Erykah Badu (born Erica Abi Wright on February 26, 1971 in Dallas, Texas) is an American R&B/hip hop artist whose work crosses over into jazz. She is best known for her singles “You Got Me,” her collaboration with The Roots, as well as her own songs “Tyrone”, “Love of My Life”, “On & On”, and “Bag Lady.” Her lyrics are highly personal urban philosophy which throw emotional challenges in the face of the listener. She weaves unusual musical influences together creating a rich texture of sound.

Some musi... (+) expand

Erykah Badu (born Erica Abi Wright on February 26, 1971 in Dallas, Texas) is an American R&B/hip hop artist whose work crosses over into jazz. She is best known for her singles “You Got Me,” her collaboration with The Roots, as well as her own songs “Tyrone”, “Love of My Life”, “On & On”, and “Bag Lady.” Her lyrics are highly personal urban philosophy which throw emotional challenges in the face of the listener. She weaves unusual musical influences together creating a rich texture of sound.

Some music journalists have labeled her Nu soul, nouvelle-soul or neo soul, often comparing her to Billie Holiday in lyrical delivery and grouping her with Maxwell and D’Angelo in musical genre. She has performed with roots rock reggae musician and singer Burning Spear.

Trivia: Has a son named Seven with OutKast’s Andre 3000. The Outkast hit single “Ms. Jackson”(2000) actually adresses Erykah’s mother.
On July 5, 2004, Badu gave birth to a daughter, Puma, in her Dallas home; the father is reportedly rapper The D.O.C.

1997: Baduizm
1997: Live
2000: Mama’s Gun
2003: Worldwide Underground
2008: Badu
2008: New Amerykah Pt.1: (4th World War)
2008: New Amerykah Pt.2: (The Return of the Ankh) [Upcoming July]
2008: Mama’s Deuce Deuce [Upcoming Soon]
2008: Lowdown Loretta Brown [Upcoming Soon] (-) collapse