Erykah (Erica Wright) Badu was born February 26, 1971, in Dallas. When her debut LP was released in 1997, critics hailed her as a modern-day Billie Holiday with her soulful mix of jazz, hip hop and R&B. After years of studying theater and dance in Louisiana and work as a teacher, Erykah was a part-time singer in Dallas often opening for the rap and hip hop acts coming into town.
Erykah got her first big musical break opening for D'Angelo which quickly led to a record contract. Soon Erykah could be heard on the High School High soundtrack dueting with D'Angelo on the Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrel song, "Your Precious Love." Perhaps Greg Tate's description in Vibe best sums up Erykah: "Just when we thought couldn't nobody be a black woman in pop music without being a breast-baring pop tart, a put-it-on-the-glass video ho, or a gold-digging hoochie mama, here comes Badu-on BET, no less: home of the superficial, land of the fake. Celebrating serial motherhood, Mississippi mud baths, The Color Purple, shotgun shacks, and sky-high African-village-woman geles, this earth goddess goes on and on in a voice part Ella, part sassy Sarah, part Billie, part Nina, and yet all Badu." Spin magazine stated: "Erykah Badu redefines the word diva... She's replaced attitude with sass, and her sex appeal lies within her own private sensuality."
Erykah's debut LP, Baduizm, was released to positive critical claim and commercial success on the R&B and pop charts. Erykah wrote all but one of the tracks on the LP. The success on R&B radio, critical appeal, and Erykah's fresh take on R&B music all helped the LP to get as high as #2 on the Billboard charts. Erykah's style was also seen within the innovative and story-like quality of her videos. The first single "On & On" hit the Top 40. "On & On" topped the Billboard R&B Singles chart for 2 weeks and the Billboard R&B Singles Airplay chart for 4 weeks.
Baduizm topped the Billboard R&B Albums chart for 4 weeks.
Baduizm was certified platinum and the single "On & On" was certified gold.
"Next Lifetime" topped the Billboard R&B Singles Airplay chart for 2 weeks.
Erykah went on to tour with Wu-Tang Clan and as part of the summer's Smokin' Grooves tour. On the meaning of her music, Erykah has responded: "Well, music makes you hungry,and I had to get the music out of me. I'm just a path for letting the music out. I don't know if it's righteousness or spiritualism. Music is a rebirth process and I am a midwife helping to bring it into the world. Music shouldn't be abusive, but resourceful. It was something that was given to me, but it is not to keep."
Erykah could be heard on the soundtrack for Eve's Bayou with "A Child With The Blues (Izm Mix)."
Erykah gave birth to a baby boy named Seven the same day her new LP, Live! was released in the U.S. The baby was 2 weeks early and the father is Andre Benjamin from Outkast. Erykah named her baby Seven because it is "...a divine number which cannot be divided." Her new LP, Live!, debuted in the Top 10 on the pop and R&B charts. The LP was a collection of live performances from October and new songs including "Tyrone." Erykah describes "Tyrone" as "...(not) my man... Tyrone is just the guy my boyfriend spends all his time with, and who I'm telling my man to call to help him get his stuff out of my house." "Tyrone" topped the Billboard R&B Singles Airplay chart for 6 weeks.
Live! topped the Billboard R&B Albums chart for 3 weeks. Erykah hit the Top 40 with "Tyrone." Readers and critics of Rolling Stone named Badu the Best R&B Artist of the Year. Erykah topped the Billboard Year-End Charts as the Top R&B Album Artist - Female.
By the end of the year, Erykah also took home a Billboard Music Video Award for Best New Artist Clip (R&B/Urban) ("On & On") and 4 Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards for Best New Solo Artist, Best R&B Solo Album (Baduizm), Best R&B Solo Single ("On & On"), and R&B Song of the Year ("On & On").
Erykah won an American Music Awardfor Favorite New Soul/R&B Artist and was nominated for Favorite Female Soul/R&B Artist and Favorite Soul/R&B Album. Live! was certified platinum.
Erykah appeared on the soundtrack for Hav Plenty with "Ye Yo."
More awards followed for Erykah in the form of 2 NAACP Image Awards for Outstanding Female Recording Artist and Outstanding New Recording Artist, 2 Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards for Best R&B Soul or Rap Song of the Year and Best R&B Soul Single Award (solo) (both for "Tyrone"), and 4 Soul Train Music Awards for Best New Artist, Best R&B/Soul Album - Female (Baduizm), Best R&B Soul or Rap Album (Baduizm), and Best R&B/Soul Single ("On & On").
Erykah was nominated for a Soul Train Music Award for Best R&B/Soul Album of the Year (Live!).
Erykah spent a majority of the year working on her next LP in Dallas and helped with the track "Southern Gul" which was featured on the solo LP of Rahzel (of The Roots).
Erykah was nominated for a Soul Train Lady of Soul Award for Best R&B/Soul Album: Solo (Mama's Gun). Erykah lost to Jill Scott even though the press backstage were mistakenly told the winner was Erykah.
Erykah won a Soul Train Lady of Soul Award for Best Solo Single ("Love Of My Life (An Ode To Hip Hop)") and was also honored with the 2003 Aretha Franklin 'Entertainer of the Year' Award.
Note: Song title and position links lead you to the song's Top 40 chart run (from the ARC Weekly Top 40) and LP links take you to Amazon.com for that LP (often including track listings and sound samples).
Erykah (Erica Wright) Badu was born February 26, 1971, in Dallas. When her debut LP was released in 1997, critics hailed her as a modern-day Billie Holiday with her soulful mix of jazz, hip hop and R&B. After years of studying theater and dance in Louisiana and work as a teacher, Erykah was a part-time singer in Dallas often opening for the rap and hip hop acts coming into town.
# 106 Singles Artist of the Year
# 157 Singles Artist of the Year
# 149 Singles Artist of the Year
# 143 Singles Artist of the Year
# 187 Singles Artist of the Year
