Erykah Badu

As fearless as she is unpredictable, Erykah Badu is one of American music’s true originals.

Indeed, no one could have predicted just how unique her trajectory would be when the singer and songwriter—born Erica Wright, in Dallas, in 1971—first became a leading light of the neo-soul movement alongside friends like D’Angelo and The Roots with the 1997 release of her first hit single, “On & On,” and Baduizm, her impossibly cool full-length debut.

While Badu’s deft and playful vocal delivery garnered early comparisons with Billie Holiday, her creative vision proved to be much broader than the slinky, coffee-bar-ready jazz and soul of her early releases.