Erykah Badu

Neo-soul singer/songwriter Erykah Badu has become one of the most praised artists in R&B and soul, drawing comparisons with Billie Holiday with her vocal talents. Born and raised in Dallas, Texas, Badu studied at a school of arts where she cultivated her musical abilities, growing up with a love for 70s soul and 80s hip hop. Her first break came whilst she was working as a teacher and part-time singer, when she opened for D'Angelo in 1994. Her performance caught the attention of Kedar Massenburg, who signed her to his label, Kedar Entertainment. Badu's debut album, Baduizm, arrived in 1997, finding fans with her bass-heavy R&B and her emotive, delicate vocals. Her first single, On & On, topped the R&B charts, with the album also peaking at the top spot. She returned to the studio in 2000, recording her sophomore release, Mama's Gun, scoring a hit single with Bag Lady. Badu followed this with the EP Worldwide Underground in 2003 and later pushed her sound towards a heavier, more abstract neo-soul with the New Amerykah albums in 2008 and 2010. Following these releases, Badu has featured on a number of recordings with various artists, including Bonobo, Tyler the Creator, and Flying Lotus.