India.Arie Preps New Single “6th Avenue” and Honors Recording Artist Brandy

Last night at W.I.P in New York, India.Arie was a surprise guest honoring recording artist Brandy at TrueExclusives re-launch party. When India.Arie hit the stage she nearly brought a shocked Brandy to tears, however it was what she said before performing Brandy‘s single “He Is” from her “Full Moon” album that fully brought her to tears.

“I never got the chance to tell you this but the first time I heard you sing, I was 18 and I was like who is this? Who’s singing the way that I like people to sing cause I feel that there are a lot of singers here tonight, and you know how the difference between good singing and great singing are the small things nuances, you had the nuances when you were like 13. And I remember when you were on ‘Thea’, and through the week, on the commercial they were showing that you were going to sing on that episode. I have the tape because I have been keeping a tape recorder and journal since I was like a little kid. So I had my micro cassette ready when you came on and I taped it and played it back and back and back and back. So, I just wanted to tell you that. I know how it feels to be working really hard for something and it doesn’t turn out exactly the way that you want but then you have some stuff that’s turning out cool and you are just like working, trying to figure it out. I don’t think that you really understand how influential you are to singers [Crowd cheers], I don’t think you really get it! There are so many people that we hear and we are like, ‘that’s a Brandy run, Oh that’s a Brandy run’. I don’t think you even know how much people revere you and they don’t realize that they’re doing what you do. So this is for you.” – NecoleBitchie.com

Who can argue with anything she said? Check out the Brandy tribute as well as India.Arie performing “6th Avenue” earlier this year at TEDxAtlanta.