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.
Penitentiary Philosophy
Erykah Badu Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Livin' in a penitentiary
Brothers all on the corner
Tryin' to make believe
Turn around ain't got no pot to pee make me
Mad, when I see ya sad
Can't stand to see ya hustle' doin' bad
But you, can't win when your will is weak
Evil, don't you test me
Evil, You won't win
Oh, why, world, why world? (Aah)
Do you want me to be so mad? (Aah), yeah
So mad, yeah
Oh, why, world, why world? (Aah)
Do you wan' see mama mad? (Aah), yeah
So mad, ay
I'm tellin' you the truth, I hope I'm not being too cruel
Since you ain't playing by the rules (ay ay)
I'm 'bout to kick you off your stool (ooh yeah, ooh ooh, oh, oh)
Evil, don't you test me
Evil, You won't win
Oh why, why, why world?
Do you want me to be so mad? Yeah
So mad, yeah
Why in the world, world, why world?
Do you want me be so mad? Yeah
Say why
(La la la) I, am a warrior princess
I have come from the other sun
(La la la) gather all of your members
Unite them as one
(La la la) move together in harmony
(Ooh) build a bridge, now destroy a bridge (la, la)
Eliminate your weakness
(La, la, la) conquer evil, the demon
(La, la) and live forever (and ever)
(La, la) together (ooh)
Oh why can't we get along and
Take all the funky tones
And make up a funky song
That be bangin' on and on
Make me, mad when I see ya sad
With the same look ya momma had
But ya can't win when your will is weak
But ya get out ya seat
Oh why, why, why you want me to be so mad? Yeah
So mad, yeah
Why in the world, world, why why you want me to be so mad? (Why?)
So mad, yeah
Why in the world, world, why world, do you want me to be so mad? Yeah
So mad
Why in the world, world (aah), why world, (aah) do you wan' see me so mad? Yeah, ay
Oh Ah! Make me, (aah) make me, make me, make me, (aah) make me, make me, oh why
Why in the
Why yeah (aah), why yeah, why yeah (aah), why oh, yeah
In "Penitentiary Philosophy", Erykah Badu discusses societal issues and the struggle of living in a world where oppression and corruption are rampant. Using metaphors of living in a prison, she speaks about the difficulties people face when trying to survive and make their way in the world. She understands the desperation and dire circumstances that lead people to unethical decisions, but she also implores them to be honest and learn to resist temptation.
Badu speaks to those who are struggling and doing whatever it takes to survive. She sympathizes with those who are living in poverty and have to resort to illegal actions to be able to eat and take care of themselves. She wants them to know that she sees them and understands their pain. She also urges them to be strong and not give in to the evil forces that try to pull them down. She believes that if people stay true to their values and stand up for what is right, they will ultimately come out on top.
Overall, "Penitentiary Philosophy" is a powerful commentary on social injustice and the importance of resistance against oppressive forces that seek to bring people down. Badu’s lyrics are poignant and heartfelt, and her message resonates strongly with those who have experienced the struggles of poverty and oppression firsthand.
Line by Line Meaning
Here's my philosophy
Erykah Badu is about to share her viewpoint on life with the listener
Livin' in a penitentiary
Life can feel like a prison, trapping people in tough situations
Brothers all on the corner
People in disadvantaged communities often have few options besides idle socializing
Tryin' to make believe
People may pretend they're satisfied with their lot despite ongoing hardship
Turn around ain't got no pot to pee make me
It's frustrating and maddening to see people struggle to obtain basic necessities
Mad, when I see ya sad
It upsets Badu to see people in despair
Can't stand to see ya hustle' doin' bad
Badu can't bear to watch people's efforts to better themselves fail
But you, can't win when your will is weak
Success requires a strong and determined willpower
When you're, knocked on the ground
It's difficult to stand back up after being knocked down by circumstances
Evil, don't you test me
Badu is warning any negative forces to stay clear of her path
Evil, You won't win
Badu is confident that she will overcome any adversity that comes her way
Oh, why, world, why world? (Aah)
Badu is despairing in the face of so much negative influence in society
Do you want me to be so mad? (Aah), yeah
Badu is questioning why there is so much injustice and difficulty in the world
So mad, yeah
Badu's exasperation is causing her to feel angry and frustrated
I'm tellin' you the truth, I hope I'm not being too cruel
Badu is sharing her honest thoughts but doesn't want to come across as insensitive
Since you ain't playing by the rules (ay ay)
Certain people or circumstances may not be following proper protocols, leading to difficulties
I'm 'bout to kick you off your stool (ooh yeah, ooh ooh, oh, oh)
Badu is taking a combative stance toward those who are not abiding by the rules
I am a warrior princess
Badu sees herself as strong and capable of facing and defeating adversity
I have come from the other sun
Badu may feel like she's on an entirely different level from the negative influences in the world
gather all of your members
Badu is encouraging people to come together and form a united front
Unite them as one
Badu sees strength in numbers and cohesion among people fighting for a cause
move together in harmony
People who are fighting for change should work cohesively and cooperatively with one another
build a bridge, now destroy a bridge
Sometimes it's necessary to bridge gaps and sometimes it's necessary to burn bridges and separate oneself from negativity
Eliminate your weakness
Badu believes that people must identify and overcome their own weaknesses to truly overcome obstacles
conquer evil, the demon
Badu is invoking the idea of defeating an abstract opponent or institution that is causing damage
and live forever (and ever)
Those who do the hard work of fighting for what is right make a lasting impact
Oh why can't we get along and
Badu laments the fact that different groups can't seem to work together effectively
Take all the funky tones
Badu wants to harness the unique and diverse elements of society and make something beautiful out of them
And make up a funky song
Creating something new and beautiful out of different influences can provide a sense of unity and joy
That be bangin' on and on
Art and music can help to unite people and keep them energized and motivated
With the same look ya momma had
Badu sees the same suffering and struggle passed down through generations, and it pains her
But ya get out ya seat
Badu is encouraging listeners to rise up and act against negativity and injustice
Why in the world, world (aah), why world, (aah) do you wan' see me so mad? Yeah, ay
Badu continues to question why the world is so full of hardship and injustice
Oh Ah! Make me, (aah) make me, make me, make me, (aah) make me, make me, oh why
Badu appears to be emphasizing her frustration and anger with the repetition of these lines
Why in the
Badu's questioning is ongoing
Why yeah (aah), why yeah, why yeah (aah), why oh, yeah
The repetition of this questioning suggests a deep well of frustration and anger that Badu is tapping into
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Erica Wright, Ahmir K. Thompson, Pino Palladino, James Jason Poyser
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind