Erykah Badu

(US)
soul, jazz, hip-hop, R&B

”I got to perform. It’s in my blood,” the queen of new soul confesses. With the methods of jazz and hip-hop the stunning songstress distills a uniquely potent contemporary brew from the teachings of Bessie Smith, Billie Holiday, Nina Simone, Marvin Gaye, Curtis Mayfield and Chaka Khan. Born, raised and partly still living in Dallas, Texas, Erykah Badu conveys the experience and sisterhood of today’s Black America in a way that not only entertains, but also inspires.

Erykah debuted on stage at four beside her actress mother. At seven she wrote her first song. Her drama/dance schooling shows on stage and off stage as self-directed videos, while bringing a strong sense of dynamics to her music. Shooting to nr. 2 on the US chart her debut album Baduizm set new standards for modern soul in 1997. In a rain of awards (Grammy, Soul Train, NAACP Image, etc.) it sold million units in two months. Breaking all the rules, she made a celebrated live album next. So far she has made five albums. Being now a mother of three, Erykah makes even more socially conscious music than before. For evidence, check out her magnificent latest album New Amerykah, Part One (4th World War), which eschews all neo-soul clichés with its mind-expanding psychedelic funk. It’s sequel Part Two (The Return of The Ankh) will be out this year.