WATCH: 5 Performances To Prepare for Jill Scott & Erykah Badu’s ‘Verzuz’ Battle
Last week, neo-soul fans went crazy when it was announced that Jill Scott and Erykah Badu would be the first women to participate in Swizz Beatz and Timbaland’s “Verzuz” battle series via Instagram Live this forthcoming Saturday, (May 9).
Fans of both Scott and Badu took to social media to share hilarious memes regarding the highly-lauded forthcoming Verzuz battle.
Scott and Badu’s “Verzuz” battle, that is also a part of Live Nation’s “Femme It Forward” series commences at 7 pm EST.
From “Getting in the Way” to “Tyrone,” fans have also taken to social media to share what songs they want to the two singers to play during the “Verzuz” battle. To prepare for it, below, check out 5 performances that will get you ready for Jill Scott and Erykah Badu’s “Verzuz” battle.
1. The Roots Performs “You Got Me” featuring Jill Scott & Erykah Badu at Dave Chapelle’s “Block Party” in 2004
During the summer of 2004, Dave Chappelle threw his popular Block Party in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn, which was filmed for his 2005 documentary film Dave Chappelle’s Block Party. A myriad of hip-hop and neo-soul artists performed, including Scott, Badu, Kanye West, The Roots, and Yasiin Bey (who still was called Mos Def at the time).
Badu and Scott performed “You Got Me” alongside The Roots during the event. Many fans have discussed on social media who exactly should get to play the record being that they’re both a part of it. “You Got Me” was co-written by Scott who originally recorded vocals for the single’s chorus and bridge. However, the song was re-recorded by Badu because MCA Records wanted a more popular singer to appear on the record at the time.
2. Erykah Badu’s NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert
On August 15, 2018, Erykah Badu visited the NPR Music office for her official Tiny Desk performance where some of NPR’s staff said they “felt an almost spiritual connection to” the singer. During the performance, Badu performed her songs, including “Rimshot,” and “Green Eyes.”
“Rimshot,” an ode to the sound the percussionist makes when a drumstick is struck against the metal edge of the snare drum derives from Badu’s debut album Baduizm while “Green Eyes” was featured on Badu’s 2000 release Mama’s Gun. The ten-minute and four-second song (“Green Eyes”) was the center of Badu’s Tink Desk performance.
3.Jill Scott’s 2018 One Music Fest Performance
Jill Scott brought the house down during her raw and uncut performance at One Music Fest in 2018. Scott talked to the audience about how sex can sometimes be very intricate before performing her song “Making You Wait” from the Philadelphia native’s 2011 release The Light of the Sun.
She also performed her fan-favorite one-minute and forty eight-second song “Crown Royal,” titled after the cult favorite whiskey, but about an exuberant sexcapade. Scott also performed her hit single “The Way,” which is from her debut album Who Is Jill Scott? Words and Sounds Vol. 1, which turns 20 this July.
4. Erykah Badu’s “Danger” Performance at Live Jazz A Vienne in 2012
In a simple t-shirt and leggings, with a bare face besides mascara, Erykah Badu performed her single “Danger” at Live Jazz A Vienne, a French music festival that takes place in Vienne, near Lyon, a city in France.
During the six-minute and fifty-four second performance, the hip-hop lover did an interpolation of Nicki Minaj’s 2012 single “Beez in the Trap” from the rapper’s Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded album. Mid-performance, Badu also freestyled about America’s war on drugs.
5. Jill Scott’s 2012 “VH1 Storytellers” Performance
In addition to being a singer, songwriter, actress, and poet, Jill Scott is truly a storyteller. The multifaceted entertainer made that clear on her debut album with tracks like “Exclusively.” So, it only made sense that Scott was a part of VH1’s 2012 VH1 Storytellers series, with a 15-piece band in tow. Scott’s performance took place at New York City’s famous Hammerstein Ballroom where she performed her hits, including “The Way,” “Getting in the Way,” “Come See Me,” and “He Loves Me (Lyzel in E Flat).”
