Erykah Badu’s ‘Trill Friends’ Is a Fresh Remix of Kanye West’s ‘Real Friends’
When R&B singer Erykah Badu speaks or releases music, fans tend to stop whatever they're doing and pay close attention. The green-eyed virtuoso has made her presence known yet again, this time by dropping her own remix to Kanye West's "Real Friends" called "Trill Friends."
On Tuesday (Jan. 12), Badu uploaded the track to Soundcloud along with a short description briefly explaining the genesis of the song in her own unique way.
"kanye x badu x whodini...JUST ride out to this...BADU MESSIN ROUND THIS MORNIN (really suppose be recording something else ...) presently in the BADUDIO w/ ZACH WITNESS," Badu wrote, while letting us know that the recording was laid down in her hometown of Dallas, Texas. "From the forth coming mix tape THIS $h!t TOO EASY," she added to close out her message to the public.
While "Trill Friends" doesn't feature Yeezy, Badu does use lyrics from Whodini's classic song "Friends," repeatedly singing, "Friends, the word we use everyday, but most of time we use it in the wrong way." She then adds, "If you don't believe in the love / You're missing a good thing / Because I'm genuine, I'm genuine."
"Trill Friends" is just the latest instance of Badu gleaning inspiration from hip-hop, as she has been quite active this year. Aside from sending jabs at popular rappers, Badu also dipped her toe into the mixtape world with the release of her own street album, But You Cain't Use My Phone, a nod to her classic song, "Tyrone." All of the songs on the collection are inspired by the phone.
Erykah Badu has had a flair for the dramatic since popping on the scene in 1996 with her classic debut, Baduizm, and has become one of hip-hop's most beloved ambassadors throughout the years. From her relationships to rap royalty like Andre 3000, Common, and Jay Electronica to her spaced-out around the way b-girl aesthetic, she has always been considered down for the culture and this song is the latest evidence.