A quick acknowledgement of how the Erykah Badu and Jill Scott VERZUZ reminded me of their influence on my artistry and how much they have contributed to pop culture. A confession and an ode.

1. Pop Culture & Me
#Verzuz
By Niamani Brown | Thursday, March 18, 2019

2. #VERZUZ
Jill Scott & Erykah Badu
Less of a battle, more of nostalgic soul stirring tunes
exchanged amongst peers. This was a friendly
comparison of repertoire between songstresses.
A magical moment in hip hop as well as in social media
entertainment.
Some might say it was a healthy dose of life amid the
darkness of the reality of the pandemic. It certainly
summed up my creative and cultural in
fl
uences of my
life through the art of music. Credit: Instagram

3. A webcast series created by
Timbaland and Swizz Beatz,
reimagining early hip hop dj
battles and bringing them to life
via social media.
This was an answer to a much
needed remedy to angst during
quarantine.
Top producers or song writers pair
up live on Instagram to exchange
catalogues for hit comparison.
Watch (3:15:47)

4. This social media event gives breath to
music and breathes some life into an era of
soul that that lies dormant.
With my birthday on the 10th of May and
this VERZUZ battle on the 9th, it was a
great quarantine birthday treat.
My home was front row seat
and it was a re
fl
ection of the
realms of my creative in
fl
uence.
Literally two of my
favorite artists
complimenting one
another through song,
live.

5. Neither artist has ever been known to stay
within the lines of any genre or category of
music. Much in the way of the trajectory of
my career. I am determined to drive in the
lane I create.
To watch and learn that they both have
in
fl
uenced one another’s craft is all the thrill
and another source of inspiration. My
fi
rst
open mic set were two songs, “Appletree” by
Erykah Badu, and “Crown Royal” by Jill
Scott
.
These ladies have made me feel comfortable in exploring what it meant to be a vocalist once upon a
time. Erykah Badu certainly in
fl
uenced my love of incense and one of a kind jewelry pieces. Jill Scott’s
vocal depth and poetic empowering serenades are ful
fi
lling. These woman are cultural idols and
according to billboards.com the public feels the same.

6. Cochrane, N. (2020, May 10). Ji
ll
Scott vs. Erykah Badu in 'Verzuz' Battle of Neo-Soul Titans: See Bi
ll
board's
Scorecard and Winner For the Showdown. Billboard. https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/
9374926/jill-scott-erykah-badu-verzuz-battle-scorecard.
kyarbough. (2020, May 10). Erykah Badu VS Jill Scott. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=110I11t3Mkc.
https://msmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Erykah-Badu-and-Jill-Scott-Love-Each-Other-to-Life-
in-First-Womens-Verzuz-Battle.pn
g
https://www.instagram.com/p/B_-Gte9lcRf
/
https://michiganchronicle.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/05/IMG_4316-
e1588355342284-300x270.jpg
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