Scott grew up in North Philadelphia, and was raised by her mom, Joyce Scott, and her grandmother. She indicated in an interview with Jet magazine that she had a happy childhood and was "very much a loved child".
Scott attended Temple University while simultaneously working two jobs. She studied secondary education for three years and had planned on becoming a high school English teacher, but after spending time as a teacher's aide, Scott became disillusioned with the teaching profession and dropped out of school.
Prior to her breakthrough in the music industry, Scott worked at a variety of jobs, including a number of retail positions and stints at a construction site and an ice cream parlor.
She remains close to her mother and grandmother, nicknamed "Blue Babe", and currently resides in Mt. Laurel, New Jersey, a Philadelphia suburb, with husband Lyzel Williams, who is a graphic artist and DJ. (Scott wrote and recorded the song "He Loves Me (Lyzel in E Flat)" about Williams.)
Scott began her performing career as a spoken word artist, appearing at live poetry readings to perform her work. She was eventually discovered by Amir "Questlove" Thompson of The Roots. Questlove invited her to join the band in the studio and the collaboration resulted in a co-writing credit for Scott for the song, "You Got Me." In 2000, Erykah Badu and The Roots won the Grammy for best rap performance by a duo or group for "You Got Me."
Subsequently, Scott collaborated with Eric Benet, Will Smith, and Common and broadened her performing experience by touring Canada in a production of the Broadway musical Rent.
Jill Scott is a talented vocalist who infused Jazz, R&B and Hip hop among other genre to create a distinct style that many refer to as Neo soul. Her vocal capabilities are so rich that a reviewer on Pop Matter, referring to Jill Scott's vocal ability stated, 'Scott draws on her upper register recalling the artistry of the late "songbird" Minnie Riperton and Deniece Williams.' [4] The same reviewer in another article stated, 'The song evokes the artistry of Minnie Riperton as Scott sings in the upper register that makes its only appearances on Who is Jill Scott? on the teasing "I Think It's Better" and "Show Me." BookingEntertainment.com has also stated, 'Jill Scott has a very rare facility to hit notes in the sixth and seventh octave, as displayed on songs such as 'Gimmie' where she hits a D6, and on 'Spring Summer Feeling' where she hits a C7 note with full vibrato.'
Scott was the first artist signed to Steve McKeever's Hidden Beach Recordings label. Her debut album, Who Is Jill Scott? Words and Sounds Vol. 1 was released in 2000. She experienced some chart success and notice with the single "A Long Walk", which eventually earned her a Grammy nomination in early 2003 for Best Female Vocal Performance. Scott lost that award, but won a 2005 Grammy for Best Urban/Alternative R&B Performance, in recognition of her song, "Cross My Mind."
In November 2001, a live album, Experience:Jill Scott 826+, was also released.
Scott's second full-length album, entitled Beautifully Human: Words and Sounds Vol. 2, was released in 2004.
