Rok Steady

by Gordon Jackson

It’s not that Nayrok Udab (Koryan, her real first name, and Badu spelled backwards) has been living in a vacuum, totally oblivious to the world. She has been performing, working and crafting her vocal skills, traveling the world in doing so.

And make no mistake, Nayrok loves, admires and supports her sister, neo-soul sensation Erykah Badu, very much.

“I’m totally in love with my sister, and I think she’s probably one of the most brilliant artists out there now,” Nayrok said.

But for much of her life, she has lived under the wing of her internationally renowned sibling, three years her senior. It’s now time for her to soar from beneath those wings.

Udab launches the Nayrok Redemption Project on Oct. 26, 8 p.m. at the Black Forest Theater in South Dallas, heading up a concert where she will perform songs from her first CD, scheduled for release next spring. Part of the proceeds from the event will also benefit Beautiful Love Incorporated Non-Profit Development (BLIND.), the community organization founded by Erykah and the Dallas Life Foundation.

Nayrok will perform before her hometown Dallas audience for the first time in a year and a half.

“My redemption is based on the things I’ve gone through,” she said. “From being a Black rock female artist, to being Erykah’s sister and my own challenging business decisions, it’s time to show what Nayrok is all about.” What it simply means is Nayrok is breaking away from being Erykah Badu’s sister and breaking into the mainstream art world and defining myself as an artist.”

Sister Erykah gives Nayrok her wholehearted blessing.

“She supported me for so long. But she’s a butterfly and has to fly,” Badu said. “It’s sad and happy. It’s too soon to say what role I’ll play in her launch, but whatever she’ll have me to do, I’ll do.”

As said before, it’s not that Nayrok has been silent by any means. She’s spanned the globe performing, singing background for her sister (including in the recent Sugar Water tour, co-starring Erykah, Jill Scott and Queen Latifah) and performing with other artists like members of the famous Marley reggae-singing family. She’s opened concerts for Prince, Nikka Costa, Common, Jill Scott, Musiq Soulchild, Roy Ayers, of course her sister and several others.

Nayrok and Erykah may be sisters, but that’s where similarities end.

“She used to be my shadow when we were kids,” Badu said. “Somehow the tables turned when we were growing up and she was the more assertive and willful of the two of us and the more passionate as well.”

That has served as a factor in Nayrok possessing her own unique sound.

“Erykah is definitely the mid-wife of neo-soul,” Nayrok said. “I’m the mid-wife of hip-hop rock. I call it ‘Hood-Rok.’ The one thing you will be able to tell is that my main influence is funk and rock.”

Nayrok’s close music models are artists such as Funkadelic, Jimi Hendrix, Mother’s Finest, Color Me Bad and Tina Turner, those who have incorporated a hard edge to their sound. She is also a fan of Aerosmith, the Rolling Stones, David Bowie, KISS, Biscuit and Nirvana.

“We were exposed to all kinds of music,” Badu said. “We’re both very versatile and have a great understanding of the theory of music.” With her upcoming CD, Nayrok is making the transition from a performing artist to a recording artist.

“A performing artist has freedom of expression, time and voice,” Nayrok said. “A recording artist is a little more tamed, programmed. It definitely has to be radio ready.

“On stage it’s pretty much a free for all, what happens happens. The studio is definitely a little more structured.”

The year 1996 was a golden year for Erykah, signing her first record contract, beginning her rise to stardom. It was a very unfortunate year for Nayrok when she was involved in an automobile accident with a drunk driver in Houston that broke both of her legs. During her recovery, she supported her sister.

Now it’s her turn. With restructuring in place such as a re-organizing of her band, Nayrok’s ready.

I believe it’s all divine time,” she said. “When it’s my time, it’s my time. I said it and I willed it. It will happen.”

“She’s learning. She’s doing research, has traveled,” Badu said of her younger sister. “She’s going to be a good soldier and good leader.”

Destiny is Nayrok’s, she says. She’s more mature and experienced. She’s ready for success to come her way. In the meantime, she tells everyone: “Love hard, live hard and “Rok” harder.”