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.
Erykah Badu and Razel
Erykah Badu Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If you were worried 'bout where
I been or who I saw or
What club I went to with my homies
Baby don't worry you know that you got me
Somebody told me that this planet was small
We use to live in the same building on the same floor
Until I'm overseas on tour
And peep this ethiopian queen from philly
Taking classes abroad
She studying film and photo flash focus record
Said she workin on a flick and
Could my click do the score
She said she loved my show in paris
At Elysee Montmartre
And that I stepped off the stage
And took a piece of her heart
We knew from the start that
Things fall apart, intentions shatter
She like that shit don't matter
When I get home get at her
Through letter, phone, whatever
Let's link, let's get together
Shit you think not, think the thought went home and forgot
Time passed, we back in philly now she up in my spa
Tellin me the things I'm tellin her is makin her hot
Startin buildin' with her constantly round the clock
Now she in my world like hip-hop
And keep tellin me
[Chorus:]
Yo, I'm the type that's always catchin' a flight
And sometimes I gotta be out at the height of the night
And that's when she flip and get on some 'ol
Another lonely night
Seems like I'm on the side you only loving your mic
I know you gotta get that paper daddy keep that shit tight
But yo I need some sort of love in my life, you dig me
While politicin with my sister from New York City
She said she know this ball player and he think I'm pretty
Psych, I'm playin boo, you know it's just wit you I'm stayin boo
And when cats be poppin' game I don't hear what they sayin boo
When you out there in the world, I'm still your girl
With all my classes I don't have the time for life's thrills
So when you sweatin' on stage think of me when you rhyme
And don't be listenin' to your homies they be leavin you blind
Yeah, so what you sayin' I can trust you?
Is you crazy, you my king for real
But sometimes relationships get ill
No doubt
[Chorus:]
The snake could be that chick
And that rat could be that cool cat
That's whispering "she tryin' to play you for the fool Black"
If something's on your chest then let it be known
See I'm not your every five minutes all on the phone
And on the topic of trust, it's just a matter of fact
That people bite back and fracture what's intact
And they'll forever be I ain't on some "oh I'm a celebrity"
I deal with the real so if it's artificial let it be
I've seen people caught in love like whirlwinds
Listening to they squads and listening to girlfriends
That's exactly the point where they whole world ends
Lies come in, that's where that drama begins, she like
[Chorus:]
The lyrics of "Erykah Badu and Razel" starts with the chorus, where the singer reassures her partner that he doesn't need to worry about where she has been, who she has seen, or which club she went to with her friends because he has her loyalty. The song then tells the story of Erykah Badu meeting a woman named Razel while touring overseas. Both ladies were staying in the same building but never met until they were abroad. Razel was studying film and photography and asked Erykah if her team could score a film she was working on. Razel reveals that she fell in love with Erykah after seeing her perform in Paris. After some time passes, Razel and Erykah connect in Philly, where Razel tells her how she feels, and they begin building a relationship.
The second verse features Erykah Badu expressing her insecurities about being in a relationship with a famous rapper who is always on the road. She tells him that she needs love in her life, and he reassures her that he loves her but also needs to work hard to provide for them. Erykah then tells the story of her sister's friend, who tried to set her up with a basketball player but says she will remain faithful to her partner. The lyrics of the song's bridge touch on the danger of gossip in relationships and the importance of trust.
Line by Line Meaning
If you were worried 'bout where
I been or who I saw or
What club I went to with my homies
Baby don't worry you know that you got me
Don't worry about where I'm going or who I'm with because you have my loyalty and commitment.
Somebody told me that this planet was small
We use to live in the same building on the same floor
And never met before
Until I'm overseas on tour
And peep this ethiopian queen from philly
Taking classes abroad
She studying film and photo flash focus record
Said she workin on a flick and
Could my click do the score
She said she loved my show in paris
At Elysee Montmartre
And that I stepped off the stage
And took a piece of her heart
We knew from the start that
Things fall apart, intentions shatter
She like that shit don't matter
When I get home get at her
Through letter, phone, whatever
Let's link, let's get together
Shit you think not, think the thought went home and forgot
Time passed, we back in philly now she up in my spa
Tellin me the things I'm tellin her is makin her hot
Startin buildin' with her constantly round the clock
Now she in my world like hip-hop
And keep tellin me
Someone told me that the world is small and that we used to live in the same building without ever meeting. I met an Ethiopian girl while on tour who was studying film and asked if my group could score her movie. She loved my performance in Paris and felt a connection with me. We knew that things can fall apart but she doesn't care and wants to link up when I'm home. Time has passed, and now she's with me constantly building and she's become a part of my world just like hip-hop.
Yo, I'm the type that's always catchin' a flight
And sometimes I gotta be out at the height of the night
And that's when she flip and get on some 'ol
Another lonely night
Seems like I'm on the side you only loving your mic
I know you gotta get that paper daddy keep that shit tight
But yo I need some sort of love in my life, you dig me
While politicin with my sister from New York City
She said she know this ball player and he think I'm pretty
Psych, I'm playin boo, you know it's just wit you I'm stayin boo
And when cats be poppin' game I don't hear what they sayin boo
When you out there in the world, I'm still your girl
With all my classes I don't have the time for life's thrills
So when you sweatin' on stage think of me when you rhyme
And don't be listenin' to your homies they be leavin you blind
Yeah, so what you sayin' I can trust you?
Is you crazy, you my king for real
But sometimes relationships get ill
No doubt
I'm always traveling and performing, and sometimes my girl gets upset and lonely when I'm gone. I understand that I need to work hard for us, but she also needs love and attention. Even when I'm busy, I still consider her to be my girlfriend. I don't have time for distractions from other guys and their games. When I'm on stage, I think of her, but I also know not to listen to my friends who might lead me astray. Our relationship can have its ups and downs, but I still see you as my king.
The snake could be that chick
And that rat could be that cool cat
That's whispering "she tryin' to play you for the fool Black"
If something's on your chest then let it be known
See I'm not your every five minutes all on the phone
And on the topic of trust, it's just a matter of fact
That people bite back and fracture what's intact
And they'll forever be I ain't on some "oh I'm a celebrity"
I deal with the real so if it's artificial let it be
I've seen people caught in love like whirlwinds
Listening to they squads and listening to girlfriends
That's exactly the point where they whole world ends
Lies come in, that's where that drama begins, she like
Some people can be deceptive and try to manipulate you or play you for a fool. If you have concerns or doubts, talk to me about it directly. I'm not going to constantly call you to check in. Trust can be tricky and fragile because some people will betray it. I'm not trying to be famous or different, I want to be real with you. I've seen people get caught up in love and influenced by their friends or partners, and it ends up causing them grief. Lies can lead to drama, and I don't want to be a part of that.
[Chorus: Repeat 2X]
If you were worried 'bout where
I been or who I saw or
What club I went to with my homies
Baby don't worry you know that you got me
Don't worry about where I'm going, who I'm with, or what I'm doing because you have my loyalty and commitment.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Storch, Scott Spencer / Scott, Jill H / Collins, Tarik L / Thompson, Ahmir K
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
That girl named carol
RahZEL AND ERYKAH BADU?!?!? You can’t go wrong!! This is amazing!
That girl named carol
Two of the most beautifully talented people comin’ together…perfection!
Rahzel is not of this world! I’m mean what the actual f*ck?!?!? 😮 pure talent!
upful LIFE
CLASSICK
beansnrice321
The way she says, "fried," is, like, somehow the sexiest part of the song. Dear lord that voice!
Santiago Ayala
you know its truly 90s when they say they dont know a thing about internet. An episode of Sailor Moon also featured said character saying the same thing 🤣🤣🤣
TeddyO
Facts. 1990s to the max
Joshua Keddy
🔥
Jérémy GAUER
😃 👍👍