In the same way that Tupac holds a saintly place in the nave of hip-hop, Badu has become a kind of R&B deity who, despite releasing her last album – the critically adored New Amerykah Part One (4th World War) – more than a decade ago, can still be seen at the top of lineups at festivals such as London’s Field Day, which she headlines next weekend.Ĭlick here to watch On and On by Erykah Badu.īadu first emerged in the late 90s as part of the “neo-soul” scene, along with D’Angelo, Musiq Soulchild, Jill Scott and India.Arie, who collectively rethought and revived the spirit of early 70s acts such as Sly and the Family Stone, Isaac Hayes, Marvin Gaye, Funkadelic and Curtis Mayfield. Amy Winehouse, Rihanna, Beyoncé, Janelle Monáe and even Grimes have all, at some point, referenced or collaborated with her Barack Obama included her on one of his summer 2015 Spotify playlists Givenchy c hose her as the face of its spring-summer 2014 campaign. Name a hugely successful R&B star of the past decade and it’s more than likely there is a touch of Badu in their work. It makes a fitting start to a conversation with one of pop’s most eccentric and influential figures. After a couple more attempts to get through and a few texts, the phone does get picked up. I don’t really do voicemail.” It’s part practical joke, part album skit, part self-deprecating indulgence. “If you’re asking for tickets to a show, but know I don’t really fuck with you like that, press six.” And on it goes, ending with: “You should probably send me a text. “If you’re calling to wish Erykah happy MLK day, Kwanzaa or Juneteenth, press one,” it begins. You dial her number, the phone rings through and an extravagant list of options greets you.

E veryone should call Erykah Badu at least once, if only to hear her answerphone message.

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