The Queen of Neo-Soul, Erykah Badu, and subconscious alternative rapper, Common, were among the celebs who paid tribute to Nina Simone over the weekend at "A Celebration of Music in Film," a concert performance shining a spotlight on the music of the Empress of Soul herself, the New York Times reports.

Making its premiere at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, was Liz Garbus's biographical documentary "What Happened, Miss Simone?" This was a two-hour tour de force chronicling the soul singer and civil rights activist's life amidst rare concert footage and exclusive interviews with family members.

The film, which received the prestigious opening-night documentary slot at the festival, has received praise from a small coterie of critics attending the ceremony, with the New York Times stating, "So far it hasn't been the subject of talk the way earlier selections like 'Searching for Sugar Man' were, but the surprise appearance by John Legend, performing Simone covers on piano after the premiere, drew raves."

Similarly, Rolling Stone wrote of Legend's cameo, stating, "His slow-burn version of Simone's torch-song arrangement of 'Please Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood' should become a standard part of his repertoire if it isn't already."

Legend, who is having a banner year for his efforts on "Glory," the Oscar-nominated theme song of Ava DuVernay's "Selma," provided festivalgoers much conversation and fodder after the film had completed. However, it was his co-writer on that song, Common, who stole the show.

On Sunday night, Jan. 24, as part of its Music and Film series "A Celebration of Music in Film," the 2015 Sundance Film Festival sponsored a Nina Simone tribute concert, with performances by Aloe Blacc, Erykah Badu and Common, alongside Al Shackman, Simone's longtime musical director.

The Chicago-based rapper, who rose to fame from the underground hip-hop scene in the 1990s, performed his song "Misunderstood" alongside a modern dancer as he freestyled.

The alt-rapper sampled from Simone's 1964 recording "Please Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood," stating "so many people in hip-hop have" sampled the singer, "because of her voice and her power." He later followed that song up with a version of "To Be Young, Gifted and Black," also by Simone, and sampled by legendary rapper Big Daddy Kane.

Common gave a shout-out to renowned civil rights leaders, martyrs, writers and filmmakers like James Baldwin, Michael Brown and Ava DuVernay, who made it to the premier last Thursday. Illustrious director Spike Lee was also in attendance.

The rapper's famous ex-girlfriend and the First Lady of Neo-Soul, Erykah Badu, did a sultry and seductive rendition of "Feeling Good," while soul revivalist Aloe Blacc put swag in "I Put a Spell on You" and gave a surprisingly poignant "Strange Fruit." Performances at the event also included Kate Davis and Andra Day.