| Code | DS/UK/21689 |
| Name | Badu; Erykah (26 February 1971); American singer songwriter, producer and actress |
| Variations of Name | Erica Abi Wright |
| Dates | 26 February 1971 |
| Gender | Female (cisgender) |
| Place of Birth/Origin | Dallas, Texas, United States (born) |
| Relationships | Former partner of Andre 3000 (rapper), The D.O.C. (rapper) and Jay Electronica (rapper)
Mother of Seven Sirius Benjamin, Puma Sabti Curry and Mars Merkaba Thedford |
| Biography | Erykah Badu is an American singer-songwriter, record producer and actress.
Badu's career began after opening a show for D'Angelo in 1994 in Fort Worth; record label executive Kedar Massenburg was impressed with her performance and signed her to Kedar Entertainment. Her first album, Baduizm, was released in February 1997. It spawned three singles: "On & On", "Next Lifetime" and "Otherside of the Game". The album was certified triple Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
Badu has been called the queen of neo soul. Her voice has been compared to jazz singer Billie Holiday. Early in her career, Badu was recognizable for her eccentric style, which often included wearing very large and colorful headwraps. She was a core member of the Soulquarians. As an actress, she has played a number of supporting roles in movies including Blues Brothers 2000, The Cider House Rules and House of D. She also has appeared in the documentaries Before the Music Dies and The Black Power Mixtapes. |