Watch Erykah Badu Scold Audience, Sing ‘Phone Down’ at Soul Train Awards

Erykah Badu wasn’t kidding when she asked us to put our “Phone Down.” In an exclusive advance clip from this year’s Soul Train Awards, airing Sunday, host Badu demands that several distracted audience members in the front row — including Tyrese Gibson — put away their cells and focus on her.

“Tyrese, you’re on your phone?” she asks the singer-actor. “You’re in the front row on national TV … and you’re on your phone?” This annoyance prompts Badu to perform her soulful new track as she scans the crowd for cell phones, retrieving every one she spots. “I can make you put your phone down/As we cruise through the city,” she sings. “You ain’t gonna text no one when you wit’ me.”

The 2015 Soul Train Awards air Sunday, November 29th at 8 p.m. EST on BET and Centric. The event will feature performances from Brandy, Fantasia, Jeremih, Boyz II Men, Jazmine Sullivan, Erica Campbell, V. Bozeman, Cameo and surprise guest Bobby Brown. Jill Scott will be honored with the first-ever Lady of Soul Award, and Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds will receive the Legend Award.