Last night I had the extreme privilege (and luck) to see Erykah Badu's dj set at Le Poisson Rouge in Manhattan. The wait was long, the place was packed, but once everyone lucky enough to get a stamp had filed in the show was on. Before Ms. Badu appeared, a young man by the name of Adrian Younge and his band blew our ears off with the sound of his eclectic LA multi-instrumental rock-funk-soul-jazz. Dressed in dapper grey suits, Younge and his band, a group of obviously seasoned LA rockers, played something like the soundtrack to an intergalactic voyage. Two guitars, a bass, a keyboard, a synthesizer, drums, the occasional saxophone and a sprinkle of jazz flute created a cornucopia of sound with a tone similar to Danger Mouse and Daniele Luppi's Rome. At times I felt like one of the songs just missed getting on a Kill Bill soundtrack, but that may be because the drummer resembled Quentin Tarantino. In reality, Younge composed the score for the Black Dynamite, a parody of 70's Blaxploitation films, from which Younge is also inspired. As dynamic as his sound was, it was clear that most of the audience was there to see Ms. Badu, so the end of his set was highly welcomed.
Walking on stage in a sports coat, vintage (and used) fedora, oxford shirt, beige tweed pants and golden riding boots, Erykah Badu smiled at the roar that immediately came from the anxiously awaiting crowd. She introduced herself by stating her long list of aliases, professed her love for music, and then began the set with a choppy mix of "A Mili" by Lil Wayne. It becamec clear that she was just dusting off the tables once the neo-soul queen began to playfully tease the audience with classic hits, contemporary bangers, and a few of her own diddies. While many hoped she would sing a diddy or two (which she couldn't due to her headlining appearance at Rock The Bells tomorrow), experiencing her dj set was a true intimate treat. It's incredible to watch a passionate artist geek out and vibe with the music that turns her gears. Add witnessing that to the fact that the same tracks get you going as well and you have a moment in which the souls of the artist and fan intertwine within the sound waves and bass. The atmosphere was filled with compassion and love for music. As we danced Badu two-stepped, and together we paid homage to the musical legacy bonds us all together. "Hip-Hop is bigger than religion," she has exclaimed many times, but explains flawlessly in the interview below. After feeling the spiritual interconnectedness that flooded the smoky room, I'd have to agree.
"Everything comes out as some form of creativity for me, and art. And it's an effortless thing for me. It's pretty much how they made me. I embrace that part of me. I was encouraged throughout my life to express who I am, or who I thought I am."
-Erykah Badu
Spiritual, fearless, soulful, Erykah Badu has had a 20-year long career, although her music and presence never gets old. She has worked with legends of the industry, and continues to collaborate and inspire. Personally, she's been my hero since I was 10, for her style, confidence, and overall artistic aura. If you haven't been able to see her at Rock the Bells, or perhaps are unaware with her genuine magic, enjoy the interview that was released yesterday by MADE in Berlin as a part of their Visions of Visionaries series.
Creativity is Freedom. Creativity is also the absence of fear....I guess the braver you are the deeper you go into your craft, whatever that may be.
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