Source: Omar Vega/Getty
The city of Dallas and DART offer its fans Erykah Badu a permanent 'Window Seat' following the unveiling of the new 'Badu Bus' to honor the Neo-Soul icon.
According to the announcement last week at a press conference outside Badu's old high school, Booker T. Washington High School for Performing and Visual Arts, the Grammy-winning singer and DART revealed they've teamed up to put artwork on buses and trains of Dallas. announcing that the plan will be seen for next year. Shocked and excited by the DART x BADU collaboration, the 'Next Lifetime' artist said:
“If you're black in Dallas, Texas, you know you've made it if you're on the cover of Jet and on the cover of DART,” Badu said. “I was rowdy, y'all. And I'm still a fan today. And what I rush now is love and kindness in any way I can. I want to thank you all for allowing me this space, this platform and this day. And, if you can give me my keys, I'd like to get my bus now.''
The “Badu Bus” is a collection of three buses and two trains that have been specially wrapped and decorated, with images of Badu and artwork designed to celebrate this partnership. The new 'Badu Bus' design will be operational in all thirteen cities of DART's service areas.
As the Dallas radio station notes, 97.9 The Beat, DART students, teachers and staff were excited to commemorate Badu on this important milestone ahead of her annual Birthday Bash at The Factory in Deep Ellum over the weekend. At the Birthday Bash, four lucky DART riders and their co-ones received special access to a VIP section, private entrance, exclusive swag and a monthly DART pass to ride the “Badu Bus.”
When asked by the station about the significance of receiving the honor during Black History Month, given Black Americans' history with the bus system, Badu said:
“Humor is my defense mechanism, so I don't have anything funny to say about it,” Badu said. “I remember there was a bus driver on my route — it wasn't called DART at the time. it has been renamed now, it was yellow and black and white. I remember my route, the #2 Ervay route to this school, Booker T. The bus driver was so sweet. It would leave people who didn't have transportation or money or other things. He wouldn't talk at all, he would just do a little [nods] go to the back somehow.' It reminded me that there are still angels and love in town.”
