Erykah Badu Soul singer Country: USA

Biography of Erykah Badu

Erykah Badu, the soul singer, knew from a very young age that she would someday achieve success. It happened just as she thought, success came to her almost immediately: her debut album "Baduizm" topped the rhythm and blues chart and reached the second spot on the national hit parade. This unique artist with a voice of rare beauty was immediately dubbed the new Billie Holiday by journalists, a compliment she couldn't have been happier to receive.

Erika Wright, later known as Erykah Badu, was born and raised in Dallas. Her mother was an actress, and her grandmother took care of Erika's upbringing. It was her grandmother who recorded Erika's first vocal performance on a primitive home tape recorder when she was just three years old. She also taught the little girl how to use the device, although she only allowed her to record church hymns. Erika wrote her first song at the age of seven and made her stage debut in second grade, playing a mischievous boy in a school play. That was when she realized that there was nothing more interesting than being on stage. She grew up surrounded by the soul music of the 70s, artists like Chaka Khan, Stevie Wonder, and Marvin Gaye. Later, she became interested in hip-hop, constantly writing and rhyming, and performing rap under the name MC Apple. In her youth, she fell in love with jazz. Erika learned the intricacies of vocal and stage artistry at the School of Arts in Dallas and later studied theater arts at a university in Louisiana. After returning to Dallas, Erykah worked in a school but never gave up her dream of a professional music career. Together with her cousin Robert "Free" Bradford, Erykah composed and performed hip-hop songs. Their duo, ErykahFree, performed in local cafes and clubs. It was at one of these concerts that the famous D'Angelo noticed them. D'Angelo was working on his debut album and introduced them to his manager, Kedar Massenburg. Erykah's vocals charmed Kedar, and he immediately offered her a chance to record a duet with D'Angelo. Erykah found herself in a professional recording studio for the first time, and although she made several dozen takes, she thoroughly enjoyed working with D'Angelo. The cover version of Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell's song "Precious Love," recorded with D'Angelo, was intended for the soundtrack of the 1996 film "High School High." The song was well-received, and Kedar Massenburg took Erykah under his wing, securing her a solo contract with his newly created label, Kedar Entertainment.

Shortly after, Massenburg began producing Erykah Badu's debut album "Baduizm," which featured renowned bassist Ron Carter and hip-hop group The Roots. It's no wonder that with such star support, Erykah's career took off immediately. Her talent was first recognized by the army of rhythm and blues fans. The promotional single "On & On" topped the R&B/Hip-Hop chart and reached number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100. The subsequent album "Baduizm" (1997) was an instant hit, reaching number one on the rhythm and blues chart and peaking at number two on the Billboard 200. The results were more than convincing for a relatively unknown newcomer. The album was worth it. Erykah wrote all the tracks herself, showcasing her refined and direct, strong and feminine style, inspired by old school rhythm and blues. Her soulful vocals with a jazzy touch reminded listeners of her youth idols, Billie Holiday, Nina Simone, and Diana Ross. Within months, the album had sold over a million copies. Erykah Badu, capitalizing on the success of "Baduizm," embarked on an excellent concert tour, opening for famous rhythm and blues groups and Wu-Tang Clan, and eventually headlining her own shows. A live album, "Live," which showcased her stage image and captivating performances, was released before the end of 1997. Even the live recordings of the artist were in high demand, and "Live" achieved similar success to her debut album, reaching just two spots lower on the pop chart. In February 1998, Badu attended the Grammy Awards, where she won two prestigious trophies. "Baduizm" was named the best rhythm and blues album of the year, and the single "On & On" won for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance.

In the same year, Erykah Badu and her boyfriend, rapper Andre 3000 of Outkast, welcomed their son into the world. However, their relationship was short-lived, and they separated a year later. Alongside raising her son, Erykah began her acting career. She starred in the award-winning film "The Cider House Rules," based on John Irving's novel. Her second significant role in film was in "Blues Brothers 2000." Fans eagerly anticipated Erykah Badu's future discography. In 2000, she released the album "Mama's Gun," which comfortably reached number 11 on the Billboard 200 and remained on the charts for over a year. Erykah expanded her horizons, taking on the role of co-producer alongside Jay Dee. She transitioned from the 70s-inspired rhythm and blues of her upbringing to neo-soul, becoming an even more daring and mature artist with a multi-faceted vocal style. Notable jazz musicians, such as vibraphonist Roy Ayers and trumpeter Roy Hargrove, as well as Stephen Marley and ?uestlove of The Roots, assisted her in the studio. The most popular track from the album was the single "Bag Lady," which reached #6 on the charts in the US and Canada. Erykah Badu toured extensively with her new concert program, performing in major cities across the United States and participating in various festivals, including jazz festivals. Her vocal range and magnificent tone allowed her to tackle the most challenging jazz repertoire. This was evident to the 25,000 audience members at the Cape Town Jazz Festival in South Africa in March 2002. Despite the three-year gaps between releases, Erykah's work schedule never slowed down. She regularly wrote and performed songs for soundtracks, including the song "Drama" for the Martin Luther King Jr. tribute film "Living the Dream: Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King." Erykah eagerly collaborated with her peers, recording the Grammy-winning track "You Got Me" with The Roots in 1999. She also worked with Guru on the song "Plenty," recorded "Humble Mumble" for Outkast's album "Stankonia," and performed the hit "No More Trouble" for Bob Marley's tribute album "Chant Down Babylon." Erykah received her fourth Grammy Award for her collaboration with rapper Common on the song "Love of My Life," which was named the best rhythm and blues song of the year.

In 2003, Badu returned with her album "Worldwide Underground." She did not give up her previously conquered territories: the album debuted at number three on the pop chart and reached number two on the rhythm and blues chart. These 50 minutes of free, relaxed music resembled a Sunday jam session among good friends more than a meticulously prepared album. All the compositions, along with the textured and charming sound, were created by the collective Freakquency, which included Badu, James Poyser, and Rashad "Ringo" Smith. In the summer of 2003, Badu received three Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards, including the special Aretha Franklin Award for Most Exciting Artist of the Year.

In 2004, at the age of 33, Badu became a mother for the second time. She has kept the father's identity of her newborn daughter a secret.

With three albums, two children, a wealth of work, and even more plans, Erykah Badu won't have time to get bored. And it seems that we, as her audience, won't either.