The album ’s production used bass-heavy hip-hop beats in a way that, in 1997, was startling and new. Badu ’s virtuoso vocals reminded jazz listeners of the tragic vocalist Billie Holiday, not only because of a strong surface resemblance but also in the way Badu seemed deadly serious and mature beyond her years. Industry excitement over the innovative young newcomer grew, fueled by a video for “On and On ” and the release of her Baduizm album in early 1997.īaduizm was a sensation. “And man, when I heard it banging out of somebody ’s car going down the street that same night, I knew I had something, ” he later told the Atlanta Constitution. Massenburg ’s next step was to pass out 1,000 copies of Badu ’sdebutsingle, “On and On, ” atthe 1996SoulTrain Music Awards. Massenburg signed Badu, as a solo act, to his Kedar Entertainment label in 1995. They lookedas though they were hypnotized, ” Massenburg told Essence magazine. “It wasn ’t so much the music, but more her presence and the way she commanded the audiences. Have to be a really good businesswoman, ” she told Ebony.īadu ’s big break occurred when R&B executive Kedar Massenburg, who also launched the career of D ’Angelo, met Badu and noted the strength of her personality. Booking agent- William Morris Agency, 1325 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10019.
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Performed with cousin Robert “Free ” Bradford in duo Crykah Free, early 1990s Erykah Free opened for touring rap acts, early 1990s signed to Kedar Entertainment label, 1995 released Baduizm, debut CD, 1997 released Live! CD, 1997 appeared on soundtrack of film “Eve ’s ” Bayou/ ” 1998.Īwards: Two Grammy awards, four Soul Train Awards two NAACP Image Awards, and one American Music Award in 1998, for Baduizm.Īddresses: Label -Kedar Entertainment, 1755 Broadway, 7th floor, New York, NY 10019. 1971 daugh ter of KolteenWright changed first name to Erykah in high school changed last name to Badu in college, Education: Attended Grambllng State University in Louisiana studied theater.Ĭareer: Hip-hop/soul/jazz vocalist, songwriter, producer, and video director. Mixing abundant creativity and an astute understanding of the music business, “I learned that in order to be a successful entertainer, you At a Glance …īorn Erica Wright in Dallas, Taxas, ca. She remained determined and, by the early 1990s, Erykah Free was the opening act for some of the big hip-hop acts of the day, such as Wu-Tang Clan, A Tribe Called Quest, and Mobb Deep. Initially, they struggled to find success in the music business and Badu had to take work as a waitress and as a hostess at Dallas ’s Steve Harvey comedy club. She has also had formal training as a dancer.īadu and her cousin, Robert “Free ” Bradford, formed a duo called Erykah Free and performed at progressive nightspots around Dallas. Badu performed in community theater in Dallas during her school years and majored in theater at Louisiana ’s Grambling State University before dropping out to pursue music. She made her own clothes while in grade school, and her mother encouraged the drawings, poems, letters, and writings that filled her daughter ’s school notebooks. Artistic Activities in Youthīadu ’s unusual creativity was evident at a young age. Badu respelled her first name in high school, and in college took the name Badu, which means “giver of truth and light ” in Arabic. ”Her given name, which she has called her “slave ” name, ” was Erica Wright. Badu told USA Today that she fell in love with the music of Stevie Wonder “at maybe age two. She was raised by her mother Kolleen Wright and her grandmother on the city ’s rough south side. ”īorn around 1971 in Dallas, Badu was the oldest of three children. “Sometimes, ” she told People when the magazine named her one of 1998 ’s “50 Most Beautiful People ”of the year, “I do feel quite Queen Nefertiti-ish. Both romantic and a bit intellectual, Badu is steeped in African American spirituality, and exudes it in her personal presence. An original artist, she composed and performed a fusion of soul, hip-hop, and jazz. Erykah Badu was a breakout star of 1997, selling over two million copies of her debut album, Baduizm. Her trademark African head wraps helped inspire a vogue for African clothing in the late 1990s, and her music seemed to carry layers of African American experience, wrapped up and elegantly presented with the latest hip-hop beats.