Erykah Badu was born Erica Abi Wright, in South Dallas, Texas.  She was drawn to performance, partially due to the influence of her actress mother.  In 1993, she began touring and performing with her cousin, Robert “Free” Bradford, and recorded a 19-song demo entitled Country Cousins.

Erykah Badu

As Erykah Badu, it has nothing to do with me, the way I look, my hair wrap, my style, it's about you and what you feel for my music. If I can make you feel like the way that people who influenced me made me feel, that's completion.

The Early Years

Erykah Badu was born Erica Abi Wright, in South Dallas, Texas.  She was drawn to performance, partially due to the influence of her actress mother.  In 1993, she began touring and performing with her cousin, Robert “Free” Bradford, and recorded a 19-song demo entitled Country Cousins. Record producer Kedar Massenburg was impressed with the demo, and arranged a duet with Erykah and R&B singer/songwriter, D'Angelo, entitled Your Precious Love.  All of this ultimately led to a recording contract with Universal Records.

Erykah's debut album, Baduizm, was released in 1997, to critical accolades.  It debuted at #2 on the Billboard charts.  Her lead single, On & On, attracted attention and earned her comparisons to Billie Holiday.  The album ultimately went triple platinum and earned her a Grammy award.

A Successful Career

Her follow-up album, released in 1997 was a live album, entitled simply Live.  The album climbed to #4 on the Billboard charts and sold double platinum.  She released the single, Tyrone, which was nominated at the 1999 Grammy Awards for Best R&B Vocal Performance.  That year, she also collaborated with In Roots on the single, You Got Me, which won a Grammy that year for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group.

After releasing her album, Mama's Gun, in 2000, she fell into a self-proclaimed writer's block and lauched a concert tour that lasted much of 2002 and 2003; she titled it the Frustrated Artist Tour.  Finally, in 2003, she released Worldwide Underground, which earned her four Grammy nominations. After taking time off with her new daughter, Erykah Badu released New Ameryka Part I (4^th World War) in 2008.  

What's Next

The follow-up to her 2008 album is expected to be released on March 30, 2010.  She is scheduled to appear on The Wendy Williams Show, Jimmy Kimmel Live, Good Day New York, The Wanda Sykes Show, The Mo'Nique Show, and a few others in late March and throughout April to promote the album.  Her single, Window Seat, from the new album can be streamed at her official website.

Touted a pioneer in the neo-soul movement, Erykah Badu has developed a solid fan base and has the accolades of music critics as well.  Her album sales are robust, and her singles are available for download on multiple music sites, giving her fans access to her music in multiple ways.

Did you know . . .

1. Erykah was pregnant for her first child, a son she named Seven, at the time that she recorded Live, and the album's release coincided with his birth.

2. Erykah Badu appeared in five films, including The Blues Brothers 2000, Cider House Rules, and The House of D.

3. In 2008, designer Tom Ford chose Erykah to be the face of his fragrance, White Patchouli.

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