Alicia Keys, Mary J. Blige, and Jill Scott individually cover Essence magazine’s June “Black Music Month” issue. The magazine not only photographed all three singers, but also interviewed all of the ladies together:
Essence: Have you ever regretted folding to pressure from record labels?
Alicia Keys: In the beginning, I didn’t understand the concept of boundaries. I wanted to make sure the music was heard, but there’s a price you pay for that. I did everything and anything to promote my first album, like flying from New York to Los Angeles and back on the same day, which was a bit excessive.
Essence: Have you figured out the ingredients for the perfect song?
Mary: Yes, but I won’t tell. [Laughs] For me, it’s about being real and honest. And the lyrics have to be relatable.
Jill: Oh, I wish I knew. I think Ne-Yo knows. I think Carvin Haggins, who does a lot of writing for Musiq Soulchild, has the ingredients, too. My songs are mostly about life experiences, about being human and falling and getting back up. About loving and losing. READ MORE
JILL IS A STUNNER
Jill gonna read this and write some more songs about ya’ll…..until then, I guess “Hate On Me” will have to do. Go Jill….we had our issues…but we cool now. LOL
And trust and believe I don’t know who is on here posting but Jill and any other woman gifted with bodacious breasts is not hurting for male admiration and attention… and I should know!
Kudos to all the lovely ladies, these are beautiful covers…
ok to all yall damn haters Mary has changed her damn wig it was short now its long isn’t that a change……
They look nice…
I wasn’t feelin Mary’s blonde hair before but it doesn’t look so bad here since she changed it up a bit, nice dress tho..
Alicia looks a lil different…
But Jill is just gorgeous! She’s a natural beauty and I love her hair.. Definitely the best cover
#44 you certainly have a point…
All three women look beautiful.
#1 and # 2, get over yourselves. Jill ain’t worried about her weight. She is beautiful they way she is. You want everyone to look like Bey so then you can complain about people trying to jack her swagger. Jill looks good and her music is the sh**. You don’t have to like the way she looks. From some of the guys comments in here , I’m sure she could still get it.
MAN, MY GIRL MARY HAS REALLY BEEN GETTING HER SHINE ON SHE IS LOOKING HOT, JILL IS VERY PRETTY AND LICIA IS DOING HER THANG I LOVE TO MY BLACK BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE ITS A BEAUTIFUL THANG!!!
wowww JILL LOOKS ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL!
Jill is ridicously beautiful, wow!!!
DAMN THREE BEAUTIFUL AND TALENTED SISTERS I LOVE IT!!
>Love all 3 of the ladies,so up lifting. Its a good article every woman should read it especially if you want to get into the music industry.
All three women look beautiful, but I do want Mary to switch up the look.
Alicia has been on her Agame lately and I like the color on her.
Hands down Jill has the best cover. When I saw it I was like, “Aww,
she looks Gorgeous!” She really is a stunning woman IN PERSON
as well as in pics and she isn’t as “big” as you think she is. I just
saw her in concert and she’s slimmed down to like a size 16– alot
of that is breast. So, really kudos to Essence for picking three
wonderful entertainers/singers/songwriters for Black Music Month
(and they keep picking Mary because she is always performing at
the Essence Music Festival—stop wanting her at the concert if you
don’t want to see her on the cover.)
I think they ALL look stunning…I think Jill Scott is so adorable. Her inner beauty makes her even more beautiful. Not many people can smile like her and brighten a room. As someone already pointed out, skinny does NOT equal beautiful. I have seen UGLY skinny women…both inside and out…
Dangit!!! Now I have to go out and buy all 3 covers for my collection. I love all three of these beautiful and inspirational women.
Nice covers. I love Mary, but she’s been on way too many of their covers, there are a lot of other female singers around.
I actually just got this issue, beautiful article. I LOVE JILL SCOTT!!! I also love the fact in the issue the three of them tells what’s their favorite song by each artist and tell why. Essence did a excellent job!!!
Oh yeah just like yall said about my girl Beyonce, Mary needs to sit down somewhere LOL!!! I’m tired seeing her face and they keep picking Mary for the Essence festival cause she’s available but they should give other artist(especially new artist) a chance.
They’re so gorgeous! The stylists picked the colours right.
Mary’s darker skintone with the lightgreen – FABULOUS
Alicia’s pink makes her look rosy and so feminine – FABULOUS
Jill’s character with the blue is unexpected – FABULOUS
I got my magazine in the mail yesterday.I received The Mary cover,while I didn’t know until l opening the magazine,that there are three covers. I will ,go out and by the one with Jill on the cover. She is so beautiful. Not to say Mary and Alicia aren’t but Jill’s cover is sensational,stunning,and fabulous,to say the least.
The gowns they are all wearing on the inside cover story are gorgeous. Mary wears another canary yellow gown,in a shot by herself that really looks good with her skin tone.
Alicia couture gown,in her shot by herself is so pretty and right for her.
And Jill’s shot by the Brooklyn bridge is HOT the scenery and the gown(s) she wore fit her to a “T”! Her smile is so radiant and the gown was so cute.
BTW Jordin Sparks has a cute photo shoot in the same issue,she looks really pretty. She definitely represents for the curvy,thick sisters!
Jill looks good.
There is no competition amongst REAL women but Mary looks the best!!! Lol
JILL SCOTT is so real in her music.
How is it you guys that are hating can be apart of this madness?
It is just Jill representing a new flavor and being confident in what she is doing………….
Either love the art , or appreciate it