Erykah Badu

Erykah Badu

Early Life and Background

Erica Abi Wright was born on February 26, 1971, in Dallas, Texas, to actress Kolleen Wright. Raised alongside her younger siblings Eevin and Koryan, Badu began singing and dancing at age four, performing at the Dallas Theater Center and The Black Academy of Arts and Letters under the guidance of her godmother Gwen Hargrove and uncle Curtis King. By age 14, she was freestyling for local radio stations alongside artists such as Roy Hargrove. Badu deliberately changed the spelling of her first name from Erica to Erykah, believing her birth name was a "slave name," while adopting the surname "Badu" from her favorite jazz scat sound. After graduating from Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, she studied theater at Grambling State University before leaving in 1993 to pursue music full-time.

Rise to Prominence

Badu's professional career began in 1994 after opening for D'Angelo in Fort Worth, leading to her discovery by record label executive Kedar Massenburg. Her debut album Baduizm, released in February 1997, immediately established her as a leading figure in the emerging neo-soul movement. The album debuted at number two on the Billboard charts and spawned four successful singles including "On & On," which reached number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100. Baduizm earned triple platinum certification and won Grammy Awards for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance and Best R&B Album. Her live album, released in November 1997, featured the signature song "Tyrone" and achieved double platinum status, cementing her status as the "Queen of Neo Soul."

Musical Evolution and Collaborations

Throughout the 2000s, Badu continued innovating within neo-soul while exploring broader musical territories. Mama's Gun (2000) featured the hit "Bag Lady," her first top 10 single on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number six. Worldwide Underground (2003) showcased her experimental approach with a jam-oriented, unconventional structure. Her collaboration with Common on "Love of My Life (An Ode to Hip-Hop)" reached number nine on the Billboard Hot 100 and earned a Grammy Award. As a core member of the Soulquarians collective, Badu collaborated with producers including Q-Tip, J Dilla, and Questlove, influencing the direction of contemporary soul and hip-hop music. New Amerykah Part One (2008) received universal critical acclaim and debuted at number two on the Billboard 200, while its successor New Amerykah Part Two (2010) continued her exploration of political and social themes.

Cultural Impact and Legacy

Beyond music, Badu's cultural influence extends through fashion, activism, and artistic expression. Her distinctive aesthetic, particularly her signature colorful headwraps, became iconic throughout the 1990s and 2000s. The "Window Seat" music video controversy in 2010, filmed nude at Dallas's Dealey Plaza, sparked national conversation about artistic freedom and protest while resulting in a disorderly conduct charge she eventually resolved. Badu has been compared to jazz legend Billie Holiday for her vocal style and emotional depth. Her song "Master Teacher" popularized the phrase "stay woke" in contemporary discourse. In 2025, Rolling Stone ranked her number 115 on its list of the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time.

Beyond Recording

Badu's contributions extend to film, fashion, and philanthropy. She has appeared in notable films including The Cider House Rules, House of D, and Dave Chappelle's Block Party. In 2008, she became the face of Tom Ford's White Patchouli fragrance, and in 2016, she made her New York Fashion Week debut with designer Kerby Jean-Raymond. A committed activist in South Dallas, Badu founded B.L.I.N.D. (Beautiful Love Incorporated Non Profit Development) in 1997, renovating the Black Forest Theater as a community center. She launched Badu World Market in 2020 and partnered with Cookies cannabis brand to launch That Badu in 2023. In March 2025, she announced work on her first studio album in 15 years with producer The Alchemist for her Control FREAQ Records label.