Erykah Badu Vs. Jill Scott Instagram Live Battle
On May 9, Erykah Badu and Jill Scott graced the world with an amazing Instagram live battle. The battle was hosted by producers, Timbaland and Swizz Beats, and was sponsored by Femme It Forward. The battle attracted some of r&b’s biggest stars and even Michelle Obama. Over the past couple of weeks, Instagram live battles have become very popular and are now being used to bring people together during the pandemic. To no surprise, this battle was highly anticipated as two of neo-soul’s greatest artists would come together to appreciate each other’s artistry.
For many fans that tuned into the Instagram battle last Saturday night, Badu and Scott’s music allowed them to reminisce about a simpler time. With everything that’s going on in the world, the battle offered peace, even if it was only temporary. Being that both artists have been making music for over 20 years, the battle only scratched the surface of each artist’s catalog. Despite that, both women showed how timeless good music is. These Instagram battles definitely have their perks. After the battle, both artists saw an increase in streams. Both Erykah Badu and Jill Scott played a mixture of their hits and deep cuts that some fans were introduced to and others revisited. While the music is what attracted so many people, the virtual concert had a deeper meaning. The message was sisterhood. Aside from the music, one of the most beautiful parts of the Badu vs. Scott battle was the respect that they had for each other as women and as artists. “Jill & Erykah isn’t even a battle… it's a vibe session. They’re just playing full songs, telling background stories and vibing out”, says @theblackreginaG (Twitter), a fan who watched the battle on Saturday. It was clear that both women were genuinely fans of each other’s music, which eliminated the “battle” atmosphere.
Generally, when you hear the word “battle” there is an implication of some sort of opposition. The music industry is notorious for putting artists up against each other, especially among female artists. It was very important to see that two women can have equal success and not feel threatened by each other. For three hours, the battle exuded peace, love, and the beauty of art. This was definitely one for the culture.
Photo Credits: @Verzuz.tv
Report: Brionna Thompson
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