Creative Writer With A Passion For Music

Black History Month: Erykah Badu

 

erykah badu

 

Highly successful, beautiful and spiritually empowering Goddess that is Erykah Badu continues her legacy of contemporary jazz, soul and R&B into our modern age. In light of Black History month, I’d like to feature this incredibly inspiring influencer among our generation. I have always been a fan of jazz and soul music, dating back to prominent blues performer Billie Holiday (whom Erykah is regularly compared to), political activist musician Nina Simone and up to as recently as the iconic Lauryn Hill. Yet there is a special attraction that draws me to Erykah Badu. She has the ability to infuse the sound of soul from the 60’s into modern R&B, and not only that, she is an impressive idol for our generation through her fearless attitude developed from elements of feminism and the strong belief that a healthy heart is a healthy mind. What a superstar!

 

Badu began her career in 1994 and has relinquished a number of eye-opening albums to the music community, and has led to four grammys and Badu being crowned “Favourite Female R&B single” for her mind-altering single On & On, followed by an award for “Favourite Female Soul/R&B artist” for her highly impressive album Baduizm. Further more in 1998 she received fourteen nominations and received eight. In addition to this, in 2003 her third album Worldwide Underground spent thirty consecutive weeks in the charts, and managed to sell a ferocious 609,000 copies. Badu, a world wide star, has worked with several other renowned artists such as Queen Latifa, Nas and Kendrick Lemar. It is undeniable Erykah has a mesmerizing gift and the world praises her. I cannot fault any of her tracks, and like many of her dedicated supporters, I have fallen in love.

 

 

Like the late Nina Simone, I truly admire Badu’s subtle technique of expressing political activism in her music. Pushing the boundaries of the neo-hip hop genre, Badu breaks away from the sex-orientated ideals that are supposed to inevitably sell, and like her preceding influencers, she uses her talent and publicity to speak out about the true issues on going in the world. The release of New Amerykah Part One (4th World War) created a huge stir in the music industry, and articulates the intricate events going on in the world which we so absently miss. The track “Soldier” is indefinitely my favoured song from the album. The tune speaks care and sentiment. Badu explores the underlying issues we face today and reminds us, “Errybody know what this songs about/Dey be trying to hide the history/But they know who we are.”

 

 

Laughably, Badu was also charged for nudity whilst filming a dubious socio-political music video “Window Seat”. Now I don’t know about you guys, but the video is the complete opposite of portraying a sexually enticing nature. It has a pro-female persona and presents a certain divinity about the controversial artist. The complex music video describes the sexual violation women have experienced in the past which has followed us wretchedly into today’s age. Of course Badu pleaded not guilty, rebelling against what society views as wrong. Erykah Badu is someone to celebrate and praise despite the technicalities that revolt against her. She rejects materialism and commercial culture, and refuses to fall victim to a sexualised society. Now that is someone to admire.