Erykah Badu

Birth Name:

Erica Abi Wright

Birth Place:

Dallas, Texas, United States

Profession

Soundtrack, Actress, Producer, Music department

Established B․L․I․N․D․, Beautiful Love Incorporated Non-Profit Development, which provides community development via music and the arts for inner-cities areas of Dallas
Studied theater at Grambling State University
Earned her love of dance after performing with the Dallas Theatre Centre alongside her mother as early as four-years-old
Quote: "[on her relationship with James Poyser] "James Poyser is my studio husband․ What I mean by that is, I don't do an album without him being present․ We are partners, production-wise․ There's no deal-breaker in that marriage․""
Quote: "[on working with James Poyser] "It's fun working with him, because he can read my mind, and I can read his․ I don't read music․ I never have․ Yet I can describe what I'm trying to hear․ He is able to bang it out․ He's able to do that․""
Released her debut album in 1997 which would debut number two on the Billboard charts
Signed with Universal Records after producer Kedar Messanburg set her up to duet with D'Angelo
Is the subject behind ex-boyfriend Andre Benjamin's Outkast song, "Mrs․ Jackson"
Named the face of Tom Ford's White Patchouli fragrance in 2008
Changed the spelling of her name from Erica Wright to Erykah, meaning 'inner-self' and Badu, the sound of her favorite jazz scat

2000Actor - Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Theatrical Motion Picture:Nominated
2000Black Reel - Theatrical - Best Supporting Actress:Winner
2000Golden Satellite Award - Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role, Drama:Nominated
2003Black Reel - Best Song:Winner
2003Grammy - Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media:Nominated
2024Tribute Award - Ensemble:Winner

Fast Facts