Erykah Badu "2006.. It's Butt Naked Wednesdays" - 12:50 p.m.

Erykah Badu is definitely on milk carton alert. One of those former A-List artists who haven't released an album in years and might be working at the mall. "Worldwide Underground" her last album wasn't even a full clip, it was a 10-song EP that came and went unnoticed beyond her devoted fans. "Love of My Life" that Common collabo was her last hurrah.. and then *poof* and I don't mean her hair.

The problem may be that she doesn't have a record deal. Check her official page and you'll be directed to Myspace, check MCA records and you'll find it was folded into Geffen and Erykah Badu is nowhere on the roster. Third column, 12th block you'll see RES, yet another artist who while she barely sold enough to buy donuts, recorded "How I Do", a critically acclaimed album in 2001. That may be going too far but Rolling Stone blurbed.. "How I Do does that rare thing: It provides an original direction. It's an album born from multicultural influences for those who don't let the trends dictate what they wear and don't let MTV decide what they listen to."

So why are they both relegated to performing old material at their live shows, slipping in something new every now and then to keep their sanity? Moonlighting as a fashion consultant Erykah Badu has the answer..

"First of all you have to get yourself some breast implants. What's hot is the butt implant. You really want to rock somebody's world and make it in this business, get you an ass implant. Get you some calf implants too if you gonna be wearing them stilettos. You need to get your hair long if you can. If you can.. get your scalp cut off and get you a whole nother scalp... Just be butt naked somewhere. Butt naked with glitter on you and a beeper!"

Those choice words come from "Before The Music Dies" an independently filmed documentary that takes a look at the music industry through those directly involved with it. Bonafide talents such as Dave Matthews, Erykah Badu, Branford Marsalis, Elvis Costello, Bonnie Raitt, and Questlove all give their dollar and a quarter.

If I may quote.. In addition to interviewing the artists, the filmmakers asked writers and critics from Indie 911, CNN, USA Today, Rolling Stone, The New York Times, NPR and others why radio stations always play the same few songs over and over again, why major labels no longer allow musicians to develop their career over time, why local radio stations don't feel so local anymore, and so much more.

Here's the site and blog.

I missed the screening in NY? Don't know how that happens. Gonna have to wait for the DVD like my people in Colorado. Til then it's 3 minutes of trailer bits.

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