Jackie Moore (Atlantic) 1973
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While Roc-A-Fella’s Bink pilfered the track for Jay-Z’s Blueprint declaration (”The Ruler’s Back”), “If” more than stands on its own merits. Songwriting partners Bunny Sigler and Phil Hurtt gave Moore a poignant gem, one that will likely forever ring true. Hailing from our editor’s hometown of Jacksonville, Florida, Moore brings her Southern touch, grounding the song in raw soul, even when the production tries to smooth it out.
