Erica Wright, known by her stage name Erykah Badu, was born in Dallas on February 26, 1971. She grew up listening to '70s soul and '80s hip-hop, and drew influence from Billie Holiday. Badu made her breakthrough in 1997 with her first album, Baduizm.
Erykah Badu got her start while working as a teacher and part-time singer. In 1994, she opened for D’Angelo at a show, catching the attention of his manager, Kedar Massenburg. Badu was quickly signed to Kedar Entertainment and released Baduizm, which included the hit single “On & On.” This song became an R&B success in early 1997, helping the album climb the R&B charts. Baduizm placed her at the forefront of the neo-soul movement, earning her the nickname “Queen of Neo Soul” from critics.
In 2000, she released her highly anticipated second studio album, Mama’s Gun, and continued to produce successful albums thereafter. Erykah Badu has also collaborated with many other artists, including Robert Glasper, Tyler, The Creator, and Bonobo. Her most recent album, But You Can’t Use My Phone, was released in 2015.
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