It contained the heart, soul and energy of R&B the cadence and varied lyrical topics akin to hip-hop and embodied the improvisational spirit of jazz. Just like its predecessor, neo-soul had an unmistakable sound. So, for lack of a different term, I coined neo-soul.” But, in terms of marketing today, there’s the need to categorize music for consumers so they know what they’re getting. There’s nothing really new under the sun. “When you classify music, it becomes a fad, which tends to go away,” he explained in a 2002 Billboard interview. How can soul music be “new” if it had existed long before this revamped reiteration? What exactly were the similarities between soul music then, and “new” soul music during this time period? Even today, most of the artists categorized under the sub-genre have spoken out against it, an apprehension that Massenburg had already addressed in the early 2000s as neo-soul was truly taking a hold on music. It didn’t seem to make much sense because soul music had already proved to be withstanding. But it was Badu’s Baduizm that not only stamped its validity but foreshadowed its staying power decades after its invention.ĭuring its birth, neo-soul was seen as a fleeting ploy that wouldn’t survive longer than a floppy disk. Trademarked by Kedar Massenburg - the former president of Motown Records who discovered and signed Badu to his label, Kedar Records - in the late ‘90s, neo-soul was created as a promotional tool amid the rising success of artists like Maxwell, Lauryn Hill, and D’Angelo (who was managed by Massenburg), whose debut album Brown Sugar solidified the sub-genre. Mysterious yet inviting, Badu properly introduced herself on her debut album Baduizm, a project that beautifully blended enigmatic cerebral lyrics, subtle jazz intonations, and hip-hop sensibilities to create something that modernized soul music in a refreshing way, helping give birth to the sub-genre neo-soul. Adorned in tall head wraps, kemetic jewelry and distinctive African-inspired garb, Badu stood out aesthetically and musically from her contemporaries. With perfectly coiffed tresses and stylish ensembles from luxury fashion designers, the standard would soon be met with its celestial antithesis, brought about by a petite young lady from Dallas, Texas, who would become known as Erykah Badu. Blige, and the striking vocal prowess that leapt from the likes of Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey. The year is 1997, and the leading women in R&B were in two lanes: the heart-wrenching musings of the around the way girl in the key of Faith Evans and Mary J. Photo Credit: Ebet Roberts/Redferns Erykah Badu’s Baduizm not only stamped neo-soul’s validity but foreshadowed its staying power decades after its invention. Along with fellow contemporary albums such as D'Angelo's Brown Sugar (1995) and Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite (1996), Baduizm 's success helped establish Badu as one of the leading artists in the neo-soul genre and is one of the albums credited with contributing to the genre's commercial visibility at the time.Erykah Badu's inaugural body of work, Baduizm, took key ingredients from inspired genres and concocted a sound that was yet to be produced. The album received many accolades including winning awards for "On & On" and a Grammy Award for Best R&B Album at the 40th Grammy Awards. The album was certified three times platinum by Recording Industry Association of America, Gold by British Phonographic Industry and Gold by the Canadian Recording Industry Association.īaduizm was promoted with the release of four singles: "On & On", "Next Lifetime", "Otherside of the Game", and "Apple Tree". Baduizm was a commercial success debuting at number two on the US Billboard charts and number one on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. Recording sessions for the album took place from January to October 1996 in New York City, Philadelphia, and Dallas.īaduizm was met with positive reviews from music critics who praised the album's musical style and Badu's artistic vision other critics noted similarities between Badu and Billie Holiday.
He set Badu up to record a duet with D'Angelo, "Your Precious Love," and eventually signed her to a record deal with Universal Records. Baduizm is the debut album by American singer and songwriter Erykah Badu, released on Februby Kedar Records.After leaving university in order to concentrate on music full-time, Badu then began touring with her cousin, Robert "Free" Bradford, and recorded a 19-song demo, Country Cousins, which attracted the attention of Kedar Massenburg.
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