SOUL CAMP 2026 Held! Festival Returns for the First Time in 7 Years with an Overwhelming Live Performance by Erykah Badu.

Erykah Badu

SOUL CAMP, held for the first time in 7 years. On this day, an audience radiating enthusiasm, as if to say "We've been waiting!", gathered at SGC Hall Ariake. Kicking off the event and igniting the floor were DJ YANATAKE and MC YOU-KID. They warmed up the crowd with hip-hop classics spanning generations, from Biz Markie to Kanye West.

DJ YANATAKE / MC YOU-KID

Next up was the set by DJ KOCO aka SHIMOKITA. He masterfully blended beats from major samples, incorporating back scratches and grand gestures to create a dynamic performance. He spun a continuous stream of hits, from classic hip-hop to dance classics, and even Anita Baker's "Sweet Love," before closing with Shōji Koganezawa's "Arigatou... Kansha." The venue was already enveloped in a sense of unity.

DJ KOCO aka SHIMOKITA

After a brief blackout, Knxwledge appeared at the adjacent turntable. Having relocated from the US to Japan this year, he began his DJ set with Mary J. Blige's "Never Been," sending shout-outs to various artists. He interspersed tracks by D'Angelo and Slum Village, creating a chill R&B mood. His skills were evident as he blended his own edits with mellow yet strongly rhythmic beats. After weaving in timeless classics from Bernard Wright, DeBarge, and Mary Jane Girls, he shifted to house music around the time he played his own track "Don't Be Afraid," increasing the BPM with Afrobeat influences. Guest dancer MIYU also joined on stage, delivering a performance with impressive variations in tempo. He maintained a comfortable groove throughout, and I found myself wishing, "Next time, please come to Japan with your unit NxWorries with Anderson .Paak...!"

Knxwledge

And then, The Pharcyde finally appeared. DJ Tre appeared on stage first. Greeting the audience with "Konnichiwa!" and gauging their excitement, he played tracks by LL Cool J and A Tribe Called Quest, before MCs Fatlip, Imani, and Slimkid3 (Tre) joined them on stage in a lively fashion for "On the DL." This was an exclusive performance featuring the original members, who have over 30 years of experience since their debut, yet they delivered a vibrant and relaxed performance that thoroughly energized the crowd. Imani, in particular, dressed in a peppermint green jumpsuit, danced with incredible energy!

The Pharcyde

Delivering hot energy to the audience with their mic passes and the DJ's shouts, they transitioned from "Ya Mama" to "Bullshit." Dividing the venue in two, they commanded, "This side say 'Ooh!'" and "This side say 'Shit!'" leading to a massive "Ooh-Shit!" call and response as they performed "Oh Shit." The three MCs worked together to hype up the crowd, even going to the edges of the stage! "Let's go back to 1992!" they called out, spitting "I'm That Type of Ni**a," as DJ Tre began to scratch, shouting "Sorry, just drop the shit!" and transitioning into the 1995 hit "Drop." They continued with "4 Better or 4 Worse" and "Soulflower," then asked, "Do you know this song?" before playing Quincy Jones' "Summer In The City." Then, at the iconic riff section—it seamlessly transitioned into the intro of "Passin' Me By." Imani, who had been moving all over the stage, descended into the audience, hyping up the crowd at eye level. For the final verse, Fatlip delivered an a cappella rap, and his closing remark, "Damn," was memorable.

The Pharcyde

The Pharcyde

Later, during "Otha Fish," Slimkid3 also delivered an a cappella verse, showcasing their undiminished rap skills. After the song, they asked the audience, "Can we play a new song?" Sending shout-outs to De La Soul, A Tribe Called Quest, and Slum Village, they declared, "All the songs we made in the past are wonderful and timeless. They still sound fresh even when heard today because we made them with all our hearts. And we will continue to protect our music like that," before performing "Timeless," released in 2025. It was a stage that powerfully conveyed how they, active on the West Coast in the early 90s, created innovative sounds alongside Q-Tip and J Dilla, showcasing their legacy.

Towards the end of the live performance, mentioning J Dilla's name, they played the masterpiece "Runnin'," using Stan Getz & Luiz Bonfá's "Saudade Vem Correndo" as the original sample. DJ Tre's live scratching insertions throughout the song were also captivating. They closed the stage with "She Said." The members exited after high-fiving the audience, and then took a commemorative photo together on stage, a performance that showed their entertainment spirit and unique warmth until the very end.

The Pharcyde

The Pharcyde

DJ YANATAKE and MC YOU-KID returned to the DJ booth backstage to hype up the crowd until the headliner, Erykah Badu, appeared. They played tracks by Jill Scott, Lucy Pearl, and D'Angelo, concluding with a huge cheer for Erykah Badu's upcoming appearance.

As the venue darkened, a mirror ball illuminated the stage, and the sound of Rhodes piano played by RC Williams echoed. After a brief ensemble by the band members, a drum roll and spacey sounds announced Erykah's grand entrance. She appeared in a puffy, voluminous top adorned with countless threads and pulp-like decorations, and a skirt that spread out softly. From a distance, the overall shape resembled hakama, or even the decorative mawashi worn by sumo wrestlers. Erykah appeared on stage, performed sumo-like stances and hand-slapping gestures, and then stood before the central microphone. Bathed in green light, she cleared her throat and breathed into the microphone. In that instant, the atmosphere of the venue was completely colored by Erykah.

Erykah Badu

Erykah Badu

For the first song, she sang "Green Eyes" accompanied only by RC on keys. She sang with unrestrained freedom, as if communicating with something unseen. After singing "Otherside of the Game," seemingly enjoying the session with the band members, she manipulated the drum machines on either side of her, and random drum sounds transitioned into the intro of "On & On." Connecting to "...& On" with a swinging improvisation that twisted and turned like a winding road, she unleashed her signature style while spinning around. Announcing, "Next year marks 30 years since the release of 'Baduizm,'" she moved on to "Appletree." Her voice, as rich and profound as honey slowly dripping from a tree, had undoubtedly deepened further over her 30-year career. Feeling this history, she transitioned to "Time's a Wastin'."

Erykah Badu

Unfortunately, band member Delta 9 could not make it to Japan, and Japanese drummer Yukino Matsuura was suddenly chosen as a substitute. Erykah herself introduced Yukino to the audience, inviting her to "play with me?" leading to a drum session between Yukino and Erykah. Connecting Erykah's drum sounds to the intro of "Love Of My Life," they hyped up the first line of the lyrics and the melody of "Way Back" with a call and response. RC's synth insertion of the riff from Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five's "The Message" in this song, where she sings "Hip-hop is my friend," was a touching detail. DJ Ringgo played The Notorious B.I.G.'s "Warning," and effectively using Biggie's "Damn!" ad-libs, transitioned into "Sometimes." This sequence was a gimmick she had also showcased at the recent ROOTS PICNIC festival hosted by The Roots, and it was thrilling to see it recreated on the SOUL CAMP stage. At this point, Erykah removed her dress, changing into a casual outfit with a white long-sleeve t-shirt. She then put on boots brought from the wings, singing while wearing them—a professional (perhaps?) moment. She ad-libbed a snippet of Donna Summer's "Love to Love You Baby" before moving to "I Want You." While hitting a cowbell with drumsticks herself, she blended in "Don't Stop Music" by fellow Dallas legends Yarbrough & Peoples, deepening the groove further before cueing herself to transition into "Window Seat." Between songs, spacey sound effects, often used during her entrances, were inserted, each time reminding us, "We are now on Erykah's spaceship." It wasn't a performance with flashy dancing or elaborate visual effects. It was simply a stage where one was overwhelmed by Erykah Badu's expressive power. After playing "Next Lifetime," RC's keyboard played the intro to "Bag Lady." Erykah descended into the audience, walking among the fans as she sang! Despite engaging in extensive fan service, she sang "Bag Lady" without missing a beat. "Bag Lady" is a song that advises, "You're carrying too much baggage, so let it go and lighten your load." Returning to the stage from the audience (wearing a stole she received from a fan), Erykah sang "go, go, go" repeatedly with gestures of letting go. It felt like a ritual chant, and I felt as if I were receiving an exorcism. The main set concluded with "Didn't Cha Know." She then connected it to Lena Horne's song "If You Believe" from the legendary musical "The Wiz," singing "Believe in yourself," concluding a moving performance. Afterward, Erykah took the stage with several staff members. To everyone's surprise, her unique outfit and hair makeup for the day were done by students from Tokyo Mode Gakuen! The audience erupted in thunderous applause. After Erykah and her entourage left the stage, an MC incited the crowd with "Do you want more?!" leading into a luxurious encore. The very last song was the anthem for bad boyfriends, "Tyrone." Erykah repeatedly and cutely sang the hook's final line (?) "But you can't use my phone." She signaled the audience, "When everyone shouts 3, 2, 1, I'll sing with a powerful high note!" leading to a grand climax. It was satisfaction beyond satisfaction! The performance, lasting over 90 minutes, was filled with Erykah's vibes from one end of the vast venue to the other.

At the SOUL CAMP venue, it was also striking to see a diverse audience, including families with strollers, parents carrying children wearing earmuffs on their shoulders, people in wheelchairs, and individuals using assistive devices while resting on sofas. It was deeply moving to think that everyone had gathered to enjoy the SOUL CAMP atmosphere for the first time in 7 years, and a strong desire for its return next year welled up.

Text: Shiho Watanabe

Photos: Teppei Kishida

Event Outline

Event Name: "SOUL CAMP 2026"

Date: July 4, 2026 (Saturday) OPEN / START 14:00

Venue: Tokyo, SGC Hall Ariake (https://tdp.tv-asahi.co.jp/hall/)

Performers:

Erykah Badu (”SOUL CAMP” Exclusive Live Band Performance)

The Pharcyde (”SOUL CAMP” Exclusive Performance)

Knxwledge

DJ KOCO aka SHIMOKITA

DJ YANATAKE

MC YOU-KID

□WEB: http://soul-camp.jp

□Twitter: https://twitter.com/soul_camp

□Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soulcamp_official/

□Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/soulcamp.official

Organizer, Planner, Producer: SOUL CAMP 2026 Executive Committee

Inquiries: Kyodo Tokyo 0570-550-799 (Weekdays 11:00-18:00 / Weekends and Holidays 10:00-18:00)