One can't forget during early January of 1997...when R&B radio begin playing this tight infectious groove of a track simply entitled "On and On". The song and the artist delivering the vocals were in total contrast to what was on R&B radio at the present time.

Then as the release date approached for her debut album...the hype and tension seemed to build. People everywhere seemed to be talking about the record. Then in February of 1997, she pulled the BIG SURPRISE...Looking back in retrospect at this artist, we know how great of a live performer she is but in 1997{one day before the release of her debut album} this was a shocking,yet pleasant kind of surprise. On a BET special Badu performed several songs from her debut record called Baduizm on the show. She won me with that live performance!!! The sista just had that vibe...that style that you couldn't resist. I mean the way she used those gorgeous eyes toward the camera..the way she moved across the studio,...the way she lit those incenses..all of it was unique and ON THE ONE. I taped that performance that night..She also did a great version of Chaka Khan and Rufus's 1978 song "Stay". Then she closed the performance out with "Next Lifetime" in which she made her exit out the studio stage door on t
he side of the stage. GREAT LIVE PERFORMANCE...and a bold,even gutsy move,especially for a new artist. Most artists in today's music setting won't even hardly deliver a song live, let alone perform a set live on the eve of the day their FIRST record is set to be released. BTW, if anyone has a copy of this performance on BET from Feb 0f 1997, give me a shoutout, I'd love to have it AGAIN{as I lost the tape I had}.

I knew this night that the next day I was going to the record store to pick up her CD. I was impressed. In fact, I was at the record store the next day waiting for the UPS dude to deliver Badu's new album...guess you can say I was anxious . Baduizm stayed in my player a substantial amount of the time that year.

Badu went on to rightfully win best new artist at the 1998 Grammy Awards and ultimately garnering critical acclaim and tons of admiration from millions of fans. OK fellas, if you was like the brotha she was describing in "Tyrone" from her great album live album in 1998, then shame on you. That album was good. Badu and her band was in fine form on that one. I particularly liked what she did with Roy Ayers song "Searchin".

Then she released in 2000 what I consider to be one of the greatest r&b records of the 21st century so far. Badu had no problem shaking off would-be skeptics with her sophomore recording Mama's Gun...a solid and amazing collection of songs running the gamut...from 70's style R&B to fusion jazz...from rock-oriented tunes like the opening track to the eccentric Billie Holiday-like "Green Eyes". She addresses the sistas in "Bag Lady" urging them to leave the baggage behind and the brothas in "Time's A Wastin"{my personal favorite track off the record}. Badu continues to stay a couple steps ahead of her peers within the R&B world. She has many imitators of her style.

What makes Erykah great to me is that with her you see the accumulation and celebration of R&B and even jazz vocal history yet she has a singularity and identity that is all her own. You get the sense that this woman has a vision for what she wants to do with her art and music. And as I said back in 1997 and 1998 I think she is gonna be "one" to look out for.


And so we await her 3rd album...

SouthernBrother aka BRO915

It took a minute for Ms. Badu to grow on me. I hated On and On when it came out, heck, I don't listen to that song now(sorry), but now I am sorry I slept on her so long. She is excellent live and I am so grateful for the song Bag Lady. When I first saw her perform it, I thought "Why is she singing about a bag lady?" By the end of the song, I was hooked on it. Very healing track. Can't wait for the next album. Hope they don't keep pushing it back.

Hip Hip! I love her! Mama's Gun was such an excellent album. She's a Pisces just like me Maybe that's why I connect with her so hard...

The 1st time I saw her video with D'Angelo "Your Precious Love"(Mr.Gaye's cover) in summer 96, I knew that she would blow the scenes.

I love the way she present her angry and honest lyrics with the hypnotic, mellow and haunting attitude-Makes you listen! I don't like it when critics say Jill Scott is the new Erykah Badu simply becoz I don't think that Jill could come up with such bald and edgy effort like Miss Wright does.

I neva really had the pleasure of witnessing her live YET! but till the day comes I'ma settle with the live set I have right now

I love Erykah. Do you know that womans eyes wow, her eyes its like looking into the soul of my Aunt(who passed on.)

Her music is so different than anything out there, its hard to put into words, I have so much respect for her. Man she has the courage to be different and not to conform to anyone elses standard of what she should be.

I love ms badu...new EP in August.

Rhondab said:

That's next month!!

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

Naw, its THIS month

29 o' July

Harlepolis said:

Nope It's now August 19.

Harlepolis said:

I heard that they pushed it back to August 19th.

chickengrease said:

Whats so GOOD about pushing an LP till aug? 1st Mary J now Erykah?,,,Thats bullshit

Oh well

Erykah's albums have been fantastic.
Can't wait to hear this next one.