Style Weekly
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A Final Sunset
by Craig Belcher
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Born Erica Wright, Erykah Badu was the high priestess of the neo-soul movement, a crop of R&B artists who attempted to restore artistic integrity to music in the late '90s. Like many of that class (Lauryn Hill, D'Angelo, Maxwell, Bilal), she's struggled to release music consistently after her initial success. Her last offering, "Worldwide Underground," came out in 2003 and was written after a bout of writer's block. There are rumors that she will make up for this gap between recordings by releasing three albums this year, the first dropping this fall. Her fans, who have remained devoted despite her absence from record store racks, deserve no less. Indie soul star Eric Roberson opens the last show of Fridays at Sunset at 6 p.m. at Kanawha Plaza. Tickets are $30. Call 644-8515 or visit www.fridaysatsunset.com. S
UPDATE: This event is now being billed as the "Erykah Badu Block Party." The stage will be outside Kanawha Plaza, on Canal Street. Canal Street between 8th & 9th will be closed. Another section of Canal, between 7th & 9th will also close at 6 p.m. Concert-goers can enter at 7th Street (Canal Street end) and on Byrd Street across from the Federal Reserve Building.
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