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Home > Atlanta Music Scene > Archives > 2008 > May > 24 > Entry
Erykah Badu performs in Atlanta
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Grammy-winning R&B singer Erykah Badu (above) returned to what she called “my second home” Friday night, and appropriately enough, it was hard not to get sucked into at least some part of what she has billed “The Vortex Tour.
Her 11-piece accompaniment — which included fiery Atlanta singer Keshia Jackson —played a great deal from her latest CD, “New Amerykah Part One - 4th World War”. And in the span of her two-hour set the somewhat eccentric artist also found time to tell presidential candidate Barack Obama to “Hold on!”; discuss a documentary about government occupation; toward the end, she rolled around on balls in a leotard; and closed with “The Wiz” tune, “Believe In Yourself”.
Badu’s rare performance also drew many local and national music notables. Spotted in the capacity Fox Theatre crowd Friday night were: film/video director Bryan Barber; Disturbing Tha Peace Records co-president Chaka Zulu; singers Anthony David, Gordon Chambers, Scar and Madame CJ, and walking hand-in-hand with local drummer Lil John Roberts was none other than the million-selling artist he’s been playing with of late — Jill Scott.
Scott — in town to promote the bra she designed with Ashley Stewart— actually was a surprise guest during opening act the Roots show, where she joined the hip-hop band in a rocked out version of a song Badu orignally recorded with them, “You Got Me.”
(SEE MORE PHOTOS FROM THE SHOW)
Were you at the Fox last night? Have a review you want to share? Surprised that Badu didn’t do more of her hits, like “Honey” or “Love Of My Life”?
Comments
By Preston
May 25, 2008 9:13 AM | Link to this
Badu didn’t originally record “You Got Me” with the Roots - it was Jill. They just put Erykah in the video, presumably to add “star power”.
By mad
May 26, 2008 11:07 AM | Link to this
was an average concert nothing spectacular…..Jill Scott was great though. Wish she had did a couple of her own songs
By Fa-Me
May 26, 2008 11:25 AM | Link to this
the Show was Incredible. the Roots AND Erykah Badu? i stayed on my feet the whole night. rockin, swayin, and sweatin. it was empowering, enlightening, and fkin awesome to FEEL ?uest’s drums and simply inspiring and encouraging to hear the sonic chants from my sister Badu. Like my boo said “it takes a real fan..”
By Naftal
May 26, 2008 11:48 AM | Link to this
I thought it was a great show. It really made me appreciate the new album a lot more, seeing most of it performed live. I could have done without the “ball dance” but the fact that she performed “Green Eyes” made it tolerable. I never thought I’d see her do that song live!
By Fulton
May 26, 2008 5:56 PM | Link to this
I enjoyed the Amy Whinehouse spoof, which seemingly, went over the heads of most…The 50’s black dress, beehive wig, drunken segues, oh yeah, I caught the message, Ms Badu! Nothing like real soul to stir the spirit. The band was tight, the visuals & theatrics worked well together and weren’t overdone. Yeah, that Badu chick is a bad, bad, lady…
By Qiana
May 27, 2008 10:11 AM | Link to this
I thought the concert was great. To feel Erykah you have to be a fan of the music and the message…if you’re not, some of it will go over your head. But what’s up with this “review”? It left me wanting more…
By Maya G.
May 29, 2008 11:49 AM | Link to this
As Preston mentioned, Jill Scott not only originally performed the hook on the song “You Got Me”, but she penned it, as well.
By Maya G.
May 29, 2008 12:05 PM | Link to this
Jill Scott not only originally performed the hook on the song “You Got Me”, but she penned it, as well. As Preston mentioned, Badu was an established act and Scott was not (incidentally, Eve, also an “unknown” at the time, fell victim to the same fate, as her verse in the song was completely uncredited).