Erykah Badu closes Spotify's RNB X festival in Dallas with new album tracks

Erykah Badu concluded the first Spotify RNB X festival at the Toyota Music Factory in Las Colinas on Sunday, November 1, with a performance that blended her classic hits with new material. The event, dedicated to R&B music, brought together a lineup of local and international artists to mark the genre's history and current state. Badu, who is from Oak Cliff, received a warm reception from the hometown audience as the final act of the day.

The concert opened with RJTheWeirdo, a local artist from Oak Cliff, who introduced the crowd to tracks from his latest album, “At Least She’s Beautiful.” He performed songs including “self sabotage” and “Catchabody.” After the show, he described the experience as surreal, noting that the support from the local crowd felt genuine. He expressed pride in performing in his city, calling the atmosphere an out-of-body experience.

Other performers included Jai’Len Josey, Destin Conrad, and kwn. The U.K.-based singer kwn performed a medley of songs and told the audience that he hoped to return to Texas soon. He noted his love for the state and planned to celebrate the performance after the show. Destin Conrad later joined kwn on stage to perform the song “all fours,” bringing the first half of the festival to a close.

H.E.R. served as a headliner and marked her return to touring after a four-year hiatus. She opened her set by asking the Dallas audience if they had missed her before performing “Damage.” She shared that she was excited to test new, unreleased music from her upcoming album. The artist described feeling vulnerable and nervous about the new songs but hopeful that the crowd would connect with them. She praised the singing ability of the Dallas fans, stating that the city seemed full of singers.

Actor Miles Canton, known for his role in the 2025 film “Sinners,” joined H.E.R. on stage to perform “Best Part.” The two have a professional history, as Canton toured with H.E.R. before his acting breakthrough. She encouraged him to audition for the film that later propelled his career. Before leaving the stage, H.E.R. acknowledged Badu’s influence on her career. She told the crowd that Badu paved the way for many artists and that she was honored to share the stage with her.

Badu performed a psychedelic set with collaborator The Alchemist. They played standout tracks from their new album, “Before The World Blows.” This album tour did not originally include a Dallas date, making the Spotify event a rare opportunity for locals to hear the new songs live. The Alchemist also performed classics from his catalog, including “Hold You Down” and “We Gon Make It” by The Lox. Badu used a beat machine to introduce her hits, such as “On & On” and “Otherside of the Game,” which fans recognized and sang along to as the tracks approach their 30th anniversary.

The Dallas native joked about technical delays during the show, referencing her reputation for being late. She insisted she arrived on time but acknowledged that technical difficulties caused the wait. She added that being from South Dallas, she does not tolerate such issues. The event served as a showcase for the depth of the R&B community in the area, with local fans singing along to every performer.