We were recently invited by courtesy of  publicist Ysset Boan of ScenePR Miami to cover the Erykah Badu Concert

Erykah Badu with Bilal after the performance. - Photo by Aristotle Olay for FASHIFY.COM

I always show up at these events too early. I arrived at the American Airlines Arena at 6:30PM Media check-in was scheduled at 7PM, but we actually got our media passes at 8PM. But you know what? The wait is always worth it, when it comes to watching Erykah Badu perform live.

One of our staff writers weren’t able to arrive at the event so we decided to give our extra media pass and ticket to the concert to one of our FASHIFY fans on Twitter follower @VivianOlo from Aventura Florida.

After checking in we were escorted to our seats by the event personnel. It was our first time covering an event at the American Airlines Arena, which exhibits beautiful architecture. I actually started to smile as I took notice of the interior design, because the arena gave me the feeling that I was at an airport. At one moment I caught myself being anxious about checking in my carry-on luggage.

So what started as a small crowd of media insiders in the press lounge turned into a larger of fans as we emerged from the underground corridor into the lobby with the other patrons. Section 114 Row 23 Seat 4 was printed on my ticket, which put me in a seat facing the front of the stage, and close enough to see Badu perform with experiencing nosebleeds from high altitudes or an eardrum rupture from being to close to the drummer and bass player.

Bilal backstage after the performance. - Aristotle Olay for FASHIFY.COM

The opening act & performer for Badu was neo-soul artist Bilal. Many of our readers my remember Bilal from his hit single Soul Sista. Bilal’s wardrobe & style is certainly of the times. During his performance he wore a denim jacket with the sleeves rolled up, over a black screen-printed graphic tee, with straight-legged skinny jeans. Were weren’t close enough to see whether his shoes Converse All-Stars or KSwiss, but light-colored sneakers are always a winner in Miami. His mohawk (fro-hawk), and shades were also a nice touch in adding a hipster-sophisticaté to his stage presence.

Notable Bilal songs that he performed: One last game, ”You say he’s jus a friend”- the love is just too strong. Bilal introduces grammy nominated jazz pianist: Robert Glasper, they both perform “You ain’t even gotta try”. After watching and listening to his performance I was reminded that Bilal can really sing. He’s got range that resides in the midlevels but he can reach the high notes and hold them there. Bilal closed his show at 9:30.

Then at 10:48 – The lights go dim. Purple lights and dry ice smoke flood the stage. Fans in the crowd give their roaring applause and screams as Erykah Badu strolls across the stage wearing a purple full zip hooodie and sweatpants.

Although the 36-year old Badu jokes about her ass and legs getting big, I felt that Badu’s stage presence is still just as affective as our first experience seeing her live at Music Midtown in Atlanta in 2001. She starts her performance with an interlude “I’m 20 feet Tall”.

Photo by Aristotle Olay for FASHIFY.COM

Notable songs performed by Badu during her performance: “Hip hop”, “Puff”. Badu even provided us with an impromptu display of skills on the beat machine. Which I later question her about in the press conference after the show:

J. Aristotle: “It’s been a pleasure to see you perform, this is actually my third time seeing you perform. Erykah, how long have you been a Beat Machine Aficionado”
Badu: “It’s like the Matrix. I woke up one day and could do it!”
(Crowd of press officials laugh)
Badu: “For Real. You know, it’s just that is just in us. The rhythm is just there, and the hands just kinda do what they do. I’ve been playing 808s, 404s, Rolands, and MPCs since I was about 13 to 14 years old. Back when they turned in those black leather African medalions for those big gold chains – I was there. And hip-hop is a big part of who I am. By the time I was 14 it was becoming mainstream and being on the radio. I was influenced heavily by those rhythms, which are straight from Africa.”
J. Aristotle: “That’s amazing. Thank you.”

Erykah still has the stage presence and swagger to move the crowd with her performances. For information on where to see her next performance visit The Official Erykah Badu Website, or The Erykah Badu Fan Site.

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