Erykah Badu

GaK1...9uoj

4 Feb 2024

Erykah Badu

Erica Abi Wright, known professionally as Erykah Badu, is an American singer and songwriter. Badu rose to prominence in the late 1990s when her debut album Baduizm placed her at the forefront of the neo soul movement, earning her the nickname "Queen of Neo Soul" by music critics.

Badu's career began after she opened a show for D'Angelo in 1994 in Fort Worth, leading to record label executive Kedar Massenburg signing her to Kedar Entertainment. Her first album, Baduizm, was released in February 1997. It spawned four singles: "On & On", "Appletree", "Next Lifetime", and "Otherside of the Game". The album was certified triple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Her first live album, Live, was released in November 1997 and was certified double platinum by the RIAA.

Her second studio album, Mama's Gun, was released in 2000. It spawned three singles: "Bag Lady", which became her first top 10 single on the Billboard Hot 100 peaking at #6, "Didn't Cha Know?" and "Cleva". The album was certified platinum by the RIAA. Badu's third album, Worldwide Underground, was released in 2003. It generated three singles: "Love of My Life (An Ode to Hip-Hop)", "Danger", and "Back in the Day (Puff)", with the first becoming her second song to reach the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at #9. The album was certified gold by the RIAA. Badu's fourth album, New Amerykah Part One, was released in 2008. It spawned two singles: "Honey" and "Soldier". New Amerykah Part Two was released in 2010 and fared well both critically and commercially. It contained the album's lead single "Window Seat", which led to controversy.

Badu's voice has been compared to jazz singer Billie Holiday. Early in her career, Badu was recognizable for her eccentric style, which often included wearing very large and colorful headwraps. She was a core member of the Soulquarians. As an actress, she has played a number of supporting roles in movies including Blues Brothers 2000, The Cider House Rules, and House of D. She also has appeared in the documentaries Before the Music Dies and The Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975.

Born in Dallas, Badu's journey began with her mother raising her, her brother Eevin, and her sister after separating from their father, William Wright Jr. Both maternal and paternal grandmothers played active roles in caring for the children. At the tender age of four, Badu made her initial foray into show business, singing and dancing at the Dallas Theater Center and The Black Academy of Arts and Letters (TBAAL). Under the guidance of her godmother, Gwen Hargrove, and TBAAL founder Curtis King, she honed her talents.

At 14, Badu showcased her freestyling skills on a local radio station alongside talents like Roy Hargrove. During her youth, she made a significant decision to alter the spelling of her first name, believing "Erykah" to be a more authentic representation and distancing herself from what she considered a "slave name." The addition of "kah" held personal significance, symbolizing her inner self. Choosing "Badu" as her surname, she was drawn to the jazz scat sound, and, in Ghana's Akan culture, it denoted the 10th-born child.

After graduating from Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, Badu pursued theater at Grambling State University, a historically black institution. However, in 1993, she departed before completing her degree to fully focus on music. Juggling multiple minimum-wage jobs to sustain herself, Badu taught drama and dance to children at the South Dallas Cultural Center. Collaborating with her cousin, Robert "Free" Bradford, she recorded a 19-song demo titled "Country Cousins," catching the attention of Kedar Massenburg. This led to a duet with D'Angelo, "Your Precious Love," and ultimately a record deal with Universal Records.

Badu's debut album, Baduizm, emerged in early 1997 to both critical acclaim and commercial success. It debuted at number two on the Billboard charts and secured the top spot on the US Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. This triumph solidified Badu as one of the foremost artists within the emerging neo soul genre. Her unique vocal style drew frequent comparisons to the legendary Billie Holiday. Baduizm earned triple platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America, as well as gold certifications from the British Phonographic Industry and the Canadian Recording Industry Association.

The album spawned four singles, with the lead single "On & On" hitting the airwaves in December 1996. "On & On" soared to number 12 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and UK Singles Charts, also making waves in New Zealand. Baduizm's success translated into Grammy Awards recognition, with "On & On" winning Best Female R&B Vocal Performance and the album clinching Best R&B Album honors at the prestigious ceremony.

Badu ventured into live recording while pregnant with Seven, her child, resulting in her first live album, Live. Released on November 18, 1997, the album ascended to number four on the US Billboard 200 and secured the top spot on the US Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. Live attained double platinum certification from the RIAA, signifying shipments of over two million copies. The album's lead single, "Tyrone," dropped in October 1997, becoming yet another R&B hit. With its lyrics addressing a selfish and inattentive partner, "Tyrone" struck a chord with audiences.

In addition to her solo work, Badu collaborated with the Roots on their breakthrough 1999 album, Things Fall Apart. Their joint track, "You Got Me," featuring American rapper Eve, peaked at 39 in the US and 31 in the UK. Co-written by Jill Scott, the song earned The Roots and Badu a Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group in 1999.