Johannesburg hip-hop fans are in for a treat on Friday: Erykah Badu – or rather her alter ego, DJ Lowdown Loretta Brown – is to play a guest set at Taboo nightclub in Sandton a week after headlining at the Cape Town International Jazz Festival.
[full]The 43-year-old Badu – who is also known as the Queen of Neo Soul, Belly Bella, and Badoula Oblongata – had some of her local fans going off their heads in the wee hours of Sunday morning, when she played a set at the Mother City’s newest nightclub, Coco.
One lucky fan, who got to see her play twice, tweeted: “I don’t remember when last I returned home close to 7am from a night out. Thank you, Ms Badu.”
Another tweeted: “Got in at half 6 this morning thanks to the DJ-ing of Lowdown Loretta Brown aka @fatbellybella.
“After an amazing show, my body is still not registering that I spoke to and hugged Badu like she’s a normal mortal. She’s not. That’s some kind of spirit.”
Badu debuted as Lowdown Loretta Brown back in December 2010, explaining: “I just wanted to separate that energy of Erykah Badu’s frequency from what I do when I’m spinning.” The name is taken from a character in the 1970s movie Cooley High.
Organisers said yesterday that Badu will be part of the “Joburg Shutdown” event, which will also feature Mi Casa, DJ Tira, Khuli Chana, DJ Zinhle, Danny K, DJ Dimplez and DJ Vigilante.
As to at what time DJ Lowdown Loretta Brown’s set would be, the organisers were reluctant to say because they wanted “people to enjoy the experience” and savour the other performances.[/full]