Erykah Badu Biography - Artistopia Music

Erica Abi Wright (born February 26, 1971), better known by her stage name Erykah Badu is a Grammy-nominated American soul singer and songwriter, whose work encompasses elements of R&B, hip hop and jazz.allmusic ((( Erykah Badu > Biography ))) She is best known for her role in the rise of the neo soul sub-genre, and for her eccentric, cerebral musical stylings and sense of fashion.

Early in her career, Badu was recognizable for wearing very large and colorful headwraps


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. For her musical sensibilities, she has often been compared to jazz great Billie Holiday. She was a core member of the Soulquarians, and is also an actress having appeared in a number of films playing a range of supporting roles in movies such as Blues Brothers 2000, The Cider House Rules, and House of D.

Biography

Early life

Erykah Badu was born Erica Wright in South Dallas, Texas, in 1971. Her mother raised her and her brother and sister alone, since their father, William Wright, Jr., had left the family early in their lives. To provide for her family, the children's grandmother often helped in looking after them while Erykah's mother, Kollen Maria Gipson (Wright), performed as an actress in theatrical productions. Influenced by her mother, Erykah had her first taste of show business at the age of 4, singing and dancing with her mother at the Dallas Theatre Centre. By the age of 14, Erykah was free-styling for a local radio station alongside such talent as Roy Hargrove. In her early youth, she decided to change the spelling of her name from Erica to Erykah, as she firmly believed her original name to be her 'slave' name. The term 'kah' signifies the inner self, which, when translated from Arabic, means 'can do no wrong'. Badu is also an African name for the 10th born child used for the Ashanti people in GhanaErykah Badu - Brief Article - Interview | Jet | Find Articles at BNET.com. Additionally in a letter written to Erykah from her father, "Badu in Arabic means truth and light...good choice kid." Erykah Badu currently resides in NYC.

Upon graduating from Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, Badu went on to study theater at the historically Black college Grambling State University. Concentrating on music full-time, she left the university in 1993 before graduating and took on several minimum wage jobs to support herself. She taught drama and dance to children at the South Dallas Cultural Center. Working and touring with her cousin, Robert "Free" Bradford, she recorded a 19-song demo, Country Cousins, which attracted the attention of Kedar Massenburg, who set Badu up to record a duet with D'Angelo, "Your Precious Love," and eventually signed her to a record deal with Universal Records.

Music career

Baduizm, Badu's highly acclaimed debut album, was released in early 1997 and debuted at #2 on the Billboard charts. Lead single "On & On" reached #12 on the singles charts in both the U.S. and UK. Badu received notice for her introspective lyrics and jazzy, bass-heavy sound, and was hailed as one of the leading lights of the burgeoning neo soul genre. Her sophisticated style of singing drew many comparisons to Billie Holiday.Baduizm eventually went triple platinum and, along with "On & On," won Grammy Awards at the 1998 ceremonies.

During that year, Badu became involved with rapper André 3000 of OutKast, with whom she had a child, Seven, who was born in 1997. Their relationship ended sometime in the late 90s. Badu recorded her first live album, Live, while pregnant with Seven, and the release of the recording coincided with the birth to her child.Live reached #4 on the Billboard charts, selling double platinum, and spawned another R&B hit single in "Tyrone," a song chiding a selfish, cheap, and inattentive boyfriend. Badu also collaborated with the Roots (who had previously handled production duties on a number of tracks on Baduizm) on their breakthrough 1999 release, Things Fall Apart. She was featured on the song "You Got Me," co-written by Jill Scott, which hit the top 40 and won a Grammy for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group.

After taking some time off to raise her child, Badu returned in 2000 with ''Mama's Gun'', an album more organic in sound than her previous studio album, and primarily produced by the Soulquarians and noted bassist Pino 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 who found some of her lyrics hard to decipher on her initial releases. 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.

By 2000, Badu was in a romantic relationship with fellow Soulquarian Common, and "Love of My Life (An Ode to Hip-Hop)" was released as a collaboration between the two on the Brown Sugar soundtrack. "Love of My Life" hit #9 on the pop charts, topped the R&B listings, and Badu was awarded her fourth Grammy for the song in 2003.

After the release of ''Mama's Gun'' and "Love of My Life," Badu went through a period of writer's block. She hit the road throughout 2002 and much of 2003 on what she dubbed the "Frustrated Artist Tour," in search of inspiration to write and perform new material. The conclusion of the tour saw Badu head back to the studio with new material, and in September of 2003, the Worldwide Underground EP was released. More jam-oriented than any of her prior releases, Badu was quoted as saying that the release was designed to serve as one continuous groove.Worldwide Underground reached #3 on the Billboard charts and was certified gold not long after its release, and Badu received four further Grammy nominations for the EP.

After almost four years and the birth of a daughter, Puma, it was revealed in 2007 that Badu had three albums in the works over the course of 2007 and 2008. Honey, a new single produced by 9th Wonder, was leaked online in November 2007, and the new album, titled New Amerykah Part One (4th World War), was released on February 26, 2008. Part two of the album is currently slated for July 2008 release.
Erykah Badu is set to perform at the 10th annual Voodoo Experience in New Orleans the weekend before Halloween 2008.

On August 23, 2008, Badu joined the rock band My Morning Jacket on stage at their show in Dallas, Texas to perform her song "Tyrone". Her surprise appearance was met with an enthusiastic reaction from the audience.

Music style

Badu's lyrics are highly personal philosophies which throw emotional challenges in the face of the listener. She weaves unusual musical influences together creating a rich texture of sound. In many instances she references old school rappers and songs in her songs, adding a general Hip hop sensibility to her music.

Some music journalists have labeled her Nu soul or neo soul, often comparing her to Billie Holiday in lyrical delivery and grouping her with D'Angelo in musical genre. An eclectic collaborator, she has performed with artists from many different genres and backgrounds, among them roots reggae musician and singer Burning Spear.

Personal life

Badu has a son named Seven Sirius Benjamin born in 1997 with ex-partner André 3000 of OutKast fame. On July 5, 2004, Badu gave birth to a daughter, Puma Rose, in her Dallas home. The father of her second child is West Coast rapper The D.O.C. who is orignaly from Dallas, Texas. She also dated rapper Common from 2000 to around 2002. She is currently expecting her third child with boyfriend of three years - rapper Jay Electronica.

Badu divides her time between Fort Greene, Brooklyn and Dallas, Texas.

She is a vegan.

Badu also serves as an activist in South Dallas where she grew up. Her charity organization, Beautiful Love Incorporated Non Profit Development (B.L.I.N.D.) provides community-driven development for inner-city youth through music, dance, theater and visual arts.

Acting career

Badu appeared in the films Blues Brothers 2000, The Cider House Rules, House of D, Before the Music Dies, and ''Dave Chappelle's Block Party''. 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 sitcom Girlfriends.

Awards and nominations

American Music Awards

1998, Favorite Soul/R&B Album: "Baduizm"
1998, Favorite R&B/Soul or Rap New Artist (won)
2003, Video of the Year: "Love of My Life (Ode to Hip-Hop)"

BET Awards

2001, Best Female R & B Artist
2003, Best Collaboration: "Love of My Life (Ode to Hip-Hop)" feat. Common
2003, Best Female R & B Artist
2003, Video of the Year: "Love of My Life (Ode to Hip-Hop)" feat. Common (won)
2008, Video of the Year: "Honey"
2008, Best Director (won)

Black Reel Awards

2000, Best Supporting Actress: The Cider House Rules
2003, Best Film Song: "Love of My Life (Ode to Hip-Hop)" from Brown Sugar

Grammy Awards

1998, Best Female R&B Vocal Performance: "On & On" (won)
1998, Best R&B Album: "Baduizm" (won)
1998, Grammy Award for Best New Artist
1998, Best R&B Song: "On & On"
1999, Best Female R&B Vocal Performance: "Tyrone"
1999, Best R&B Album: "Live!"
2000, Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group: "You Got Me" (won)
2001, Best Female R&B Vocal Performance: "Bag Lady"
2001, Best R&B Song: "Bag Lady"
2002, Best R&B Song: "Didn't Cha Know"
2003, Best R&B Song: "Love Of My Life (An Ode To Hip Hop)" (won)
2003, Best Urban/Alternative Performance: "Love of My Life (Ode to Hip-Hop)" feat. Common
2003, Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television, or Other Visual Media: "Love of My Life (An Ode To Hip-Hop)"
2004, Best Urban/Alternative Performance: "Danger"
2004, Best Female R&B Vocal Performance: "Back in the Day"
2004, Best R&B Album: "Worldwide Underground"
2004, Best R&B Song: "Danger"
2007, Best Urban/Alternative Performance: "The Heat" feat. Sergio Mendes

Lady of Soul Awards

1997, Favorite Female Solo Single: "On & On"
1997, Favorite Female Solo Album: Baduizm
1997, Best R&B/Soul or Rap Song of the Year: "On & On"
1997, Best New R&B/Soul or Rap New Artist: "On & On"
1998, Favorite Female Solo Single: "Tyrone"
1998, Best R&B/Soul or Rap Song of the Year: "Tyrone"

MTV Video Music Awards

1997, Best Female Video: "On & On"
1997, Best R&B Video: "On & On"
2008, Best Editing in a Video: "Honey"
2008, Best Special Effects in a Video: "Honey"
2008, Best Cinematography in a Video: "Honey"
2008, Best Direction in a Video: "Honey" (won)

NAACP Image Award

1998, Outstanding Female Artist (won)

Soul Train Awards

1998, Favorite Female Soul/R&B Single: "On & On" (won)
1998, Favorite Female Soul/R&B Album: Baduizm (won)
1998, Favorite New R&B/Soul or Rap New Artist: "On & On" (won)

Discography

Baduizm (1997)
Live (1997)
''Mama's Gun (2000)
Worldwide Underground (2003)
New Amerykah Part One (4th World War) (2008)

External Links
AskMen.com - Erykah Badu
Copyright Citations
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Erykah Badu