Neo-soul goddess Erykah Badu was born and raised in Texas, but she's got a few good ties to the Triangle -- most notably two folks from NC Central University. Central alumnus Yahzarah broke in as Badu's backup singer before going solo, while ex-Little Brother deejay 9th Wonder (Pat Douthit) is one of her regular producers.

"He was very humble," Badu said of Wonder in a recent interview. "Very pleasant. Works well with others. The things he does as a producer and as a DJ, he has no problem with showing or teaching. Some people are kind of funny about that, but he was very open. He's nice. Has a good heart."

It should come as no surprise that Wonder is a good teacher, because he comes by that honestly. And for more on Badu and her show in Durham, see the preview in Friday's paper.

Howdy, folks. I'm back from last week's vacation, and still struggling to catch up. While I do that, take a listen to this and peruse a couple of quick items about upcoming live shows:

New to the TWCMPAWC schedule, redneck gal Gretchen Wilson on Sept. 12 -- because, you know, there just haven't been enough country shows out there this year. On-sale details to come.

Also at the same venue is a show billed as 2009 Soul Music Festival on Aug. 29, headlined by the incomparable Erykah Badu. You can expect her to give an onstage shout-out to our own Ninth Wonder, who produced one of Badu's bigger recent hits. On-sale details also to come.

Over at Duke University, meanwhile, the 2009-10 live-concert season schedule is out, with highlights including Punch Brothers, Rosanne Cash, Los Lobos, Alejandro Escovedo and lots more. Check the complete lineup here.

You know how sometimes you happen across some random song that's been around a while, and it's a little spooky just how relevant it seems to the present moment? As if it's not a recording, but somebody right outside your window speaking to (or yelling at) you? That's what Erykah Badu's "Twinkle" has been for me today, at the end of a week of one ghastly piece of news after another. Even though it came out way back in February, "Twinkle" is pretty much perfect for right now -- especially the apocalyptic spoken-word rant that closes the track:

I DON'T HAVE TO TELL YOU THINGS AREN'T GOOD.
EVERYBODY KNOWS THINGS AREN'T GOOD!
WE KNOW THE AIR'S UNFIT TO BREATHE
AND OUR FOOD IS UNFIT TO EAT!
YOUNG PUNKS ARE RUNNING THE STREET
NO ONE KNOWS JUST WHAT TO DO
AND THERE'S NO END TO IT!
THE DOLLAR BUYS A PENNY'S WORTH!
BANKS ARE GOING UNDER
CONGRESS ARE KEEPING A GUN UNDER THE COUNTER!
WE SIT WATCHING OUR IDIOT BOXES
WHILE SOME LOCAL ANCHOR MAN
TELLS US THAT
TODAY WE'VE HAD 18 MURDERS AND 80 VIOLENT CRIMES
AS IF THAT WAS THE WAY THINGS WAS SUPPOSE TO BE!
WE KNOW TIMES ARE BAD!
WORSE THAN BAD!
PEOPLE ARE CRAZY!
ITS LIKE EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE
IS GOING UTTERLY MAD!
SO WE NEVER LEAVE OUR HOMES!
WE SIT IN OUR COMFY ABODES
WHILE THE WORLD IS GETTING SMALLER
AND WE SAY, COME ON!
AT LEAST LEAVE US ALONE IN OUR FAMILY ROOMS
LET ME HAVE MY MICROWAVE
AND FLATSCREEN
AND MY 20-INCH RIMS
AND I WON'T SAY ANYTHING!
JUST LEAVE US ALONE!!
WELL I'M NOT GONNA LEAVE YOU ALONE!!!
I WANT YOU TO GET ANGRY!!!!
I DON'T WANT YOU TO RIOT,
I DON'T WANT YOU TO PROTEST,
I DON'T WANT YOU TO WRITE YOUR SENATOR,
BECAUSE I WON'T KNOW WHAT TO TELL YOU TO TELL HIM!!
I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO ABOUT THE RECCESSION,
AND THE INFLATION,
AND THE CRIME IN THE STREET!!
ALL I KNOW IS THAT YOU GOT TO GET MAD!!!
YOU'VE GOT TO SAY:
I'M A HUMAN BEING, DAMMIT!!!!!
MY LIFE HAS VALUE!!!!!!

Good night, and good luck...