NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--In the midst of New Amerykah's highly acclaimed reviews from media outlets all over the world, multi-platinum Universal Motown artist, Erykah Badu keeps the steam rolling 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. Named for the swirling centers of subtle energy coming out from the surface of the earth, The Vortex Tour is expected to stir up a lot of excitement. “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.

Whether on tour or in the studio, Badu stays connected with her fans through Bandlink, a technology included in New Amerykah which allows purchasers to register to receive videos, tour updates, bonus tracks, commentary, exclusive content and discounts on merchandise from Badu’s online store.

Always connected by her love of community, Badu will allocate $1 from every concert ticket sold to B.L.I.N.D - Beautiful Love Incorporated Non-Profit Development - Badu’s community organization that provides community-based programs for inner-city youth through music, dance, theater and visual arts.

The Vortex Tour : North & South America/Canada

TOUR DATES:

Sunday, May 04 Detroit, MI Fox Theater
Monday, May 05 Toronto, Canada Massey Hall
Tuesday, May 06 Montreal, Canada Jacques Cartier Park
Thursday, May 08 Boston, MA Orpheum Theater
Friday, May 09 New York, NY Radio City Music Hall
Saturday, May 10 Baltimore, MD Pier Six Pavilion
Sunday, May 11 Philadelphia, PA Tower Theater
Wednesday, May 14 Washington, DC Constitution Hall
Thursday, May 15 Washington, DC Constitution Hall
Friday, May 16 Norfolk, VA Chrysler Hall
Saturday, May 17 Greensboro, NC Special Events Center
Sunday, May 18 Richmond, VA Landmark Theater
Tuesday, May 20 Boca Raton, FL Mizner Park Amphitheater
Wednesday, May 21 San Juan, PR Coliseum of Puerto Rico
Friday, May 23 Atlanta, GA Fox Theater
Saturday, May 24 Montgomery, AL Jubilee City Festival
Sunday, May 25 Aruba Soul Beach Music Festival
Tuesday, May 27 Nashville, TN Andrew Jackson Hall
Wednesday, May 28 Memphis, TN Orpheum Theater
Thursday, May 29 St. Louis, MO Fox Theater
Friday, May 30 Chicago, IL Chicago Theater
Saturday, May 31 Chicago, IL Chicago Theater
Monday, June 02 Denver, CO Fillmore
Tuesday, June 03 Salt Lake City, UT The Depot
Thursday, June 05 Redmond, WA Marymoor Amphitheater
Friday, June 06 Vancouver, Canada Commodore Ballroom
Sunday, June 08 Oakland, CA Paramount Theater
Monday, June 09 Oakland, CA Paramount Theater
Tuesday, June 10 San Diego, CA Humphreys
Thursday, June 12 Los Angeles, CA Greek Theater
Friday, June 13 Las Vegas, NV House of Blues
Saturday, June 14 Phoenix, AZ Mesa Amphitheater
Sunday, June 15 Albuquerque, NM Kiva Auditorium

Info: Erykah Badu
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