About

- The Analog Vault // Essential Listening -

A seminal album for the neo-soul movement, Erykah Badu’s breathtaking debut LP elevated the fledgling subgenre into the mainstream, and the American singer-songwriter to universal reverence. Released in 1997, Baduizm was an instant shot in the arm for a stagnant R&B landscape, propelled by Badu’s grit-laden double-reed voice and bluesy delivery that justifiably drew comparisons to greats such as Billie Holiday and Nina Simone.

Lyrically, Baduizm was the poetic, existential and spiritual counterpoint to the slick superficiality of the contemporary status quo. Musically, Badu's organic and emotive approach was lush and laidback, harkening back to classic soul and R&B, but juxtaposing them with modern hip-hop beats. Anchored by hits such as "On & On", "Next Lifetime", "Otherside of the Game", and "Appletree" - Baduizm’s inspiring confluence of social consciousness and bewitching soul remains timeless. - The Analog Vault

“When Baduizm debuted on February 11, 1997, it was … jam-packed with concepts that spoke to a higher consciousness. Lead single “On & On,” the song that first brought her to wider public attention, makes several references to the teachings of the Five Percent Nation, a cultural movement grounded in the belief that all black people are divine. A core part of the Five-Percenter doctrine revolves around the idea of the black man as God. But Baduizm was more concerned with the empowered black woman, putting her work, relationships, family values, and quest for knowledge under the lens.

The album’s melodies and instrumentation reflected a range of influences, most notably jazz, soul, hip-hop, and R&B. Blended as they were on Baduizm, the result was branded as neo-soul, a concept attributed to record exec and D’Angelo manager William “Kedar” Massenburg. He signed Badu to her first label deal and released Baduizm on Kedar Entertainment, his imprint via Universal Records. Massenburg was already marketing D’Angelo as an alternative R&B artist when an early Badu demo landed in his lap, and “Erykah [was] a natural for me to follow that blueprint,” he boasted to Billboard.

Erykah Badu’s role in neo-soul made her a visionary of the modern soul revival, and it’s an influence that reverberates still through Janelle Monàe, Solange, D.R.A.M., and many more. But more than just representing a moment in time, Badu emerged from the neo-soul haze unscathed, with a classic debut firmly in her pocket and an unwavering drive to inspire and create. That’s what she’s here for. And she’s still fly.” – Pitchfork

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