Shows

Now like most black kids, my mom is in love with Miss Erykah Badu.  I have vivid memories sitting in the car and laughing at the duet of my mom singing, “you better call tyronee” along with the radio.  But seeing as how I’m not a middle aged black women, the reason that I’m dedicating my time to a post about Erykah Badu goes a little deeper than just poofy afros and afrocentricity.  Don’t get me wrong, that’s all dope, but my true love for Erykah Badu is for her ability to combine being supernaturally philosophical, naturally black, and bafflingly poetic all over some of the most ineffably beautiful soul/jazz/pop/hip-hop/African/funk/pop/expirimental fusions I’ve ever heard (with some LSD induced imagery).  That’s the Erykah Badu genre of music.   That’s Neo-soul.

I didn’t become an avid Badu head until I took the time to really listen to “On & On” off of her Baduizm album. The song embodies Erykah Badu’s essence as an artist, with small jewels of knowledge dropped all throughout the song:

You rush into destruction ’cause you don’t have nothin’ left

The mothership can’t save you so your ass is goin’ get it

If we were made in his image then call us by our names

Most intellects do not believe in god, but they fear us just the same

It’s the provocative open-endedness that I love most about the short poems that she sprinkles throughout this song. Overlooking lyrics in a song is easy, especially when someone is singing them, but you are really missing the dopeness of Erykah Badu’s music if you don’t focus on what she’s actually saying.

I can listen to every Erykah Badu album on repeat for multiple hours on end.  Her 2010 gem, New Amerykah Part Two (Return Of The Ankh) is just as experimental, thought provoking, and soulfully smooth as 1997’s Baduizm or 2000’s Mama’s Gun. With six consistently dope Neo-Soul masterpieces you really can’t go wrong wherever you start your listening journey with Erykah Badu.  I’m posting some of my favorite songs from her entire catalogue, but I would really advise you listen to an album from beginning to end, you’ll understand why when you do.

On & On – Erykah Badu

…& On – Erykah Badu

The Healer – Erykah Badu

Woo – Erykah Badu

Window Seat – Erykah Badu

Apple Tree – Erykah Badu

Fall In Love (Your Funeral) – Erykah Badu

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