Erykah Badu | |
|---|---|
 Badu in 2011 | |
| Born | Erica Abi Wright (1971-02-26)February 26, 1971 (age 54) |
| Education | Booker T. Washington High School Grambling State University |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1994–present |
| Works | Discography |
| Partners |
|
| Children | 3 |
| Awards | Full list |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | |
| Instrument | Vocals |
| Labels | |
| Formerly of | |
Musical artist | |
Erica Abi Wright (born February 26, 1971),[2] known professionally asErykah Badu, is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer. Influenced byR&B,soul, andhip-hop,[2] Badu rose to prominence in the late 1990s when her debut studio albumBaduizm (1997), placed her at the forefront of theneo soul movement, earning her the nickname "Queen of Neo Soul" by music critics.
Badu's career began after opening a show forD'Angelo in 1994 inFort Worth, which led to record label executiveKedar Massenburg signing her to Kedar Entertainment.[2] Badu's first album,Baduizm, was released in February 11, 1997.[3] It spawned four singles: "On & On", "Appletree", "Next Lifetime" and "Otherside of the Game". The album was certifiedtriple platinum by theRecording Industry Association of America (RIAA).[4] Badu's first live album,Live, was released in November 1997, and contained her signature song "Tyrone" and was subsequently certified double platinum by the RIAA.[4]
Badu's second studio album,Mama's Gun, was released in 2000.[5] It spawned three singles: "Bag Lady", which became her first top 10 single on theBillboard Hot 100 peaking at #6, "Didn't Cha Know?" and "Cleva". The album was certified platinum by the RIAA.[4] Badu's third album,Worldwide Underground, was released in 2003.[6] 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 theBillboard Hot 100, peaking at #9. The album was certified gold by the RIAA.[4] Badu's fourth album,New Amerykah Part One, was released in 2008.[7] 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", whose music video sparked controversy.
Badu's voice has been compared to jazz singerBillie Holiday.[8][9][10] Early in her career, Badu was recognizable for her style, which often included wearing very large and colorfulheadwraps. She was a core member of theSoulquarians. As an actress, she has played a number of supporting roles in movies includingBlues Brothers 2000,The Cider House Rules andHouse of D. She also has appeared in the documentariesBefore the Music Dies andThe Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975.
Wright was born inDallas,Texas.[11] She was raised by her mother, an actress Kolleen Wright, along with her younger siblings: brother Eevin and sister Koryan.[11][12] Her parents separated when Erica was young.[8][12]
Badu began singing and dancing at the age of four alongside her mother. She performed at theDallas Theater Center andThe Black Academy of Arts and Letters (TBAAL) under the guidance of her godmother, Gwen Hargrove, and her uncle, TBAAL founder Curtis King.[2][11][13]
By the age of 14, Badu was freestyling for a local radio station alongside artists such asRoy Hargrove.[2] In her youth, she had decided to change the spelling of her first name fromErica to Erykah, as she believed her original name was a "slave name". The term "kah" signifies the inner self. She adopted the surname "Badu" because it is her favorite jazzscat sound.[11][14]
After graduating fromBooker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, Badu went on to study theater atGrambling State University, ahistorically black university. She left the university in 1993 before graduating, to focus more fully on music.[8][14]
She formed a bandErykah Free with her cousin, Robert "Free" Bradford, and recorded a 19-song demo,Country Cousins, which attracted the attention ofKedar Massenburg. He set Badu up to record a duet withD'Angelo, "Your Precious Love", and eventually signed her to a record deal withUniversal Records.[2][14]
Baduizm, Badu's debut album, was released in early 1997. The album met with critical and commercial success, debuting at number two on theBillboard charts and number one on the U.S.BillboardTop R&B/Hip-Hop Albums.[15][16]Baduizm's commercial and critical success helped establish Badu as one of the emerging neo soul genre's leading artists.[17] Her particular style of singing drew many comparisons toBillie Holiday.[18]Baduizm was certified three times platinum by theRecording Industry Association of America, Gold by theBritish Phonographic Industry and theCanadian Recording Industry Association.[4][19][20]
The album produced four singles; the lead single "On & On" was released in December 1996,[21] and reached number 12 on the U.S.Billboard Hot 100 charts and theUK Singles Charts, as well as making an appearance on the New Zealand charts.[22] The album and lead single also gave Badu her first nomination and win at theGrammy Awards, where "On & On" wonBest Female R&B Vocal Performance and the album wonBest R&B Album.[23][24]
Badu recorded her first live album,Live, while pregnant with Seven, and the release of the recording coincided with his birth.[25] The album was released on November 18, 1997 and reached number four on the U.S.Billboard 200[26]and number one on the U.S.BillboardTop R&B/Hip-Hop Albums.[27][28] The album was certified two times platinum by RIAA for shipments of over two million copies.[4] The album's lead single, "Tyrone", was released in October 1997 and became another R&B hit single. "Tyrone", lyrically, is a song chiding a selfish, cheap, and inattentive boyfriend.[29]Badu also collaborated withthe Roots (who had previously handled production duties on a number of tracks onBaduizm) on their breakthrough 1999 releaseThings Fall Apart. She was featured on the song "You Got Me", by The Roots and American woman rapper Eve. Co-written byJill Scott, the song peaked at 39 in the U.S. and 31 in the UK. The song went on to win The Roots and Badu aGrammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group in 1999.[30]
After taking some time off to raise her child, Badu returned in 2000 withMama's Gun. The album was characterized as more organic in sound than her previous studio album, and primarily produced by theSoulquarians and noted bassistPino Palladino. A remix of one of the album's songs, "Bag Lady", was issued as the first single and topped the R&B charts for seven weeks. The album was well-received, with the lyrical content winning notices from many publications. Reviewers found some of her lyrics hard to decipher on her initial releases.[31] The album debuted as number three on the U.S. Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums.[32] Despite not charting as high as her first two albums,Mama's Gun was another platinum-selling success, and "Bag Lady" was nominated for a Grammy Award.
By 2000, Badu was in a romantic relationship with fellowSoulquarianCommon. The two released "Love of My Life (An Ode to Hip-Hop)" as a collaboration on theBrown Sugar soundtrack. "Love of My Life" hit #9 on the pop charts, topped the R&B listings, and in 2003 Badu was awarded her fourth Grammy Award for it.[33]In 2001 Badu embarked on theMama's Gun World Tour. The tour started in North America on February 10 in Cleveland, Ohio at the Allen Theatre.[34] After the release ofMama's Gun and "Love of My Life", Badu sufferedwriter's block.[35]
On September 16, 2003, she released her third studio album,Worldwide Underground. The album was more jam-oriented than any of her prior releases, and Badu said that the album was designed to be "one continuous groove."[36] Upon its releaseWorldwide Underground met with some criticism for its loose, unconventional structure and songwriting, but the album received generally positive reviews from critics.[37]Commercially the album fared well and debuted at number three on the U.S.Billboard 200 chart in the week of October 4, 2003,[38] selling 143,561 copies in its first week.[39] Ultimately spending 11 weeks on theBillboard 200, it also entered at number two onBillboard'sTop R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and spent 30 weeks on the chart.[40] By December 2003, the album had sold 394,000 copies domestically.[41] On October 28, 2003,Worldwide Underground was certifiedgold in sales by theRecording Industry Association of America, following sales in excess of 500,000 copies in the United States.[42] According toNielsen SoundScan, the album has sold 609,000 copies in the United States.[43]
Its first single, "Love of My Life (An Ode to Hip Hop)", peaked at number nine on theBillboard Hot 100 and at number one on theHot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.[44] The second single "Danger" reached number 82 on the Hot 100 and number 27 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs,[45] while the third single "Back in the Day (Puff)" peaked at number 62 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.[46] Badu received four further Grammy nominations for the album. She also contributed toZap Mama's albumAncestry in Progress (2004), adding her vocals to the track "Bandy Bandy."Badu embarked on the "Worldwide Underground Tour" in 2004.[47] The U.S. trek kicked off February 3 in New Orleans and ran through the winter and spring with supporting actFloetry joining the tour February 5 inHouston.[48]The Roots made a special opening act appearance at the February 11 show in Los Angeles. Badu resumed the tour during the fall with additional dates in America and Europe.
In 2005, she was a judge for the 4th Annual Independent Music Awards, to support independent artists' careers. Badu co-founded theSugar Water Festival withQueen Latifah andJill Scott. The trek played to amphitheaters and arenas in the United States during the summer of 2005 and 2006. It began in 2005 as an event to bring awareness to health issues to African-American women. British duoFloetry opened shows during the 2005 run. The festival was relaunched briefly in 2006 withKelis opening the show and comedianMo'Nique hosting the festival.[49] 2006 was its final year. The festival had plans to expand into Europe and Asia, but this did not come to fruition. TheSummer Tour was a concert tour in 2006 by Badu. The tour started on June 10, in Knoxville, TN, with three shows in the U.S., and resumed in July for several shows in Europe. Badu co-headlined on dates in August withJill Scott andQueen Latifah at the Sugar Water Festival.[50]
After receiving her first computer as a Christmas gift, Badu began communicating with and receiving music from Questlove, Q-Tip and J Dilla, among others. She later began to use her laptop as a mini recording studio to construct various backing tracks for songs, which led to the album's primary recording sessions at Electric Lady Studios in New York City.[51][52]In 2007 Badu was said to have three albums in the works for release during 2007 and 2008. "Honey", a new single produced by9th Wonder, was leaked online in November 2007. The fourth studio album,New Amerykah Part One, was released byUniversal Motown Records,[53] in the United States on February 26, 2008, Badu's 37th birthday.[54] It was released in European countries on February 29,[55] in Australia and the United Kingdom on March 3,[56][57] and in Japan on March 12.[58] Both Japanese and Australian editions contain thebonus track "Real Thang".[58] The album's digital release on theiTunes Store featured the song's "Tumbling Dice Remix" as a bonus track.[59]New Amerykah Part One was also released as a doublevinyl LP on March 11,[60] and onUSB stick format.[61]
The album'slead single, "Honey", was released on December 11, 2007.[62] It reached number 88 on the USBillboard Hot 100, on which it spent three weeks.[63] The song also charted at number 22 and spent 17 weeks on theHot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.[63]Upon releaseNew Amerykah Part One (4th World War) received universal acclaim from critics.[53]In the United States, the album debuted at number two on theBillboard 200 chart, selling 125,000 copies in its first week.[64] It was Badu's best opening week since her debut albumBaduizm in 1997. It also entered at number two on theBillboardTop R&B/Hip-Hop Albums.[65]According to Nielsen Soundscan,New Amerykah Part One (4th World War) sold 359,000 copies in the United States by early 2010.[66]
Erykah Badu performed at the 10th annualVoodoo Experience in New Orleans the weekend before Halloween 2008.[67] In the United Kingdom, the album charted at number 55 on theUK Albums Chart, on which it spent one week.[68] In France, it debuted at number 49 and spent 11 weeks on theFrench Albums Chart.[69] In Switzerland, it debuted at number 10 and spent six weeks on theSwiss Albums Top 100.[55] In the Netherlands, the album entered at number 25 and spent seven weeks on theMega Album Top 100.[70] In Poland, it reached number nine and spent eight weeks on thePolish Albums Chart.[71] The album's highest international charting was number five in Sweden, where it charted for seven weeks.[55]
During 2008 and 2009, Badu embarked on two world tours.The Vortex Tour (2008) was a tour in support ofNew Amerykah Part One.[72] The U.S. tour kicked off May 4 in Detroit, MI, ending on June 15 in Albuquerque, NM.[73] The second leg of tour reached Europe on June 25, inCopenhagen, Denmark. Badu toured across Europe playing shows that included an itinerary for the month of July. Several more shows were added throughout August in the U.S. TheJam Tour was a summer music concert tour in 2009. The tour started in March; Badu played dates across North America twice and Europe, and the tour ended in Dallas, Texas on October 16. During the second U.S. leg, Badu was featured as a special guest co-headliner on hip-hop artistMos Def's "Ecstatic Tour"[74] on select September dates.[75]
"New Amerykah Part Two (Return of the Ankh)", Badu's fifth studio album, was released March 30, 2010, onUniversal Motown in the United States.[76] It was released in Japan on April 14, 2010.[77] Upon release the album was met with general acclaim from critics.[78] The album debuted at number four on the U.S.Billboard 200 chart, selling 110,000 copies in its first week.[79] It also entered at number two onBillboard'sR&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.[64] In the United Kingdom,New Amerykah Part Two (Return of the Ankh) debuted at number 56 on theUK Albums Chart and at number nine on theR&B Albums Chart.[80][81] In Canada, the album debuted at number 36 on theTop 100 and at number five on the R&B Top 50 chart.[82][83]New Amerykah Part Two achieved moderate chart success in international markets, peaking within the top 50 in several countries, including Norway, Poland, Switzerland, Sweden, and Denmark.[80]
During March 2010, Badu promoted the album through television performances onLate Night with Jimmy Fallon,The Wendy Williams Show,Chelsea Lately,Jimmy Kimmel Live!, andGood Day New York.[84] She also appeared on the April issue cover ofEQ magazine and was featured in issues ofNylon,Playboy,Rolling Stone,Entertainment Weekly,Time Out New York,Spin,Vibe,Paste, andPeople, among others.[84] Badu performed at a surprise midnight show on March 31, 2010 at theEl Rey Theatre in Los Angeles.[85]
The internet-only promotional single "Jump up in the Air (Stay There)", featuringLil Wayne andBilal, was released on Badu's official website in January 2010. RC Williams, Badu's musical director, said that a music video for the track was shot in Dallas.[86] The album's first official single, "Window Seat", was released by Badu through a downloadable link on her Twitter page.[87] The song peaked at number 16 onBillboardR&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.[40] The album's second single, "Turn Me Away (Get MuNNY)", was released March 24, 2010 by Badu as a free download online.[88][89] It spent three weeks on the R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, peaking at number 87.[40]On Wednesday, February 9, 2011,Vimeo.com released a new video for "Gone Baby, Don't Be Long", directed by Flying Lotus. The video was tweeted by Badu herself and friend and associated music actQuestlove from the Roots.[90]
On March 13, 2010,[91] Badu filmed the video for her song "Window Seat", atDealey Plaza inDallas, Texas, the site of theassassination of President John F. Kennedy. She wrote on her Twitter feed that the video "was shotguerrilla style, no crew, 1 take, no closed set, no warning, 2 min., Downtown Dallas, then ran like hell."[92] The team did not acquire permission or permits from the city. In the video, Badu shed her clothes as she walked along a Dallas sidewalk until she was nude at the site where Kennedy was shot. A shot rang out as the song ended, Badu's head jerked back, and she fell to the ground. Children with their families could be seen nearby as Badu stripped.[93] When asked about stripping nude in the presence of minors, Badu said, "I didn't think about them until I saw them, and in my mind I tried to telepathically communicate my good intent to them. That's all I could do, and I hoped they wouldn't be traumatized."[91][94]
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Badu said onThe Wanda Sykes Show on April 3, 2010, that it was not her intention to insult the memory of the late PresidentJohn F. Kennedy (JFK): "My point was grossly misunderstood all over America. JFK is one of my heroes, one of the nation's heroes. John F. Kennedy was a revolutionary; he was not afraid to butt heads with America, and I was not afraid to show America my butt-naked truth."[95]Coodie and Chike, directors of the "Window Seat" video, said they had bail money ready during filming in case Badu was arrested.[95] Badu said the video was a protest against "groupthink" and was inspired byMatt and Kim's music video "Lessons Learned." Badu has also said she has "no regrets".[91]
In 2011, Badu appeared onFlying Lotus's fourth album,Until the Quiet Comes.[96] Badu appeared on the debut album by thesupergroupRocketjuice and The Moon, which was released in March 2012[97] and the albumBlack Radio byRobert Glasper. In 2013, Badu appeared on "Treehome95" fromTyler, The Creator's third studio album,Wolf as well as on the song "Heaven for the Sinner" fromBonobo's albumThe North Borders.[98] Badu featured onJanelle Monáe's first single from her second studio album,The Electric Lady, "Q.U.E.E.N." The song premiered onSoundCloud and was made available for download purchase at the iTunes Store on April 23, 2013.[99] The song peaked at 47 on the U.S.BillboardHot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts.
In May 2013, Badu announced she was writing her next project, but not placing a time constraint on it.[100]In July 2014, Badu revealed she was still working on the album and had been recording in April in Africa where she was "laying down drum tracks". Badu also said that prior to her trip to Africa she would have meetings with her record label to set a deadline for the album.[101]Later that year Badu expanded on the album, stating she was working with producer Flying Lotus, who she met via MySpace years ago; they later met in L.A. at guitarist Steve Wilson's house.[102]
In 2015, Badu appeared on "Rememory", a song fromDonnie Trumpet & The Social Experiment's albumSurf.[103]In July 2015, Badu released a free mixtape of her favorite recordings, describing the set as "carefully and lovingly selected high frequency tones for the soul." The mixtape features mostly vintage funk, soul and jazz songs.[104]On March 26, 2015, Erykah Badu performed atThe Bomb Factory in her hometown,Dallas,Texas, for theDeep Ellum venue's grand opening. The sold-out show also featured fellow Dallas native, singer-songwriterSarah Jaffe.[105]
In early October, Badu released a remix of Drake's single "Hotline Bling",[106] and later released a mixtape,But You Caint Use My Phone, on November 27, 2015, making it available for digital download and streaming exclusively throughApple Music.[107] After one week of exclusive release oniTunes,But You Caint Use My Phone was released to other digital retailers and streaming services on December 4, 2015.[108] The mixtape was released without the knowledge of her labelUniversal, due to Badu sending the record straight to iTunes. It also marked Badu's first release under her own record label, Control Freaq.[109]But You Caint Use My Phone received generally positive reviews from critics and debuted at number 14 on theBillboard 200, selling 35,000equivalent album units in its first week.[110][111] Badu also hosted the2015,2016 and the2017 Soul Train Music Awards.[112]
Within two months of the release ofBut You Caint Use My Phone in 2016, Badu announced a follow-up mixtape titledThis $hit Too Easy was to be released; however, this mixtape hasn't surfaced. The same year, Badu released new three tracks on SoundCloud, includingTrill Friends,Thru It All andCome See Badu. On January 24, 2018, she announced a release of a new mixtape, but like the aforementioned mixtape, remains unreleased. In a publication onVulture, Badu announced she was slowly making progress on her sixth studio album.
Badu held her annual "Still Boomin'" sold-out birthday bash concert atThe Bomb Factory on February 26, 2016, marking her second performance at the venue since its grand opening 11 months earlier. The event was hosted by Badu's close friendDave Chappelle and featured a surprise appearance byAndré 3000 of the duoOutkast. Badu enlisted Dallas' local hip hop acts Zach Witness and Cameron McCloud as her supporting acts, after collaborating with Witness earlier that year at his home studio.[113][114] In 2016, Badu also starred as Turquoise in the filmThe Land. For the film, Badu also released the title trackThe Land, which featured rapper Nas.
On August 15, 2018, theNPR video seriesTiny Desk Concerts, released a new episode featuring Erykah Badu and her band performing live.[115] The same day,NPR released the What's Good with Stretch & Bobbito podcast episode featuring a fresh interview with Erykah Badu where she spoke of being a certifiedDoula, her inherited sense of humor from her mother, stand-up comedy, her avoidance of print interviews after her 2008 experience being misquoted, and Prince.[116] On November 7, while hosting NTS seriesSound of Color Badu debuted a studio recording of a previously unreleased and untitled song that has been dubbedMoney Can't Buy Me Love by fans.
On June 2, 2019, Badu teased the release of a new song which she performed live at Barcelona's Primavera Sound Festival, tentatively titledThe Work (The Way She Sees). The following day on June 3, 2019, Badu released a new single titledTempted, a cover ofTempted by Squeeze in collaboration with instrumentalistJames Poyser. This song marks her first official single sincePhone Down in 2015. In September, Badu confirmed her plans to release her sixth studio album "soon" via a comment to a fan on Instagram.
In May 2020, she featured on a single titled "Beehoove" alongsideD'Angelo on Slingbaum's vinyl-only release debut studio album,Slingbaum One. On June 19, 2020 Badu featured on the song "Lowkey" by singerTeyana Taylor. In August 2020, Badu contributed to thelive streamed recording of Bilal's EPVOYAGE-19, created remotely during theCOVID-19 lockdowns. It was released the following month with proceeds from its sales going to participating musicians in financial hardship from the pandemic.[117] In December 2022, she featured on a track titled "Yun" onRM's debut studio albumIndigo.[118]
In March 2025 during an interview withBillboard, Badu revealed she was working on a new studio album—her first in 15 years—slated to be produced solely byThe Alchemist.[119] The album is scheduled to be release soon on Badu's independent label Control FREAQ Records.[120]That same year, she appeared in the feature documentaryLilith Fair: Building a Mystery – The Untold Story, which reflects on the legacy of the all-female music festival.[121]
Badu's work draws fromR&B, 1970s soul, and 1980ship hop,[2] and became associated with theneo soul subgenre in the 1990s along with artists likeD'Angelo.[122] For her musical sensibilities, she has often been compared[8] to jazz greatBillie Holiday.[9][10] Badu's has been described as an experimental R&B singer,[123][124] and her work explores contemporary forms ofsoul andhip hop.Mama's Gun is aneo soul album, that incorporatesfunk,soul, andjazz styles.[125] The album has been viewed by critics as a women's companion to neo soul artistD'Angelo's second albumVoodoo (2000), which features a similar musical style and direction.[126][127][128]Worldwide Underground followed in the same vein as Badu's previous efforts: the album is neo-soul and prominently incorporateship hop andfunk elements, while also featuring an unconventional musical structure.New Amerykah Part One has a dense[129] stylistic amalgam that primarily incorporatesfunk,soul, andhip hop genres,[51][130][131] as well asjazz andelectronica.[132] In contrast to its predecessor,New Amerykah Part One (2008), which was digitally produced and political in tone,New Amerykah Part Two incorporatessampling and live instrumentation.[133][134]
The majority of Badu's music is greatly influenced by her beliefs of theNation of Gods and Earths and her exploration of her African heritage.[135] The songs in her albumBaduizm express her personal take on life. Her philosophy is influenced by African ideology,African-centered andFive Percent theologies, and Southern African-American folk traditions.Mama's Gun has a confessional lyrical theme, covering themes of insecurity, social issues, and personal relationships.Worldwide Underground contains minimalist songwriting concerninghip hop culture, love, ghetto life, and gang culture.[136][137][138][139]New Amerykah Part One is anesoteric concept album with sociopolitical themes and mostly downbeat subject matter,[140][141] featuring more impersonal topics and social commentary than on Badu's previous work.[54] Its subject matter deals with social concerns and struggles within the African-American community, exploring topics such asinstitutional racism, religion, poverty, urban violence, the abuse of power, complacency,cultural identity, drug addiction, andnihilism.[142][143] Badu has said that the album discusses "religion, [...] poor families, the undermining of the working class, the so-called minority",[144] Lyrically,New Amerykah Part Two is more personal than its predecessor, focusing on themes of romance and relationships.[133][134] Badu has described its sound as "very analog".[145]
Badu is inspired by "stimulating" experiences. She was also influenced greatly by her music teacher Ms. Goodman,[146] who encouraged her to take up music.[146] Badu also takes influence from her grandmother and her religious views which Erykah described as a lesson saying "When you do it, it gotta be real, or that's not it."[146]
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In 1997, Badu received twenty nominations and won three, Favorite Female Solo Single for "On & On", Favorite Female Solo Album forBaduizm and Best R&B/Soul or Rap Song of the Year for "On & On" at the Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards.[147][148] In 1998, Badu received fourteen nominations and won eight, including Favorite R&B/Soul or Rap New Artist at theAmerican Music Awards;Best Female R&B Vocal Performance for "On & On" andBest R&B Album forBaduizm at theGrammy Awards; Outstanding New Artist and Outstanding Female Artist at theNAACP Image Awards; Favorite Female Soul/R&B Single for "On & On", Favorite Female Soul/R&B Album forBaduizm and Favorite New R&B/Soul or Rap New Artist for "On & On" at theSoul Train Music Awards.[23][24][149][150][151][152]
In 2000, Badu received two nominations and won one,Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group at the Grammy Awards.[153]In 2003, Badu received twelve nominations and won two, including Video of the Year for "Love of My Life (An Ode to Hip-Hop)" at theBET Awards andBest Urban/Alternative Performance for "Love of My Life (An Ode to Hip-Hop)" at the Grammy Awards.[154][155]In 2008, Badu received eleven nominations and won two, including Best Director for "Honey" at the BET Awards and Best Direction in a Video for "Honey" at theMTV Video Music Awards. Overall, Badu has won 16 awards from 59 nominations.[156][157][158]
Although she disputes the term, Erykah Badu has been dubbed "the first lady of neo-soul" and "the queen of neo-soul".[130][159][160][161]Baduizm's commercial and critical success earned Erykah Badu popularity at the time and helped establish her as one of the emerging neo soul genre's leading artists.[17] Along withD'Angelo'sBrown Sugar (1995) andMaxwell'sUrban Hang Suite (1996), the album has been recognized by music writers for beginning neo soul's popularity and helping the genre obtain commercial visibility at the time.[162][163][164]
Erykah Badu's song"Master Teacher" popularized the expressionstay woke in the meaning of to continue to be "self-aware, questioning the dominant paradigm and striving for something better."[165] In 2023,Rolling Stone ranked Badu at number 115 on its list of the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time.[166]
Badu has also ventured into acting. She made her debut as a supporting role in the 1998 filmBlues Brothers 2000, playing Queen Mousette.[citation needed] The film gained mostly mixed to negative reviews from film critics and was considered a commercial failure.[167][168] Badu made her second appearances inThe Cider House Rules (1999), where she played the character of Rose Rose.[citation needed] The film fared well both critically and commercially,[169] with Badu receiving numerous awards and nominations including a win at the 2000Black Reel Awards for best supporting actress as well as nominations forScreen Actors Guild Awards andSatellite Awards.[citation needed]
In 2004, Badu returned to the screen playing Lady/Bernadette inHouse of D.[citation needed] Badu also had small roles inBefore the Music Dies (2005), andDave Chappelle's Block Party (2006). In 2008, she was reported to have a leading role alongsideMos Def in the upcoming indie film,Bobby Zero; the movie was not released.[170] She also appeared in scenes of the music video of Miko Marks' 2006 recording "Mama" and Common's video for "The Light," as well as making a special appearance on the sitcomGirlfriends.
In 2008, Badu became the face of fashion designerTom Ford White Patchouli fragrance. Ford, longtime friends with Badu, considered her the best choice for the campaign. "I have always considered her a true beauty ... she just fits", says Ford.[171] In late December 2013, it was announced that Badu would become the face ofGivenchy's 2014 Spring collection.[172] Badu made her New York Fashion Week debut alongside designerKerby Jean-Raymond in 2016, styling for his Pyer Moss collection titled "Double Bind." Erykah Badu and Kerby Jean-Raymond titled this collection afterGregory Bateson's ideaDouble bind. Badu called this collection a "movement" against issues including depression, racism, and hatred.[173]
Badu also remains an activist in her hometown ofSouth Dallas.[174] InNation19 Magazine Badu talked about why she set up her own charity organization, titled Beautiful Love Incorporated Non Profit Development (B.L.I.N.D. 501c3).[175] The charity was established in 1997 and aims to provide "community-driven development for inner-city youth" through the use of music, dance, theater and visual arts.[176] The organization's first endeavor was to establish a base of operations. Erykah chose to renovate and reopen the Black Forest Theater inSouth Dallas.[176]The Black Forest serves as a community center, bringing people together in order to celebrate the art and culture of south Dallas.[176]The Black Forest's stage is equipped for shows and performances, and has hosted both free and fundraising concerts by music artists including Prince,Snoop Dogg,Jill Scott,Musiq Soulchild,Dead Prez,Talib Kweli andQuestlove from The Roots.[176] All of the artists volunteered their time to help with the charity.[176]As an outreach for B.L.I.N.D., Erykah traveled to Africa in February 2003, where she worked with children affected by AIDS and poverty. Badu has also received the Key to the City of Dallas and been recognized in Philanthropy Magazine for her efforts in community service.[176]
On February 20, 2020, Badu opened an online store named Badu World Market.[177] Badu World Market features bespoke clothing, apothecary goods, musical merchandise, clothing accessories, and more. She also began selling a line of incense; one scent is named "Badu Pussy" because Badu claimed she "took lots of pairs of [her] panties, cut them up into little pieces and burned them."[178]
Badu launched her owncannabis line, That Badu, in partnership with theCookies cannabis brand in 2023.[179] She also founded a company Apple Trees in 2020 that sells cannabis-related accessories.[180]
Badu became a vegan in 2006: "Vegan food is soul food in its truest form. Soul food means to feed the soul. And to me, your soul is your intent. If your intent is pure, you are pure."[181] Badu splits her time between her hometown andFort Greene, New York.[182]
In 1996, Badu became involved with rapperAndré 3000 ofOutKast, with whom she had her first child, a son named Seven Sirius Benjamin, on November 18, 1997.[183] Their relationship ended in 1999. In late 2000, OutKast released the song "Ms. Jackson", which was inspired by André 3000's then relationship with Badu and her mother. The song reached number one onBillboard Hot 100 and would go on to win aGrammy Award.
On July 5, 2004, Badu gave birth to a daughter, Puma Sabti Curry; Puma's father isTexas-based rapperThe D.O.C. On February 1, 2009, Badu gave birth to her third child, a girl named Mars Merkaba Thedford, with her boyfriend of five years, rapperJay Electronica.[184]
For the 2014Okayplayer platform and web televisionOkayAfrica TV, Badu had her DNA tested, and genealogists researched her family ancestry. It was revealed that Badu'smitochondrial DNA traced to theBamileke people ofCameroon inCentral Africa.[185][186]
On April 2, 2010, Badu was charged withdisorderly conduct for appearing nude in Dealey Plaza in Dallas, Texas, while filming the music video for her single "Window Seat" during March, 2010. The video debuted online March 27, 2010. The video had been filmed spontaneously, without notifying Dallas government officials. Though Badu's performance had an estimated hundreds of eyewitnesses, none complained to police at the time of the incident. After the video gained attention online, theDallas Police Department actively sought witnesses and complainants.[187] Sgt. Warren Mitchell said the decision to cite Badu for a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $500 came after witness Ida Espinosa, 32, ofVernon, offered a sworn statement to police Thursday, April 1. Espinosa declined to comment to The Associated Press.[188] On April 28, 2010, Badu pleaded not guilty rather than paying the fee by mail.[187][189] On August 13, she paid the $500 ticket and began a term of six months' probation.[190]
Studio albums
Live albums
Mixtape
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | All That | Herself | Season 3, Episode 21 |
| Sesame Street | Episode: "Telly's Greetings and Goodbyes & Snuffleupagus" | ||
| One Life to Live | Two episodes – musical guest | ||
| The Chris Rock Show | Season 1, Episode 5 – musical guest | ||
| Later... with Jools Holland | Series 9, Episode 6 – musical guest | ||
| MTV Unplugged | Musical guest | ||
| Planet Groove | |||
| New York Undercover | Season 3, Episode 21 – musical guest | ||
| 1997, 2012 | Late Show with David Letterman | Musical guest | |
| 2002 | The Tonight Show with Jay Leno | ||
| Def Poetry Jam | Season 2, Episode 2 – guest poet | ||
| 2004 | Kid's Lives... Starring Erykah Badu | Video short; host | |
| Chappelle's Show | Episode: "Music Jump-Off Special" | ||
| 2005 | Tavis Smiley | ||
| The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson | Episode #65 | ||
| 2006 | September in Brooklyn: The Making of 'Block Party' | Documentary short | |
| 2008 | Ellen | ||
| 2009, 2013 | Yo Gabba Gabba! | 2 episodes | |
| 2009 | The Brian McKnight Show | ||
| 2010 | The Mo'Nique Show | ||
| The Wanda Sykes Show | Season 1, Episode 19 – musical guest | ||
| Jimmy Kimmel Live! | |||
| The Wendy Williams Show | |||
| Chelsea Lately | Musical guest | ||
| 2011 | Building the 'House of D' | Video short | |
| 2012 | Independent Lens | Season 13, Episode 14 – documentary series | |
| 2013 | Real Husbands of Hollywood | Season 2, Episode 10 | |
| Soul Power | 1 episode | ||
| 2014, 2015 | Black Dynamite | Rita Marley, Fatback Taffy | [192][193] |
| 2015 | Hand of God | April | |
| 2016–17 | Legends of Chamberlain Heights | Various characters | |
| 2017 | Desus & Mero | Herself |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Blues Brothers 2000 | Queen Moussette | |
| 1999 | The Cider House Rules | Rose Rose | Nominated —Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture |
| 2001 | Erykah Badu Live | Herself | Documentary |
| 2002 | Stars: An Oscars Party | ||
| 2003 | Dragon Tales Let's Start a Band | Herself | |
| 2004 | House of D | Lady / Bernadette | |
| 2006 | Before the Music Dies | Herself | Music documentary |
| Dave Chapelle's Block Party | |||
| 2009 | Say My Name | Documentary | |
| 2010 | Teenage Paparazzo | Documentary, uncredited | |
| 2012 | Re:Generation Music Project | Documentary | |
| Diary of a Decade: The Story of a Movement | |||
| 2013 | They Die by Dawn | Stagecoach Mary | Short |
| 2014 | What Difference Does It Make? A Film About Making Music | Herself | Music documentary |
| 2016 | The Land | Turquoise | |
| 2019 | What Men Want | Sister | |
| 2024 | The Piano Lesson | Lucille | |
| 2025 | Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery – The Untold Story[194] | Herself | Documentary film |
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Media from Commons
Quotations from Wikiquote
Data from Wikidata| Studio albums | |
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| Other albums | |
| Singles | |
| Tours | |
| Related articles | |
