#JCsMusicology - Erykah Badu (1994 - 2003)

JOHN CAMERON'S MUSICOLOGY EPISODE X: Erykah Badu (96 - 03) Demo Tape Appletree Audition Precious Love Baduizm On and On/ Next Lifetime/ Otherside of The Game Live Tyronne Mama�s Gun Bag Lady/ Didn�t Cha Know/ Cleva Worldwide Underground Love of My Life/ I Want You Introduction Erykah Badu cannot be defined by anyone other than herself. Growing up in Dallas, Texas during the 1970�s and 80�s, her exposure to a broad range of genres and quality would be indicative of the sound she would eventually pursue. And that sound would be in-line with a more sophisticated fashion in pop music during the 90s. While maintaining a style that is distinctly her own, she�s managed to synthesize the best of her past and present influences into an exceptional catalogue of music and a persona powered by innate artistic inclination. In the early-mid nineties, along with her cousin Robert Bradford (AKA �Free�), the two as �Erykah Free� would create a 19-track demo tape as a showcase of her talent. Some of it would become her debut album, �Baduizm�, one of three in the holy trinity of what would be dubbed as the neo-soul genre along with Maxwell�s �Urban Hang Suite� and D�Angelo�s �Brown Sugar�. Her determinism is paralleled by her talent. Pairing traits that would eventually bookmark the beginning of her career. Demo Tape Appletree Remarkably, for a demo from an artist in her early 20s and this early in her career, it would contain such quality that in its eventual released state years later, would be a considered highlight among more refined material. When Badu and Free would collaborate, usually she would write raps to his beats, though for �Appletree�, as Erykah put it, �I just decided to write a song�. Beginning with a declaration of wisdom, Badu begins qualifying her parameters for those she surrounds herself with. An at the time young lady, asserting a beautiful allegory of alliance. While the original demos were less polished, this album version of �Appletree� retains much of its original essence. Dry, hard-snapping beats with a smooth, but pronounced bassline. Most of its melody is carried by Badu�s r�n�b/ rap/ jazz fusion vocals, with the rest of the space filled by some debonair keyboards. Audition Precious Love Erykah�s demo tape would make the rounds throughout the music industry, with Badu often travelling with it. Eventually, it caught the attention of Kedar Massenburg, who was D�Angelo�s manager at the time. She was then signed to Universal Records, where throughout 1996, �Baduizm� would be crafted. During this time, Erykah and D�Angelo would work together on a cover of the Motown classic �Precious Love�. This would the world�s first introduction to her, as it was released on the �High School High� film soundtrack, just a couple of months prior to her actual debut... Baduizm On and On The first single release from �Baduizm� would be revamped from that initial demo tape. As a debut, it�s perfect. The music is everything that would make the newly defined genre of neo-soul great and its lyrics are ones that could only be penned by Badu. From the opening lines, she's expressing exhaustion at the world around her. A symptom of the rush of information she�s about to relay. As the structure of the first verse begins, we�re greeted with the primary theme of the song. People are rewarded with their attainment of knowledge. Their wisdom is a measure of their worth, giving us all, the potential to be equal. This is reaffirmed by the second half of the verse. We�re all our own gods � if we want to be. And while higher intelligence is correlated with a likely rejection of piety, a man still fears another man, empowered or awakened by their omnipresent or self-godliness. Building upon concepts of knowledge from the first verse, she notes that those who are intelligent, question their intelligence. The more you know, the more you know there is to know. A further reaffirmation that without knowledge, the essential tool for survival, you have nothing. You�re no use to yourself. You�re no use to anyone. While there might be hints of �The 5% Nation� throughout its lyricisms, knowledge of the �Nation of Gods and Earths� arguably isn�t essential to the interpretation of these lyrics. The more Erykah Badu�s work is analyzed, the more it becomes apparent that the wisdom expressed through her music is a culmination of ideologies. Bob Power would produce the album version of �On And On�, taking it from Erykah�s original raw demo. While Badu would later express preference for her original, this version would become her first Number One on the RnB charts. Next Lifetime After her move to New York, she was introduced to DJ, �Tone The Backbone�, who would supply her with music to write to. Instead, she adapted some lyrics she had written in college, giving birth to the number one ballad �Next Lifetime�. Unlike the previous, this track is rather easy to interpret, but that�s not to downplay it�s beautiful structuring of lyrics, accentuated by another amazing vocal performance. The song may leave the listener wondering � why would she stay in her relationship if this other guy makes her feel so good. �Next Lifetime� avoids any description or specific acknowledgement of her current man almost entirely. Like most of us, our fantasies are more mellifluous than our inescapable reality. That�s what this song is about. Otherside of The Game Despite the album reaching practical completion by the end of 1996, Badu still felt there was an element of her influences missing. The most now-recognizable track to arise from those sessions, �Otherside of The Game� is another on the album centralized around a complicated relationship. The first verse is an introduction to turmoil Badu is facing. She loves her boyfriend, but is expressing doubt at continuing the relationship. The second verse elaborates on the complexity of the situation. Not only has Erykah known her boyfriend for what seems to be since college, but they�re also expecting a baby. Like any responsible parent, her concern grows as the consequences of his actions could resonate on her and the child. But what else does she have? The final verse displays a delusional resignation. A reliance of protection by god and the monetary security provided, by staying put. �Otherside of The Game� was a quick execution, with James Poyser and Badu having created the arrangement in 15 minutes. Just days later, what we hear perfected on the album was complete. �Baduizm� is the perfect debut album for any artist, let alone for someone as unique as Erykah Badu. The album would be nominated for four Grammy Awards, winning two, rose to the top of the US Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and has since been certified three times platinum in the United States. It�s part of a group of albums that would propel the neo-soul genre as something other than clever branding and established Badu as an artist who could maintain her uniqueness, while still appealing to the general public. Live Tyronne Later that year, Erykah would perform at Sony Music Studios in New York to perform her next release, �Live�. She would perform the bulk of �Baduizm� and a few covers, but there was one song that truly marked struck a chord with its listeners. �Tyrone� resonated with the audience present at the concert and those who would hear the recording once released. It was so well received, Badu would record a version of it in the studio as well. This would feature as a bonus track on the album and have a standalone single release. �Live� would reach number one on US Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and number four on Billboard�s 200 chart. The track would be played relentlessly on black radio and reach number one on RnB Airplay charts. Arguably, it�s Erykah Badu�s most renowned song. Mama�s Gun Upon the release of her sophomore album, Erykah Badu stated, �Most of the time, you don't even know your mamma have a gun. And when she pulls it out, and shows it to you, it's something serious. And the way life is to me right now, we're at a very detrimental time. Our sons and daughters are going to need something to take with them for protection. So they can put my album in they holster, or on they lap, or on they seat. It would be a better thing to have.� In November of the year 2000, the �Mama�s Gun� album was released. Bag Lady A couple of months prior, the album�s lead single �Bag Lady� would be the first preview. The song was written almost immediately after the first album was completed, when Badu says she was able to �assess life a little better�. She came to the realization that her own struggles were derived or exacerbated by the emotional baggage she was carrying � this is the underlying metaphor for �Bag Lady�. �Bag Lady� would reach number one on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks charts and number six in the Hot 100, breaking Badu into the Top 10 for the first time. It would be nominated for two Grammy Awards, marking it as a true highlight in her already colorful discography. Didn�t Cha Know The second single released from "Mama�s Gun� would be �Didn�t Cha Know�, which would also later be nominated for a Grammy Award for Best RnB Song, alongside �Bag Lady�. Requiring a producer, Erykah enlisted J Dilla in search of samples and beats, instead what she found was a teacher. The song would be built around a sample of Tarika Blue�s �Dreamflower�. Dilla would overdub rhythms to the two sampled sections of the son, with a simple drum track and bongos. The release of the song didn�t come without controversy though. Copyrights to the sample weren�t initially sought after and later a settlement fee would be payed from Badu and her record company to the rights holders of the Tarika Blue albums. This money enabled a new label to reissue Tarika Blue�s two albums, allowing a new generation to hear their music, either as the sample or in the context of the original album. J Dilla would contribute three tracks to "Mama�s Gun� and leave a profound impact on Badu and the album. A typical outcome of just about anything he contributed to. Cleva The final single released would be �Cleva�, a reaffirming anthem for the insecure. Throughout the verses, she details every stereotypically unattractive characteristic about herself, by any modern standard of beauty. With the chorus, she proclaims her most important attribute. Ultimately, the song concludes with a proclamation of her not caring about physicality. Content of character triumphs any socialized standard of external beauty. And this song celebrates that. She�s not saying she�s ugly or odious in any way, she�s just like the majority of people - imperfect, but not incomplete. With that said, as out of this world as Erykah often portrays herself, she�s still profoundly physically beautiful. The composition of this song is notable for featuring the legendary Roy Ayres on vibraphone, who would continue to collaborate with Erykah going forward. �Mama�s Gun� is a more than worthy follow-up to such a high-standard set by Baduizm. It�s a natural progression to something more musically and lyrically sophisticated, without alienating all those who loved the former. By the end of the 2000, it would be featured in several publications listed as one of the great albums of that year. While Erykah was initially disappointed by the lacking sales (compared to Baduizm), her fan�s reaction was evidence enough that something about the work had resonated significantly - which shouldn�t come as a surprise, given its quality from beginning to end. Worldwide Underground Love of My Life In 2002, Erykah would contribute a track to the Rick Famu-yiwa film, �Brown Sugar�. �Love of My Life (An Ode To Hip Hop)� featuring her then boyfriend Common. On the surface, it sounds like she�s singing about a love interest, which she is. It�s an �Ode To Hip Hop�. Badu would create another version of the track for her 2003 album �Worldwide Underground�, titled �Love of My Life Worldwide�. While the earlier iterations lyrics would more closely reflect it�s intended tribute, this newer version�s composition is definitely the tribute Hip-hop deserves. It�s a sample of �Funk You Up� by �The Sequence�, the first rap single released by a female group. Their lead singer, Angie Stone features on �Love of My Life�, along with Queen Latifa and Bahamadia. The track is completely different from the other sharing it�s title. Rather than singing, Erykah spits rhymes boasting her rap ability, and numbers, although it�s not identifiable of what they represent. An alternate version titled �Funk You Up (Love of My Life)� features an entirely different opening verse by Badu, which was only released to radio. The original would be a huge success, winning a Grammy Award for �Best RnB Song�, a Soul Train Award for Best Solo R&B/Soul Single and charting at number one on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart. I Want You In early 2003, Erykah embarked on her �Frustrated Artist Tour�, the title referring to her momentary struggle with writer's block. The shows were used as an opportunity to seek inspiration and try out new material. For the material that did eventuate, it would be compiled into �Worldwide Underground�, released in September. Danger �Danger� would be released as the lead single from �Worldwide Underground� and is a continuation of �Otherside of the Game�, even sampling it in the introduction. This time, her man has been arrested. And it seems that her previously conflicted attitudes are now solidified. She�s standing by him, her and the baby waiting for his return. Compared to its prequal, the instrumental excludes the intensity of the storyline and perhaps a change in Badu�s character. �Otherside of The Game� projected a na�ve, loving woman, questions her place in the relationship. In �Danger�, it seems apparent that she�s adopted some of her man's mentality and will do whatever it takes to protect the three of them. Even using her own �Mama�s Gun�. �Danger� may not have been the best choice as a lead single. While it�s not too far out of what critics might characterize her �range� as, its aggressive nature was perhaps too much of a shock to people�s senses or expectations. There were better choices, better songs. But that�s not to say �Worldwide Underground� is subpar to her previous work. While there is undoubtedly a noticeable change from her first two albums, many of the tracks still retain boomy rhythm sections and gorgeous vocals. Although for quite a few, the vocal delivery seems to be more in the range of her MC abilities, rather than the previously compared Billie Holiday-esqu singing. Instrumentally, the album is probably best described as one long jam session, which would make sense given much of its inception. And that�s also not to say it doesn�t have singular shining moments � there would be three singles generated from the album and there was arguably potential for more. Surmise Erykah Badu�s first three albums are classics. Although she wouldn�t release another album until 2008, why she had put out up to that point was plentiful and repayable, the latter of which making her artistry stand out at a time of disposable pop music. She�s the result of what happens when you dedicate yourself to your art. When you live it. When it flows through you like oxygen. Badu�s wisdom and life experience may be worldly, but it�s articulated in a manner that sticks with the listener, enabling them to reflect once the respective album is finished. If you listen to her lyrics, you will learn as much about Erykah Badu, as you will about yourself. And that is the criteria for great art.