Erykah Badu

Multi-platinum Universal Motown artist, Erykah Badu keeps the steam rolling in the midst of her latest CD New Amerykah, as she releases her second single, "Soldier." “Soldier," reminiscent of Baduizm's "Other Side of the Game," tells the story of a boy struggling to resist the gang-banging evils of his neighborhood block. Equipped with a thumping bass line and haunting flutes brought to life by producer Kareem Riggins, the single transforms into a protest song by the last verse as Badu poetically chants droplets of wisdom, "You got the wake up call/ When you heard the buildings fall" and "To my boys in Iraqi fields/This ain't no time to kill." After a four year recording hiatus, the single arrives at the height of Badu's accolades for New Amerykah Part I (4th World War), which debuted at #2 on the charts, selling over 125,000 units in the first week. Badu ushers in the single's release with “The Vortex Tour,” a whirlwind, twelve-week, 49-city, 42-show tour that kicks off May 4th in Detroit, Michigan and ends June 15th in Albuquerque, New Mexico. “Most of the shows are in or near cities with naturally strong energy fields, and if they’re not,” said Badu, “we’re going to create them with the music.” Badu will perform songs from New Amerykah as well as some of her most popular hits. The four-time Grammy award winner will then head off to Europe for tour dates which start June 25th in Copenhagen, Denmark and end on July 17th in Belgium. Appropriately, the Philly-based band The Roots will be the opening act for many of the dates, promoting their new album Rising Down. Badu, who has collaborated with The Roots in the past, features The Roots drummer Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson on several New Amerykah tracks. The Vortex Tour : North & South America/CanadaSunday, May 04, 2008 - Detroit, MI - Fox TheaterMonday, May 05, 2008 - Toronto, Canada - Massey HallTuesday, May 06, 2008 - Montreal, Canada - Jacques Cartier ParkThursday, May 08, 2008 - Boston, MA - Orpheum TheaterFriday, May 09, 2008 - New York, NY - Radio City Music HallSaturday, May 10, 2008 - Baltimore, MD - Pier Six PavilionSunday, May 11, 2008 - Philadelphia, PA - Tower TheaterWednesday, May 14, 2008 - Washington, DC - Constitution HallThursday, May 15, 2008 - Washington, DC - Constitution HallFriday, May 16, 2008 - Norfolk, VA - Chrysler HallSaturday, May 17, 2008 - Greensboro, NC - Special Events CenterSunday, May 18, 2008 - Richmond, VA - Landmark TheaterTuesday, May 20, 2008 - Boca Raton, FL - Mizner Park AmphitheaterWednesday, May 21, 2008 - San Juan, PR - Coliseum of Puerto RicoFriday, May 23, 2008 - Atlanta, GA - Fox TheaterSaturday, May 24, 2008 - Montgomery, AL - Jubilee City FestivalSunday, May 25, 2008 - Aruba - Soul Beach Music FestivalTuesday, May 27, 2008 - Nashville, TN - Andrew Jackson HallWednesday, May 28, 2008 - Memphis, TN - Orpheum TheaterThursday, May 29, 2008 - St. Louis, MO - Fox TheaterFriday, May 30, 2008 - Chicago, IL - Chicago TheaterSaturday, May 31, 2008 - Chicago, IL - Chicago TheaterMonday, June 02, 2008 - Denver, CO - FillmoreTuesday, June 03, 2008 - Salt Lake City, UT - The DepotThursday, June 05, 2008 - Redmond, WA - Marymoor AmphitheaterFriday, June 06, 2008 - Vancouver, Canada - Commodore BallroomSunday, June 08, 2008 - Oakland, CA - Paramount TheaterMonday, June 09, 2008 - Oakland, CA - Paramount TheaterTuesday, June 10, 2008 - San Diego, CA - HumphreysThursday, June 12, 2008 - Los Angeles, CA - Greek TheaterFriday, June 13, 2008 - Las Vegas, NV - House of BluesSaturday, June 14, 2008 - Phoenix, AZ - Mesa AmphitheaterSunday, June 15, 2008 - Albuquerque, NM - Kiva Auditorium