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.
phone down
Erykah Badu Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can make you, I can make you
I can make you put your phone down
I can make you put your phone down
I can make you, I can make you
I can make you put your phone down
I can make you, I can make you
I can make you put your phone down
I can make you put your phone down
As we cruise through the city
I can make you put your phone down
You ain't gonna text no one when you wit me
I can make you put your phone down
So you can show me attention
And I'll cut mine off too
Boy that'll help when I listen
I can make you put your phone down
Baby we don't need it
Every time you get a message
Act like you don't see it
I can make you put your phone down
Tell me do you copy
I can make you put your phone down
Boy that ain't gon' stop me
I can make you put your phone down
I can make you, I can make you
I can make you put your phone down
I can make you put your phone down
I can make you, I can make you
I can make you put your phone down
I can make you put your phone down
Make you not wanna check that again
I could make you put your phone down
Ridin' in a drop hair blowin' in the wind
Baby I will put my phone down
'Cause when you talk Imma listen
I can make you put your phone down
Leave it at the crib guarantee you wouldn't miss it
I could make you put your phone down
And it wouldn't leave your pocket
I can make you put your phone down
Probably wouldn't even know how to unlock it
I could make you put your phone down
I see your friend callin but forget em'
I can make you put your phone down
Your mama probably think you out there missin'
I can make you put your phone down
I can make you, I can make you
I can make you put your phone down
I can make you put your phone down
I can make you, I can make you
I can make you put your phone down
I can make you put your phone down
I can make you, I can make you
I can make you put your phone
The lyrics in Erykah Badu's song "Phone Down" convey a message that is relatable to many individuals in today's society who are glued to their electronic devices. Badu explains that she can make her significant other put their phone down and focus on her, rather than constantly checking their messages and notifications. She encourages her partner to give her their undivided attention as they cruise through the city and enjoy each other's company. She even goes as far as cutting off her phone to give the gesture of solidarity and genuine interest.
Badu's chorus, "I can make you put your phone down," repeats itself throughout the song, emphasizing the power that she holds in engaging her partner, and ultimately redirecting the focus on the relationship instead of on technology. The song highlights a significant issue in society as social media and electronic devices have become such a dominant force in modern communication. The song suggests that it's necessary to detach from these distractions and immerse oneself in real-life interactions to create meaningful relationships.
In conclusion, "Phone Down" captures the feeling of wanting someone's undivided attention, and Badu's message is an important reminder about the importance of human connection and being present in the moment.
Line by Line Meaning
I can make you put your phone down
I have the power to make you ignore your phone
I can make you, I can make you
I have the ability to influence you
I can make you put your phone down
I have the power to make you ignore your phone
As we cruise through the city
While we drive around town
You ain't gonna text no one when you wit me
You won't be tempted to text anyone when you're with me
So you can show me attention
You can focus all your attention on me
And I'll cut mine off too
I will also ignore my phone
Boy that'll help when I listen
That will help me pay better attention
Baby we don't need it
We don't need our phones
Every time you get a message
Whenever you receive a message
Act like you don't see it
Pretend you didn't see it
Tell me do you copy
Do you understand me?
Boy that ain't gon' stop me
That won't hinder me
Make you not wanna check that again
I can discourage you from checking your phone again
Ridin' in a drop hair blowin' in the wind
Riding in a convertible with our hair blowing in the wind
Baby I will put my phone down
I will also ignore my phone
'Cause when you talk Imma listen
Because I want to listen to you
Leave it at the crib guarantee you wouldn't miss it
If we leave our phones at home, we won't miss them
And it wouldn't leave your pocket
And you wouldn't take it out of your pocket
Probably wouldn't even know how to unlock it
You might not even remember how to unlock it
I see your friend callin' but forget em'
If your friend calls, don't worry about answering
Your mama probably think you out there missin'
Your mom might be worried that you're missing
I can make you put your phone down
I have the power to make you ignore your phone
I can make you, I can make you
I have the ability to influence you
I can make you put your phone down
I have the power to make you ignore your phone
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Jeremy Atkinson Archie Rose, Erykah Badu
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
irmã sara
I can make you put your phone down
I can make you, I can make you
I can make you put your phone down
I can make you put your phone down
I can make you, I can make you
I can make you put your phone down
I can make you put your phone down
I can make you, I can make you
I can make you put your phone down
I can make you put your phone down
As we cruise through the city
I can make you put your phone down
You ain't gonna text no one when you wit me
I can make you put your phone down
So you can show me attention
And I'll cut mine off too
Boy that'll help when I listen
I can make you put your phone down
Baby we don't need it
Every time you get a message
Act like you don't see it
I can make you put your phone down
Tell me do you copy
I can make you put your phone down
Boy that ain't gon' stop me
I can make you put your phone down
I can make you, I can make you
I can make you put your phone down
I can make you put your phone down
I can make you, I can make you
I can make you put your phone down
Make you not wanna check that again
I could make you put your phone down
Ridin in a drop hair blowin' in the wind
Baby I will put my phone down
Cause when you talk imma listen
I can make you put your phone down
Leave it at the crib guarantee you wouldn't miss it
I could make you put your phone down
And it wouldn't leave your pocket
I can make you put your phone down
Probably wouldn't even know how to unlock it
I could make you put your phone down
I see your friend callin but forget em'
I can make you put your phone down
Your mama probably think you out there missin'
I can make you put your phone down
I can make you, I can make you
I can make you put your phone down
I can make you put your phone down
I can make you, I can make you
I can make you put your phone down
Ahh
I can make you put your phone down
I can make you, I can make you
I can make you put your phone
NiGHTSaturn
She is one artist who doesn't need much lyrics to make you feel exactly what she feels.
Leshyna
A goddess forever
Kim Noble
Listening in 2023! Let's Go! Love your music Ms. Eryka Badu. Forever relevant. Blessings!
reggaeone
I put this song on repeat when....i just want to groove. so imaginative with endless possibilities.
Trinity Sims
I remember my mom singing this to me, you’re always in my heart.
Charles Vanhorn
She is the Queen, and for all of you complaining about its repetitivenes. Repetition is the mother of all learning.
evepv
!
Caring for one
no if you knew a little bit of psychology you would know that the human brain does not store information by repetition that is just to keep in your short memory in oder to learn one must add personal meaning to it
Caring for one
but i loveeee her and the song so i am not complaining !!
Natalie Logan
Charles Vanhorn Aye