Erykah Badu performed an expert mashup of herBaduizmsong On and On and Fela Kutis Sorrow Tears and Blood on The Tonight Show Monday.
The performance found Badu and her band partnering with the Roots, who notably played on several Baduizm tracks (though not originally On and On). The musicians injected the steady R&B groove of On and On with the blaring horns and shuffling Afrobeat funk of Sorrow Tears and Blood, while Badu delivered an engrossing vocal performance touched with a bit of humor as she led the band through a succession of pinpoint downbeat stops.
Towards the end of the performance, the Roots and Badus band reshaped the song with an even deeper groove. A dancer appeared on stage, slinking gracefully around the stage as Badu continued unspool mesmerizing lyrics and an array of impressive vocal runs.
Badu recently curated the fourth installment ofKnitting Factory Records ongoing Fela Kutireissueseries. The vinyl set includes seven albums, including Badus favorite Fela pieces like Coffin for Head of State, Yellow Fever and No Agreement. Badu also wrote seven personal essays for the collection.
Badus last solo release, the mixtape But You Caint Use My Phone, arrived in 2015.