My mom got me into Erykah Badu. I was about 7 years old when Baduizm, her 1st album, debuted. But, I can vividly remember hearing these songs. Then, Live came out not too long after that (within the same year I believe), followed by Mama's Gun in 2000. That's when my love for Erykah Badu really became real (lol)!
I remember my mom playing these albums almost everyday for a long time. I heard Erykah Badu's voice when I was getting ready for school, after school in the evening, relaxing on the weekends, just all the time! I can remember singing the songs, just knowing the words. As I got older, hearing the same songs, I began to understand what she was saying in my own ways. When she was talking about love and relationships in general, I understood it for what it meant to me years later as a 13 year old and even now as a 20 year old. Even now, having heard all of these songs for years, I pick up on things that I heard her say, but didn't understand. Recently, her song Didn't Cha Know from Mama's Gun took on a new meaning for me as I was really trying to figure out my purpose and what I wanted to do in school and life in general: "Ooh, heyy...I'm trying to decide, which way to go. I think I made a wrong turn back there somewhere." The first verse is exactly what I was feeling at the time.
The majority of her songs take me to a different place. Her songs about dealing with feeling insecure, self-discovery,social issues, and just being independent as a woman have left a lasting impression on me that I carry even to this day. I think it's safe to say that these three albums have really been influential and comforting. So comforting that when I miss my mother I can close my eyes and listen to Badu's voice and in an instant, I'm back at home!
Erykah Badu has had 3 albums since: Worldwide Underground, New Amerkah Parts 1 and 2 (4th World War and Return of the Ankh), which suprisingly, I haven't really gotten into, but I still plan to. It's just something about the 1st 3!
Now, Badu isn't the only artist my mother has introduced me to. We both enjoy artists like Jill Scott, India.Arie, Kem, Anthony Hamilton, and Chrisette Michelle. My personal favorite, of course, is Erykah Badu!
I think that's it for now...I may have to return later and add something I may have forgotten.
~LaDai
Picture Credit: http://blogs.pitch.com/wayward/2010/05/erykah_badu_at_the_midland_can.php
