Badu! Badu! Badu! A Rare Artist, A Pioneer...

photos courtesy of Wikipedia

Two weeks ago I posted an entry about one of my favorite artists, Jay-Z. This week will focus on another favorite of mine, one of the pioneers in the rise of the Neo-soul movement. With her eccentric musical style, cerebral lyrics, and sense of fashion, ladies and gentleman, I introduce Erica Abi Wright, a.k.a. Erykah Badu.

Badu is a Grammy Award-winning artist who has been compared to the likes of Billie Holiday, who was a pioneer in her own right. Erykah blends unique musical ingredients to create rich textured sounds. On top of that, her intensely personal lyrics often challenge her audience emotionally. I must say, I love her!!!

Speaking of musical ingredients, a pinch or two of an old school sample is sometimes necessary. Today, I’m going to share with you the pinches of old school that helped spice up two Badu tracks. Ok, we’re going to start with the Worldwide Underground album (2003), the “Love of My Life Worldwide” track, which features Bahamadia, Queen Latifah, and Angie Stone. This track is technically a remix of Badu’s Grammy-winning cut with Common, but it’s also a blended remake of the track “Funk You Up” (1979) by The Sequence; Angie Stone was the original “Angie B.” of the group The Sequence. “Funk You Up” was the first rap record released by a female group, hence the choice of Latifah, Bahamadia, and Stone. Badu’s remake rollicks just as the original track, stimulating the memories of when hip-hop was all about the party and having a good time. Remember those times?? Where did they go??

Five years after the release of Worldwide Underground, the long awaited album finally arrived in 2008, New Amerykah Part One (4th World War). I love every single album she has released, but New Amerykah, in its grandeur, is ambitious in its sociopolitical lyrics and its experimentation with atmospheric electro beats, and minor-key melodies. “Honey” was the first single released from what is Badu’s fifth studio album. If you listen closely you will find that Erykah’s bass pounding, sultry retro-funk track has a hint of Nancy Wilson’s “I’m In Love” (1978). Personally, I have the taste for both tracks; it just depends on the day and my palette. FYI, Nancy Wilson has over 70+ albums and 3 Grammy Awards, to date. A singer of pop, jazz, blues, and cabaret, in addition to acting, she is often labeled as “the complete entertainer.”

For those who are not familiar with Erykah Badu, please, please, I urge you to take a moment and listen. Listen to any album, any track. If you need help choosing where to start, contact me. I’ll help guide you. Before you know it, you’ll be a die-hard fan as I am. I also urge you to bask in the sounds of the aforementioned artists, Nancy Wilson, Queen Latifah, Bahamadia (who is one of the greatest female MCs), and Angie Stone.


**check out the playlist below for original/sample tracks

Erykah Badu