She is best known for her singles You Got Me her collaboration with The Roots, as well as her own songs Tyrone, Love of My Life, On & On, Bag Lady, The Healer, Honey and Soldier. Her lyrics are highly personal urban philosophy which throw emotional challenges in the face of the listener. She weaves unusual musical influences together creating a rich texture of sound.
Some music journalists have labeled her Nu soul, nouvelle-soul or neo soul, often comparing her to Billie Holiday in lyrical delivery and grouping her with Maxwell and D'Angelo in musical genre.
Baduizm, Badu's highly acclaimed debut album, was released in early 1997 and debuted at #2 on the Billboard charts. Lead single On & On reached #12 on the singles charts in both the U.S. and UK. Badu received notice for her introspective lyrics and jazzy, bass-heavy sound, and was hailed as one of the leading lights of the burgeoning neo soul genre. Her sophisticated style of singing drew many comparisons to Billie Holiday. Baduizm eventually went triple platinum and, along with On & On, won Grammy Awards at the 1998 ceremonies.
During that year, Badu became involved with rapper André 3000 of OutKast, with whom she had a child, Seven, who was born in 1997. Their relationship ended sometime in the late 90s. Badu recorded her first live album, Live, while pregnant with Seven, and the release of the recording coincided with the birth to her child. Live reached #4 on the Billboard charts, selling double platinum, and spawned another R&B hit single in Tyrone a song chiding a selfish, cheap, and inattentive boyfriend. Badu also collaborated with The Roots (who had previously handled production duties on a number of tracks on Baduizm) on their breakthrough 1999 release, Things Fall Apart. She was featured on the song You Got Me co-written by Jill Scott, which hit the top 40 and won a Grammy for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group.
After taking some time off to raise her child, Badu returned in 2000 with Mama's Gun, an album more organic in sound than her previous studio album, and primarily produced by the Soulquarians and noted bassist Pino Palladino. A remix of one of the album's songs, Bag Lady was issued as the first single and topped the R&B charts for seven weeks. The album was well-received, with the lyrical content winning notices from many publications who found some of her lyrics hard to decipher on her initial releases. Despite not charting as high as her first two albums, Mama's Gun was another platinum-selling success, and Bag Lady was nominated for a Grammy.
By 2000, Badu was in a romantic relationship with fellow Soulquarian Common, and Love of My Life (An Ode to Hip-Hop) was released as a collaboration between the two on the Brown Sugar soundtrack. Love of My Life hit #9 on the pop charts, topped the R&B listings, and Badu was awarded her fourth Grammy for the song in 2003.
After the release of Mama's Gun and Love of My Life, Badu went through a period of writer's block. She hit the road throughout 2002 and much of 2003 on what she dubbed the "Frustrated Artist Tour," in search of inspiration to write and perform new material. The conclusion of the tour saw Badu head back to the studio with new material, and in September of 2003, the Worldwide Underground was released. More jam-oriented than any of her prior releases, Badu was quoted as saying that the release was designed to serve as one continuous groove. Worldwide Underground reached #3 on the Billboard charts and was certified gold not long after its release, and Badu received four further Grammy nominations for the EP.
After almost four years and the birth of a daughter, Puma, it was revealed in 2007 that Badu had three albums in the works over the course of 2007 and 2008. Honey, a new single produced by 9th Wonder, was leaked online in November 2007, and the new album, titled New Amerykah Part One (4th World War), was released on February 26, 2008.
On August 23, 2008, Badu joined the rock band My Morning Jacket on stage at their show in Dallas, Texas to perform her song Tyrone. Her surprise appearance was met with an enthusiastic reaction from the audience.
On February 1, 2009 Badu gave birth to her third child, a girl named Mars Merkaba with her boyfriend Jay Electronica.
Her album New Amerykah Part Two (Return of the Ankh) was released on March 30, 2010.
Appletree
Erykah Badu Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I have some food in my bag for you
Not that edible food, the food you eat?
No, I have some food for thought
Since knowledge is infinite it has infinitely fell on me
So uhm
It was a stormy night
And I was hangin' out wit some of my "artsy" friends
Ooh wee ooh wee ooh
The night was long the night went on
People coolin' out until the break of dawn
Incense was burnin' so I'm feelin' right, aight
See I picks my friends like I pick my fruit
And Granny told me that when I was only a youth
I don't go 'round trying to be what I'm not
I don't waste my time trying ta get what you got
I work at pleasin' me cause I can't please you
And that's why I do what I do
My soul flies free like a willow tree
Doo wee doo wee do wee
And if you don't want to be down with me
You don't want to pick from my apple tree
And if you don't want to be down with me
Then you don't want to pick from my apple tree
And if you don't want to be down with me
Then you don't want to pick from my apple tree
And if you don't want to be down with me
You just don't want to be down
I have a ho
And I take it everywhere I go
'Cause I'm planting seeds
So I reaps What I sow ya know
Oh on and on and on and on
My cipher keeps movin' like a rollin' stone
I can't control the soul flowin' in me
Ooh wee
See I picks my friends like I pick my fruit
And Granny told me that when I was only a youth
I don't walk around trying to be what I'm not
I don't waste my time trying ta get what you got
I work at pleasin' me 'cause I can't please you
And that's why I do what I do
My soul flies free like a willow tree
Doo wee doo wee do wee
And if you don't want to be down with me
You don't want to pick from my apple tree
And if you don't want to be down with me
Then you don't want to pick from my apple tree
And if you don't want to be down with me
Then you don't want to pick from my apple tree
And if you don't want to be down with me
You just don't want to be down
Oh my, my, my
Oh my, my, my
Oh my, my, my, ah
Oh my, my, my, my, my, my, my
Oh
I picks my friends like I pick my fruit
And Granny told me that when I was only a youth
I don't walk around trying to be what I'm not
I don't waste my time trying ta get what you got
I work at pleasin' me 'cause I can't please you
And that's why I do what I do
My soul flies free like a willow tree
Doo wee doo wee do wee
And if you don't want to be down with me
You don't want to pick from my apple tree
And if you don't want to be down with me
You dum dum diddy
And if you don't want to be down with me
You don't want to pick from my apple tree
And if you don't want to be down with me
You just don't want to be down
You just don't want to be down
Oh you just don't want to be down
Down, down, down
You just don't want to be down
Oh
You just don't want to be down
Down, down, down, down, down, down, down, down, down
In Appletree, Erykah Badu talks about her personal philosophy of choosing friends and relationships. She compares her selection of people to the way she chooses the fruit she eats. She does not try to be anything she is not or waste her time trying to get what others have. This is because Erykah is not bothered about pleasing others since it's impossible, so she focuses on pleasing herself. The apple tree is a metaphor for personal growth and development, and she invites people to be part of her growth.
In the second verse, Badu says that she has a "ho," which is a garden tool used for moving soil. She takes this tool with her everywhere so she can plant the seeds to reap what she has sown. This means that she is always creating new opportunities for personal growth and development. She states that her soul is constantly flowing and she can't control it because it's a natural process that brings change.
Appletree is an introspective song about Badu's personal growth and development. It encourages people to be comfortable with who they are and not to try to be something they are not. It emphasizes the importance of personal growth and development as a key ingredient to inner peace and happiness.
Line by Line Meaning
I'd like to dedicate this to all of the Creator's righteous children
I want to share some valuable thoughts with those who follow the righteous path set forth by the Creator
I have some food in my bag for you
I have some important and insightful ideas to share with you
Not that edible food, the food you eat?
No, not literal food that you consume, but mental nourishment - thoughts that you can use to grow and thrive
No, I have some food for thought
I have some ideas and perspectives that can enrich your mind and consciousness
Since knowledge is infinite it has infinitely fell on me
I strive to learn and grow every day, knowing that knowledge is an endless journey that never stops
So uhm
Let's get to it
It was a stormy night
The setting was ominous and intense
You know the kind where the lightning strike
A night full of unpredictable events and potentially dangerous situations
And I was hangin' out wit some of my 'artsy' friends
I was spending time with my creative and expressive companions
Ooh wee ooh wee ooh
An expression of excitement or amusement
The night was long the night went on
The night seemed to go on forever
People coolin' out until the break of dawn
Everyone was relaxing and enjoying each other's company until the sunrise
Incense was burnin' so I'm feelin' right, aight
The burning of incense contributed to the overall vibe of the night and made me feel good
See I picks my friends like I pick my fruit
I am selective about who I allow into my life, just as I am careful about choosing which fruit to eat
And Granny told me that when I was only a youth
My grandmother taught me this valuable lesson at a young age
I don't go 'round trying to be what I'm not
I don't try to be someone else or pretend to be something I'm not
I don't waste my time trying ta get what you got
I don't compare myself to others or try to acquire what they have
I work at pleasin' me cause I can't please you
I focus on making myself happy, as I cannot please everyone else
And that's why I do what I do
This is my personal philosophy and approach to life
My soul flies free like a willow tree
I feel liberated and unbound, like a willow tree swaying in the wind
Doo wee doo wee do wee
A whimsical sound often associated with a carefree state of being
And if you don't want to be down with me
If you don't want to align with my values or be a part of my life
You don't want to pick from my apple tree
You won't have access to my thoughts, ideas, or insights
You dum dum diddy
A playful and lighthearted way of saying 'you don't get it'
I have a ho
I have a harmonica
And I take it everywhere I go
It's a part of my musical expression and I always have it with me
'Cause I'm planting seeds
I'm leaving my mark and sharing my ideas with others, in hopes that they too will grow and develop
So I reaps What I sow ya know
I will reap the benefits of my actions and insights, just as a farmer would reap what they sow
My cipher keeps movin' like a rollin' stone
My creative energy and expression keep flowing freely, like a rolling stone that gathers no moss
I can't control the soul flowin' in me
My creative spirit is uncontrollable and spontaneous
Oh my, my, my
An expression of surprise or awe
You just don't want to be down
You don't want to be a part of my life or share in my ideas
Down, down, down
Repetition of the word 'down' for emphasis
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Erica Wright, Robert Bradford
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind