The children's maternal and paternal grandmothers often helped look after them. Her mother raised her, her brother Eevin, and her sister alone after separating from their father, William Wright Jr. Early life Įrykah Badu was born Erica Abi Wright in Dallas, Texas. She also has appeared in the documentaries Before the Music Dies and The Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975. As an actress, she has played a number of supporting roles in movies including Blues Brothers 2000, The Cider House Rules and House of D. She was a core member of the Soulquarians. Early in her career, Badu was recognizable for her eccentric style, which often included wearing very large and colorful headwraps. It contained the album's lead single ' Window Seat', which led to controversy.īadu's voice has been compared to jazz singer Billie Holiday.

New Amerykah Part Two was released in 2010 and fared well both critically and commercially. It spawned two singles: ' Honey' and ' Soldier'. Badu's fourth album, New Amerykah Part One, was released in 2008. The album was certified Gold by the RIAA. It generated three singles: ' Love of My Life (An Ode to Hip-Hop)', 'Danger' and 'Back in the Day (Puff)' with 'Love' becoming her second song to reach the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at #9. Badu's third album, Worldwide Underground, was released in 2003. The album was certified Platinum by the RIAA. It spawned three singles: ' Bag Lady', which became her first top 10 single on the Billboard Hot 100 peaking at #6, ' Didn't Cha Know?' and ' Cleva'. Her second studio album, Mama's Gun, was released in 2000.

Her first live album, Live, was released in November 1997 and was certified double Platinum by the RIAA. The album was certified triple Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

It spawned four singles: ' On & On', ' Appletree', ' Next Lifetime' and ' Otherside of the Game'. Her first album, Baduizm, was released in February 1997. Influenced by R&B, soul, and hip hop, Badu rose to prominence in the late 1990s when her debut album Baduizm (1997), placed her at the forefront of the neo soul movement, earning her the honorific nickname ' Queen of Neo Soul' by music critics.īadu's career began after she opened a show for D'Angelo in 1994 in Fort Worth leading to record label executive Kedar Massenburg signing her to Kedar Entertainment. Erica Abi Wright (born February 26, 1971), known professionally as Erykah Badu ( / ˈ ɛr ɪ k ə b ɑː ˈ d uː/), is an American singer-songwriter, record producer and actress.

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