Erykah Badu and Jill Scott are both legends. Honestly, I had no intention of entering their Instagram Live “battle” with the idea of choosing a side, I simply wanted to indulge in the mere presence of two of the greatest storytellers of my lifetime. I wanted to feel their auras, gain some of their strength and harbor some major artistic inspiration.
Yet, words cannot lay the foundation for the ambience of the iconic vibe. The entire atmosphere of the Instagram Live smelled like sweet cocoa butter, fresh jojoba oil and preferential indulgences of the earthly nature. It was like nothing I’ve ever experienced! Let’s not forget the amount of grace, respect and love that Badu and Scott (consistently) dished upon each other. It was beyond inspiring. I do believe at it’s peak, the overall Instagram Live reached well over 700,000 viewers. Sheesh!
The beauty of this Verzuz TV “battle” was the wisdom that spewed from Auntie E and Jilly from Philly. Never have I ever indulged in any celebrity’s livestream (for over 2 hours), genuinely excited to hear and simply re-experience the genius of what their talent has manifested within my life. Whether their music gave me strength at a vulnerable point of my life, or whether their lyrics still serve as positive affirmations that continue to soothe my soul, the spiritual vibrations were on a completely different level.
Erykah’s raw and unapologetic edge coupled with Ms. Scott’s effortless elegance and sophistication concocted the perfect recipe for a Saturday evening well-spent. Ya’ll, I had my Merlot in hand, I was decked out in my finest Badu-esque kimono, fruit was in hand, candles were burning, I was too ready. To bear witness to two artists (who I grew up jamming), still slaying and telling their own stories in the process, it was truly a moment to witness. No beef, no twerking, no Teddy Riley technical difficulties, just an inimitable ministry of music through core-wrenching musicianship and the power of the pen.
For the entire time, I forgot about how stressed out I was at my job. I forgot that I have bills due next week. I totally dismissed my frustrations with being unable to leave my home. Heck, I didn’t even think about COVID-19. I was encapsulated by the sheer magnetism of these two, uber-talented women who have paved the way for writers, singers, performers, fashionistas, artists and even poets. They literally stopped time and turned the world on its side.
If you missed it, I do apologize. It was a gift. Thank you, Queens! This escape was much needed.
*Photo Credits: Afrobella and InStyle; I do not own the rights to the featured photographs.
“Soul music is about longevity and reaching and touching people on a human level – and that’s never going to get lost.” – Jill Scott
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