A week or so ago, we shared news with you about the upcoming new album by Me’Shell Ndegeocello.

Building up anticipation even more, check out Me’Shell killing a version of Whodini’s 1984 classic “Friends.”

Me’shell certainly knows her way around a good cover version (check out her interpretations of Bill Withers’ “Who Is He And What Is He To You,” Ready For The World’s “Love You Down” and Nick Drake’s “Pink Moon” for proof,) and her version of “Friends” continues in that strong decision.

Folks don’t bring up Whodini a lot when they talk about great hip-hop groups, but those dudes dropped at least a half-dozen essential singles, and songs like “Friends” and “One Love” dropped science in addition to being great songs. The message of “Friends” is even more usable in today’s society, where the word “friend,” thanks to social networking, is dropped quite casually.

No word if a version of this will appear on Me’shell’s upcoming Comet, Come To Me, but this performance is mesmerizing.

(and while we’re on the topic of “Friends,” check out Alana Davis’s equally awesome folk-funk version.)