Erykah Badu
Words: Stephanie Bolling

Appeared:
August 19, 2007
House of Blues, Orlando

One raised fist.

With her head wrapped and a smoking blunt in hand, a barely 5’ Erykah Badu strolled past fans waiting outside the House of Blues Orlando after her show.  It was obvious that on and off stage the Soulquarian does what she pleases.

I was stoked about getting a raw preview of Badu’s new material after her four-year hiatus and rumored new album, The Kabah. Sans opener, Badu entered the stage wearing a purple & gold wizard robe and donning her classic afro. She began by paying tribute to J. Dilla with Dead Prez-esque song “hip hop/ it’s bigger than religion/ bigger than you niggas/ bigger than the government/ hip hop” followed by another new song about Annie who “ain’t got no panties.”

For Badu first-timers this show was a funky fusion of her best tracks showcasing her eclectic neo-soul, but for fans that’d seen her before, this gig slowly transitioned into a conglomeration of her past performances. “On & On” into “… & On,” “Love of My Life” and the bridge between two sister tracks “Otherside of the Game” and “Danger” were all four year old repeat acts. Also performed were “Apple Tree,” “Ye Yo,” “Tyrone” and “I Want You” alongside her encore of “Bag Lady” where she was hoisted into the crowd with a cord around her waist. That could never get old.

Albeit rehearsed, Badu and her 9-piece entourage, including 3-backup singers, all grooved with the beats and lighting in a flawless synchronicity. Badu would go a cappella and let her vocals soar until she was out of breath. She also talked to the crowd and gave her current event commentary, “We live in a world where you can get a license to shoot a deer and put its head on a wall, but they charge a brother for dog fighting. Yes, it’s wrong, but will they please make up their minds. Can we kill or not kill?”

With her unerring vocal delivery, body gestures and innovative sound effects, Badu is undeniably in a league of her own. Amongst the half dead crowd and repeat performances, Ms. Badu can keep doing as she pleases and I’d come see her again and again.