Thank You Jill Scott & Erykah Badu for sharing your sisterhood and verses on Verzuz
Creatives choosing collaboration over competition
Last night over half a million people and I had the honor and pleasure of watching Jill Scott and Erykah Badu’s “Femme It Forward” Verzuz Battle on Instagram Live. Unlike previous battles, these Queens of R & B, Neo Soul and all things poetic and prophetic, chose collaboration and celebration over competition (shout out to She Did That). We witnessed a genuine outpouring of love and admiration through the power and majesty of sisterhood, musical and lyrical genius…
The sistalove music fest started with them playing the same song, which had to be preordained because it was indeed a full-circle moment. Little did we know — Jill’s first writing credit for, “You Got Me” was sung by Ms. Badu in 1999. Jill thanked Erykah and from there we watched and joined them as they sang, chat, sipped, and shared their catalog of music.
The listening party highlighted 20+ years of music that were the soundtrack of countless women’s lives. Erykah’s next song “On and On” highlighted her spiritual and cultural awakening and mine too… They talked about how people tried to pit them against each other. Yet, they supported and respected each other as creatives and formed a long-standing friendship and through life, love, and motherhood…
I consider it a blessing to have been a part of such a wonderful moment. Not to be cliche, but I sat, in awe watching these Black Girls Rock from neo soul classics to obscure, to channeling legends like Billie Holiday to Sarah Vaughn to living legends like Chaka Khan… Yet, if may get a little dark and deep for one sec… The reality is — Black Girl Magic is a Black women’s reality every day! We love and lift each other up more than we hurt, harm and tear each other down and we are the true defenders of the universe — in spite of what some shows and mainstream media try to say and display otherwise. (I know it was a lot of run-ons, but I’m working on it…)
I know our elders and ancestors are looking down and are pleased that they are keeping the quality and integrity of Black genius — thought, words, sounds (Jill) and God manifest (Erykah) in our mind, body and souls…
Both Queens are highly underrated and never can be duplicated vocalists and lyrical poets. Jill and Erykah follow the lineage of matriarchs and healers that made sure other Black girls and women know they’re loved and worthy — no matter if they see, hear or feel otherwise.
I thank Ms. Jill Scott and Ms. Erykah Badu, again for paying homage to their guiding lights and our ancestors proving they are anointed and appointed to speak love and light in this world and into sista’s spirits and souls throughout the diaspora.
I do hope living legends like Chaka Khan thought the event was a “Sweet Thing”, and Sonya Sanchez was listening as you two gave us “Continuous Fire” and Nikki Giovanni witnessed this “Poem Of Friendship”.
I could feel Mother Maya — smiling at your “Phenomenal” talent and body of work. I hope Octavia Butler was cheering on your “Kindred” spirits continuing to break barriers of what Black women/people can and should be and do…
To Miss Jill Scott and Ms. Erykah Badu words cannot express how you blessed my soul and how your songs were a healing balm and brought back memories of so many empowering, amazing, happy and sensual moments. You inspired, encourage and urged us to be brave and reminded me of “dreams deferred” — but are deserving…(Langston Hughes)
Thank you for giving us hours well spent, singing, smiling, laughing and learning…and ending it in loving tribute to Andre Harrell… May he rest in peace.
Be blessed and safe and I can’t wait…to see what happens next
A special thanks to Swizz Beats and Timbaland’s Verzuz series.
