Let’s be real for a second. R&B is full of songs that talk at women, but it’s a whole different vibe when a song actually tries to see them. That’s exactly what happened when Johnny Gill dropped Johnny Gill soul of a woman back in 2019. It wasn't just another track on a playlist. It felt like a tribute. A heavy, soulful thank you note from a guy who’s been in the game since he was a teenager with a voice way too big for his body.
The song basically took over the Adult R&B charts, and for good reason. It’s got that classic, grit-meets-silk baritone that only Johnny can pull off. But if you look deeper than just the catchy mid-tempo groove, there’s a lot of heart there.
The Unexpected Inspiration Behind the Lyrics
Most people hear a love song and assume it’s about a girlfriend or a wife. With Johnny Gill soul of a woman, the story is actually much more personal. Johnny has gone on record saying the primary spark for this track was his mother, Annie Mae.
He had been sitting on this song—written by Gregg Pagani and Carlos Battey—since his previous album cycle. He used to listen to the demo just for his own pleasure. It wasn’t originally a single. It was just something he kept in his back pocket because the message resonated so much with how he viewed the women in his life.
It’s about resilience.
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The lyrics talk about how a woman’s soul is the thing that keeps you going when you’re ready to quit. It’s a "beautiful design," as the song says. Honestly, that’s why it hit so hard with the Urban AC crowd. It wasn’t trying to be trendy or use trap beats to stay relevant. It was just grown-folks music.
Tiffany Haddish and That Viral Video
You can’t talk about this song without mentioning the music video. Johnny made a genius move by casting Tiffany Haddish as his leading lady.
Usually, in R&B videos, you get a 22-year-old model who just stands there looking pretty. But putting Tiffany in the mix changed the whole energy. It made the "soul" part of the title feel real. They had actual chemistry on screen, and it wasn't all jokes, either. Seeing her in a softer, more romantic light gave the song a different dimension.
Before the official video even dropped, Johnny released a lyric video that was basically a "who’s who" of iconic Black women. We’re talking:
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- Michelle Obama
- Maya Angelou
- Halle Berry
- Kerry Washington
- Condoleezza Rice
It turned the song into a literal celebration of excellence. It wasn't just about one person; it was about a collective spirit.
Why "Game Changer II" Needed This Hit
Johnny was coming off a massive win with the first Game Changer album in 2014. That record proved he didn't need New Edition to be a powerhouse—though we all love when the fellas get back together. When he started working on the sequel, the pressure was on.
Johnny Gill soul of a woman served as the lead single for Game Changer II, and it did exactly what it needed to do. It climbed to Number 1 on the Adult R&B charts and stayed there.
It’s funny because R&B purists often complain that "real music" is dead. Then a song like this comes along and proves them wrong. It uses a call-and-response style with the background singers that feels like it was ripped straight out of a 1990s church service, but the production by Pagani keeps it feeling crisp enough for 2026 speakers.
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A Legacy of Staying Power
Think about Johnny’s journey. He started with "Super Love" in 1983. He survived the transition into New Edition. He survived the New Jack Swing era. He even survived the boy band craze of the early 2000s.
The reason Johnny Gill soul of a woman works is that he isn't trying to sound like a kid. He’s leaning into his age. He’s 50-plus and proud of it. There’s a specific kind of authority in his voice now—a "preacher-like" ad-libbing style—that he didn't have when he was singing "My, My, My."
He’s an elder statesman of soul.
How to Experience the Best of This Era
If you’re just getting into Johnny’s later work, don’t just stop at the single. You’ve gotta look at the whole package.
- Listen to the "Soul of a Woman" Remixes: There are some house-inflected versions floating around that actually work surprisingly well for a summer cookout.
- Watch the Live Performances: Johnny is one of the few left who actually sings live without a heavy backing track. His 2019 BET Awards performance is legendary for a reason.
- Check out "Perfect": This is another track from the same album featuring Ralph Tresvant. If you like the vibe of "Soul of a Woman," this is the natural next step.
There’s something timeless about a man giving flowers to the women who raised him and supported him. It’s not a complicated concept. It’s just honest. That honesty is why we’re still talking about this track years after it left the charts.
To really appreciate the craft, go back and watch the lyric video first. Pay attention to the transitions between the lyrics and the images of the women featured. It sets a mood that makes the actual music video with Tiffany Haddish feel like a reward. Once you’ve done that, cue up the full Game Changer II album to see how he balances this soulful energy with more upbeat, contemporary R&B tracks.