Erykah Badu News

The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust has announced, as part of the 2022-2023 Pittsburgh Dance Council season, the world-renowned Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater will perform at the Benedum Center, (237 7th Street, Cultural District) for one-night only on Tuesday, May 9, 2023, at 8:00 p.m. This event is presented by the Pittsburgh Dance Council and BNY Mellon. 

Stephen Marley is bringing his Babylon By Bus Tour to Indian Ranch in Webster, MA on Thursday, July 27, 2023 with special guests Jesse Roya and Roots of Creation.

651 ARTS - Brooklyn's premier institution for the African Diasporic performing arts- in partnership with The Billie Holiday Theatre (The Billie) - one of the nation's preeminent arts and culture organizations – will present a new innovative live performance series this Spring with the Song Salon.

According to sources closest to Monáe, “Float” is inspired by Muhammed Ali talking shit in Zaire, 1974, Jane’s evolution, Mary Poppins’ umbrella, Aladdin’s magic carpet, Ja Morant’s flotation to the rim while dunking on his ops, Sara Elise’s ropes, excerpts from Paramahmsa Nithyananda’s talks on levitation, Raul’s toast on Dec 1, and  Bruce Lee.

The Award-winning, chart-topping HeIsTheArtist has released 'Under The Influence of Love (Acoustic Soul)'.

Spotify and Electric Lady Studios have released WILLOW’s brand new  five-track EP, WILLOW LIVE AT ELECTRIC LADY,  featuring re-imagined versions of top hits from her latest album, COPINGMECHANISM, including “ It’s my fault,” curious/furious,” “ur a ,”  “hover like a GODDESS,” and “Bag Lady/Split,” a mashup of Erykah Badu’s hit single.

NPR Music debuted acclaimed singer and songwriter Durand Bernarr anxiously-awaited Tiny Desk Concert. He played a total of nine tracks while outfitted in a white and magenta sequined ‘fit with a pompadour-styled wig, paying homage to Bobby Proud from the Disney Channel’s animated series The Proud Family. Watch the concert video now!

Artist, mother, activist, journalist, and teacher V V Brown, who took a 6-year hiatus from her musical career to attend to her mental health and focus on raising her two young children, makes her very welcome return with the release on March 27th of her uplifting, thought-provoking anthem “Black British”.

Written and co-produced by Phabo with Louie Lastic (GoldLink, Kehlani, Masego), “Scorpio Moon” debuted last year on influential global platform COLORS with Phabo’s captivating performance earning raves as well as more than 2 million streams on Spotify alone. “Scorpio Moon” is available to stream now on all digital platforms via The Orchard.

Birdland Jazz Club and Birdland Theater have announced jazz programming running March 20 through April 2.

Repeat engagements include David Ostwald's Louis Armstrong Eternity Band, Frank Vignola's Guitar Night, Birdland Big Band and Arturo O'Farrill & The Latin Jazz Orchestra.

In the episode, Common pays tribute to J Dilla, delves into how Erykah Badu influenced the song’s message about the different dimensions of love and shares how, as a Southside Chicago dude, he initially felt uncomfortable about not wearing socks during the music video shoot.

What did our critic think of ALVIN AILEY AMERICAN DANCE THEATER at The Kennedy Center?

XAVIER SMITH'S LADIES OF SOUL TRIBUTE returns for it's tenth anniversary on Thursday, February 9 @ 9:30pm at NYC's Joe's Pub.

Jazz at Princeton University, helmed by acclaimed saxophonist/composer Rudresh Mahanthappa, and the McCarter Theatre kick off a new partnership on Saturday, February 11 with “For the Love of It,” a concert celebrating life, love, and culture through diverse musical styles and composers.

This week Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's 2022 holiday season comes to a joyous close with seven final performances featuring the season's riveting premieres, beloved Ailey Classics, and three more chances to see Alvin Ailey's timeless masterpiece Revelations.

The band is publicly releasing their new podcast Transmissions from Deep Ellum. Produced by Osiris Media and distributed by NPR affiliate WBGO FM, the podcast documents the writing, recording and creative process behind the new record. The podcast is available via podcast platforms, including Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Watch the video now!

Poetry Unplugged returns to the main stage of the August Wilson African American Cultural Center (AWAAC), 980 Liberty Avenue in Pittsburgh, on Friday, January 20, 2023, 8:00 pm, with Shock Value!, a night featuring a daring and diverse group of critically-acclaimed spoken word artists including Danny Simmons, Jr. with bassist and Pittsburgh native Dwayne Dolphin, Malcolm Jamal Warner, poets Tira Yasmine and Taalam Acey and poet/DJ Rich Medina.

The Hostos Center for the Arts & Culture will present acclaimed trombonist and bandleader Papo Vázquez in concert, celebrating 'Holiday Jazz & Latin Jazz Parranda' with the Mighty Pirates Troubadours and Guest Artists Camille Thurman and Héctor Mercado on Saturday, December 10, 2022 at 8:00 p.m. in the Repertory Theater of Hostos Community College.

“Adonis” is a song about no-good boyfriends which Adi describes as “an intervention from your girlfriend.” Sonically, the track blends soul-powered vocals with trumpet-laced jazz rhythms and retro-futurist production that has become a hallmark of Adi’s production work with her partner Morgan Wiley under the moniker Nightshade.