken word. As she sang some of her old hits and new hits, I found myself thinking; she is also totally in sync with her audience, so much so, it felt like an intimate gathering of her and her girlfriends. As she sang Fools Gold, I saw a change in the atmosphere. It got personal. She started talking to the women in the audience and as a Man I was just a fly on the wall. Then a hush fell over the crowd. Jill opened up and SANG, Closure. As I looked around at the audience and my friends, I could tell there was a deep connection that had been formed. I just witnessed a moment in time that was very real and intense. It was simply beautiful. I now understand why people see her 4, 5 and 6 times. She gives so much and leaves it all on stage. I may never really know who Jill Scott is, but I do know that whenever she is in town, I will be there.
Penned by: Brett Anthony Boyd
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