Erykah Badu Age, Height & Biography

Erykah Badu is an American singer-songwriter who is widely known as the Queen of Neo-Soul. Born in Dallas, Texas, in 1971, she released her debut album Baduizm in 1997 and became one of the most influential voices in R&B, winning four Grammy Awards. Her music blends soul, jazz, hip-hop and funk, and she has also acted in films including The Cider House Rules.

Quick Facts

Who Is Erykah Badu?

Erykah Badu is an American singer, songwriter and actress known for her soulful voice and her eclectic style. She is often called the Queen of Neo-Soul, and her best-known songs include On & On, Bag Lady, Honey and Window Seat. She has won four Grammy Awards and has influenced a generation of R&B artists.

Badu is known for her distinctive fashion sense, her spiritual outlook and her outspoken views. She has also acted on screen, playing Rose Rose in the film The Cider House Rules in 1999, and she has worked as a doula, helping women through childbirth. She is the mother of three children, including her son Seven, whose father is the rapper Andre 3000.

Early Life & Background

Erykah Badu was born Erica Abi Wright on 26 February 1971 in Dallas, Texas. She grew up in Dallas and attended Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, where she studied dance and theatre. She later attended Grambling State University in Louisiana, where she studied theatre, before leaving to focus on music.

After leaving university, Badu returned to Dallas and began performing in the city’s music scene. She recorded a demo tape that came to the attention of the record executive Kedar Massenburg, who signed her to his label Kedar Entertainment. Her debut album, Baduizm, was released in 1997 and became a critical and commercial success.

Career

Baduizm was released in 1997 and reached the top of the R&B charts, driven by the singles On & On and Next Lifetime. The album won the Grammy Award for Best R&B Album in 1998, and On & On won the Grammy for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance. Badu became one of the leading figures of the neo-soul movement alongside artists such as D’Angelo and Maxwell.

Her second album, Mama’s Gun, arrived in 2000 and featured the hit single Bag Lady, which topped the R&B chart. She followed it with Worldwide Underground in 2003. In 2008 she released New Amerykah Part One (4th World War), led by the single Honey, and in 2010 she released New Amerykah Part Two (Return of the Ankh), featuring Window Seat.

The video for Window Seat, filmed at Dealey Plaza in Dallas in 2010, became one of the most talked-about music videos of the year. Badu has continued to record and tour, releasing the mixtape But You Caint Use My Phone in 2015 and performing at festivals around the world. She has also worked in film, appearing in The Cider House Rules in 1999 as Rose Rose and in House of D in 2004, and she remains a respected voice in music and culture.

Facts About Erykah Badu

• Baduizm won the Grammy Award for Best R&B Album in 1998.
• On & On won the Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance in 1998.
• The video for Window Seat was filmed at Dealey Plaza in Dallas in 2010.
• She played Rose Rose in the film The Cider House Rules in 1999.
• She attended Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Dallas.

Frequently Asked Questions