To use a line from one of Jill Scott's songs, the Philly-born songstress "put it down" Wednesday night at the Benedum Center.

Proving that she is definitely "The Real Thing" (the name of her latest CD and tour), she sang and spoke of life, love and loss without a hint of self-pity or loathing.

In the eight years since her groundbreaking debut with "Who Is Jill Scott? Words and Sounds Vol. 1," the neo-soul sister has been engaged, married and divorced -- events that have provided plenty of musical inspiration. She's also starred in Tyler Perry's film "Why Did I Get Married" and has another one in the can, directed by the late Anthony Minghella, the Oscar-winning director of box-office successes "The English Patient" and "Cold Mountain," who died this week.

Scott has a mega-watt smile, a sweet sassiness, sexual candor and, of course, the kind of writing and vocal talent that leaves one in awe. And she uses all of them to her advantage on such songs as "Come See Me," "Crown Royal," "Real Thing" and "Gimme," which started out her performance.

During one of her talks, she explained that her definition of nasty was more than just someone who didn't wash his feet. She said a "nasty woman" was one "confident and secure in her sexuality." The woman behind me, a true J.S. fan who sang every song, screamed "I'm nasty, Jill!"

On "Long Walk," the audience enthusiastically went along, singing the words, even the ones delivered at a rapid-fire pace. "Hate on Me," her first single from "Real Thing," is an anthem for folks who are going to be who they are no matter what others think.

She spoke of her journey from singing all night for $15 and then working at an ice cream parlor and even construction to winning three Grammys. Not to brag, she said, but to show that "faith without effort is fruitless.''

Scott's eight-piece band, which included horns, provided the perfect accompaniment for her jazz-infused, hip-hop-marinated sound. Of course, they slipped in a little "Go-Go" on "It's Love."

But "He Loves Me (Lyzell in E Minor)" almost became a religious experience as Scott showed her inner-opera contralto soaring up to the heavens and gently back to Earth. God surely must have smiled.

In the opening act, Raheem DeVaughn proved to be talented with energy to spare. Unfortunately, the show started promptly at 8 p.m., and half the audience seemed to be arriving during his performance. He sang a number of tunes, including his latest single, "Let Me Serve You," and the Grammy-nominated "Woman."