R&B Singer Erykah Badu Launches New Single With 'Vortex U.S. Tour'

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/Canada

Sunday, May 04, 2008 - Detroit, MI - Fox Theater
Monday, May 05, 2008 - Toronto, Canada - Massey Hall
Tuesday, May 06, 2008 - Montreal, Canada - Jacques Cartier Park
Thursday, May 08, 2008 - Boston, MA - Orpheum Theater
Friday, May 09, 2008 - New York, NY - Radio City Music Hall
Saturday, May 10, 2008 - Baltimore, MD - Pier Six Pavilion
Sunday, May 11, 2008 - Philadelphia, PA - Tower Theater
Wednesday, May 14, 2008 - Washington, DC - Constitution Hall
Thursday, May 15, 2008 - Washington, DC - Constitution Hall
Friday, May 16, 2008 - Norfolk, VA - Chrysler Hall
Saturday, May 17, 2008 - Greensboro, NC - Special Events Center
Sunday, May 18, 2008 - Richmond, VA - Landmark Theater
Tuesday, May 20, 2008 - Boca Raton, FL - Mizner Park Amphitheater
Wednesday, May 21, 2008 - San Juan, PR - Coliseum of Puerto Rico
Friday, May 23, 2008 - Atlanta, GA - Fox Theater
Saturday, May 24, 2008 - Montgomery, AL - Jubilee City Festival
Sunday, May 25, 2008 - Aruba - Soul Beach Music Festival
Tuesday, May 27, 2008 - Nashville, TN - Andrew Jackson Hall
Wednesday, May 28, 2008 - Memphis, TN - Orpheum Theater
Thursday, May 29, 2008 - St. Louis, MO - Fox Theater
Friday, May 30, 2008 - Chicago, IL - Chicago Theater
Saturday, May 31, 2008 - Chicago, IL - Chicago Theater

Monday, June 02, 2008 - Denver, CO - Fillmore
Tuesday, June 03, 2008 - Salt Lake City, UT - The Depot
Thursday, June 05, 2008 - Redmond, WA - Marymoor Amphitheater
Friday, June 06, 2008 - Vancouver, Canada - Commodore Ballroom
Sunday, June 08, 2008 - Oakland, CA - Paramount Theater
Monday, June 09, 2008 - Oakland, CA - Paramount Theater
Tuesday, June 10, 2008 - San Diego, CA - Humphreys
Thursday, June 12, 2008 - Los Angeles, CA - Greek Theater
Friday, June 13, 2008 - Las Vegas, NV - House of Blues
Saturday, June 14, 2008 - Phoenix, AZ - Mesa Amphitheater
Sunday, June 15, 2008 - Albuquerque, NM - Kiva Auditorium

Follow @singersroom